I woke up with a soft smile on my face. I was still wrapped in my mates warm and loving embrace. I rubbed my eyes and looked up at my mate who's still sleeping.

Call me creepy or whatever, but I continued to watch him sleep for a few minutes before I began running my hands through his hair.
I trailed my finger over his forehead, down his cheeks and began tracing his lips.

He let out a groan and tightened his hold on me. I giggled as his lips formed into an adorable pout and he pulled me closer, resting his head on my neck.
I shivered as his breath tickled my neck and his lips brushed my mark.

I felt his lips kiss my mark which made my body shudder and warmth spread throughout my body.
"Good morning mate" he whispered huskily against my neck.
"Morning" I replied quietly and held in a moan as his tongue flicked over my mark.

He placed one last kiss on my mark before removing his head from my neck and looking at me. His eyes were still glazed over with sleep and he had a small smile on his lips.

"You look tired" I frowned as I caressed his cheek with my thumb.
"I didn't fall asleep until late" he grumbled as his hand rubbed up and down my back.
"Why not?" I asked.

"After a wolf marks his mate, the hours afterwards are the most intense because the wolf will want to protect his mate and his emotions are heightened. He calms down after awhile but will still be more possessive and protective then before" he explained.

I nodded in understanding and went to sit up but Noah's grip tightened, holding me down.
"Where are you going?" He grumbled.
"To pee" I chuckled and he pressed one more kiss to my mark before letting go.

I giggled when I saw his frown and stood up, walking into the bathroom.
I did my business then washed my hands. I brushed my teeth and threw my hair up into a messy bun.

I smiled when I saw my mark peaking out. I pulled the shirt down to reveal my shoulder and grinned at my mark.

It was my wolf and Noah's wolf sitting side by side with our tails intertwined and his initials underneath.
"It's beautiful" a voice spoke behind me as a set of warm arms wrapped around my waist.

"It is" I smiled as I gazed at my mark and leaned into his embrace.
He placed a delicate kiss on the mark before locking gazes with mine in the mirror. His eyes were filled with love and adoration and I couldn't help the smile that spread on my lips.

"My Dad called earlier. If your up for it, the council meeting is today" he informed me and rests his chin on my shoulder, his eyes still locked with mine through the mirror.
"Yeah. I want them to get what they deserve" I said determinedly and felt my eyes narrow in anger.

He placed a soft kiss on my cheek, calming my emotions. I closed my eyes and smiled softly.
"Let's get ready then" he said and led me out of the bathroom.

I picked out a nice dress and paired it with some black wedge heels. After changing I let my hair down in its natural waves. I exited the closet and saw Noah was already dressed in a nice white dress shirt and black jeans.

"Ready?" I asked as I grabbed my purse. He nodded and slipped his phone and wallet into his pocket. I held my hand out and he gladly intertwined our fingers as I led us downstairs and into his car.

The council headquarters were an hour away so I looked for ways to entertain myself.
"Let's play iSpy" I smiled at him once we exited the pack territory. He shook his head while chuckling but agreed.

After an hour of iSpy and singing along with the radio, we reached our destination.
Noah's parents and the Alpha and Luna that were helping are already here.

I had asked Henry, Noah's Dad, who the witness was but he didn't tell me.

We pulled up to the large building and exited the car.
Guards surrounded the building, all armed with weapons. I gulped nervously at all the men who had stern and intimidating figures.

"Don't worry baby. I won't let anything bad happen" Noah whispered into my ear as he intertwined our hands. I smiled, now more relaxed.
We entered and a guard led us through the building, towards the room where the council is.

The council were a group of elders who acted as a government for werewolves. They enforced laws and rules and determined necessary punishment to wolves who commit crimes.

We reached a set of double doors that the guard opened for us.
The room was set up like a courtroom. Rows of chairs starting at the entrance and ending halfway up the room. At the end of the room was a long table where the council members were seated.

Noah's parents and, who I suspected was, the Alpha and Luna were seated in a row across from the council. There were two empty seats in between both of them so Noah and I walked over and sat down. I sat beside Maddie while Noah sat beside the Alpha, whose name I still didn't know.

"Now that you're all here, we'll begin" one of the elders said. He was an older man with short white hair and was dressed in a suit.

"Alpha Henry, you came here a few months ago with a complaint against the Red Moon pack. The complaint was the abuse of pack members and the poor leading of the Alpha" the elder spoke.

"Yes Elder Charles. I've brought along my mate, the Alpha and Luna that have assisted me and my son and his mate Lillian who was one of the members who received the worst of the pack abuse" Henry spoke.
The Elders nodded and Elder Charles wrote something down.

"Lillian if you're comfortable, would you mind telling us your story?" The Elder who sat to the left of Elder Charles asked. She was a women with short black hair and wore a white blouse and black jeans.

I nodded and tightened my hold on Noah's hand for support.
"My life was normal until the age of nine. My mother and I were involved in a rogue attack. She told me to run home and warn my father so I did but I never saw her after that. We assumed she was dead and we all grieved her death. My father took it the hardest and looked for her for a year after her disappearance before he remarried" I began.

