Chapter 98

“I don’t care what happens to the rest of them. I want Zavier hanged. He will be an example to this pack of what happens when people challenge me,” Valens was saying to the Elder who was to conduct the trial of Zavier, Skylar, and all who aided them in invading Redville.

So the trial started.

It took two weeks for us to work up from those who were minor parties in the insurgence before we made it up to the trial for Skylar and her father. They would all be tried on the same day , and their verdict was already settled.

I sat in the front row with Valens beside me. In the past two weeks, things had been strained with him. I wanted to pretend it was because we had so much to do, getting the pack together after the invasion and preparing for trials every day, but I knew I was wrong. I told him everything the moon goddess told me about my mother and since then, things changed. He had simply said he’d suspected after I got my magic, but nothing more than that.

“The Alpha will pronounce the verdict,” I zoned back into the trial when Valens left my side. He climbed up to the stand and looked at everyone in the room, his eyes lingering on me.

“Skylar Zavier, you are guilty of aiding and abating an insurgence, kidnapping, murder, and treason. I, Alpha Valens, sentence you to death by hanging.” The whole room went up in murmurs after that.

So far, everyone involved in the revolt had either been banished or gotten a prison sentence.

The teenagers involved in vandalism were tasked with restoring the pack lands to their former state. Even the three other packs that had been hit didn’t sentence anyone to death.

Beta Strauss and his mate who had been the champions of the attack on Levana’s pack were going to be locked away forever. Elder Bane, Maxwell, and James who were the heads of the dissenting elders were stripped of their titles, their wealth confiscated and their families banished from the pack.

“Alpha Zavier, for aiding and abating an insurgence, disregarding the code of Alphas, and evading justice, you too will face death by hanging. That is my judgement.” He got off the stand and the whole room went from murmuring right into an uproar.

He walked out of the room without a backwards glance, leaving me behind. I could not help the pang in my ch3st. Did he hate me now? We came in together without him saying a word to me now he left as if I did not exist.

Jabari and some men formed a human shield around me as they escorted me out. I turned to Jabari when we got to the car. “Where is he going?”

I didn’t have to say much more. He knew who I was talking about.

“Clover,” he explained but I did not understand.

“She did not stand trial for a reason.”

Zavier and Skylar confessed Clover had aided them in kidnapping me. She’d lied to Andrew that there was a surprise for me and Valens which he had to drive me to. The poor man believed her. Why wouldn’t he? Clover was a sneaky b!tch who even managed to get Valens to believe she could do no evil. Skylar did not trust Clover to deliver me to them so she sent her father and brother. Clover was the one that killed Andrew in his hospital bed.

For unknown reasons, Valens hadn’t wanted her to stand trial. I didn’t know where she was or if he had let her go like he first did but apparently she was still on pack lands.

“Take me there,” I said to Jabari. He looked skeptical as if he would refuse. “Take me there, that’s an order,” I snapped at him. He looked surprised and I felt guilty but I was tired of him treating me like a child.

I could not do anything except Valens said it was okay for me to. I was asked to testify against Skylar but Valens had declared there was no need for me to so that ended there. I wouldn’t let them shut me out and shut me up ever again.

Jabari took the car keys and drove to the oracle’s shrine. I’d started to doze off in sleep, thinking he was driving in circles to tire me out. We arrived at the shrine and a chill washed over me.

The new voice in my head which I had experienced while dealing with Skylar whispered in my ear, ‘Calm down.’

The voice was Artemis’ voice. My wolf had a better understanding of our magic without even having to try. The new voice’ was the way she spoke when our magic was triggered or when I was the most rested.

“What is she doing here?” I asked Jabari who shrugged.

“He took her here to pray for forgiveness,” Jabari was speaking when two men came out, both holding Clover’s bicep. Even in her state of wretchedness, she still managed to look stunning.

She’d lost weight, her skin had gotten paler and her collarbones jutted out but she was still the prettiest person I had ever seen. She looked frail and helpless as she was dragged out. She raised her head before she passed me. Her dull eyes lit on fire as she looked at me. Suddenly, she spat on my face.

My body froze as I recoiled. My arms went stiff, my body vibrating with a familiar burst of magic.

I had mastered a spell that burnt things and it was on the tip of my tongue but I held myself.

“I should have killed you myself,” she looked enraged as she spoke. Mad. “I should have killed you from the start, you thief! Valens is I slapped her across the face. The sound of the slap resonated around the quiet entrance to the shrine. I slapped her again.

“Whatever sins you have prayed away will not be forgiven. If Valens does not do away with you today, I will. Your ashes with be thrown into the gutters after I am done with you, Clover, as you are nothing but a worthless piece of sh!t desperate to hold on to relevance which you never had!” My voice raised, bouncing off the walls of the shrine.

I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her saliva from my cheek as Valens walked out of the shrine. He had been distracted while coming out but he paused when he saw me.

“What is going on here?” He asked. I turned and glared at him.

Your whore spat at your Luna. Thank you for the room and audacity you allowed her!” I snapped at him.

I went back to the car, Clover’s dry laughter following after me. My eyes burned as I got into the car and closed it. Tears trickled down my cheeks when I remembered I couldn’t drive so I was stuck there. I pressed my palms into my eyes to stop myself from crying when I heard the car door open. My eyes opened when the person got into the backseat with me. I knew it was Valens before I even turned to look at him.

“Why are you crying?” He asked, his eyes blank as he looked at me.

“Why am I crying?” I demanded. “Why am I crying, Valens!? She spat on my face and laughed.

Do you – She did that to me because of you!” I poked a finger into his ch3st.

“I am sorry,” he said in a flat voice, “I should have ended her sooner.”

Yes, you -” my words died in my throat. “What?

Are you – Are you -“

I lost my child because of them. Do you really think I would let Clover go? Do you think she is that special to me?” I looked at his eyes as he spoke and they scared me. Murder gleamed in his eyes.

“Are you I shivered. The look on his face scared me.

“She deceived me and I hate to be deceived.

Whatever favours I owe her have been repaid in full. Now, she owes me.” I had nothing to say after that. He had obviously made up his mind and there was no going back. “Do not cry. I will see you at the execution.” He pressed a k!ss to my cheek and opened the car door.

“Where- where are they taking her?” I asked.

“The graveyard.” I did not want to know anything after that.