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And I’m more than humbled when they all touch their hearts for me. They’re my family now, too.
Yet the sound of a stone door opening cuts the happiness, and I gasp, shocked by the sight of two individuals being pushed into the room from the same hole Luna Eda was kept in.
Theresa and Timoth look horrible, smell of human waste, and I scrunch up my nose.
“Thank you, my Luna,” Xadiel says from beside me, he too standing now as we face the crowd. “Your heart is a treasure, and our people will forever remember your grace.”
The pack members cheer at this, clapping and some even whistling, all but the two who stare dagger at us. Timoth doesn’t speak, but the woman beside him can’t help herself, spewing her hate at me.
“A witch can never be our queen. The whore is unworthy of the title.” Beside me, Xadiel steps forward, his muscles tensing and body ready to attack, but I calm him by grabbing his hand. Her words don’t matter to me, but this needs to be handles with care.
“And you are, my dear Sister?” Eda and James take their place in front of us. While this is a public sentencing, the crime of treason and attempted murder is not one taken lightly by any species, and for them, this is personal on another level.
This is Xadiel’s aunt. The past luna’s sister.
And someone who was a trusted member of their community.
“It should’ve been mine all along, Eda. You stole my mate from me.” A lie, yet many in the crowd give an angry yip, insulted by the idea. “Our parents set up our marriage, his family agreed, but you showed up and I was cast aside like rubbish.”
“Because you’re not his fated, Theresa. This was never meant for you.”
“Bullshit! We could’ve been happy together!”
“Silence,” their alpha king roars, and the hall quiets. Not even Theresa opens her mouth. “What you did is the highest level of wickedness, Theresa Bancroft. You almost killed your sister, did murder your fated, and nearly cost me my luna. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty.”
“And you, Timoth? You face the same charges.”
The ex-beta looks haggard and done with the entire charade. He’s not happy, still as evil in his stare, but resigned at the same time. “Guilty. I took great pleasure in rising against you useless cunts. I could’ve led us out of the forest, dominated and castigated humanity, but you chose to stand beside the son of the old weak king and a pathetic witch…son of a bitch.”
“Never speak of my family that way. I’m done being merciful.” His life’s essence dances for me, comes a little closer, and I hold it there without pause. I can’t kill the way Gabriella can, but the pain she taught me to inflict is just as dangerous. It feels like death. As if your soul leaves your body, and the tug and dance game reflects against your organs. “We will defeat every single one of you. Your leader will never win.”
The next moments happen in a blink. One second, I’m inflicting pain, and the next, I’m behind a savage who holds his aunt by the neck. Timoth is on the floor and coughing, his body slow to stand, but before he can fully get to his feet—James is behind him.
Father and son tighten their grips. One has Timoth’s arms, forcing them back until there’s a resounding crack reverberating throughout the room, and the other tilts his aunt’s neck, exposing her throat. His intention is clear, to rip her apart, but then the woman speaks.
“Would you kill a family member for her? I’m your blood, Xadiel.”
Silence fills the room. My blood pumps so hard it fills my ears; a small part of me is afraid to hear this answer. Would he forsake me? Would he cast me aside again?
“I’d kill my own mum if she betrayed me or my mate. Isabella Moore is untouchable.” That last crack in my heart heals at the conviction—truth—in those words. It’s not an empty platitude meant to calm me, to appease my fears, but the vows of a man who loves and wouldn’t let harm come to me ever again.
“As he should.”
“Eda? How could you say that?” Theresa asks, her situation finally dawning on her. There is no escape. No more emotional strings to pull. “We’re family.”
“And by family you shall die.” My wolf grabs her hand with his unoccupied one and yanks, tearing the appendage clean off before tossing her at his mother’s feet. “She is your kill. Show no mercy.”
“Thank you.” Eda wastes no time in tackling the other she-wolf to the ground, straddling her waist and landing the first of many blows. She ruthless in her delivery while James forces Timoth to watch for a few seconds, thirty at the most, before ripping the scum’s head clean off and tossing it aside.
The wolves here stomp their feet, many shifting and growling as revenge and the blood of an enemy is spilled, yet I’m struck by a different sight. Xadiel kneels at my feet with her hand, ligaments and torn muscle showing, and neck bared. This is the ultimate sign of respect.
A king bending the knee for his female. Showing his pack that I am revered.
Tears spring to my eyes and all else fades away. I don’t care about Theresa’s screams or the howls from those watching; I drop my mine and cup his face. This act means more to me than words ever could.
He chose me.
