#kabluey

Monster March 2026- Day 24- Werewolf

Kabluey Part 7

Records of All Manners

Sasha wanted to throw up. She had been both trying to prepare for today and dreading it at the same time. Because, her days in court had finally come to bring Jake and his father and others who were guilty of the crimes that had come against the Meadow Pack now had to answer for them. 

She wasn’t worried about seeing Jake again, or his dad Michael, or the others who had come to the call that Jake had made when he had tried to come and kill Tristan the last time they were in the same place at the same time. 

No, what worried her was the witness stand. She didn’t know if she had the nerve to try to talk about Jake’s assault. Even though the army of lawyers from the Brotherhood, the Alliance, the Coalition had taken a joint venture in this case, all of them had insisted that her pre-recorded testimony was more than enough. She just had a gut feeling that Jake or Michael would pull something. Insanity plea? Or something worse? 

But her army of lawyers assured her that they had more than enough ammunition to practically nuke Jake and Michael and the other guilty parties. Plus, Sasha had Tristan on one side of her and Zara on the other and her immediate family behind her, as was Tristan’s, and Maggie and Don especially were there. Representing themselves as both family and representing the Brotherhood too, today was the first day of court hearings the charges would be read and evidence submitted to make sure that each party accepted the mountain of evidence. 

And while Amaryllis was whimpering because she could feel Sasha’s anxiety as her own and it tore Sasha’s heart out to hear it as she tried not to break out in a sob and just jump the barrier to get Amaryllis and flee with her in her arms and just let Tristan handle this. And Ari wasn’t even 6 months old and obviously still nursing since her mom had put a nursing cover on. Autumn was trying to hold Amaryllis but Amaryllis was doing that ‘I have no bones, body is made of limp jelly’ tactic. And while Sasha appreciated the support, there was no way for everyone who supported her could come in here and honestly, Sasha wanted to keep this to as few people as she could. She did not want to relive the assault by having to talk about it to a court room full of people who she never met, let alone never wanted them to know the worst moment in her life. She felt violated even having to record the testimony in the first place but with Brie there for it, and holding Sasha’s hand since Brie had helped Sasha through that darkest of moments, she helped get Sasha through it and helped Sasha realize that all Sasha did was speak the truth, her truth and it wasn’t as much of a violation as it was- setting the record straight. But still, Sasha just sat and stared at the witness stand with dread. 

And then, something surprising happened. Patricia, Michael’s ex-wife and ex-Luna to his Alpha too, came in with Pam Hodgens, Michael’s secretary and assistant who had been Michael’s father Sean’s secretary and continued her work as the Official Secretary and Executive Assistant to the Meadow Pack and their Alpha and his leadership. She was always an exceptional records keeper and had been doing so since day 1 of her filling that position. But since Michael’s arrest, the Meadow Pack imploded and there was no longer a Meadow Pack. But that just meant that a new pack, the Knight Pack- took it over and got to replace it, practically overnight and was able to get into the Brotherhood without a problem. And they kept Pam on for their pack, serving the same job and function she had always served. 

Pam had still faithfully recorded everything, even down to the very last session the Meadow Pack had in the Pack Hall when it was decided to disband since the Meadow Pack had practically imploded ever since Sasha had tried to go there and plea her case but Michael had dismissed her before she ever got half way through her plea and especially since Michael and Jake and all those who had answered his call had been arrested, it left the pack without an Alpha, without a Luna and without anyone who could inherit it. Besides, the pack members who had stayed true to the Meadow Pack had much bigger problems and way bigger fish to fry since it came out that a Priestess of Aura had been there, defending Tristan as everything he was with the Brotherhood, the Coalition and everything else, they were all instantly screwed and had been arrested right in the Pack Hall, trying to have an emergency meeting, as their last meeting. Ever since then, they all had the Feds so far up their asses, they couldn’t tell which end was up anymore and would have their own day in court after all of this. 

Patricia came over and gave Sasha a hug and praised her for finally getting the courage to find her voice and making sure she was heard and had gotten an army of lawyers who had come together from so many firms and had salivated at the mountain of evidence. Patricia whispered something to Sasha as Sasha was thankfully hidden in Patricia’s voluminous chocolate curls that Patricia had done on purpose to hide Sasha’s reaction. 

“Thank you so much for coming. I’m sorry if this is hard for you.” Sasha offered as tears filled her eyes. 

“Sasha Sweetie? It’s not hard on me at all. Don’t worry about me. I’m so happy I could be here for you and support you however I can. Don’t worry about a thing, ok? Records of all manners. It's their own words against them. Not against your word, and definitely not against the mountain of evidence. None of them will ever see it coming, because they all made the mistake of underestimating us. Us girls got to stick together, through thick and thin. So just stay strong ok? Stay brave. Stay courageous. Justice will be served. I promise. Thank you.” Patricia whispered into Sasha’s ear. 

