Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The council room was colder than I remembered.
Maybe it was the stone walls. Maybe it was the dozen eyes that watched me like I was some diseased animal they couldn’t wait to cull. Or maybe it was the silence-thick, suffocating, wrapped around my throat like a noose.
I stood at the center of the chamber, no chains on my hands.
The elders sat in a semi-circle, cloaked in the robes of self-righteousness. Damien wasn’t present-of course not. He preferred to puppeteer from the shadows.
Elder Rider, the eldest among them, leaned forward. “Alice Rivers, former Luna of Silverclaw, you stand before us to determine your fate.”
said nothing.
‘You were banished for crimes including poison, arson, and emotional instability. Yet now, you eturn under strange and dangerous circumstances-your presence coinciding with movements rom the Red Fang and rumors of Shadowborn activity.”
Still, I said nothing.
‘Speak,” he demanded. “Do you deny the accusations?”
raised my chin.
I deny nothing,” I said clearly. “Because none of this was justice to begin with. It was convenience.”
They gasped, whispering amongst themselves.
heard the word mad again, passed in a hush. Unhinged.
smiled bitterly.
Is that your defense?” Rider asked. “That you were wronged?”
No. My defense,” I said, stepping forward, “is that I survived what none of you would’ve. I was et on fire, spat on, cast aside, and hunted-and I lived. I didn’t survive because I was unstable. I ¡urvived because I refused to die for a pack that only knew how to mourn my sister, but never
aw me.”
“hey didn’t like that.
Of course they didn’t.
But before Rider could respond, the doors slammed open with a thunderous crack.
All heads turned.
And there, framed by the light of morning and flanked by stunned guards, stood Kael.
He looked different-like his life became better after I left. His hair was well cut, his red eyes brighter than usual.
see why I was tricked. Even Damien wouldn’t match his looks right now.
But that won’t work on me anymore. He lost me the day he handed me over to Silverclaw.
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“Alice,” he called, his voice echoing through the room. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
The elders rose in outrage.
“This is a formal proceeding!”
“Guards, remove him!”
But I raised a hand.
“No,” I said. “Let him speak.”
Rider sneered. “This rogue has no place here.”
“He has more honor than most of you,” I snapped.
“And who gave you the right to think you can give orders here? You are no longer Luna,” Ride snarled.
I smirked. “At least I know you can’t hurt me. The Red Fang Alpha will be here in no time. What will you tell him when he arrives-if he meets me in an unrecognizable state?”
That silenced them.
“Let him go,” I said to the guards holding Kael.
They were reluctant at first and glanced at the elders. I shot them a glare and they released Kael
Kael stepped into the center with me, his chest heaving. He looked at me-
And all of a sudden, pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m glad I made it in time,” he murmured.
I pushed him off me, disengaging from the hug. “Why have you come here?”
“I made a mistake,” he said, his voice low. “I led them to you. I didn’t know they’d follow that far.”
“You didn’t know?” I said sharply. “Or you didn’t care?”
“I thought I could keep you safe while still figuring out what they wanted.”
“You lied to me,” I whispered.
“I know.”
‘You made me trust you.”
‘I didn’t think I deserved it,” he admitted. “So when I had it, I panicked. I thought… if I just kept you distant, if I just handed you over peacefully, I could stop the fire before it started.”
“By handing me to Silverclaw?”
“No,” he said. “By keeping you alive.”
His voice broke slightly.
“They threatened my niece,” he added. “The Shadowborn. They found her before I ever found you. Said if I didn’t cooperate, if I didn’t draw you out… they’d make me watch as they tore her apart.”
My breath caught.
“I couldn’t let her die,” he said. “I couldn’t let you die. So I chose the only option that let both of you breathe.”
The pain in his voice was real.
I looked at him. “You should’ve told me,” I said quietly. “I would’ve helped you.”
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“I didn’t want you to help me,” he said, stepping closer. “I wanted to be the one protecting you.”
“I’m not asking you to forgive me,” Kael said. “But I’m here. And I’m not leaving again. Not unless you order it.”
I looked at him for a while. In that moment, Damien walked in. Anger on his face.
“Who dared to let a rogue into the court?” he growled.
Everyone fell to their feet in fright. His tone was more commanding than usual. He was furious, staring at Kael.
“Dispose of that rogue. Now.” He pointed to Kael.
I held Kael’s hand tightly. Damien stared down, and looked at me.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Kael goes nowhere. He stays with me,” I said.
Damien let out a dry chuckle. “You must be joking.”
I smirked, walking towards him. “Does it look like I am?”
His fists tightened at his side and he said aloud, “Stay down, Alice.”
I scoffed. “Don’t think your Alpha voice will work on me. I’m no longer bound to your pack.”
“Alice,” Damien called between his teeth.
“You wanted me to speak in my defense. Here it is. I am not your Luna. I am not your shame. I am not your scapegoat.”
I turned to face the room.
“I am Alice Rivers. Daughter of the hidden bloodline. Heir to something you don’t understand. And I will no longer bow to a pack that thrives on my silence.”
A pulse went through the room.
I could feel it-the ripple of fear.
Kael took my hand-not tightly, but possessively.
Kael snarled at Damien. “Don’t shout at what’s mine…”
My heart slammed against my ribs. I felt something strange at the word mine.
Kael stood up to Damien fearlessly. Instead, Damien was the one shaking. He didn’t show it, but I could clearly see it.
“Don’t expect me to still stand and watch you. If you dare lay a finger on her, I will storm this pack with as many rogues as you can’t imagine. There are many wolves waiting to see your downfall. Hold on to your title while you can-and keep being a coward.”
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