Page 58

Kane swallowed. "Titan's mother, Deleah, killed them.

She couldn't let go of what had happened to her and Titan.

The longer she lived, the worse her anger became, until it became an obsession.

Then everything she did focused on getting revenge.

The night the king and queen were out for dinner, she went into the kitchen of the restaurant and tampered with their meals.

The humans wouldn't have noticed or been harmed by flakes of silver she put in their food, but it was enough to weaken the king and queen.

When their guards ran to get the vehicle, she entered, dressed as one of the waitresses.

She told the remaining guard she was a nurse and could help.

She said to make everyone back away so they could have room.

As soon as he turned away, she slit both of their throats and then his before escaping into the crowd. "

The room was so silent you could have heard a feather drop on a carpeted floor.

Apollo and Ares' breathing came out in short bursts. They both clutched her hands so tight she thought her fingers might break.

"Is that the truth?" Apollo whispered.

Kane lowered his head. "It is. I drove her there and took her home afterward.

Their deaths did nothing to soothe her, though.

She'd hoped that the Council would call for Titan to come back, but they didn't. And when he spoke to them and was rejected as heir, she lost what little hope she had left and killed herself a week later. "

Titan let out a pitiful whine.

Mercule stood. "Let it be known from now on that King Titus and Queen Cora Wolvenguard were murdered by Deleah Longtooth of the Meadow Moon Pack."

The entire audience sat in silence. Apollo and Ares looked at each other and then at Titan.

River couldn't imagine what thoughts ran through their mind.

All this time, they had believed Titan had murdered their parents, only to learn the truth- the person they wanted to punish most for the deaths of their parents was already long dead.

"Do you want to take a break?" River asked softly.

"No," said Ares. "We need to finish this."

Apollo nodded in agreement. "Kane Bravemane of the Red Moon pack, you are hereby sentenced to live out your natural life as Alpha of the White Tail pack and swear to take responsibility for all put in your charge.

If you at any time break this sentence, you will be hunted down, marked with the traitor's mark, and banished. Do you understand?"

Kane bowed his head. "I do, my King."

Apollo nodded to Thomas and Silas, who undid Kane's cuffs and led him toward the exit. Kane stopped once to look back at Titan, but then turned and exited the room.

Silence stretched out for several moments after the doors closed, and the tension in the air grew thick with impatience.

Ares and Apollo led River back to her throne, and then all three sat once more.

“Lastly," Mercule announced, "We come to the trial of Titan Longtooth."

"Wolvenguard," Titan corrected. "I am Titan Wolvenguard, son of King Titus Wolvenguard."

Mercule's gaze landed on Titan. "You may have once been considered a Wolvenguard, but when you chose to follow in your mother's footsteps and become a traitor to the royal family, you ceased being a Wolvenguard."

"You cannot just take a name from someone," Titan growled. "Blood is blood."

"We have and we do," said Ares. "You will forever be known as Titan Longtooth. You have soiled our family name. Have brought shame to our father and ancestors. Therefore, as is the law, your royal name is stripped from you."

Titan howled. "You can't do that."

"We can, actually," said Apollo. "But honestly, that is the last thing you should be worried about.

You, Titan Longtooth, are charged with treason to the Crown and treason to the Wolvenguard kings by touching and kidnapping our fated mate.

Causing the deaths of no less than twenty-two Alphas, Betas, and mates.

And of causing the deaths of sixteen rogues at your estate. "

"You also stand accused of the greatest sin a wolf can make, the marking and claiming of a female without consent.

A female who happened to be an Omega, the most revered female of our species," said Ares.

"Every single offense is worthy of death.

Combined, they are incomprehensible. Do you have anything to say for your actions? "

"This is a farce. You have no right to punish or condemn me to anything. I am Titan Wolvenguard, eldest son of Titus Wolvenguard and rightful King of the wolves. These laws do not apply to me."

"These rules apply to everyone," said Mercule. "Every single wolf, no matter their lineage, must be held to the same standard. You are no exception."

"So, you have nothing to say?" asked Apollo.

Titan's eyes moved from one to another of them and landed on River. "River Whitetail is mine. She will always be mine."

