Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 24

**Maxwell's POV**

*"If you were me, would you stay?"*

Briony's question haunted me as we walked through the morning fog. I'd never considered how she saw our pack - not as home but as a prison she wanted to escape.

The sky was barely brightening as we headed straight to my father's office. We'd decided there was no point trying to sleep.

My wolf paced restlessly inside me. Someone had been torturing Briony for years while we walked around clueless. Every protective instinct screamed for action.

"You okay?" Christopher nudged my arm. "Your aura's leaking."

I took a deep breath. "Just thinking."

We reached the pack house and headed for Dad's office. Light spilled from under the door even at this hour. I knocked once, then pushed the door open without waiting.

Dad sat behind his desk with papers everywhere. Beside him stood Raymond, Briony's father. They both looked up, surprised.

The sight of Raymond almost made me lose control. I forced myself to breathe.

"Sons?" Dad's face turned serious. "What brings you here so early?"

Raymond frowned. "We're busy. Can't this wait?"

"No, it can't," I said firmly. "This can't wait another minute."

Dad studied us carefully. "What's happened? Is someone hurt?"

"We need Delta Griffin, Gamma Thomas, and Luna here too," I said. "This involves all the pack leadership."

Dad silenced Raymond with a raised hand and reached for the phone. "I'll call them now."

The door opened as Mom glided in, wrapped in her silk robe. "What's going on?" she asked, scanning our faces. "Where's Briony? Is she okay?"

I noticed how quickly she asked about Briony, not us.

"That's what we're here to discuss," I answered.

Griffin and Thomas arrived minutes later. Once everyone was settled, Dad stood up. "Now explain what couldn't wait until morning."

I took a breath. "How long have you been helping Briony treat her injuries from being bullied?"

The adults exchanged quick glances, tension filling the room.

"What injuries?" Dad asked carefully.

Griffin stepped forward, arms crossed. "I've been helping her for a while. Why?"

"Do you know she's been whipped?" I asked bluntly. "That she has silver powder burn scars all over her back?"

Griffin's eyes hardened. "Yes. I've given her healing salve."

"This isn't the first time she's been burned with silver, is it?" Benjamin asked.

Mom gasped. "What silver burns? Griffin, you never told me about silver burns!"

"Because she asked me not to," Griffin answered. "She didn't want anyone knowing."

"Not even her father?" Noah demanded, glaring at Raymond.

Raymond's face stayed blank. "My daughter exaggerates for attention."

Noah's hands balled into fists, his control slipping.

"Enough," Dad interrupted. "Griffin, tell us what you know."

Griffin sighed heavily. "I noticed Briony years ago when she started training with the cubs. After a few months, I saw injuries. Not training bruises, but deliberately placed marks."

He paused. "For a long time, she wouldn't tell me where they came from. From what little she said, I knew the abuse wasn't happening at home."

"Last spring, she missed a weekend of training. When she showed up again, she was pale and thinner. It was only when I was teaching her a new technique that I saw her back and discovered the burns."

Griffin's voice grew heavier. "She insisted nothing could be done about the people hurting her. That they'd only get minor trouble if reported, and then they'd make her life even worse."

**Christopher's POV**

I couldn't stand Griffin's clinical description. The leadership needed to understand what Briony really went through.

"She wasn't just hurt," I cut in. "She was beaten until she almost blacked out. They poured silver powder into her wounds to make her suffer longer. Then they dumped her in Silver Pines and left her to die. She was out there for two days, and nobody even noticed she was missing!"

Noah was on his feet. "While we were celebrating our shifts, she was fighting for her life alone!"

Raymond cut in. "Calm down, son. Your sister is exaggerating. She was never missing, and if she'd awakened her wolf, I would know."

"How would you know?" Noah shouted. "You don't even acknowledge she exists! You've made her feel worthless!"

"Maybe she does deserve it," Raymond shrugged. "She's always causing trouble."

Noah moved so fast I barely saw it. In a second, he had Raymond by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

"Don't talk about her like that! You're not fit to be her father! I'm getting her out of that house!"

Griffin and Thomas pulled Noah away. The rest of us formed a barrier between them.

"That's enough!" Dad's Alpha voice commanded. "Griffin, continue."

Griffin kept a hand on Noah's shoulder. "So Raymond, your daughter wasn't exaggerating. That night, she was attacked, tortured with silver, and left to die. Her wolf emerged early - at fourteen - to save her life. She's been shifting for years while enduring continued abuse at school."

"Who would dare hurt a Beta's daughter?" Thomas asked.

"Someone with protection," Layla said quietly. "Someone backed by powerful people."

"Victoria," I said. "And she's not alone."

"You don't have proof," Raymond dismissed.

"We have Briony's scars," Maxwell countered. "And her word."

"Not enough in pack law," Raymond replied coldly.

"The evidence was there," Griffin said angrily. "Security footage, witness statements, all mysteriously erased. That's why Briony stopped reporting anything. The system was rigged against her."

**Benjamin's POV**

Silence fell over the room. Layla cried quietly while Ethan looked lost. Noah stood with his head down, hands opening and closing.

"That poor child," Luna Isabella whispered, tears running down her face. "We knew things weren't good, but never imagined they were this bad."

"We were too focused on ourselves," Noah said bitterly.

"Too busy with training, thinking about being leaders," I added.

"She's done more to protect this pack than any of us," Christopher said softly.

Maxwell straightened. "She asked us not to step in. Said it would make her look weak. But we can't let this continue. We need to stop the bullies."

Dad nodded slowly. "Despite how terrible this is, this is the first time I've seen all of you think like true leaders."

He turned to Raymond. "We'll need to discuss arrangements for Briony. Noah's suggestion that she move has merit."

"You have no right to interfere in my family," Raymond started.

"I have every right as Alpha," Dad cut him off. "Especially when a pack member is in danger."

He addressed all of us again. "I have business today that can't be postponed, but we'll meet again tonight. Noah, regarding Briony living elsewhere, it must ultimately be her choice."

Mom wiped her tears. "Where is Briony now?"

"Probably hiding at home," Noah answered. "She wore herself out last night - ran like lightning and can shift while running. Did any of you know she could shift?" He glared at the adults.

Mom smiled faintly. "We've been training female wolves to shift quickly. But no, I didn't know she could shift while running. That girl keeps surprising me."

"She needs time," Maxwell said. "We should leave her alone today."

We all nodded, and the meeting broke up. The three of us - Maxwell, Christopher, and I - left together.

"What's our first move?" I asked quietly.

Maxwell frowned. "We need to know more about the bullies. Victoria's clearly one of them, but there must be others."

"We need evidence," Christopher agreed. "Proof that can't be erased."

"Briony needs space today," Maxwell decided. "We'll talk to her tomorrow."