Landyn’s brow pinched. “It’s my understanding that she lives with her foster family and has since she was eight years old.”
“But she is in contact with her father. In fact, they met up very recently. I can prove it.” Ezra signaled to a man who Gwen recognized as his brother, Gerard. The male riffled through a briefcase and retrieved a brown envelope. He pulled out of a bunch of photographs.
“May I hand one to you?” Gerard asked the council. At Parker’s nod, he opened the gate separating the galley from the council’s space and crossed to the bench . . . but not before handing Gwen a photograph.
Gritting her teeth, she took it. The enlarged photograph was cool and smooth to touch, and it showed both her and Kenny sipping drinks. He was smiling at her. She had to admit, the scene looked pretty cozy.
“Miss Miller, what do you say to this?” clipped Emilio once Gerard returned to his seat.
Gwen rose to her feet. “Kenny Cogman called me a couple of weeks ago. He said that he was contacted by someone who is friends with the Moores, and he believed that me and my family were in danger.”
Harrison frowned thoughtfully. “Cogman was the person who warned you that it would be best to alter your statement?”
“It was more that he was asking me to do it as a favor to him, but he did point out that it was the best way to keep my family safe. The latter was my only interest.” With that, she sat.
“A pretty story,” said Ezra. “But it’s just that—a story.”
Landyn leaned back in his chair, expression skeptical. “Why would an anti-shifter human stand up at this hearing and speak against her own kind?”
“As I said, to punish my son for dumping her.” Ezra sighed. “She attacked him not so long ago. He went to her house to try to reason with her, to apologize for hurting her when he ended the relationship, but she attacked him with a bat—a bat she scrolled his name on, thinking she could pass it off as his. I have photos of his injuries.” The asshole signaled Gerard again, who then handed out said photographs. The whole time, Ezra continued to speak, “Brandt returned to her house a few days ago to try once again to make amends. He was threatened by the wolves over there.”
Parker spared the wolves a brief look, but then turned his attention to Rowan and Mack. “Both of you stand. Do you support your friend’s account of what happened?”
Mack cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s exactly how it happened,” said Rowan.
Brandt nodded. “I’m sorry that the cougar shifter was hurt, but I’m not responsible for it. I shouldn’t be at this hearing.” He looked at Gwen with heartbreak in his eyes. “Gwen . . . I don’t know how you could do this. You know I never meant to hurt you. He’s my dad—I have to honor what he says.”
Oh, for the love of God. Someone had better see through this shit or she was going to lose it. If it wasn’t for Zander touching her, keeping her calm, she’d have already snapped by now.
Parker gestured for everyone to sit and sent Colt back to the bench. “It seems extreme to me that someone would pin the blame of an assault on an ex out of spite.”
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” said Ezra.
Parker’s gaze slid to the wolves. “I know much about your pack. And I believe that you, Ally Marshall, are a Seer. Correct?”
“I am,” said the she-wolf, voice clear.
“Please come forward.” If the council member heard Derren’s low growl of objection, he didn’t show it.
Gwen and Zander stood so that Ally could shuffle past them. Shooting Gwen a reassuring smile, she then crossed to the chair beside the panel.
Parker clasped his hands. “As a Seer, you are able to sense the emotions of others. If Miss Miller was prejudiced toward our kind, you would sense it. Correct?”
Sitting, Ally nodded. “I would. I can firmly state that Gwen is not prejudiced toward shifters.”
“What about Brandt Moore?” asked Emilio.
Ally looked at the boy as she answered, “Around our kind, he feels hate. Repugnance. And fear.” Ally’s gaze met Parker’s once more. “My pack mates and I were there the day that Gwen met with Mr. Cogman. We heard the entire conversation. I can verify that Gwen was telling the truth when she spoke of her conversation with him.”
Harrison nodded at Ally. “Thank you, Miss Marshall.”
Ezra, ballsy as ever, stood. “I’d like to ask Miss Marshall a question, if I may.” He smiled at her. “You claim you can sense the emotions of others.”
Ally narrowed her eyes at his skepticism. “I can tell you what you’re feeling right now as a demonstration, if you’d like.”
Ezra’s smile faltered. “If you believe it is true, I shall take your word for it. But is it not worth considering that not all extremists are prejudiced? It’s not always that they dislike shifters as a race. Some humans simply don’t like how much land the shifters take up. Others may not like that shifters are so secretive that we don’t know enough about them to understand them. That’s not something you would pick up, is it?”
“I would pick up any emotions associated with those issues. In any case, I’ve spent a lot of time around Gwen Miller—day in, day out. If she felt anything negative toward shifters, I would have sensed it.”
At a gesture from Parker, Ally returned to her seat.
“The situation is as simple as this,” said Ezra. “It is Gwen Miller’s word against that of the three young men you see here. And let’s face it, her word keeps changing. I do not dispute that the cougar was attacked, though there is no evidence that she was ever injured, but it was not by my son.”
“She was a mess,” Gwen gritted out.
“But you have no proof that there were any injuries,” Ezra said with a smirk.
Gwen lifted a brow. “You sure of that?”
Ezra’s eyes flickered. “Photos can be doctored.”
“Then maybe the photos you provided of me and Kenny Cogman shouldn’t be considered reliable.”
“If my son were responsible for those injuries, the cougar would be here now, seeking justice.”
Parker inhaled deeply. “As it happens, she is here. She arrived not so long ago, and she would like to speak.” He gestured at a wolf manning the door on their right to open it.
Gwen’s heart pounded hard and she sat up straighter. Andie walked in, head high, shoulders back. Warmth and pride rushed through Gwen, and she couldn’t contain her smile—even though it was a little on the smug side as she noticed the sheer and utter dread on Ezra’s face.
Andie took a moment to seek Gwen out with her gaze. She shot her a smile that held only a hint of nerves. It was clear to see by the determination in her eyes that Andie was there for justice. Awesome, because it was exactly what she deserved.