"He married a women named Kiera who's previous mate had died in a rogue attack. She had two daughters, Layla and Hazel. My father would abuse me, physically and verbally, and when he remarried, Kiera and Layla joined in on the abuse. The whole pack abused me and used me as their slave. I would do the chores and orders I was given and if I refused or didn't do them right, I was punished. That was my life for the next 11 years"

"Even when the whole pack abused me, there was one person who didn't and was the only one who showed me kindness. Hazel. She was one of Kiera's daughters. She didn't exactly tell people to stop abusing me but she did help in anyway she could. Some may say it was cowardly how she didn't tell people not to abuse me but I'm glad she didn't. If she did she would've been treated the same way I was and I didn't want that to happen. Hazel would sneak me food and clothes and when she could she would try and get my abuser away from me. I am extremely thankful for her help and if you are to punish the pack, I ask you not to punish her"

Elder Charles smiled and nodded at my request.
"I've also been told of another situation that you've gone through at your old pack, involving the Beta" he said and I immediately tensed as did Noah.

"Yes uhm- it started when I was 15" I began to explain after I composed myself and began rubbing Noah's knuckles with my thumb in attempt to keep him calm.

"My father and the Beta had just given me a beating, so intense that I lost consciousness several times during it. I had gained consciousness when they finished but was incredibly weak. My father left and the Beta had to carry me to my room. I felt myself being placed on my mattress and I thought the Beta had left" I said and my voice cracked during the last sentence.

I felt Noah's hand shaking and looked up at him to see his eyes closed and his jaw clenched.
"Noah calm down baby please" I pleaded as I cupped his cheek with my hand. He opened his eyes and I saw he was fighting his wolf for control.

"Jackson I need you to calm down. I know you're mad with what happened but I'm ok now. You both saved me and I'm safe. So calm down baby" I said softly.
I felt Noah's grip on my hand relax and his eyes returned to normal.
"You ok now?" I asked him. He nodded and pecked my lips. I smiled at him before turning back to the council with an apologetic smile.

"Don't worry Lillian. It's quite alright. Now if you're ready can you continue" Elder Charles asked.
I nodded and continued with my story.

"So as I was saying. I was extremely weak and barely conscious. I though Beta James had left but he didn't. He proceeded to take of the ragged clothes I had on and he-" I chocked back a sob and took a deep breath. I blinked my tears away and cleared my throat before continuing.

"Beta James raped me that night and continued to for the rest of my time at that pack" I said as I squeezed Noah's hand and attempted to hold my tears back.

"A few months ago when the Alpha was passing his title down to his son, there was a rogue attack. My wolf warned me earlier and we left before the rogues reached the pack house. We ran until we encountered two rogues. I fought one off but the other wounded me. He was about to kill me but my mate saved me just in time and brought me to his pack and nursed me back to health" I finished my explanation with a small smile on my face at the mention of Noah saving me.

"Well Lillian, we are all very sorry that we were not aware of your mistreatment in that pack and we promise you that they will receive the punishments they deserve" Elder Charles announced as he finished writing whatever it was he was writing.

"Thank you very much Elders. I really appreciate this" I smiled at them.
"It's not a problem dear" the Elder with the short black hair smiled.

"We'll let you know when we have a development" Elder Charles nodded. We took that as our leave so we left the room and the guard led us back outside.

"Lillian this is the Alpha and Luna that assisted us. Meet Alpha Rick and Luna Cora" Henry introduced.
"Thank you guys for helping" I grinned and hugged them both.
"We were glad to help. We are very sorry that you had to go through that since such a young age" Luna Cora frowned.

"Don't worry about it. I've grown from that and now I'm happy with my mate and my new pack" I grinned.
"I'm glad darling" the Luna smiled.

"Well we best be getting home before it gets dark. Thank you for your help Alpha Rick and Luna Cora" Henry smiled.
"Like we said Henry, we're glad to help. Call us if you need anything" Alpha Rick smiled in return.

"Safe travels" Madeline waved as we all went to our cars.

Noah and I entered our car but he didn't drive off straight away. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh.
"What's wrong baby?" I asked him as I intertwined our hands and rested them on my lap.

"I love when you call me that" Noah smirked and looked at me. I shook my head as I chuckled.

"What's wrong?" I asked again.
"I just hate how badly you were treated and I couldn't help but get angry whenever James is brought up. I hate him for what he did to you and I just want to-" he spat out but cut himself off.

"You just want to what Noah?" I asked softly but I already knew the answer.
"I want to kill that son of a bitch. I want to torture him until he's begging for death. I want to cause him the worst death possible" Noah replied in a deathly tone.

I looked up at him to see his eyes had darkened and there was nothing but revenge and anger in them.
"Hey" I called out and cupped his cheek in my hand, turning his face to face me.

He looked at me and I saw confusion flash through his eyes as he eyebrows furrowed.
"You're not scared of me?" He asked as he searched my face for something.

"No" I answered honestly as I shook my head "I'm not afraid of you because I know you won't hurt me. I know you won't hurt anyone else unless necessary. What James did is inexcusable and he had no right to do what he did. You have every right to be upset and angered by what he did" I told him as I caressed his cheek with my thumb.

He opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it. He stared right into my eyes for a few minutes before opening his mouth.

"I love you" he said softly as he cupped my face in his hands.
"I love you too" I smiled in reply.

He grinned happily at my reply and pressed his lips on mine.

.