“For what?” Sasha asked as she pulled away. 

“For saving us all. You’ll see.” Patricia grinned with a nod at Sasha who gave a small smile in return before Patricia moved her attention to Tristan. 

“Hi Tristan, it’s always great to see you.” Pratricia offered sweetly as Tristan had already stood up and hugged her tight. 

“Thanks for coming.” Tristan murmured. 

“Of course. I wouldn't miss this chance to give and show support however I can. Especially to Sasha who needs it the most. The first day in court is always so jittery and makes everyone nervous. But it’ll get better. It’s going to be ok, you guys will pull through just fine. Just keep taking care of the best girl ever, like you have since the day you met her and every day since. I’m so proud of you for everything you’ve done and will continue to do. Sasha couldn’t be in better hands.” She praised. 

“Thank you.” Tristan replied gratefully, because while Jake was practically a sociopath, as was his Dad. Patricia was wonderful and honestly, a godsend and helped and gave support however she could, whenever she could and was the ally that was the most surprising for Tristan to gain, once Sasha revealed her as such. Because when the army of lawyers were collecting evidence, Patricia had been the first to offer everything she still had access to. And only hoped it would be enough for the cause, because she knew that every little bit helped.

“You and Sasha will get through this just fine, you’ll see.” Patricia offered as she pulled away and gave him an adoring smile and a nod before she withdrew, but walked by Zara who was there in her priestess of Aura regalia. 

“Always a pleasure to see you.” Patricia offered as Zara got up and hugged her. 

“I see you brought the fireworks.” Zara whispered in Patricia’s ear. 

“Yes I did and they are spectacular.” Patricia whispered before she gave a small giggle. 

“How’s that new man treating you?” Zara asked. 

“Legs are still mostly jelly. It’s a wonder I’m walking, let alone in heels.” Patricia snickered which got Zara to snort a laugh. 

“Let the show begin.” Zara offered as Patricia gave Zara a nod as her grin grew knowing and mischievous before turning she turned to Maggie and Don and gave them a little wave and happy smile to see them again before she walked over to where Pam was, who was seated right behind Michael. 

“Thank you for coming.” Michael thanked Pam once she had come into the courtroom, gave her polite nods but otherwise came to sit as close to Michael as she could manage as Michael had never wanted to hug another being more but was still in chains and chained to the table. But having her here was the most comforting thing in the world to him- in that moment. 

“Well, while the Meadow Pack disbanded, and my duties and my contract have been fulfilled at the hall at least, I still wanted to come, and try to be of service. And while this is a courtroom and not the pack hall, you are still an Alpha, whether you have a pack or not, or even if you and Jake are all that’s left of the Meadow Pack, at least in that respect, I still take this as my duty. ‘For the records, to keep them whole, to keep them complete so that not one thing is missing. Records of all manners. To the best of my ability’.” Pam repeated, always, that same phrase that was quite literally in her job description that she had written out herself on her first day at the Meadow Pack Hall. And for as often as she said it, and the way she said it, like everything they did mattered, that everything about the Meadow Pack was worth keeping an account of. For Michael, it had been for posterity. But now, it was a strange comfort to hear those words. Because for him, he had been worth remembering, as now, he wondered if it was a more of a cautionary tale at this point. Never put your own flesh and blood over the pack as a whole. Because that had killed his pack, and had killed countless others too. 

“It’s been my life’s work and it has been my honor to do so. And it should be done just as well today, as it was on day 1.” Pam insisted as she took out her trusty pen she always used. It was one of a set, one had blue ink, one had black and the only way to tell them apart was that the one with black ink had a black ring around the end, and the one with blue ink had a blue ring. They were a gift from Sean Lautner on her first day. They were pens that were exceptionally well made and had never once shown any wear in all these years. And she still had boxes of ink cartridges/refills for them as the “official pens of the secretary for the pack for records of all manners,”. Michael’s eyes grew glassy at her declaration. 

“Faithful to the last, Mrs. Hodgens. You have always set the standard of perfection for all secretaries to all packs, even for my pack of 2. It means the world to me that you’re here. Even when…the worst things…” He tried to say but his voice cut off. 

“Alpha Michael, it doesn’t matter what the records will say from this point forward, all that will matter is that they will be complete. They will be whole. Not one thing will be missing. Not even the end, whatever it will be. Records of all manners, remember? To the best of my ability. You are one of two left of the pack and you are still Alpha Michael Lautner of the Meadow Pack. That means my contract is still valid, because you are still here as you’ve always been, the Alpha. Just because the location has changed, doesn’t mean my record keeping will end. Also, thank you for sending me those tapes while you’ve been away with the various conversations you and Jake have had with your legal team as the pack members you two still are. It has helped a great deal. Because once I was able to transcribe what was said, it has allowed me to keep a record and it was outside of my ability to attain them in person. I was so anxious and so upset and distressed that the records would be incomplete, that so much of the records would be lost. I deeply appreciate your efforts to keep records even outside my own ability, but it was in yours. Thanks to your efforts in this endeavor, even as limited as you are. You made an extraordinary effort to use what you did have as a manner of record keeping, that it counts and thank you for signing them, even though I was only able to get the last pages for your signatures for filing.” She thanked him. 

