Chapter 73
Elena’s POV
“How blind can you fucking be?” I shouted, no longer able to suppress my anger.
Here, the truth about my pack’s massacre was unfolding, and he had the guts to still fight for the honor of his mate, who was worth less than trash.
Bryson turned his head on me, looking back and forth between James and me as he defended blindly, “What proof do you have? What death? Is this about the death of Alpha’s son? What? Is he your brother? Kurt Stewart? He was tortured and driven to suicide by your people! Don’t point the blame at the innocent!”
Not the only one triggered by Bryson’s foolishness, James tarned his head and took a dangerous step toward Bryson. He looked at him with disdain and asked, “The Alpha’s son? Do not speak to me about him.”
James‘ demeanor completely changed. His jaws clenched, and his entire demeanor seemed to have been covered with burning fire. “Glenda abused her position of power! She massacred innocents and even tortured and killed my brother, who did nothing wrong!”
He pointed at Bryson with so much hatred, but his voice cracked in his next words. “He’s just an ambitious and hard–working man training from dust to dawn to be the next and rightful Alpha, but your beloved woman captured and relentlessly tortured him!”
Taking a step forward at Bryon, who was dumbfounded, he asked, “Now, tell me. Are you really sure that your woman is as innocent as you believe her to be?”
Bryon remained silent.
While they talk, my thoughts swirl before I feel so empty. With a low voice, I spoke, “The rogues do not owe the kingdom… you only owe my family.”
I raised my head and stared at James, voicing out my pain, Glenda, as a general, as a warrior, killed innocently and would face the punishment she deserved. But my family… Most of the men died on the battlefield, and the rest, old, weak, women, and children, were also massacred without mercy.”
Once again, James apologized, but then he raised up and looked at Bryson as he stated, “We only owe Elena and her family an apology. As for my brother who died in injustice, we would accept no apology.”
Looking intently at Bryson, James coldly added, “It’s an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth…”
Seeing as Bryson was still too dumbfounded to even recklessly voice out his defense and blind anger, I stepped in between them and seriously looked at James.
Taking a deep breath and deciding to be rational, I said, “This meeting isn’t just about apologies. It’s about justice. No words could bring back what was lo-”
My words were cut off when I smelled Prince Deacon’s familiar scent and heard his steady footsteps.
He emerged from the shadows and stood beside me. Rationally, he said, “Both sides have blood on their hands, and if we do not settle this here, it will only lead to more deaths.”
Turning his eyes on me, he raised his hand and gave me a comforting gesture by squeezing my shoulder. Gesturing to James, he explained, “The pack that betrayed the kingdom does not want to remain Rogues forever.”
Indeed, since they colluded with the Rogues, that would sooner or later make them a Rogue. They would be cast out from their pack and the kingdom.
My chin trembled upon hearing that, debating inside of what I should do.
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 73
I wanted to laugh. Prince Deacon probably overestimated me and thought I could stay so rational right now.
With a trembling chin, I looked up at him and snapped, “And what do they want? Redemption? Forgiveness? My family didn’t get either of those.”
I was shaking, but Prince Deacon tapped my shoulder and intently looked into my eyes, bringing me temporary comfort. His eyes seemingly said that I should listen first.
As he gestured to James, I followed his gaze and waited.
James stared at me, sincerely stating, “We want to resolve this. The rogue king does not seek this kind of war, nor do we. Those of my members from the Moonblake pack who betrayed the kingdom wish to return to it, but not without addressing what was done. The crimes of Glenda, the massacre of your family, the suicide of my brother- all of it must be accounted for. We must lay it to rest here, or it will consume us all.”
As much as I hated it, it made sense, and it’s the most rational thing to do, not for everyone we lost, but for everyone still living. All we could do was make up for the pain we had in our hearts and pray that the punishments we brought to those who sinned were enough to comfort the injustice we felt.
We were looking at each other, weighing everything in our hearts, when a dragging sound took our attention. Turning around, we saw Bryson almost stumbling back and shaking his head in disbelief.
He raised his voice, looking at me crazily while pointing a finger at James. “Elena, you’re not seriously going to listen to this, are you? Glenda is loyal to the kingdom. She fought for us, bled for us-”
Blowing with rage, I cut him off in a raised voice, “And she slaughtered innocents for her own gain, Bryson! Open your eyes. Glenda’s loyalty was to herself and her ambitions, not the kingdom, not definitely not its people. That blood is on her hands, not mine.”
Chapter 74
