273 Verdict

    273 Verdict

    “Prepare a two–year trip for both of them,” I said tly. “They leave tomorrow morning “I only hope that one day, the three of you find it in your hearts to forgive me…” 3 He didn’t wait for our response. With quiet dignity, he turned and left the room.

    He still didn’t flinch: Not a word. Not a plea. It was obvious he was expecting this.

    A knock echoed through the study, and I instantly knew it was Damien. He didn’t wait for us to let him in–he opened the door and stepped inside.

    Levi and Louis rose beside me, and together, we exited the now chaotic hall.

    She sat silently among the front rows, her head lowered, her shoulders trembling. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks. She wasn’t supposed to be here, but she had begged to stay for her father’s trial. ↑

    Louis leaned forward. “What kind of n?”

    1

    Louis leaned back, his arms crossed tightly. “I miss her,” he muttered, almost under his breath. “I wish she was here.”

    I red at him as he entered, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. Rather, he began speaking.

    The guards nodded and bowed.

    Back at the mansion, we entered the sitting room to find our parents waiting.

    “To think,” Louis finished.

    “These past three years I haven’t been myself… I made decisions I regret now, and I wish I could turn back the hands of time and undo them, but I can’t…”

    His lips curled into a half–smirk.

    When the questioning ended, all eyes turned to me.

    I took a deep breath and red at him.

    “I have an idea,” he said.

    273 Verdict

    I stood, my eyes darting around the room.

    Before we could even process his words, a guard entered and bowed respectfullyb. /b“Alphas, the trial has begun.”

    I turned to Dustin, who stood quietly behind us, waiting for instruction.

    I nodded and exchanged nces with my brothers. Together, we rose to our bfeet /band made our way to the pack hall.

    “Make sure the verdict is carried out today.”

    Anita’s father said nothing. He simply stared ahead, like the words meant nothing to

    him.

    I missed her too.

    “They’re to reflect,” Levi added.

    Anita buried her face in her hands, her sobs breaking the silence.

    The trial began immediately.

    “Stop,” I cut her off.

    It was time.

    She swallowed hard, clearly trying to keep herself together.

    I nced at him, and the words hit me.

    “I want the journey mapped. No contact with this pack, no contact with us.”

    “iI /iknow being sorry won’t make up for all the terrible things I did to you three, but I just want you to know that I’m truly sorry…” He paused, inhaling deeply.

    Dustin gave a sharp nod and turned to leave.

    “No,” I said, finally looking her in the eyes. “You were. But mothers protect their children. They don’t destroy them from the inside.” 3

    It didn’t erase what she meant to me.

    We left the sitting room without another nce at our parents. None bof /bbus /bbspoke /bbas /bbwe /bmade our way upstairs, each lost in our own thoughts.

    273 Verdict

    The moment we stepped into the hall, every person present rose to their bfeet /band bowed their heads respectfully.

    She froze.

    “Did you send the maids to Olivia?” he asked.

    Then Levi sat up straighter, his eyes lighting up with something mischievous.

    She flinched, like the words physically struck her.

    Father stood stiffly near the firece, while Mother rose from one of the couches bthe /bmoment she saw us.

    Anita’s father was brought forward, shackled in chains and brought in by warriors. He looked older than I remembered. Just one day in the dungeon, and he looked like a shadow of himself.

    “I was scared,” she whispered. “I thought I was doing what was best—”

    Levi crossed his arms. “Do you have any idea what we’ve been through because bof /byour lies?”

    T

    “After careful deliberation and overwhelming evidence, this council finds you guilty on

    all counts.”

    Father still said nothing. He just stared at the floor.

    “What was best for you,” Louis snapped coldly. “Not for us. Never for us.” 4

    My brothers and I walked forward in unison, each step echoing with authority. We took our seats at the front, nked by guards and elders. The hall was packed, yet it felt cold. Tense. No one dared to speak.

    “A n,” he added. “To get Olivia here. Instantly.”

    I nodded. “Yes. They should be arriving soon. I told her to notify the guards at the border.”

    But I didn’t even look at her.

    Gasps echoed across the room.

    Mother gasped. “Lennox, no–please!”

    273 Verdict

    My frown deepened. Still, I said nothing.

    “Lennox,” Mother pleaded again, her voice shaking. “I’m still your mother…”

    My brow furrowed.

    Father didn’t say anything. He hadn’t said much since everything came ito /ilight. He bjust /bstood there–silent.

    Finally, Levi broke the quietness.

    I looked at her, frowning. “No more excuses. No more tears.”

    Lennox’s POV

    We both turned to look at him.

    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Anita.

    Our mother nodded through her tears but couldn’t find her voice.

    Anita and her mother began crying, but I ignored them and turned to the guards.

    Her eyes were red–rimmed, like she’d been crying.

    The charges were read aloud: Treason, use of ck magic… attempted murder.

    The crackle of the firece was the only sound in the room.

    There was no need for arguments. No need for defense. Even as the elders began their formal questioning, my mind had already made its decision. All this was just formalities.

    Despite everything, despite knowing we were rted, despite the blood feud and the tangled mess between our families, it didn’t change how I felt.

    “Lennox… Levi… Louis,” she began softly, stepping forward. “I know you’re angry. I know what we did was wrong. I just—”

    She broke into sobs then, sinking back onto the couch, her face buried in her hands.

    I stared into the fire, my jaw tight, trying to keep the pain from swallowing me whole. Once inside our shared quarters, the silence remained.

    273 Verdict

    “And as for you…” I said, turning my gaze back to the man who had caused so imuch /ipain, “You are to be crucified to death at the border. Let your punishment ibe /ia warning to all who think of betraying this pack.”

    We sat in our usual spots, but no one said a word for a long time.

    “As Alpha of this pack, I hereby decree that you, and your entire bloodline, be

    banished. Effective immediately.”