Thank you all for being so patient with me. I gave up on this story because I couldn't figure out how to add hot romantic scenes to this story. Then yesterday, I decided to just finish the story. The characters deserve to have an ending, and so do you all. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Now I present the final chapter of Still Waters.
Chapter 11
Ryelle entered his office to find Bertha and Jebutu waiting. He sat and asked, "So Bertha, how do you want to handle this?"
Bertha sighed, "Aggie hates me. She's hated me for centuries. Why, I don't know, nor do I care. However, she has tried to cause me harm simply because if her own insecurities. That is one thing that I won't tolerate."
She took a deep breath, "Let me face her at the stones. I want to fight, not to the death, but surrender. If she wins, I'll relocate." Bertha looked away and exhaled. She hate to choose her next words carefully. "Leaving Jackson might be better for me. But If I win, I want Aggie to go. Her hatred of me has not only endangered the people that are bringing in necessary supplies, but all of the members of the pack. I ask Alpha that you let us handle this the old way."
Ryelle was speechless. It had been decades since two wolves fought at the stones. So barbaric was the last fight, that his father, Alfonso, banned fighting there from that point on.
"Bertha, I cannot agree to that. However, I will give you a chance to meet Aggie and then we'll discuss this and find an amendable solution. I must admit, at first I dismissed her claims, but she has evidence of sabotage and that I can no longer ignore. I truly believe it has nothing to do with you, because I know you, but I have an obligation to hear her out. She can present her evidence and you will have a chance to defend yourself. Once we have met, I will then decide the next course of action." Ryelle explained.
"Alpha, I know I am not the easiest person to get along with. But I am a loyal and faithful member of this pack. From the day Jackson formed, I pledged my loyalty to your father and I do the same to you. But, this woman, Aggie, has been against me since she was turned after the last slaves were freed. She has her reasons, but that time has passed and this issue needs to be settled." Bertha took a deep breath. "I will do this your way. But this matter must be settled once and for all. If we can't find a true solution, I beg of you to allow me handle this in a way I see fit."
Bertha waited and gave the Alpha a moment to consider her request. She had been a part of Jackson all of her life since becoming Were. She was here when slave hunters would invade the pack lands in search of runaways. She was instrumental in helping the ones that made it to them find ways to freedom. She was integral in helping sneak medicine in when the pack fell ill. Decades ago, before meeting Willie, Bertha along with a few others kept the Jackson pack alive. Now, after all of this time, Aggie Amelia, this she wolf that Bertha stood between captivity and death on numerous occasions, accused her of harming the pack. Alpha Ryelle did not want to let her confront the woman, but he knew that in situations like this, dominance had to be shown.
It was not long ago that Madam Alpha Tasha had to establish her dominance against a she wolf. Did Alpha Ryelle really think this was a situation a discussion would take care of? Bertha took a deep breath. This would end one way or another. Was it time for Bertha to let her true nature rise and remind the women and men of this pack why she was so feared?
No, stand down,
a soft voice whispered.
Bertha was still. There was a time to attack, and there was a time to listen. She needed to confront Aggie, but not in a vicious manner. The time for out and out war had passed. Now was the time to try diplomacy. As Bertha left the alpha home, she turned left. Aggie would be at home now. She would probably be surrounded by her friends, but that no longer mattered. Enough time had passed. It was time to settle this issue between them. For the first time in decades, Bertha DuPont would confront an antagonist with no aggression and vileness; she would actually listen.
****
Evangeline and Declan were home. Once they arrived they stood with Bertha. Evangeline and Declan decided to go to their apartment and unpack. Momma was with the Alphas and she needed to meet with them alone.
Evangeline did not like this. Many pack members disliked Momma because she was not one they cold joke around with, but to accuse her of something criminal wa s a whole different level..
"Momma, momma, we're Declan and I are here." The meeting with the Alpha should have ended a while ago. Momma should be back home now. Evangeline called as she entered. No answer.
Momma, where are you?
Evangeline sent.
Hi sweetie, go back home. I'm visiting an old friend right now. I'll see you two at dinner.
Bertha replied. Then she knocked on Aggie's door.
"Hmm, that's odd. Well," she smiled facing Declan. "Let's go home and see what we can get into." Evangeline whispered.
Declan nodded, "Yes ma'am, as you wish he replied. Kissing his mate passionately, Declan wanted to make sure she never had a moment's doubt of his love.. She did not have to ask twice. Declan was determined to be the best mate any woman could ever want. He was resolute in his desire to give his Evangeline everything she needed.
Meanwhile, Aggie opened her door. She was surprised to find the one woman she hated standing at her door.
"What are you doing here Bertha DuPont? I have nothing to say to you." Aggie added, moving to slam the door in Bertha's face.
