Page 57

She grabbed Apollo's hand. He looked at her, and the anger smoothed out across his face as he gave her a tight smile that told her he was hanging on, but not well. She rubbed her cheek against his knuckles and then kissed them, and his body relaxed further.

Mercule stood again, his attention to the remaining prisoners. "We shall now proceed with the trial of Rudy Mountainside, former Alpha of the Northeastern pack."

Rudy didn't move or lift his head; he simply sat, his head bowed, his eyes on the floor.

Ares sat forward. "Rudy Mountainside. You have been found guilty of treason as well as a physical attack on a royal family member. For these crimes, you will serve out a sentence of no less than twenty years in the service of Alpha Mandla Goldmane of the Lion Pride pack in Cape Town, South Africa."

Rudy's head whipped up. "Lions? South Africa? What about my mate? My sons?"

"They were all given the option of going with you or relocating to a new pack in California. Can you guess which they chose?" asked Apollo.

Rudy growled, and his eyebrows drew together. "But-"

"No but," said Ares. "Another condition of your not being executed is that you never try to contact your mate or sons again. They have asked to have their names changed, and your mate has appealed for an annulment."

His face paled. "No. I refuse."

"It's not up to you," said Apollo. "She has petitioned us personally."

"And as we are not likely to make a faithful and wonderful woman be tainted for her entire life by the shame of her mate," said River. "Nor sons be shunned for the greed of their father."

Rudy looked between them, his face a tornado of emotions.

"Is there anyone who wishes to speak on Rudy's behalf?" asked Ares.

No one spoke.

Ares nodded. "Rudy Mountainside. You will proceed directly from this hearing to the airport, where representatives of the Lion Pride pack will meet and escort you to your new home.

We have given Alpha Goldmane full say over your future.

He may do with you as he wishes without fear of reprisal from us, as long as he keeps you in South Africa.

You should also know that he has been rewarded handsomely for his help in this matter, solidifying his loyalty to the Crown.

So, trying to bribe or manipulate him will be of no use. "

Ares nodded to Theo and Santiago, and they pulled Rudy to his feet and pushed him toward the exit.

Murmurs sounded around the room. River had never heard of wolves being sent abroad to other species, and apparently, neither had anyone in the room.

But it was a good decision. It showed those in the room that death was not the only punishment for treachery.

The mood in the chamber shifted as all eyes turned back to the last two prisoners. Unlike Titan, who radiated defiance even in a kneeling position, Kane maintained quiet dignity, head bowed but shoulders straight.

"Kane," Mercule began, "you stand accused as Titan's second-in-command, complicit in his crimes against the Crown and our people. How do you plead?"

Kane raised his head, his eyes clear and unflinching as he met the Council elder's gaze. "Guilty," he said. "I will not deny my role in what happened."

Apollo stiffened beside her, his grip tightening on her hand.

She glanced at him, recognizing the conflict in his eyes.

This was the man who had tried to protect her during her captivity, who had wanted to help her.

Yet he was also the man who had stood by Titan's side for years, enabling his rise to power.

"The sentence for your crimes could be death," Ares stated. "Do you understand?"

Kane nodded once. "I do, Your Majesty. And I accept whatever judgment you deem appropriate."

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the royal family, waiting for their decision.

"But we have been asked to offer you a different fate," Ares continued. "The innocent survivor rogues have been given a place to live and start over."

Gasps and murmurs started around the room, and River glanced around, trying to make sure that tensions didn't rise. The last thing they needed was a riot of Alphas and Betas.

"The innocent rogues," Apollo said. "Ones forced out not due to their actions but due to the actions of power-hungry or corrupt Alphas. Those rogues have been given a second chance, and they have formed their own pack. The White Tail pack. But they are lacking one thing, an Alpha to lead them."

"You are an Alpha, are you not?" Ares asked.

Kane took a deep breath. "I was born an Alpha, but I have never been an Alpha."

"Then we give you a choice," said Apollo. "You may choose banishment with the same conditions we gave Rudy, or you can become the Alpha of the White Tail pack."

The crowd erupted in shouting and swearing. Even Titan roared at the prospect.

