SW NOVELS
Chapter 242
Chapter 242
#Chapter 242 – In the Jail
Betas pull open the doors to the detainment facility and Victor strides through, Ian buzzing with excitement at his side. Victor glances down at the boy to see that he’s looking around at everything, as fascinated and thrilled as any kid at Disney World. Victor smirks, wondering if it’s the Alpha pup in Ian’s little soul that makes him fascinated by the work of running a pack, or just a quirk of his nature.
“Where are the prison parts,” Ian asks, his voice hushed with awe as they enter a white room with several Betas moving around behind a desk, guns strapped to their shoulders.
“Through that door,” Victor replies, taking Ian’s hand and pointing to a white door in the corner.
Ian nods, understanding. “How many prisoners do you have? Like, 500?”
Victor laughs, shaking his head. “No kid, just four right now. It’s a little jail, but a good one. Now,” he raises one finger to his lips, asking Ian for quiet while he conducts his business. Ian nods, determined to comply and hoping he can manage it.
Victor and Ian move forward to the desk and Victor has a swift conversation with his Betas. They were expecting him, of course, and they move efficiently to ensure safety protocols are in order for Victor’s conversation with John and Joyce, as well as James Willard. The Betas glance uneasily at the child, but Victor doesn’t hesitate or apologize, so they move forward with the plan.
Inwardly, Victor smiles at the clean and efficient way his Betas move, following his orders and protocols without hesitation. He only sends his best to this facility, Betas who have been with him for five years or more and who have a spotless reputation.
The system of pack justice is complicated in that it allows Alphas to serve as both judge and jury in matters that pertained to the pack itself, but they have to maintain their own prisons to do it. This also
meant that these prisons have to be incredibly secure and well-defended because if a rival pack decides to break a prisoner out and succeeds, then it’s was no one’s fault but the Alpha’s for failing to defend his rights. There is no overarching system of justice to demand that that prisoner be returned until he faces justice. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
The Betas wave Victor forward and he takes Ian along with him, the boy’s hand securely held in his own. As they pass through two thick metal doors, Victor considers that the system of wolf justice is rather feudal, but that he prefers it this way. He’d rather be in total control of his enemies rather than under the sway of some political council.
The final door swings open and Ian gives a little squeak of excitement as they peer into the short room beyond, which has six white doors pressed shut into four white walls.
“You’re not disappointed?” Victor asks as they pass through, nodding to the two Betas who stand guard inside. “I thought you’d want to see iron bars and men in black and white stripes peering through them.”
“No this is way better,” Ian breathes, looking around and then up at his father. “Grandpapa had iron bars in his basement jail and we got out of that really easy. This one is much cooler.”
Victor works hard to stifle his laugh and pay attention to the matter at hand as the door locks behind them. Another nod to the Beta before them confirms that it’s time, and Victor and Ian move forward to stand before one of the doors. Then, to Ian’s surprise, his father leans down and picks him up, settling him on his hip.
“Do you want to push the button?” Victor asks softly.
Ian’s eyes go wide. “There’s…there’s a button?” Victor nods and gestures to a green button on the wall next to the door ahead of him. Ian’s eyes go as wide as they can, showing white all around his brown irises. There’s absolutely nothing more he wants to do in the world than push his button. Reverently, he nods his head.
Victor steps forward so Ian can reach and the little boy holds out his finger, pushing the button with a definite jab. Immediately after he does, the wall in front of them begins to change, fading from a solid white to a smokey grey and then, a moment later, to a clear barrier. Behind it stands John Walsh, his arms held firmly at his side, glaring at them.
“Dad,” Ian whispers. “This is the coolest place in the whole world. I love it here.”
Victor gives Ian a little glance, the corner of his mouth quirking up, but he keeps his focus on Walsh. “How are you, John,” Victor asks peacefully.
“You know exactly how I am, Kensington,” Walsh snaps, glaring at him, his eyes flickering to his grandson. He pauses a moment before adding, “you’d bring a child here, to this place? Not precisely good parenting, I think.”
Victor just shrugs. “He wanted to come, and one day he’ll be in charge of all of this. Never to early to get started.” He sighs and lowers Ian to the ground then, taking his hand before raising his eyes to hold his prisoner’s gaze. “Not that I’d take parenting advice from you any way, Walsh.”
Walsh’s lips lift in a snarl and Victor is pleased that the time in confinement has made this Alpha restless, angry, eager to get out by any means. Precisely the right mood for negotiation, at least from Victor’s side.
“How are you enjoying your stay?” Victor asks calmly, sinking his other hand into his pocket. “Is there anything we can get for you that you are not being supplied with regularly?”
“You can get me out,” Walsh snaps, taking a step forward. “I have been in here for weeks with no contact with my wife or my forces – I have rights –“
“You have no rights,” Victor corrects casually. “You lost your war, you lost your pack. They’re mine now. You are, officially, a wolf under my jurisdiction, and I decide your rank as well as your fate.”
“You cannot –“
“It is done,” Victor snaps, his voice definitive, and Walsh takes a step back, shocked at his tone. “The council approved the takeover more than a week ago. You were declared unfit after they heard your little…speech, regarding Betas and pack members as expendable fodder who only exist to serve you. As Joyce was likewise marked as unfit and you marked my children as the heirs to your pack, I have taken over as regent until they come of age.”
Walsh’s face pales at this news. Ian looks curiously between his father and grandfather, surprised to hear it himself. He would get a pack now? When did he come of age? He hoped, fervently, that it was next week.
“So you see,” Victor continues. “Your little plan for a pack takeover with my sons’ inheritance at the center of the plan did work. Just…not as you intended.” Victor smiles down at Ian, then, directing his next question to the boy. “What do you think, Ian? Will you enjoy taking over your grandfather’s pack?”
“Yes! I –“ Ian begins, looking up at his father with shining eyes, but he jumps and gives a little shout of fear when something slams against the plastic partition between them.