Lure of Oblivion

Gwen and Zander stood so that Ally could shuffle past them. Shooting Gwen a reassuring smile, she then crossed to the chair beside the panel.

Parker clasped his hands. “As a Seer, you are able to sense the emotions of others. If Miss Miller was prejudiced toward our kind, you would sense it. Correct?”

Sitting, Ally nodded. “I would. I can firmly state that Gwen is not prejudiced toward shifters.”

“What about Brandt Moore?” asked Emilio.

Ally looked at the boy as she answered, “Around our kind, he feels hate. Repugnance. And fear.” Ally’s gaze met Parker’s once more. “My pack mates and I were there the day that Gwen met with Mr. Cogman. We heard the entire conversation. I can verify that Gwen was telling the truth when she spoke of her conversation with him.”

Harrison nodded at Ally. “Thank you, Miss Marshall.”

Ezra, ballsy as ever, stood. “I’d like to ask Miss Marshall a question, if I may.” He smiled at her. “You claim you can sense the emotions of others.”

Ally narrowed her eyes at his skepticism. “I can tell you what you’re feeling right now as a demonstration, if you’d like.”

Ezra’s smile faltered. “If you believe it is true, I shall take your word for it. But is it not worth considering that not all extremists are prejudiced? It’s not always that they dislike shifters as a race. Some humans simply don’t like how much land the shifters take up. Others may not like that shifters are so secretive that we don’t know enough about them to understand them. That’s not something you would pick up, is it?”

“I would pick up any emotions associated with those issues. In any case, I’ve spent a lot of time around Gwen Miller—day in, day out. If she felt anything negative toward shifters, I would have sensed it.”

At a gesture from Parker, Ally returned to her seat.

“The situation is as simple as this,” said Ezra. “It is Gwen Miller’s word against that of the three young men you see here. And let’s face it, her word keeps changing. I do not dispute that the cougar was attacked, though there is no evidence that she was ever injured, but it was not by my son.”

“She was a mess,” Gwen gritted out.

“But you have no proof that there were any injuries,” Ezra said with a smirk.

Gwen lifted a brow. “You sure of that?”

Ezra’s eyes flickered. “Photos can be doctored.”

“Then maybe the photos you provided of me and Kenny Cogman shouldn’t be considered reliable.”

“If my son were responsible for those injuries, the cougar would be here now, seeking justice.”

Parker inhaled deeply. “As it happens, she is here. She arrived not so long ago, and she would like to speak.” He gestured at a wolf manning the door on their right to open it.

Gwen’s heart pounded hard and she sat up straighter. Andie walked in, head high, shoulders back. Warmth and pride rushed through Gwen, and she couldn’t contain her smile—even though it was a little on the smug side as she noticed the sheer and utter dread on Ezra’s face.

Andie took a moment to seek Gwen out with her gaze. She shot her a smile that held only a hint of nerves. It was clear to see by the determination in her eyes that Andie was there for justice. Awesome, because it was exactly what she deserved.

At Parker’s invitation, Andie took the chair near the panel. He then said, “Tell us what happened that night, Miss Windsor.”

Placing her hands on her lap, Andie licked her lips. “It was the anniversary of my parents’ death—my human parents, I mean. They adopted me when I was little, not knowing I was a shifter, but they kept me. I was upset and I went to a bar, had a few drinks. Brandt Moore and the two young males who sit with him today . . . they approached me. Brandt flirted with me, tried to get me to leave with him, but I refused. Then things got . . . foggy. My cat went crazy inside me, but I couldn’t shift. I knew then that I’d been drugged.

“I remember that they shoved me in a car, drove to the marsh, and dumped me on the land. Brandt beat me. Badly. The others mostly just laughed and encouraged him to keep going, but they kicked me in the ribs and the back once or twice. They wouldn’t stop, and I was too weak to stop them.

“Then bullets hit the ground, sending mud everywhere, and they ran. My savior was Gwen Miller. She took me back to her house, took photos of my injuries before they healed, and then helped me get cleaned up. She called the sheriff. Not that that did much good. It was clear that he didn’t believe I had any rights.”

Harrison spoke. “The Moores claim it is Gwen who is anti-shifter.”

Andie gave a startled chuckle. “Gwen couldn’t be further from it.”

“Were you aware that her father is Kenny Cogman?” sniped Ezra, the shit-stirring bastard.

Andie gaped for a moment. “No, I wasn’t. But I don’t see that it matters.” She looked back at the council members. “She’s not him, and she’s nothing like him. Gwen was there for me all the way through this. She was willing to speak up for me when I wouldn’t speak up for myself. Even after I changed my statement, Brandt didn’t stop harassing me. Gwen gave me a place to stay. Helped me however she could. That kind of support can’t be faked.”

Touched by Andie’s complete confidence in her, Gwen swallowed hard.

Parker nodded. “Please take a seat, Miss Windsor.”

Pointedly ignoring the Moores and their supporters, Andie made her way to the bench behind Gwen. Leaning forward, she whispered, “Sorry it took me a while to get my shit together.”

Gwen frowned. “You don’t have to be sorry for anything. I’m really proud of you for doing this. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”

Andie glanced at the council members, who were now chatting quietly among themselves. “I can’t hear what they’re saying. Did Brandt come up with a decent case for his defense?” After Gwen debriefed her on all that had been said, Andie gawked. “The bastards tried to really imply that you were involved with that measly little fucker?”

Gwen silently chuckled. “Hopefully the council doesn’t buy it. Or buy anything else they said, for that matter. I got to warn you, though, they were quite convincing at times.” She gave Andie’s hand a supportive squeeze. “Even if the shithead gets off with it, he won’t get away with it, because I’ll shoot him in the dick.” She wasn’t even kidding. Hearing a throat clear, Gwen turned to face front.