River refused to let him see her fear. "If you reject me now and promise to never come near me again, you may still have a chance at mercy."

Titan's eyes went black, and his fangs lengthened slightly.

"As long as I live, there is not a day that will go by that I will stop planning to make her mine.

Not a moment that I will not do everything in my power to find her and make her accept me as her true mate.

Not a breath that I won't take that will be for the sole purpose of getting her back. "

"Then you will not reject the High Luna, and give up your perverse claim upon her?" asked Mercule.

Titan spat on the floor. "Never."

"Then you leave us no other choice," said Apollo. "You will be sentenced to death for the crimes you have committed. But before execution, we will give every wolf whom you have harmed a chance to confront you for what you have done to them and to voice their contempt."

Titan's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

Ares stood. "Everyone here who lost someone in this ballroom the night of our mating ceremony may take one turn to show and or tell Titan Longtooth what he did to you. However, no one is allowed to make a killing blow."

Alphas, Betas, and more stood and formed a line from the front of the ballroom, almost to the back.

The first to approach was Alpha Elena, her features twisted with grief as she stood before Titan.

"Matthias." Her voice carried through the silent chamber. "My mate of thirty years. Father of my children. The love of my life." Her eyes hardened as she leaned closer to Titan's face. "He died in my arms, choking on his own blood because of you."

Without warning, her hand flashed out, claws extended, opening four parallel gashes across Titan's cheek. Blood welled from the wounds, dripping onto his already stained shirt.

Titan didn't flinch, his one good eye staring at her with cold contempt.

Elena retreated, blood glistening on her fingertips. "May the memory of his name haunt your final moments."

Alpha Ronan came next, his body rigid. "Beta Cassius. My second, my brother in all but blood for twenty years." His voice broke before hardening again. "The most loyal wolf I've ever known."

Ronan's massive fist connected with Titan's jaw with a sickening crack. Teeth and blood sprayed across the floor as Titan's head snapped back, but still, he made no sound beyond a grunt of impact.

"He deserved better than to die for your obsession," Ronan spat before turning away.

One by one, the Alphas, Betas, and others faced Titan, telling him the names of the people he killed, and then they proceeded to slash or bite, punch or kick him, for nearly an hour.

Titan lay on the floor, a bloody mess, panting, but defiant until the end.

A female Beta with a fresh scar running across her throat stepped forward, her voice raspy from what must have been a near-fatal injury.

"Emmaline," she whispered, touching the scar. "My twin sister. She pushed me out of the way when your assassin came for me."

She knelt beside Titan's bloodied form and shoved her claws into his shoulder, twisting them deep into muscle. Titan's body jerked, but his face remained impassive despite the fresh blood seeping from the wound.

Alpha Jeremiah limped forward, leaning heavily on a cane. "Joseth. My son. Eighteen years old." His voice broke. "His first formal event as my heir. He was so excited to see the mating of the future King and High Luna."

The cane came down hard across Titan's back, splintering with the force of the blow. Titan's body arched, a grunt escaping his split lips.

An elderly mate of a former Alpha came forward, her silver hair pulled back in a severe bun.

"My Alpha, Tomin. He sheltered me when my pack cast me out forty-five years ago.

" She spat in Titan's face. "You killed him for no other reason than that he was an Alpha.

He never ostracized anyone. Never hurt anyone.

Never did anything but help, love, and support any wolf who came to us.

And you killed him." She stood over him, shaking, tears flowing from her eyes.

"And if he were standing here today, he would be the first to ask for mercy on your behalf.

That's the ironic thing. He would try to help you, even now, knowing everything you've done.

He would ask for mercy." She swiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Problem is, I'm not Tomin. And he's not here to save you. "

With the last word, she dug her claws deep into Titan's gut. His body tensed as she twisted her claws deeper inside him. She slashed sideways and flayed him open, before digging her nails in again, tearing muscle.

Finally, Titan cried out. But the woman didn't stop. She twisted several more times, making Titan scream. Sweat broke out across his body, and he began panting.

"The king said no killing," a wolf said behind her.

"This won't kill him. It just makes him wish he were dead. Like the rest of us do."