Kylie POV
Zoe stared at Graham in horror. She crawled away from him towards the Elders’ table. “He-he’s insane! Protect me from him. I-I am not involved in it!”
Graham stalked her and kneeled in front of her. He fisted his hands in her hair and yanked her head back. He growled, “To save yourself, you are rubbing me off? I was a fool that I trusted you so blindly and stood by you. For you, I betrayed my mate. For you, I killed an Alpha. For you, I didn’t have pups with my mate even though it is said that pups from mates are strongest. I believed it when you said that Liam abused you. Not once I asked questions!”
He shoved her head behind, leaving her head. “So tell me, Zoe, how are you not involved in it? Huh?” He shook his head in remorse and got up. His eyes were moist and red. “Looking back, I feel my actions were driven by my own misguided desires that were fueled by you. I failed to consider the consequences of my choices because I was madly in love with you.” He glanced at me with regret filled in his eyes.
“You murdered Alpha Jonas, not !!” Zoe squeaked. “And you involved my father in the end.”
“There is no point in speaking lies, Zoe. I did this for us. I had hoped for a bright future for our pup, but—”
“My pup doesn’t belong to a murderer like you!” she shouted. “It is Alpha Liam’s!” She looked at the Elders. “He is lying. Please Elders. I beg of you. Let me go. I did nothing. You should arrest him, not me.”
Another shock slammed into Graham’s face. I knew it! Zoe wasn’t carrying his pup. She was with Liam’s pup, and she manipulated him all along. But I guess she blurted the truth in the last attempt to save herself from imminent arrest. His shoulders slumped, and he looked… defeated.
Zoe continued. “He was the one who manipulated me. It’s not the other way round. He said he would make me the Luna of his pack-”
Graham’s face grew menacing. He slapped her right across the face.
Zoe shrieked in pain and crawled further away. “Help me! Help me from this wolf.”
With his chest heaving, he said in between breaths, “Well, Zoe, if I am going to hell, I will drag you to hell!” Then he went back to his place and stood in front of his chair. He faced the Elders with his chin up. “I, Graham Silas, accept all the charges of murder, and am ready for whatever punishment the High Council wants to give me.” After that, he looked at me and smiled through his distress. “Luna Kylie, I was a fool to let you go.”
“See, he has confessed to his crimes!” Zoe shouted. “Now you can let me go!”
Elder Hanks took a deep breath in. He gazed at the other Elders and said, “Guards, arrest Alpha Graham Silas. He is charged with the murder of Alpha Jonas and is going to serve a lifetime in the dungeons of the High Council.”
Zoe got up with Graham’s hands imprinted on her cheeks. “Oh, thank you, Elder Hanks!” She bowed to him. “I promise I will leave this place and never return!” She quickly went to her table, grabbed her purse, and bolted to the exit.
“Where are you going?” Elder Hanks’ voice boomed in the main hall.
Zoe stopped and spun to stare at him. “I’m leaving because I’m innocent. You just gave punishment to Alpha Graham.”
“Guards!” Elder Hanks roared. “Arrest Zoe Mueller. She is charged with first degree murder. She will stay in the dungeons of the High Council. Once she gives birth to her pup, she will be passed on to the werewolf squad.”
My mouth dropped to the floor as Zoe shouted, “Nooooo!”
The werewolf squad basically comprised trained killers. First, they let the criminal werewolves run for life, but soon chased them down, tore their limbs off, and set them ablaze. It was the worst punishment that a werewolf could receive.
The punishment administered by Elder Hanks and the other Elders was so severe, it sent a shiver down my spine.
“However,” Elder Hanks swallowed thickly. “The High Council pledges to take care of Zoe’s pup. We’ll raise it and eventually incorporate him or her into the High Council.”
“No, Elder Hanks, no!” Zoe squealed. “Please don’t arrest me. I’ll do anything for you. Do you want me to testify against Alpha Liam? I’ll do that! But please don’t put me in the dungeons. I am telling you, this wasn’t my idea.” She looked wildly at everyone as guards approached her. They grabbed her by her upper arms. “You can’t throw me in the dungeons, Hanks!” she yelled. “I know you are doing it because you are Alpha Logan’s grandfather. This is pure bias. I need a lawyer right now! Where are my rights?” She resisted the guards, but they lifted her in the air and walked out of the door.
Two guards came to stand by Alpha Graham. “Time to leave,” one of them said in a harsh tone.
He looked at me and stared for a long time. “Kylie, I know you won’t come to visit me in the dungeons, and so I will free you of whatever bond remains between us.” He took a ragged breath in. “I, Alpha Graham Silas, accept your rejection.”
I stared at him, bracing myself for snapping any tendril of bond left in me, but there was none. But I believe a tendril was in him. He clenched his jaw as if bearing the pain. The guards handcuffed him in silver chains and took him away. I guess this was the last gift he gave me before leaving. Or he freed himself?
I sagged in my chair, holding my head in my hands. Logan sat next to me, and Katy stroked my back. “It’s over, love,” Logan said. “You’ve won.”
I realized I had tears in my eyes when Logan wiped them away. I never expected Graham to accept his crime.
As if he had read my thoughts, Logan said, “Graham’s heart broke the moment Zoe distanced herself from him. It’s got nothing to do with you. He got and accepted what he deserved.”
I took a ragged breath in and nodded. “Let’s go,” I said. I didn’t want to stay here a moment longer. With Zoe in the dungeons, I finally felt like I could breathe. Finally, it felt like… justice. “I want to go to my family burial ground and-” I choked.
“Of course, love.” Logan kissed my temple. He tugged me out of the main council hall.