CHAPTER 496: THAT’S YOUR TOXIC TRAIT

The Alpha King fiddled restlessly with his thumb and pointer finger as his hand rested over the armrest of the throne. After learning the tragic motive behind Dexton’s actions, the murder of his mate, he glanced around the assembled members of the Council.

"What do the elders have to say on this?" he asked, his voice ringing clearly in the chamber.

"Your Majesty," began one of the senior elders, standing to address the room. "I believe Dexton’s punishment shouldn’t be severe. It was a failure on everyone’s part for not being able to find the culprits behind his mate’s death."

"That doesn’t justify his actions to take the lives of the innocents," the second elder countered immediately, rising to challenge the lenient view.

"I agree on this," Casaio stated, his voice carrying the weight of his royal title. "The Betas who lost their lives in this were innocent. Dexton could have asked to reopen the case. We were unable to find those alleged Betas, and I admit it was a failure on our part too."

Dexton, standing before them, chuckled—a sound devoid of humor. "Will you all stay quiet if your mate is drowned to death?" he challenged, his eyes sweeping across the council.

"What did my mate do to deserve such a tragic fate? We were supposed to start a new life after our marriage. Reopening the case never would have helped me. Did you forget, Prince Casaio, how many times I specifically asked you to look into this? You dismissed me, saying I should forget everything and move on. No one ever related to my pain."

"Dexton, all I wanted was your best," Casaio argued, visibly stung by the accusation. "What if your mate wasn’t killed? You assumed that the Betas killed her!"

"No. My mate spoke about it on the phone before she died. Your system for justice is a complete failure!" Dexton roared, landing a direct hit. "Prince Casaio couldn’t even find his own mate’s true identity, then what could he possibly do for me or the one like me!?"

Edward glared furiously at his son for disrespecting the Prince, and quickly raised his voice at him. Before he could do more, he forced himself to apologize and bowed low. "Please forgive my son for his—"

"Dad, will you stop begging for my life? I’m done with all of this," Dexton cut him off with a loud, final growl. "I—I will embrace death rather than pleading to all these people. They failed me, and my innocent mate."

Juniper, now sitting in the council chamber, flashed a subtle smile upon seeing Dexton in his current, defiant state. That cold expression did not go unnoticed by Dominick. In that precise moment, he felt a strange, cold disgust for Juniper.

"We can’t ignore the fact that many people’s families were dependent on their own sons or daughters," a third council member stated, bringing the focus back to the victims. "Your Majesty, this matter is quite hard to give a hearing on. I think an investigation should be made regarding Dexton’s mate’s death. Until then, no judgment should be delivered."

The other senior elders quickly agreed with the suggestion to postpone the verdict and investigate Dexton’s claims.

"The council is adjourned for today. Dexton will stay in the prison until further judgment," Raidan ordered, rising from his seat before walking out of the chamber.

Dexton was dragged out of the chamber and straight toward the prison. Before being pulled fully away, he stopped and turned his head to look directly at Juniper.

"You’re still alive," he muttered at her before the guards hauled him away.

Edward placed a hand dramatically on his chest, reeling from the confrontation. Cillian quickly held him for support before guiding his father out of the chamber.

"We are supposed to go back," Karmen told Juniper, moving toward her to escort her.

Juniper rose from her place but ignored Karmen. Instead of leaving, she walked directly toward Dominick.

"Don’t come near my brother," Casaio warned, placing a protective hand on Dominick’s shoulder.

"Prince Dominick called me to be present in the council," Juniper stated with pride eyes, glancing at the protective Casaio.

"Yes, I did," Dominick agreed, his eyes cold. "But it turns out you were enjoying the misery of your brother."

Juniper’s expression immediately darkened, stung by his cruel assertion.

"You are misunderstanding me," Juniper insisted. "They are the ones who enjoyed my misery. Did you not see how both my brothers made an account in my name and used it for such a crime? I am innocent, Nick. Why can’t you see my pain?" Her voice grew desperate. "I was adopted into their family. They were supposed to love me. But what did they do? All of them always despised me, especially Dexton."

Dominick’s face remained impassive, his eyes hard. "I’m not interested in knowing your past anymore. It doesn’t matter what happened with you. You never confided in me when we were together, so now, everything you speak in front of me is nothing but lies to me." He delivered the final, crushing blow. His expression turned grim.

"And my thoughts about you haven’t changed and will never change. You do find pleasure in others’ pain. That’s your toxic trait," Dominick declared, showing her the reality of his perception of her.

Juniper’s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. "You see others’ pain but not mine. I was scared. I thought you would hate me upon finding I’m an adopted daughter. I tried taking my life," she choked out, taking another distraught step toward him.

Dominick quickly took a decisive step back, showing absolutely no empathy for her tears or her desperate confession.

"Karmen, take her away," Dominick ordered coldly. "And don’t give her any medical treatment next time." With that, he turned and walked away.

"Nick! Nick!"

Juniper shouted, ready to run behind him but Evan blocked her path.

"We have to go back," Karmen said, standing beside Evan. She was dragged away while Casaio furrowed his brows together.