h4Chapter 328: The Eve Before Judgment/h4

    strongNatalie~/strong

    I sat beside Zane on our thrones in the grand hall of the Lycan pce, the weight of the golden crowns pressing against my temples—a constant reminder of the responsibility we now bore. The hall was alive with movement and sound: courtiers whispering in corners, advisors debating in hushed tones, the faint shuffle of parchment and the asional ng of steel as guards shifted at their posts. The towering marble columns, carved with wolves eternally howling at the moon, seemed to watch us with a silent judgment of their own.

    Sunlight streamed through the high arched windows, spilling golden light across the polished floor until it fractured into long shadows that slid and twisted like restless spirits. The grandeur of it all sometimes made my chest tighten; this was no longer just a pce, but the heart of a kingdom, and every decision Zane and I made reverberated far beyond these walls.

    Zane’s hand rested on mine, his thumb tracing slow, steady circles against my skin. It was a simple gesture, but it grounded me. Hours had slipped by in a blur of official matters—settling border disputes between rival packs, negotiating trade routes, approving petitions. It was endless, exhausting work, but necessary.

    Zane and I had only just settled a family dispute when the steady thunder of boots against stone cut through the lingering murmur of the hall. Four royal guards advanced in perfect formation, each step sharp and metallic, their rhythm echoing off the marble walls withmanding precision. At their head was Thorne—a burly werewolf whose broad frame bore the weight of both his armor and his history. The jagged scar running down his cheek was a story in itself, one carved by battles he’d survived. He bowed low, his gravelly voice carrying both respect and urgency.

    "Your Majesties," he said. "We bring word from the dungeons. Many prisoners await trial. Their names have beenpiled for your review."

    He stepped forward and extended a scroll to Zane. The parchment crackled as Zane unrolled it, the sound oddly loud in the hush that followed. I leaned closer, scanning the inked letters over his arm. My pulse faltered when my eyes caught certain names—ones I always tried everyday to forget.

    Alpha Darius ckthorn. His beta, Timothy Hale. And Darius’s mate, Luna Gabrie.

    The names seemed to darken on the page, the ink bleeding outward as if even the parchment itself recoiled from them. A chill ran through me, cold and sharp, as though the weight of their sins had slipped from the dungeons to settle on my shoulders in that moment.

    "Zane," I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to steady it. Jasmine stirred within me, her feisty energy bubbling up like a protective shield. strong"/strongstrongiOh, hell no, Mara. Those bastards are finally gonna get what’sing to them,"/i/strong she growled in my mind, her white fur practically bristling in my thoughts.

    Zane’s piercing blue eyes met mine, his jaw tightening. "I see them, love. Darius, Timothy, Gabrie... the architects of so much pain." He turned back to Thorne, his tonemanding yet calm, like a storm brewing on the horizon. "Thorne, how long have they been rotting down there?"

    "Months, Your Majesty," Thorne replied, standing at attention. "Since the arrests following the revtions about Silverfang’s crimes. They’ve been isted, no visitors, as per King Emeritus’s orders."

    I felt a surge of memories crashing over me—the way Darius had marked years ago, his cruelughter echoing in my nightmares, the banishment that left me broken, wandering into homelessness. But I wasn’t that shy, shattered girl anymore. No, Jasmine had awakened me, turned me into someone outspoken, feisty, and ready to fight. "Zane," I said louder, my voice cutting through the hall’s murmurs like a de. "The kingdom needs to hear this trial. Not just us—the people, the victims. Darius’s wickedness touched so many lives. We can’t let it stay buried in the shadows."

    Zane’s gaze softened as he looked at me, but there was that possessive fire in his eyes, the one that made my heart race. "You’re right, my love. This isn’t just justice; it’s a reckoning. Thorne, send word immediately. Invite the people of the kingdom to witness the trial. Notify the Silverfang Pack—everyst member who groveled before usst week and more. Reach out to queen Natalie’s mother’s family; they deserve to see the man who destroyed their daughter, princess Katrina, pay."

    Thorne nodded briskly. "As youmand, sire."

    "And don’t stop there," I interjected, my sarcasm slipping in with a sharp edge. "Make sure the families of those young girls Darius molested get front-row seats. Let them see the monster fall. The ckthorn family too—after all, he’s their flesh and blood. And send a word to anyone else who’s suffered under Darius’s thumb. Word to every pack, every lone wolf who’s felt his cruelty. This trial will be public, transparent. There will be no secrets."

    Zane squeezed my hand, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "Well said, my queen. Make it happen, Thorne. The trial begins in five days. No dys."

    As Thorne and his guards retreated, the hall buzzed with renewed energy, whispers spreading like wildfire. I turned to Zane, my flirtatious side peeking through despite the gravity of ourmands. "You know, Your Majesty, you look incredibly sexy when you’re dishing out orders like that. Allmanding and fierce."

    He smirked, leaning in close enough that his breath warmed my ear. "Careful, love. Keep talking like that, and we’ll adjourn this session early. But seriously, Nat—are you okay? Stirring all this up... it’s going to dredge up the past."

    I nodded, though my chest tightened. "It has to be done. For closure." Then, an idea sparked. I closed my eyes, reaching out through the mind link that connected me to my big brother,i "Jacob? I bet you’re off somewhere wrapped up with Easter, forgetting the rest of us even exist," /iI teased, my voice light and mischievous.i"Don’t roll your eyes—I know you. But listen, Zane and I need you here for the trial of Darius and his cronies which will take ce in five days time. Especially for the sentencing. Your presence... it’ll make it official, unbreakable."/i

    His response came instantly, warm and mischievous, like a yful breeze.i "Little moon, you think I’d miss this? That scum hurt you—hurt our family. I’ll be there, front and center. Just say the word, and I’ll pop in with style. Need me to bring any ancient wolf wisdom? Or maybe just a dramatic entrance?" /i

    I couldn’t help but chuckle aloud, drawing Zane’s curious nce. i"Dramatic entrance sounds perfect. Thanks, Jacob. See you soon." /i

    i"Count on it, Nat. Love you." /i

    Opening my eyes, I grinned at Zane. "Jacob’s in. He’ll be here for the sentencing. Said he’ll make it memorable."

