34: How Do You Plead?
TARA
The next day, I made my way to the diner in a jolly mood, and even if I didn’t get to my shop to meet any early customers who usually waited to be the first to try our freshly baked goods, I wasn’t bothered. We still had the whole day to sell out.
Thoughts of how the previous day was spent filled my mind, and I had to caution myself from overthinking things. I was worried that I didn’t get to tell Aidan what Jenna had told me, but I just hoped that Aidan was in good health.
Nadia was so happy after everything yesterday that she fell asleep the moment we got home, and when I woke her up this morning, she got herself ready with a smile and not the usual grumbles.
My baby was already in school and I could focus my undivided attention on work till she got back, so I got right into it.
I hummed as I got the diner cleaned for the day, set up the tables, and mentally prepared myself for a productive day.
Starting with some batter, I baked rounds of lemon muffins that I was sure would last us for the entire day. After that, I made. some cupcakes, and finally, some cookies as souvenirs.
About an hour into working, Riley, my single employee, turned in for her shift, and at this point, sales were still crawling. I was starting to get worried, but I didn’t voice out my thoughts.
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“Hey, Boss,” Riley greeted in her usual preppy tone. “How’s it going?”
I pushed my worries to the side and responded to her with a smile.
“I’m fine, Riley, and it’s Tara, not Boss. I’ve told you countless times that my being your employer doesn’t change the fact that our ages are only slightly different.”
I didn’t know if Riley thought so much of me because I had a kid or if it was just because I was her boss, but whichever one it was, it wasn’t needed.
“If you say so, Boss… Tara,” she corrected, and we laughed.
We both went to work after our pleasantries and as the minutes went by, my heart dropped farther down my stomach.
The timeframe for our usual early morning sales was almost spent, and the diner was still empty.
I tried to encourage myself, saying that today may just be one of those slow days, but when the time struck half past eleven and the register was practically forming cobwebs, I expressed my worries to the only person who was in the diner with me.
“Is it just me, or is it alarmingly dry in here?” I asked Riley who was currently on her phone. “I had high hopes for today’s sales, but it seems that no one is interested in coffee and muffins anymore.”
Riley chuckled before responding. “It’s not that they’re not interested in coffee, Boss, sorry, Tara, it’s just that everyone is more interested in the trial. Heard they were even fighting for
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seats.”
My eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Trial? What trial?”
Riley looked at me like I had grown a new head from my butthole before she spoke again. “Apparently, the hot alpha who’s refused to go back to his pack got into a dispute with one of the girls, and Alpha Collin wants him to get a fair trial before his fate is decided,” Riley said, putting her hand up in quotes when she said the word fair.
Aidan?
“What? Girls? H–how? When did this happen? I’m so lost.”
Aidan never mentioned anything about a dispute, and he only left when it was getting late yesterday. What was all this about?
Riley went on. “The news they let out is that he put his hands on some girl while the whispers are that he didn’t, but Alpha Collin just wants a reason to throw him out. One that won’t be questioned by many. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it.”
My heart started racing at the thought of what this could mean. Was this Collin finally getting what he wanted all along?
Jenna said that Collin was trying to start a fight with Aidan, but I didn’t know that he would stoop to this height to do so. Why did it have to include a lie?
“And you aren’t there because?” asked, distracting myself from the way my resolve was shattering..
Riley shrugged. “No offense to the alpha, he’s hot and all that, but I like girls, and I’d rather make some extra cash than drool
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over someone who’s not my type.”
I nodded, but my mind was far away from here. I needed to get to wherever this trial was being held right that instant.
“Do you by chance know where they are? And when is this trial supposed to happen?” I asked.
“Alpha Collin’s throne room at the pack house…” Riley stared at her phone. “…and by my time, it should start in the next twenty. minutes.”
That would be enough time for me to get there and at least try to do something. I didn’t know what I would do, but I had to try.
If I wasn’t in this pack in the first place, Aidan wouldn’t have gotten into this mess. I couldn’t help but shoulder the blame.
I needed someone to watch the diner while I was away, so I so! asked Riley.
“Do you think you could extend your shift with a few more hours? I’ll give you a little extra pay, and even throw in some of the muffins that I made this morning. It’s really important.”
“You didn’t have to add those, but I’ll take them, Boss,” Riley smiled.
I didn’t even fully get my thanks out of my lips before my legs. were through the door.
My speed to the pack house was unmatched, and even if I didn’t like anything related to pack houses due to my past experiences, I ran inside to meet the commotion going on.
Rows of people were on each side of Collin’s excessively large
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throne, and they were going wild in anticipation of what was about to happen.
There was a center parting between the rows of people, and Aidan was standing meters away from Collin’s throne, looking calm and unfazed by the show, while Collin was busy gloating.
I started to move to the front of everything when my eyes fell on a young girl standing somewhere at the side, and she had bruises all over her face.
Didn’t Riley mention something about a girl?
My thoughts were still being processed when Collin’s voice. thundered across the space.
“You stand here on trial for the abuse of this young lady standing here, Aidan Graham,” Collin said with disdain dripping from his words, but anyone with ears could tell that he was secretly reveling in this moment. Then he asked. “How do you plead to this charge?”
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