“Records of all manners.” He nodded in agreement with a nod. 

“To the best of my ability.” Pam smiled and nodded and opened her portfolio where a legal notepad stayed, since Patricia had brought a bag of extra legal sized note pads and simply set it on the bench next to Pam before she had come over to greet Sasha and those with her. 

She and Patricia had given the legal team practically a mountain of copies of all the records of everything that she recorded for the pack for Michael's time as Alpha for the pack. They accepted but honestly, couldn’t waste time going through the mountain besides the records she had made the day Sasha had come into the pack hall, since this was about Sasha, but Sasha never came up again in the pack hall meetings. So to read transcripts about meetings that didn’t matter, was a waste of time. Especially since Zara, being a Priestess of Aura and with Sasha being under the Order’s protection, meant that this was so accelerated that the attorneys  assigned to them, had barely gotten a chance to look over all the overwhelming evidence in the case. But just knew that they honestly couldn’t do much of anything in their clients defense, especially when the Order never accepted plea deals. 

Then Patricia came over and sat down next to Pam as Michael and Jake were both surprised yet, comforted that she had come there anyway. Even when she had divorced Michael more than 2 years prior. Because the moment that Patricia learned what Jake had done, she demanded that Michael bring this to the Meadow Pack Hall so that Jake, even as heir apparent, would receive discipline, same as everyone else. And Michael refused, claimed Sasha was lying and believed his son, that he hadn’t done anything wrong. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for their marriage. She cut ties with Jake at first, horrified at what he had done, but still wouldn’t admit to, even now.  

And when Patricia had taken Michael to divorce court and had gotten full custody of the rest of her children, since Jake was an adult and still chose to live with his father, who just kept turning a blind eye and between Jake and Michael, they were such horrible influences on her other children that the court agreed with her on that. She still got a ton of child support and alimony and the best of Mike’s assets and just a few privileges of access that she maintained was for Jake’s benefit once she had appeared to come around since she was still his mother after all and to continue to be the primary assistant to Pam, that she had always been, whether she was Luna or not. Patricia had remained civil, and even polite, some would say cordial even- to Michael since and while she was no longer Mike’s Luna, that didn’t mean her purposeful presence everywhere else wasn’t felt thanks to those privileges she got to keep. Besides, without having to be Mike’s Luna and her duties in the Pack had ceased as the pack’s Luna. However, her other roles she played that didn’t have anything to do with her Luna status she could still keep. And while her remaining roles took a fraction of the time it used to be, she very wisely spent her time elsewhere and had already reaped the benefits.   

“Thank you for coming Patricia.” Michael offered. 

“You’re welcome. You were my husband once upon a time and I’m still Jake’s mother. I owe it to both of you to be here. Plus, as Pam’s assistant, I have a duty to her as well.” Patricia offered serenely, in a tone that would keep her above suspicion as Jake and Michael smiled appreciatively and turned around before Patricia turned to Pam and the two shared a small grin and a nod. 

The court proceedings started and everything seemed normal at first. 

But as the court dates proceeded, and it was time to call witnesses to the stand, the first witness from Sasha’s head Lawyer, Mr. Maxwell. And to Michael and Jake’s shock, it was Pam as their Lawyer, Mr. Fisher, rifled through his bag to grab the transcript from Sasha’s time in court, since that was, to Mr. Fisher, the only relevant thing in there even though Pam insisted that he needed to keep the whole record of that day, so that that single record for that single day would be complete which Michael insisted would be the only thing to keep her at ease. 

Mr. Maxwell began with the usual questions and Pam’s answers were neutral, as Michael and Jake figured they would be.

“Mrs. Hodgens, I understand that when you worked for Alpha Sean Lautner, that you insisted that he sign an agreement. As Exhibit A, can you verify that this is a copy of that agreement?” He asked as Michael remembered that when he had become Alpha, he had signed the same agreement to keep Mrs. Hodgens as the secretary and assistant since she was quite literally the best records keeper ever. It was about record keeping but since it was always a stack that had the pack meeting’s transcripts and he just always turned the stack upside down, and signed his name for her to put in the filing cabinets for the year as she was able to keep the previous year’s copies off site at her discretion, which he never had a problem with and even when Sasha had come through, he just wanted to sign it and have it filed away and figured it would never be a problem. Even though it had been unusually thick. But he hadn't cared to see why. 

