Chapter 35

We’re in a different room this time, one that reminds me of a convention room. A massive round table sits in the center, surrounded by at least fifteen people. The room is thick with tension, the result of so many Alphas in one place. But my attention is drawn to one person only… Jackson, the man I believed was my father for so many years.

Our eyes meet, locked in an intense stare. To an outsider, his face might seem devoid of emotion, but I see through that. I see his anger and sadness. I feel another pair of eyes on me, burning into the side of my face.

I tear my gaze away from Jackson to meet the stranger’s. His eyes, green and intense, scan my face. His long brown hair falls over one side of his face, while a scar mars the other. He doesn’t hide it, instead using it as a symbol of power. I maintain my composure, not letting my nerves show.

Something flickers in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can identify it.

“Katelynn Moon, you stand accused of treason. How do you plead?” The absurdity of the situation almost makes me laugh, but I manage to keep my face neutral.

“Not guilty, king.” My voice wavers slightly from my usual tone, and I can tell by the king’s annoyed expression that he noticed.

“Katelynn,” the king begins, but the tension in the room spikes. I glance at the Alpha who had been staring at me, his power radiating off him.

“Your majesty, shouldn’t we offer the girl a seat before we continue? She hasn’t been proven guilty yet.”

His tone is casual, almost bored, but the dominance in his voice tells a different story. The king’s annoyance shifts from me to the man.

“Alex. She is guilty.” Alex clicks his tongue in response.

“Ah, but she’s only guilty if we all agree. Aren’t those the rules, my king?” I see the king clench his jaw, and he gives a slight nod that I almost miss.

I take the only available seat, keeping my back straight. I rest my arms on the sides of the chair, as if I’m bound to it. I can’t afford to appear threatening now.

“Little girl, it’s said that you planned to kill the king. Is that true?” I let out a small sigh, causing Alex to twitch his mouth in response.

“The king broke the law. He took a challenger prisoner. The king may be the king, but the laws are blessed by the Goddess.” Alex leans closer to me, his intense gaze almost making me blush.

“Are you suggesting the king is unfit to rule?”

I nod.

“Are you suggesting it would be better if the king were dead?”

“Perhaps it would be, but that doesn’t mean...”

“You have magic, don’t you? You could easily kill the king, couldn’t you?”

“Yes, I have magic but I don’t...”

“So, the king wasn’t entirely wrong, was he?” My anger flares. I stand up quickly, looking down at Alex.

“I didn’t want to kill the king. His son is my mate, his mother will die too if the king dies.” Another Alpha chimes in.

I look at Jackson with pleading eyes, but his gaze is fixed on the wall straight ahead.

“You only mentioned his son and mother. Are you starting a rebellion?” I shake my head vehemently.

The king presses a button on a remote I hadn’t noticed before. I hear sounds behind me, but I know what he’s showing before I turn around.

“... A plot to kill your king?”

It’s our conversation before the fight, where I asked him if he came back for more of my fire. Jackson looks at me in shock and disappointment. I shake my head rapidly. This isn’t right.

“You haven’t shown them what I said before that. I don’t want to kill the king. You’re a liar and you’ve been one for a long time! I know.” My words are cut off by an older Alpha.

“Shall we vote?” The other Alphas nod in agreement.

My heart pounds, fear coursing through me. My breath catches as I see the tears in Jackson’s eyes.

Before I even hear it, I know his answer.

Despite his affection for me, he’s an Alpha, and Alphas have to make tough decisions.

“She is… guilty.” His voice cracks on the last word.

I feel my composure shatter as a tear escapes my eye. I should have talked to them, I should have asked them.

They’ve loved me all my life, he raised me as his own. Everything I know, I learned from him.

Our battle for my warrior side has only made me stronger, made me fight harder.

I look away from him in shame. One by one, I hear them declare me guilty.

Alex's eyes are on me, studying me. I look at him in desperation.

His brows furrow in indecision before he nods.

“She is guilty.” I stare at him in shock.

My sadness turns to anger.

I clench my fists at my side and lift my chin.

I won’t show them weakness.

I won’t let them doubt who I am.

I’ve fought to protect my pack my whole life.

I am a warrior.

I am not a bad person.

I lock eyes with the king.

His face is set in a smug smirk.

“Any last words, princess?” His arrogance will be his downfall. I smile back, causing him to falter for a moment before he regains his composure.

“I wonder, my king... I wonder about the spell,” His eyes widen in panic as he realizes what I’m referring to.

He gestures to the guards who have entered the room.

They rush towards me, but Alex stands and stops them with a wave of dominance.

The one closest to me whimpers, showing his neck in submission. Alex nods at me once more, curiosity replacing his earlier features.

“I wonder about the spell that will prevent your son, my mate, from dying when I’m executed.” I can feel the shock in the room.

I hold the king’s gaze, unblinking. His smugness fades, replaced by a flicker of worry. He jumps to his feet, slapping the table with an open hand.

“ENOUGH! I remain your king.” I catch sight of heads swiveling towards him from the corners of my eyes. The air grows heavy with his assertion of power.

“What’s this girl babbling about?” One of the Alphas demands. The king dismisses him with a shake of his head.

“She’s obviously trying to weasel her way out of her punishment.” I tilt my head, a smirk playing on my lips. But before I can retort, Jackson beats me to it.

“I can smell the lie on you.” His words prompt the other Alphas to sniff the air, reaching the same conclusion.

“If I’m lying, sentencing me would doom your son too. I was gone for three days and he fell ill, didn’t he?”

The king starts to retort, but Alex, who has moved closer to him, raises his hand to silence him.

“Explain, girl.” Alex’s gaze is intense, and for the first time, I see the shadow of grief lurking in his eyes.

“Long ago, a witch fell for a wolf. He loved her back and they were happy for a while. But then the wolf found his mate.

“The witch was heartbroken, but she knew she couldn’t change fate. She stayed close, mourning the loss of her love. But then the mate fell ill.

“The witch watched her love sit by his mate’s bedside. She knew she couldn’t save her and she knew he would die without his mate.

“So she cast a spell, a spell that would sever the bond between them, that would spare him the pain of her death. A spell that would let him live.”

All eyes are on me. I meet their gazes one by one, my honesty clear for all to see.

“How do you know it’s real? How do you know the king has it?” Alex’s words are laced with a mix of anger and pain. His eyes plead with me for an answer. The door to my right swings open and all attention shifts to the figure entering. A beacon of blond that brings a smile to my face.

“From me.” Penelope’s confidence fills the room, outshining all the males.

She’s so damn badass. I flash her a wide grin, which she acknowledges with a nod. “I’m living proof of that spell, aren’t I?”

She takes the seat next to me, holding her head high, as if looking down on everyone who’s in the wrong.

“Oh my! How rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Penelope, Alpha of the Bloodmoon pack. The one who killed her mate and survived thanks to the same spell that Katelynn just told you about.”

She addresses everyone, but her gaze is locked on Alex. He returns her stare, his face devoid of emotion.

I shift uncomfortably on my feet.

Suddenly, the room erupts into chaos.

The Alphas start to talk over each other, their voices growing louder.

Some are shocked, some are angry. I notice the king slowly backing away.

Alex doesn’t react; his gaze is still fixed on Penelope.

I feel a shift inside me.

The king edges towards the door, glancing around to see if anyone’s watching.

Our eyes meet, and I see panic in his. He quickens his pace, and something inside me snaps.

He reaches for the door handle, but before he can open the door, my hand shoots up.

The door bursts into flames, forcing the king to jerk his hand back.

The room falls silent.

“Going somewhere?” My voice echoes through the room.