Kylie POV
Zoe’s shoulders trembled as she cried in Graham’s arms. He embraced her tightly as she played the weak victim out here. He murmured things to her to soothe her. There was a time when I used to feel miserable seeing them together, but now I feel indifferent. It was like they were playing a part in a drama.
The surprise and shock on Graham’s face was satisfying. I loved how he was bamboozled when he saw Zoe entering the main hall of the High Council.
I turned to look at Elder Hanks and said, “Elder Hanks, I have proved that I wasn’t the one who was lying. It was Alpha Graham who misled this council by saying that he didn’t know where Zoe was. He accused me that I had given you all doctored photos and he wasted this council’s time. Basically, he has committed perjury. I remember he implored you to punish me for lying. So now you will have to penalize him for perjury.”
Elder Hanks took a ragged breath in and gazed at Graham and Zoe. “I request you both to sit down,” he ordered.
Graham and Zoe sat down, holding hands. Zoe glanced at me and then quickly averted her eyes, wiping her tears. As for Graham, he still looked like he had seen a ghost. With his lie uncovered, he was rendered speechless.
Elder Hanks said, “It is now proved that Alpha Graham has been lying and misleading the High Council all this time. The High Council hereby penalizes him with a fine of fifty thousand dollars and one month imprisonment in the dungeons of the High Council.”
“What? No!” Graham shouted. “This is severe. Where will I get that much money from? And one month?”
Zoe started bawling. “Elder Hanks, our pack has recently split in two. We are yet to recover from all the financial losses. Where are we going to get so much money from?”
“You have that much money and more than that,” I intervened. “I remember leaving half of our money to you, Alpha Graham.”
I heard Logan laughing quietly as Graham shot a glare at me and Zoe clenched her fists as if ready to attack me. Too bad. They couldn’t.
“That money is used for my pack’s benefit. I won’t steal it from my pack members!” Graham hissed. “You’ve left us in a pathetic condition. Your intentions are wicked. You want to push my pack into a life of poverty.”
I rolled my eyes. These two had really excelled in doing drama. “Alpha Graham, I know you can pay that money as fine. And if you were so bothered about your pack, why did you lie?”
“Shut up!” Zoe cried. “Just shut up! What have we done to you that you have turned into an anaconda?”
I raised my eyebrow and cocked my head to the side. “Anaconda? Baby, you haven’t seen me in full form yet. I’ve been dealing with so many vipers lately, I’ve had to become an anaconda myself. Remember, an anaconda silently slithers through the underbrush with deliberate and calculated movements before attacking its prey. This is just the beginning.”
Zoe’s throat bobbed as we both got locked in a staring contest. Coral growled inside me to unleash her and attack her. Being an alpha wolf, she hated if people stared at her like this. Zoe had to avert her gaze because she visibly winced when my alpha aura spilled out.
“Elder Hanks,” she cried. “Please don’t imprison Alpha Graham. I am pregnant with his pup. Please don’t separate us. He was doing all this just to protect me.”
“Silence!” Elder Hanks said, bringing the gavel down. “The High Council’s decision will not be challenged!”
Zoe got up and ran to kneel in front of all the Elders. “Please, I beg of you. Leave him. He is innocent. He was doing it for me. I agree that Alpha Graham hid me, but he did it to protect me from Kylie. She had attacked me and wanted to kill me. I am pregnant with his pup and she wants to kill me out of jealousy. According to the laws, you can’t kill a pregnant she- wolf.”
My mouth dropped to the floor, hearing another one of her lies. “That’s another lie! I’ll ask you to be careful, Zoe,” I growled.
Zoe ignored me and continued, “If anyone is the culprit, it’s her, Kylie. She should be imprisoned. Why take Alpha Graham as a prisoner when all he did was to protect me? And if you don’t agree, take me, not him.”
“Zoe!” Graham rasped. “No! Come back!”
She started sobbing. “I won’t come back until the council takes its orders back.”
Elder Hanks looked at her with exasperation in his eyes, but I knew he had to yield to whatever other Elders decided. After a few minutes of silence, which was punctuated by Zoe’s sobs, the Elders came to a decision. Elder Hanks pursed his lips and said, “Okay, we are taking her pregnancy into consideration. Alpha Graham won’t be imprisoned, but he has to pay a fine of fifty thousand dollars.” Saying that, he brought the gavel down. “This council meeting is adjourned. We’ll send new dates for the next meeting soon.”
Zoe got up, bowed to the Elders and rushed to Graham. She caught his hand and pulled him out of the main hall hurriedly, as if being chased by bats from hell. The Elders also left soon.
When I was alone with Logan, he pulled me into a tight embrace. I shook my head. “I thought it would get over today, but Zoe is playing her cards well.”
“Zoe is like a wounded hyena. You did great, Kylie,” he said, kissing the crown of my head. “Don’t worry. They are already pretty shaken up. We will take them down in the next hearing.”
I let out a rough exhale. This was a partial win, and I felt good in a long time. My lips curled up. “Yes, next time it will be their last.” I winked at him, and he grinned.
“I swear, Luna Kylie, I am so happy to be on your good side. You are the smartest, sassiest and most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
“You are biased because I am you mate,” I said in light banter.
“Well, maybe.”
Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a text message. It was from an unknown number. It read: You’ll pay for it.
“Who’s it?” Logan asked with a frown.
I chuckled as I messaged back to the unknown number-Bring it on! First, pay the fine.