“Yes.” Pam nodded. 

“And for Exhibit B, this is the same agreement that was signed when Michael took the Alpha position in the pack.” Mr. Maxwell offered as she looked at it and nodded. 

“Yes.” Pam affirmed. 

“It’s interesting verbiage that is used in both agreements, “records of all manners”. Can you explain to me what that means?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“That all manners pertaining to the Alpha and his leadership and the pack is recorded, transcribed and filed. For the records, to keep them whole, to keep them complete so that not one thing is missing. Records of all manners. To the best of my ability.” She repeated, not having to read it, but knew it by heart as the author. 

“And how long have you been keeping these ‘records of all manners’ for?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Since my first day as the secretary and assistant to the Alpha of the Meadow Pack.” She answered before she gave the date and time as Mr. Maxwell read from Exhibit C which was that first day’s first page as he handed that to the judge to see for himself, that she could still recall it from so long ago, as if it had happened only minutes ago.  

“And that was Mr. Sean Lautner, Michael’s late father, correct?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Yes.” Pam nodded. 

“And when Mr. Michael Lautner was appointed as the Alpha of the Meadow Pack, since he was a new Alpha, he signed this agreement as well?” He posed. 

“Yes.” Pam confirmed. 

“Now, there is one other piece of verbage, that I’d like to point out, was that you had in both agreements, that you specified- “whoever it would be,” is that correct?” Mr. Maxwell continued. 

“Yes, my agreement is always with the Meadow Pack first, and then to Alpha of the Meadow Pack, whoever that may be. Not all packs are hereditary. Alphas can be elected, by a democratic vote. And one never knows when a pack can change from one way of selecting leadership, to another.” Pam explained. 

“That is very smart of you to do. Especially when all manner of things can happen to pack leadership.” Mr. Maxwell commended as Michael still stared daggers at Mr. Maxwell’s back for that last comment. 

“Yes.” Pam nodded in agreement softly. 

“Now, for exhibit D, this is an example of one day’s worth of records. It’s actually quite heavy and there’s a lot here. How long does it take Alpha Michael Lautner to go through them?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“His average is about 5 seconds, between me putting them on his desk and his signature to the last page, before he hands it back to me to file.” She answered. 

“He goes through this entire stack in just 5 seconds?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“He has claimed that he has remembered all that he said and does not need to read it on the page as well. And has claimed that he has heard all he needs to know from his leadership team and does not need to read their words as well since he will also remember what they said to him. But they are complete, and whole, not one thing is missing. Records of all manners. To the best of my ability. ” Pam answered. 

“Now what I find interesting is that there are two colors of inks used in these records. One black, one blue. Why is that?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“It is to differentiate the manner in which the record was taken. Black ink is for formal proceedings in the pack hall, the blue ink is to make a record of what was caught on the cameras of the security system and all other goings on in the pack hall when the Meadow Pack would meet for various reasons. If anything happened at the pack hall, there would be a record of it.” She offered. 

“How in the world can you manage to make a record of everything?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Well, it is true that I can not be everywhere at once to hear everything that everyone says. I have an excellent team of assistants that help me and they too help transcribe everything so that their many hands make the work load quite light. I could not have done anything if it wasn’t for my excellent team of assistants. Especially for what those in every position in leadership might say in their offices, because there are no microphones, only a lone camera that may show any activity for the Alpha and his leadership in their offices at the pack hall. However, I still have a duty to record everything, to the best of my ability, no matter when or where the Alpha and his leadership would discuss pack affairs and politics.” She answered. 

“When you say offices, do you mean only the offices at the pack hall?” Mr. Maxwell asked as he kept his face neutral even though he could practically feel Mr. Fisher, Michael and Jake tremble through the floor as they suddenly realized just how dangerous this now was. 

“No. As you know, the members of pack leadership conduct all manner of pack business outside the pack hall. That is why I have entrusted the recording of all pack business that is discussed outside of the pack hall to others who are there where it happens. Especially their offices at home. And all that is recorded through other means to make a record. That is why it specifies who had recorded it, by what manner or method was used in its recording, then transcribe the recording onto paper.” Pam answered. 

“Why do you transcribe everything onto paper?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Because technology changes, technology breaks, methods of recording change. And precious records can be lost, or even discarded, or deleted or altered, especially in this digital age. And if that happens, the records will be incomplete, they will not be whole, that is why I have worded the agreement the way I have, because as technology changes and methods of recording change with it, instead of specifying all the methods of recording that can constantly change, instead of signing a new agreement for every new method of record keeping. I simplified it to ‘records of all manners’; it leaves room for change. It is a simple and elegant solution that encompasses all the methods, and therefore falls under all manners, without the hassle of creating an exhaustive list of the methods.” Pam explained. 