"Bastard! Traitor! I should have known you'd want everything I built for yourself. My pack. My mate. My Crown!" Titan struggled to reach Kane, but as he did, Theo kicked him in the back, making Titan fall forward on his face.

"Silence!" Apollo jumped to his feet. "You dare question your kings?

Maybe you have gone too long without a king to remember that you have no say in final judgments.

That right is reserved for my brother, myself, and our mate, the High Luna.

Even the Council does not pronounce judgments.

They counsel us. Any of you who think you know better, come forward, and we will end this in combat.

If you can best us, then you will have earned the right to pronounce judgments.

For too long, we have allowed you to rule.

That is the reason we are here today. If we had done more and overseen more, Titan would not have gotten so many rogues to follow him.

So you are as culpable of what happened as Kane is.

And believe me, in the coming weeks, every one of you who contributed to the exile of innocent wolves will kneel before us and account for what you did, just as these wolves have.

I suggest you think about that. You think these wolves aren't deserving of mercy? Then neither are you."

One by one, the Alphas and Betas sat back down.

River stood and joined Apollo. "Kane saved me from being further violated by Titan.

He saved dozens of rogues whom you otherwise would have murdered to protect yourselves or out of sheer vengeance.

And yet, he has asked for nothing in return.

Nothing. He came to us willingly. Offering to face whatever judgment we deemed fit.

Would you have done the same? Or would you be on your knees, begging for forgiveness while at the same time trying to justify what you did?

These are the reasons why Kane will make the best Alpha for the rogues.

" River's gaze fell on Kane. "But do not be mistaken.

This is not just a mercy in sparing your life and allowing you to stay within the kingdom.

You will work, and work hard for those rogues.

And for all rogues who come to the White Tail pack for help.

You will report directly to me, and if at any time you decide you no longer want this mercy, you will be banished for the remainder of your natural life. Do you accept?"

Kane didn't speak for a long minute. "I do not deserve this mercy, my High Luna."

"No, you do not," said Ares. "But we were asked by those you saved to show you mercy, and they have made it clear that they would accept no one but you as their Alpha.

As they have already been through enough, we believe this to be the best course of action.

This way, you can help those you set out to help in the first place, and we can keep an eye on you at the same time. "

Kane stared at the floor, and River wasn't sure he would take the offer.

"Before you decide," said River. "You need to do one last thing."

"Whatever my High Luna commands," he replied.

"You must tell King Apollo and King Ares what happened to their parents."

Titan's head whipped up. "I did it. I poisoned and then gutted them. I did it. No one else."

Ares and Apollo bared their teeth as Silas grabbed Titan from behind and put him in a headlock, choking off his air supply.

Apollo lunged forward, but River caught his arm. Titan thrashed against Silas' grip as the silver burned into his hair and flesh, the scent filling the room.

Apollo looked at River, his eyes black, claws and teeth fully extended. She shook her head imperceptibly and then looked at Ares and did the same.

The audience looked on, bloodlust in everyone's eyes.

Holding her mates' hands, she gazed at Kane again. "Kane, is that the truth?"

His expression remained as unreadable as ever. His eyes were calm but sharp, and his breathing even.

"No," he replied.

A gasp sounded around the room.

Once more, Titan reached for Kane but was unable to move. "Don't you dare. You bastard. I'll kill you. I'll rip out your lying tongue and eat your heart. If you say one word, I'll gut you and leave you for the vultures."

Kane's composure never wavered as he continued to stare at River.

"Then what happened?" Ares growled.

"Don't you dare. You f-"

River's Luna gaze fell on Titan full force. "Be Silent!"

Titan's gaze flicked to hers for only a moment, but it was enough. His mouth snapped shut, though he didn't stop struggling.

"If you cannot behave," she continued. "We can arrange for a cage and a muzzle."

Titan looked at her again, full on this time.

Hate seething in his glare, she stared back at him unflinchingly.

There, on his knees, beaten, dirty, and unrepentant, his hatred and madness dripping off him, she couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for him.

He'd lost everything, truly everything, and instead of realizing the extent of what he'd done, he was ready to continue, no matter the cost.

River nodded to Kane. "Please, tell us."