Shoving the door back, Bertha replied, "I have plenty to say to you, Agatha. You lied on me, to the alphas, to the pack. You know I have nothing to do with those pills being brought into the pack. I had no knowledge of this and you know that. " Bertha insisted.
Aggie laughed. "Really, you were in charge of the transit office. You oversee packages that enter and leave daily. For over two months, this substance was brought in. You even took gifts from the people that dropped the packages off. Have you not noticed an increase of young males being rushed to medical? Why is that, Bertha? At first, I said nothing, but when I tried to warn you, you told me to mind my own business and leave yours alone. So you left me no choice, I had to report to the alphas. You were there yesterday when two cases of pills came in and vanished just as quickly.
A few weeks ago when I was out for a run, I saw a small band males of twitching. I stopped to help them and realized they were high. I know where they got it from. I know you gave them the pills. You may not have handed them to them, but you made them accessible. So you can pretend to be all high and mighty if you want, Bertha, but I know the truth about you. Now the rest of the pack will too.
Bertha was stunned. She was unaware of this substance being brought in, but when she realized something was wrong, she took steps to stop it. She should have alerted Alpha Ryelle when she realized what was going on with the young members of the pack.
Bertha paused. "Aggie, I apologize. I should have listened to you. Honestly, I thought... Well, what I thought does not matter. Tomorrow, when we face the alphas, I'll admit my mistake. I'll accept whatever action he decrees."
Agatha was silent. The great Bertha DuPont conceding and admitting that she was wrong. Was the world about to end? Aggie had waited decades to finally have something on her nemesis, but for some reason this victory seemed hollow. Even though Bertha was in charge, Agatha knew she had nothing to do with the illegal imports. This was something orchestrated by someone else. She sighed. She had to make a choice. Let Bertha take the blame or risk being attacked by her nephew.
Bertha turned to walk away. She wanted to go spend the evening with her daughter and son-in-law. They'd just returned yesterday and for tonight, she could simply be with her family. She could have one more night of normal before her whole world exploded.
As Bertha walked, she recalled Aggie saying she'd taken gifts from them. The drivers would often bring in assorted nuts, because they knew she was fond of them, but she didn't think much of it. She never gained anything from the illegal substances. However, although the nuts were not that big of a deal to her, to someone looking in from the outside, it could appear to be damning.
"Momma, you're back. I missed you." Evangeline greeted her with a hug. Bertha hugged her back a little too long.
"Momma, what's wrong?" Evangeline asked. Declan joined her.
"Please sit, I have something to tell you." Bertha stated. Then she explained what had been going on over the past month.
"Momma, how were you supposed to know what they were smuggling in? You checked for the cargo that was ordered by the pack. Why would you think to look for pills?" Evangeline demanded.
"We're going with you when you face the Alphas. We won't let you go through this alone." Declan declared. He knew his new mother. She was innocent. Someone else did this and she was the scapegoat that they were blaming.
"Declan, Evangeline, thank you. It was my responsibility to inspect all incoming cargo. I failed. I'll see what the alpha decrees. But for tonight, let's just go to dinner."
As the family entered the dining room, everyone hushed. Bertha and her small family sat down and proceeded to eat their dinner.
Alpha Ryelle and Tasha entered. Ryelle was worried. He knew Agatha hated Bertha. He knew that if the she wolf ever got the chance to smear the woman's name, she'd take it. However, the evidence was damning. Tomorrow, they'd meet and he and the betas would decide how to handle this.
*****
Simon Roundtree, stood at his home at Bertrand. His heart was heavy. He'd loved Bertha for so long and decades ago, he watched her mate with another male. Now Bertha had decreed that she had no intentions of joining another mate. His heart hurt. He did not ask for much, but having Bertha finally be with him was all her ever truly wanted.
Looking towards the heavens, he asked for a miracle. Help him to convince Bertha to be his mate and come home with him. Lightning flashed in the clouds, and he felt cold. He felt a deep sense of dread. He needed to return to Jackson. Something was wrong. That night, Symeon Roundtree, sent to his Alpha and received permission to return to Jackson and claim his mate.
Alpha Bertrand would contact Alpha Ryelle to let him know Simon was returning. Hopefully, he'd arrive early in the morning.
Ryelle and Tasha finished dinner and retired to their room. Wrapping her arms around her mate, Tasha spoke. "You and I both know that Bertha had nothing to do with this. She did her job. The drugs were hidden in the cargo that was brought in. She won't see it that way, will she?"
"No, she will take full blame. I know someone else did this. I just wish she'd alerted me before it got to this." Ryelle sighed. "If she takes the blame, she will have to go. I will have to banish Bertha from Jackson."
Tasha froze. Jackson was the only home Bertha had ever known "Ryelle, surely, there must be something else you can do.
Ryelle dropped his head.
What would father do? He brought Willie and Bertha here. She fought by his side, a true soldier. She did not deserve to be expelled from her home.