“And with paper, the hard copies, that are stored correctly in a facility that keeps the ideal stable conditions, the records will always be there. As whole and as complete as possible to the best of my ability.” Pam answered as it suddenly dawned on Michael why Patricia wanted to keep her primary assistant position with Pam for the last two years. She was helping collect every shred of evidence she could get her hands on. Because while Sasha was the final straw, it didn't mean that she was the only skeleton in Jake’s closet or Michael’s for that matter. 

“Now, who were your assistants to get all these other manners of records to you?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Most of them are the wives of pack leadership which is usually dominated by males, as their wives are usually their own personal assistants. They are able to record pack business as it is discussed. And thanks to many advancements in technology, I was able to use their various methods that fall under all manners so that I could do my best to make the records whole, complete, with not one thing missing, to the best of my ability.” Pam expounded. 

“Now, what I find interesting is that you have a separate sheet for the assistants to sign. This is Exhibit D. Could you please read what it says?” Mr. Maxwell requested. 

“Of course.” Pam agreed as he handed her the document, yet Pam could quote this word for word also. 

“As assistants, since they have the duty of assisting me, Mrs. Pamala Hodgens as the Secretary and Assistant to the Meadow Pack’s Alpha and that Alpha’s leadership. Due to conflicts of interest. No assistant may be in leadership beyond the Alpha’s Luna. Since all other assistants are not in leadership, even if they appear in the records themselves, they, in their faithful service of collecting records of all manners so that they may remain whole, remain complete, with nothing missing to the best of their abilities as well, will have immunity just as I, Mrs. Pamala Hodgens also has immunity. And that they are not responsible and can not be held accountable for what is in the whole, complete records about themselves since the casual nature in which they gather these records would encroach on personal and private family life. If any assistant is a mother, their children will have the same immunity, until the age of 16. And then they must be accountable for their own actions. Since they most of all need to be protected as the most vulnerable members in the pack.” Pam read. 

“Again, that is very thoughtful for you to include a special protection for mothers and their children. Why did you draw this up on your first day, working for the Late Alpha Sean Lautner?” Mr. Maxwell inquired.   

“Because on the first day, I noticed that the way Alpha Sean Lautner conducted pack business in the pack hall, there was a disturbing detail. While the young ladies and their mothers were allowed to cast a vote in the meeting hall, they only counted that one vote for themselves. However, when their fathers casted their votes, he, as the head of his house, meant that his vote came with additional votes that covered his spouse and all of their children. So if a family of five came in, having two sons and a daughter all of which would be over the age of 16, if the mother and daughter voted either for or against any ruling, their own single votes would be counted. However, if the father and the two sons voted the opposite, the father would have his one vote equal to the number in his family. So in this example, the father’s vote would count as 5 votes. And then the son’s votes would be counted again, each one as their one vote for themselves as well. So in this way, it was not fair that the mother and daughter’s votes of 2, would never be enough to combat the seven votes total that the father could count between himself and his sons. And there was always meetings between the Alpha and his leadership with all the fathers and all boys, even as young as 10, could be a part of so that before the meeting at the pack hall, the entire pack, no matter how the girls, young ladies and women voted, they would never be in the majority and whatever agenda that was decided in the pre-meetings would pass.” Pam explained. 

“Did you ever ask Alpha Sean Lautner why that was?” He asked. 

“Yes, it is in day 2’s records.” She answered before he pulled out a copy of that as Michael knew this was going to dig his grave. 

“Yes I have that here, would you please read the highlighted section?” Mr. Maxwell requested. 

“Yes…” Pam read the entire conversation. 

Tristan’s jaw was on the floor as were others in his immediate family. But not Sasha, who already had known about this, she just sat in resignation, since she got to learn all about this from Patricia. 

“So, you made this, as a protection for the women and the children?” Mr. Maxwell posed. 