    Zaneughed, a deep, rumbling sound that filled me with warmth. "Of course he did. Your brother’s got a ir for the theatrical. All of them actually. Good—his word as the Wolf Spirit will seal whatever fate we decide."

    Four days blurred by in a whirlwind of preparations. Messengers rode out swiftly on royal convoys and some simply went running in their wolf forms, carrying invitations sealed with our royal emblem—a celestial moon intertwined with a lycan w. The pce buzzed with activity: guards reinforcing the dungeons, scribes documenting testimonies, and healers tending to the emotional wounds of those arriving early. My grandmother, along with my aunts and cousins from the royal bloodline, arrived first. Their striking red hair and warm eyes carried echoes of the mother I’d lost. One by one, they pulled me into fierce embraces, their whispers heavy with regret—apologies for not finding my mother sooner when she’d ran away from home. Tears blurred the moment, mine mingling with theirs as past grief and present love collided in our reunion.

    The Silverfang Pack trickled in, their faces gaunt and humbled, Gina leading them with bowed heads. "Your Majesty," she said softly as they knelt in the hall. "We’vee as summoned. Whatever justice you mete out... we stand ready."

    I nodded, my voice kind but firm. "Rise, Gina. This isn’t about you today—it’s about Darius. But watch closely. Learn from it."

    Families of the young girls Darius abused arrived next, their eyes hollow with pain, young survivors clinging to parents’ hands. One girl, no older than 14, approached me hesitantly. "Queen Natalie... you were like us once. Hurt by him. Will... will he really pay?"

    I knelt to her level, Jasmine purring encouragement in my mind. strongi"Tell her the truth, Mara. Be the mom she needs right now." /i/strong

    "Yes, sweetheart. He’ll pay. And you’ll never be alone again. We’re family now—all of us."

    The ckthorn family was next to arrive. Owen led the way, with Michael and Griffin at his side, trailed by seven others. But it was Griffin who caught my eye. He wasn’t the same man I remembered—leaner now, hollow, like the light inside him had burned out. When our eyes locked, he gave a slow bow and the faintest of smiles before melting back into the crowd, as if he’d rather vanish than be seen. I let it go. His path was his own, and mine was waiting ahead.

    As the sun set on the eve of the trial, I paced our royal chambers, the silk of my nightgown whispering against my skin like ghosts of the past. The room was a sanctuary of luxury—velvet drapes in deep crimson, a massive four-poster bed piled with furs, candles flickering in golden holders that formed dancing shadows on the walls etched with wolf lore. But sleep eluded me. Memories assaulted me: Darius’s fangs sinking into my neck, marking me without consent, his sneer as he banished me, calling me worthless, wolf-less. The hunger in the homeless shelter, the rejection from my mate—it all swirled in my mind like a toxic storm.

    Jasmine whined softly. strongi"Mara, snap out of it. You’re a queen now, not that scared pup. But yeah... that asshole deserves to burn." /i/strong

    I copsed onto the bed, tears stinging my eyes. "Zane?" I called out, my voice cracking.

    He emerged from the adjoining study, his shirt unbuttoned, revealing the sculpted chest that always made my pulse quicken. His enigmatic aura— that mix of cold detachment and hidden kindness—melted away as he saw my face. "Natalie? What’s wrong, love?" He crossed the room in strides, pulling me into his arms, his scent of pine and power enveloping me like a shield.

    "I can’t sleep," I confessed, burying my face in his neck. "It’s alling back. Darius... the way he broke me, raped my spirit before he touched those girls. The pack’s betrayal, my parents’ murder. What if tomorrow isn’t enough? What if the pain never goes away?"

    Zane’s arms tightened, possessive and tender, Red growling protectively through our bond. "Shh, my fierce queen. Listen to me." He tilted my chin up, his blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that stole my breath. "Everything is over now. Darius is chained, powerless. Tomorrow, we’ll expose every dark secret, and Jacob will ensure the sentence sticks like a curse. But more than that—I’m here. Always. By your side, forever. You’re not alone anymore, Nat. You’re mine, and I’ll burn the world before I let anyone hurt you again."

    His words wrapped around my heart, thawing the ice of fear. I traced his jawline, my flirtatious spark igniting. "Promise? Because if you ever try to leave, I’ll sic Jasmine on you. She’s bigger than you, you know."

    He chuckled, the sound vibrating through us both, lightening the heaviness. "Oh, I know. That white furball terrifies even Red. But leave? Never. I fell for you hard, Natalie—your sarcasm, your kindness, the way you flirt like it’s a weapon. You’re my sce, my spark. After losing Emma, I thought love was dead. But you... you brought me back."

    Tears fell freely now, but they were cathartic. "Zane... I love you. So much it scares me sometimes."

    He kissed me then, slow and deep, dramatic in its passion, like a vow sealed in fire. "I love you more. Now, sleep, my queen. Tomorrow, we conquer the past."

    As he held me close, his heartbeat a steady luby, Jasmine hummed contentedlystrongi. "He’s right, Mara. Sweet dreams—tomorrow’s gonna be epic." /i/strong

    I drifted off peacefully, the weight lifting, excitement thrumming for the dawn’s justice.