Page 51 of Broken Souls

“I didn't hurt her,” my father defends hopelessly.

“Your sentence is exile. You will live the rest of your life as a rogue. I think it's ironic; your sentence will be the life Elora's mother had to endure.” Axe gives my father a sadistic look. I never would have guessed that as my father's punishment. But Axe is right about the irony. “Soldiers, escort him off my land. The only things he takes with him are the clothes on his back.”

“You can't split me from my mate.” My father tries to pull out of the soldiers' hold.

“The moment I give you your sentence, you reason you can't be separated from your mate. You're not even trying to make things right with your daughter.” Axe looks disgusted. But I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. My father chose his mate over me, again. “I don't want to be someone who condemns someone to a life without their mate, but you did the same to Elora. You kept a young girl from ever knowing her mother. The pain you caused Elora will be the pain you now have to endure. Soldiers.”

I know Axe would be pained to separate two mates since he lost his mate and wouldn't want anyone to go through that, but in this situation, I know Axe feels what he's doing is fair. The soldiers drag my father away but he won't go smoothly.

“Elora, please, don't do this. I'm still your dad,” my father pleads desperately.

“If you have a problem with his punishment, you can tell me.” Axe looks to me. I look to my father who's on the verge of crying. If my father's punishment is exile, I know Axe will be merciless with his justice for me during the trials. He is fire and I'm the gasoline. If I want to add something, it will just fuel him even more.

“I don't have a problem with it,” I murmur. My father was never there for me when we lived in the same house so why should I care that he won't be living in the pack anymore?

“Case closed,” Axe states.

The soldiers finish dragging my father out of there. I look to Step-Bitch and she looks lost. Kieryn looks like he is in a place of regret. Well, you can't take back your crime now, you little shit.

“There will be one more sentence, then we'll end this meeting on a happy note,” Axe says. “Joel Lewis.”

Joel pales and slowly gets to his feet. He actually walks to the front without the soldiers needing to grab him.

“Joel Lewis. You committed the ultimate sin in werewolf history. Elora is your mate, and you rejected her. You are scum. You are a disgrace. You don't get a trial. Your sentence is solitary; locked away from all civilisation. After rejecting your mate, you deserve to be truly alone,” Axe declares.

I'm surprised by that sentence. I thought Axe would kill Joel in a heartbeat. But he hasn't been violent at all tonight. I guess solitary is the best punishment. After Axe says what Joel did, everyone in the crowd looks shocked. The three monstrosities' jaws drop at that news.

“But I tried to make it right with her. She turned me down.”

“I was saving this news for the end but there's not a better time than now. I could say the reason she turned you down is because you rejected her first but the real reason is...” Axe turns to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me by his side before giving Joel a haunting smirk. “I've mated Elora.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

There are a range of reactions around the room after Axe's statement. Joel looks like he's about to pass out. Kieryn looks like he's going to be sick. Step-Bitch actually looks like a cartoon whose eyes have popped out of her head. The three monstrosities are frozen in place. How does it feel that the little crossbred is mated to the alpha? I wonder what they could possibly say if I asked them that. Dash is trying to hide his grin. I feel good about their reactions. That is until I see Manson's. Anger is swirling in his eyes. I'm surprised he's still in his seat. Manson doesn't approve of me; his expression is proof of that. How will Axe deal with Manson not liking me? No wonder most of the pack hated me when they shared the same values as Manson. Axe really is changing a stubborn culture already set in their ways. Will the pack split after this meeting? If Manson objects to Axe's new authority, it could be a disaster.

“I challenge you.” All faces drain of colour and I'm no longer worried about Manson.

“Oh Joel.” Axe laughs derisively.

“I challenge you. If I win, I get her and no one can target me.” Joel's eyes are now dark with so many emotions. He looks at me and I stare back nervously. He gets me? Axe can't possibly be considering this. Just throw him in solitary and be done with it.

“Dash, you heard him. If he wins, grant him his wishes,” Axe tells Dash, and he nods.

I stare at Axe in disbelief. But then Axe winks at me and I know he's got a plan. The utmost jealousy I'll ever feel will be of Axe's confidence.

“Soldiers, take our prisoners and assign them cells. Jayceon, you're in charge of the prison. You know what to do,” Axe instructs, talking to one of the men standing beside Brian. Jayceon nods formally. “Everyone, we will move to the training arena for the challenge which will be in twenty minutes. Anyone who feels uncomfortable about witnessing this fight, you can leave and go home.”

Everyone jumps into action and starts leaving the building. As it empties, Manson gets on stage, grabbing Axe's arm roughly.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” Manson questions harshly.

“I am your son. You have raised me to be the emblem of strength. Trust me that I know what I'm doing. We can discuss later what you need to say,” Axe says wisely.

“What if there is no later?” Manson's words are sharp.

“If you believe that, you have no faith in me.” Axe walks off stage and leaves me standing there. I feel so small under Manson's scrutinising gaze. But Axe's mother who is standing beside Manson gives me an empathetic smile, which is something at least.

“Let's go, Elora.” Dash takes my arm in his and escorts me out of there. Once we're outside and have some privacy behind the building, Dash turns to me. “Do you want to be there?”