“Yes, because I would like to read a comment that Alpha Sean Lautner had said in the privacy of his own office, but thanks to tape recorders I had put all around the pack hall, in every office, in every place that I could think of at the time where I could make a full record, a complete one, with nothing missing, to the best of my ability. And since I was not allowed to be in those pre-meetings, even when they used the pack hall as the location. It was the only way for me to keep a record of all things pertaining to the Meadow Pack. Since it was the pack, that I truly have served. However, Alpha Michael who was then Heir Apparent, since he had watched as a boy and a teen how stressed and anxious I would get about the pre-pack meetings and it      technically put my duty to the pack as a whole in jeopardy, he agreed that the pre-pack meetings, since they were at the pack hall, he made me a promise, that when he would become Alpha, he would disband the practice of pre-meeting meetings, and he promised that when he became the Alpha, he would let each pack member have only their one vote count for themselves, no more corrupted way of counting votes. And he made sure that any recording equipment that would be found, he and his friends had claimed that they saw it in any media that spies and espionage and when technology changed to better methods of recording like a security system, so that I wouldn’t have to rely on hidden recording devices anymore, which did make things for me at the Pack Hall much easier. And he helped me keep the records for the pre-meeting meetings. And especially since it was forbidden by Alpha Sean Lautner should anyone reveal the true voting counting system, even as rigged and corrupt as it was, would face the following consequences that I have kept a list of, since he would continually add or subtract any or all manner of threats and consequences to keep his absolute power of the Pack and it’s politics. That is why he became my official assistant, to grant himself immunity too. And when Alpha Sean discovered our other methods of record keeping, he realized that he was faced with a problem he could not solve without exposing his own corruption. And since he had already granted me immunity and since he could not dismiss me for not doing my duty as what he had hired me for, nor could he discipline Michael for technically doing the job that he had already signed off on, Michael made a deal of his own with his father, a deal that came with its own promise to his father. And that was that when he became Alpha, he would make sure that I included all the records of all manners in his report of what happened in the Pack Hall. Every day that I had something to put into the record. To which, Alpha Sean agreed to. And with the work around being the security system, there would be nothing to happen at the pack hall done in secret for me to record by other means in the first place.” Pam explained. 

“So, did Alpha Michael keep his promises? About the pre-meeting meetings? About the votes? About this counting system change when Michael Lautner came to be Alpha?” Mr. Maxwell inquired. 

“At first, yes. However, whenever the pack, having not been guided the same way his father had guided their fathers, would vote how their conscience dictated it, and if it was against how he wanted things to go, he then reserved the right to enact the traditional counting system if it would sway the vote in his favor. He claimed it was a system that had kept the Meadow Pack running perfectly smoothly for 9 generations of his family at that point. And since it wasn’t broken, there was no need to fix it when it could be still be useful, especially when it Alpha Michael felt it was needed. And then he added one more troubling detail, that ‘if any one came into the pack hall to present what he had claimed were “false cases” he had the right to veto them and that his decision to veto meant that all pack members present counted as a unanimous vote’.” She answered. 

“And while he did disband the pre-meeting meetings at the pack hall, when he became the Alpha, he would still have them, but on the weekends disguised as socializing. However, once the former Luna, Patricia Lautner had realized what her husband was doing, when she had double checked something in the records and saw proof herself that her husband was following in his father’s footsteps in a manner of speaking, following the same patterns that his father followed. Her response was to formally request to have an arts and crafts workshop at the pack hall for the children and it would include socializing among the mothers. However, she requested that for those activities at the pack hall that she sign off on those meetings, since they would still be at the pack hall, and in the security system, but also that while having it recorded by me was one thing, but that she did not want Michael or any of his leadership digging through what would be considered private family matters from others, and requested that those records also be sealed, and only unsealed by her as a protection of privacy if not for the families as a whole, but especially the children that would be there and Alpha Michael Lautner readily agreed and signed off on it. In addition, even when she stepped down as Luna, since it was still a tradition once a week to meet with all the mothers and their children for a unifying community outreach program, she retained the power and right to sign off on those reports and have them sealed.” Pam explained. 

“So, what about all those records by all manners?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Every female member of the pack- aged 16 and older, had signed on as my assistants and at these meetings, that was when they all would give me all records they would gather by whatever methods they deemed appropriate and necessary and they had even included their own transcriptions of their own records, just in case they needed to erase or destroy the records via any type of media after they would be downloaded onto my memory bank- so that would keep themselves safely above suspicion to their husbands, to their fathers, their brothers, to the leadership and to Alpha Michael Lautner most of all, just in case he were to bring back all the previous threats and rules about breaking away from the pack. However, because Alpha Michael Lautner had been using the vote counting system that his father had used, and since I put into the records by which method was used to achieve the final decisions, it meant that when Patricia as Luna asked, I did not say anything, which is also in the records. But the previous Alpha had only stipulated speaking about the voting system, but that the Alpha and the Luna could access any records for any reason at any time. So I showed it in the records as an answer. And it was Patricia as Luna who decided to pass that particular record around. And then, made it her own voting system as well. This time, it was the daughters who got twice, it was the mother’s votes that counted for her entire household. And because they were all immune as assistants, meant that they would never have to fear any retaliation against the Alpha or any of his leadership either, and it also protected them from their husbands and sons of any and all ages. In this way, by using records of all manners, I have been able to keep a true record of all that has happened within the pack, for all of Alpha Michael’s leadership.” She recounted, always staying perfectly neutral, objective and simply stating facts, as was her way.

“Thank you Mrs. Hodgens. Now my next question was if Alpha Michael signed off on the recordings of all manners, being involved as an assistant, wouldn’t he have known or at least suspected that you would continue your rather covert way of gathering records? Using the umbrella term in ‘records of all manners’?” Mr. Maxwell asked. 

“Yes.” Pam nodded. 

“Now, surely there is no way to transcribe footage, or pictures beyond a description when there is no audio correct?” Mr. Maxwell prompted. 

“Correct, that is why I have since had a hard drive to keep all manners of media safe as well which is the most vulnerable and susceptible of records to being altered. And it is always with me and I have made sure that it contains everything that is described in the records as well. And that it has many firewalls and many layers of protection and encryptions to keep it safe, and only I, and one other person has the access codes. Myself and my Lead Assistant. And all media files on it have- I believe the correct term now is metadata. So that digital forensics can inspect the media to authenticate it and confirm that it is not altered in any way and that when and where it was taken is correct as well, since many have- again, I believe the correct term is geotags as well.” Pam explained as she took it out and showed it to the judge. 

“And is it true that you have also provided all the media that that drive contains and submitted it as evidence along with all of your other records?” Mr. Maxwell posed as Michael and Jake knew they were about to be eviscerated. It wasn’t Sasha’s or Zara’s word against theirs, it was their own. And every dirty little secret that they thought they had that they had assumed would never see the light of day. 

“Yes of course. So that the records may remain whole, so that they may remain complete with not one thing missing. Records of all manners. To the best of my ability.” Pam confirmed. 

“Your honor, I believe that now, everyone can attest that all the records that Mrs. Hodgens has taken great pains and extreme care in collecting and preserving all manner of records through all means possible so that it is wholly correct but also so that it may stand as its own true witness, without opinion, without bias, without question or deniability in this case and can be taken as the factual objective record that it is?” Mr. Maxwell petitioned. 

“No objection.” Mr. Fisher shook his head no. 

“Excellent.” Judge Gardinia smiled happily as she confirmed such a request. 

Thankfully Sasha did not have to attend court nearly as much as she thought she would. And instead everyone took turns as that blessed records of all manners and the written agreements to the immunity of those who took them, meant that it was only the guilty parties that faced justice. And the media frenzy ate it up and even as Jake and Michael tried to plea their case to the media, the backlash once all the dirty laundry came out, made The Meadow Pack synonymous with corruption and with Maggie and Don also speaking for The Brotherhood and that this was why they had not been accepted into the brotherhood and then listed Lance’s pack as another example before even Lance’s pack got heat for what he had done to Sasha too as the Brotherhood got them on their list too. Sasha never had to do any press, never had to give any interviews, which was a relief to her, but that also meant that Zara did and got to call bullshit in the media for Michael and Jake’s interviews too. And Pam, was only on record for saying what she always had. ‘For the records, to keep them whole, to keep them complete so that not one thing is missing. Records of all manners. To the best of my ability’ and was seen as the perfect example and gold standard for all secretaries for all werewolf packs and even clans and any other type of people who still held onto a similar organization structure for them as well. 

True to Patricia’s advice it did get much easier for everyone. The only things Sasha had to go onto the witness stand for was about going into the pack hall and trying to plead her case and immediately got rejected and denied my Michael, which the records did in fact show and how Patricia pulled her and Pam aside so that what she would have had to say and what proof she had would still be collected and still put into the record for anyway, because it still happened and thanks to Patricia’s community outreach program, she and everyone with her, with Sasha there, revoted the matter without Sasha having to say a word and they had it in their own record how it was repealed and how Sasha was given the only justice Patricia at the time could give. Which was recognition of the severe wrong and the crime, the harm Jake had inflicted on her and their general refusal to believe anything that came out of either of those two’s mouths- by every girl, every woman that Jake had done a serious crime and while Sasha did not wish to pursue any further legal action at the time, that was enough for her at the moment. But now, because she had signed off on her permission that at any time for any reason that all proof and evidence could be brought back, which Sasha was glad that she had signed, both as a minor and as an adult too, thanks to Patricia’s efforts and Pam’s insistence that it stay in the records, sealed away from Michael and Jake so that they would never destroy it or doctor it. 

Otherwise the only other time she had to attend was as a witness to the very public threat and attempted premeditated murder which thanks to the text messages being saved, couldn’t be erased or destroyed either. And because Tristan was there with her, and her family and her inlaws there as the support they were, and even witnesses because they too got to hear everything too and others had recorded it and posted it to the internet and had submitted the recordings and came in and gave their testimony too. The mountain of evidence just kept getting bigger and more damning and Mr. Fisher tried to do what he could but there was no way he could get them a plea bargain or anything and simply refrained from asking any cross examination questions, only to have Michael Lautner take the stand and Jake Lautner take the stand and simply try to give any excuse they wanted before cross examination from Mr. Maxwell ripped them both to shreds. And other than getting apologies and confessions. They weren’t left with anything to ever atone for their overwhelming amount of sins. Jake especially had to admit to everything he had ever done because as Heir Apparent, he had his own set of records too. And his were especially damning, because he bragged about what he had done to others. And because of his mother getting copies of all of his text messages and copies of the phone calls themselves. All he could do was admit to everything and was forced to take all responsibility for his actions and had to admit to why he had obsessed over her- it was because she was arctic tundra, even if she didn’t visually express it like most others did. He simply saw her as a prize and willing to do whatever it took to claim it, even when he had no right to or permission to, and he had raped her trying to impregnate her so that he would have a tie to her bloodline. It wasn’t about Sasha as a person, he only saw the bloodline and that’s what infuriated Sasha the most. But at the same time, it only showed how pathetic he was too. 

Zara’s testimony was suckerpunch, and Andrew’s, complete with a back up of everything else and thanks to his computer skills was able to demonstrate why his metadata matched Pam’s. Then for Khiro and especially Brie who had witnessed everything too. And once again, to have Tristan there who was such a calming, reassuring presence helped the most and when he got to the stand, he gave the final blow. Because they had been destiny mated and their pairing was something that they both felt. But also because without the Brotherhood, without the Coalition, without his pack or his place in it. He was Sasha’s mate, plain and simple and it had nothing to do with her bloodline, but everything to do with her as a person and that’s what made all the difference and with him recounting meeting her previously and how it was practically love at first sight for him and even if she would reject him, how he was prepared and ready for that too, just incase Sasha couldn’t feel it as a ware. But that he respected her and her choice either way. Even if she decided to not choose him. Because he loved her and wanted her to be happy even if that wasn’t with him. But since she had, he outlied what steps and what actions he had taken to keep Sasha safe, to keep her family safe, to keep himself and his family and their pack safe. And admitted to even the smallest of things that Sasha hadn’t noticed before but that meant the world to her that her trust and faith in Tristan to always take care of her- was very well founded and placed. And it was the one time that Sasha happily took the stand to confirm it, confirm that she did have just enough ware in her to see and recognize Tristan as her mate and what courting rituals she had reciprocated with and how, even if she did have any ware at all in her, even if Tristan wasn’t ware at all either, she’d still choose him and still love him regardless. Because who Tristan was as a person was all she ever cared about. And even if he wasn’t ware himself and the roles were reversed, she too would have 

And he was practically made into a media darling as the perfect example of what werewolves in this modern era should be. 

At the judgement, it was a packed house and the jury was unanimous, guilty on all charges. And Judge Gardenia was happy to give maximum sentences. And once court adjourned, Pam gave Michael and Jake and everyone else one last message.  

“I hope you all rot in hell. The hope to finally have these days long overdue days in court were the only way I could survive being a secretary to the worst, most despicable pack in all of waredom. I’m so happy that everyone you all tried to hurt survived and got to see the very long overdue justice finally get served you mangey mongrels.” Pam offered in the most dangerous growl that had ever come out of her before. 

“You tell ‘em Pammy.” Maggie offered as she put her arm around Pam’s shoulders as it suddenly dawned on them that Maggie and Pam were actually related as they had never noticed the family resemblance before the two were standing together, as the wares in them finally seemed to realize and understand that the most meek and mild and underestimated pack member who wasn’t even part of the Meadow Pack at all, just the secretary, was the cousin of the Grand Alpha Female of the Brotherhood herself as Pam finally seemed to drop the disguise she had always hidden behind, hiding the fact that she was actually the largest, most terrifying and ruthless enemy, hiding in plain sight, only needing the perfect opportunity to strike with deadly force. Because Sean Lautner had done to Maggie what Jake had tried to do with Sasha, and this was the best way Pam knew how to get back at him, by destroying the very legacy he dearly loved by going after wares with the right 'blood lines' instead of the ware as a person. He had failed then and his grandson failed now and ended that dynasty for good.

“I’m really happy you decided to go with our maiden name for the new pack. The Knight Pack. It has a really good ring to it.” Maggie offered sweetly to her cousin. 

“Me too, and Gary is so happy to agree. And Patricia is going to lead that pack as Alpha in the right direction. She’s seen how not to do things. And now it’s her turn to do things right. That’s what all those girls and young ladies and women deserve. I’m really happy she’s opened it up for other survivors who have had similar circumstances happen to them from all over, even the ones who aren’t ware. She’s so gifted and so intelligent when it comes to community outreach and never making things about herself, but about the pack as a whole, and the ones who need the protection the most. Which is what every Great Alpha should do, and she's made things completely democratic! I'm so proud of her.” Pam gushed happily. Because now, no longer his secretary or having to be objective or neutral, but finally express herself as herself before she wrote ‘The End of Meadow Pack’. On her notes, putting an end to them before turning the notebook over and showing them before they were taken away to prison.