Chapter 39: Chapter 39
[Tyler’s POV]
I couldn’t begin to think of a suitable word to define my anger, but I was terribly enraged and could kill someone right at that moment without blinking an eye.
“What gave you the effrontery to make such a groundless accusation? Have you no fear of me? If not me, what about my authority? Drag them both immediately to the dungeon where they would spend the next three days regretting their actions before they are executed before the Pack members!” I ordered the guards.
“Your highness, we are not making a groundless accusation. Just your presence terrifies us and we only love to pay homage and respect to you. Why would we dare interrupt your wedding if all we wanted to do was lie? Please, believe us,” Delilah said.
“Guards, take them away! I really do not have any intention to spill blood on such a sacred day,” I thundered angrily.
That was when the Gamma, who seemed to be enjoying what was going on, interrupted. “I know you’re upset right now, your highness, but they are right. They will not just make such an accusation if they didn’t believe it to be true. I implore your majesty to at least, hear them out first and see the proof they said they have against your bride. They spent over ten years living together as maids. Surely, they must know her better than you do, your highness,” she concluded.
I hated to agree with her, but she was right.
The Delta then spoke up. “I agree with the Gamma, Alpha Tyler. Let’s check the evidence they have first. If they are right, the Omega can be punished for her sins. If they are not, they will take the fall instead. That is the only way to allay the fears of your people and prove that you have chosen a befitting bride who is not practicing the very thing we werewolves dread the most,” he added.
“I will not be cajoled into…” I stopped halfway, noticing Malia in the front row giggling to something that Elder Frank’s son who had just returned whispered into her ears. They both weren’t even paying attention to what was going on and just seemed too busy with their discussion.
My chest felt heavy as great annoyance hardened it, mixed with pure irritation and I just wanted to end the poor man’s life and forbid Malia from having anything to do with him. However, I couldn’t do that in the presence of so many people, especially when there was a serious matter going on.
That was when I remembered Malia’s words to me the last time we had spoken: “Miracles do happen, you know. If there’s ever an opportunity for you to be with me again, just promise me you’d take it,” she had said.
This wasn’t just a serious matter, I reasoned. This was an opportunity for me to discard of Nivera and make Malia my Luna without going back on my word. My pride would be a little bit hurt, but at least, I would have a legitimate reason to not marry Nivera after stating strongly that I would definitely get married to her. More importantly, the vampire would lose his woman. Perhaps, this was the way out. Perhaps, Malia and I were truly meant to be.
“I’ll give you five minutes. Explain yourselves and give me the so-called proof you said you have,” I said.
The members of the Pack looked relieved and seemed eager to know what would happen next.
“Alpha Tyler, you can’t possibly be listening to them right now. This is a mere false accusation. It’s obvious they are lying,” Nivera said.
“I know that, my love, and I just want to show the Pack the kind of perpetual liars they are,” I told her, or maybe I was secretly hoping that they were right, because I was way too confused to pick a side. I looked back at them, “Go on. Explain yourselves,” I stated.
“Thank you for your grace, your highness,” Delilah and Alice said in unison.
“The night Nivera got missing, we saw her standing next to the window of your bedroom. We wanted to say hi to her as we have been trying to become friends with her after you announced that she would be the new Luna,” Alice stated.
Delilah then spoke, “Exactly, but we couldn’t approach her as suddenly, we heard her saying something in a strange language. For a minute, we were confused until she later said in our normal language that you, the Alpha, will be hers forever and that once both of you are married, she will rule the Pack through you,” she said.
The people gasped and Nivera just stood there, looking puzzled.
“That doesn’t even make any sense,” I stated, trying to be fair.
“I know, your highness, but apparently, she was trying to control you through witchcraft just so that her word will be the final say for the members of the Pack and everything that concerns it,” Delilah said.
“And do you have proof of this? It’s not right to go about making baseless accusations, you know. How do we know you’re not mistaken about what you saw or heard?” it was Malia who asked that question, and everyone, including me turned to look at her. She was always on the side of the truth, and it didn’t matter that she completely detested Nivera for she was about to take the position she had dreamt of long enough; I could see why everyone basically adored her.
“Yes, we do. After she said those things, she dug up a hole in the ground and placed a wooden image tied with strings and ropes,” Alice explained.
“For something you saw at night, you sure do have pretty good vision,” Nivera noted.
“Of course, we do. We’re normal werewolves after all. It’s not our fault you can’t relate to us because you were born as an Omega,” Delilah said, spitefully.
Nivera looked at me like she expected me to defend her, but I just looked elsewhere. “Can you take us to the spot where this image was buried?” I asked.
“There’s no need for that. We already dug it out,” Delilah said, and opened the big bag she was carrying after which she gave a wrapped parcel to me.
I collected it carefully, then unwrapped it slowly as everyone looked on eagerly. Once the parcel was revealed, I nearly dropped it as a reflex action. It was a wooden doll; the ugliest kind of doll. It seemed like it had been burnt in fire and like they had described, it was tied with strings and ropes, and looked really frightening.
“Isn’t that your special ruby ring?” Malia asked, pointing at the only attractive thing that shone and twinkled beneath the rope.
I pulled it out, and truly it was mine, but what was worse was that it was entangled with the crystal ring I had given to Nivera when I announced that she would be the Luna.
“Oh my Goddess. Does this mean she truly tied your destinies together?” the Gamma asked.
“Let’s not jump into conclusions…”
The Beta, who had been silent all this while, interrupted me. “No one is jumping into conclusions, your highness. You’ve had that ring ever since you were a little boy. The Omega is the only one that could have been close enough to get it within her reach. Also, how did her engagement ring find its way to that doll? This is pure witchcraft and we need no further proof to show that she indeed is a witch,” he concluded, to which the people cheered.
“Can you all calm down? How are you sure someone didn’t make this all up?”
“Whether someone made it up or not, one thing I know for sure is that you won’t get married to her. Our strong Alpha King can never become a puppet, especially to that thing,” Malia stated, snatching the entangled rings from me and breaking them apart with force.
“Kill the witch! Kill the witch! Kill the witch!” the members of the Pack began to chant, looking visibly furious as they raised their hands and eyed her despicably.
“I didn’t do anything, I swear. They’re lying. You have to believe me,” Nivera said, falling on her knees in front of me as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Silence!” I yelled at the people, and they immediately went mute.
“Please, I’ve been set up. I don’t know how or by whom, but please, believe me, I would never do such a thing. The Alpha has been kind to me, and I know you all hate me, but please, don’t crucify me just yet. Please, investigate this matter some more and you’ll find out that I am innocent,” she pleaded, sobbing hard,
“Enough with the crocodile tears. No one will believe you. For all we know, you could be the daughter of one of the witches that was banished, and where are you always disappearing to? Perhaps, you’re in cahoots with your mother’s people and you only want to bring harm to us after taking you in for eighteen good years,” the Delta stated.
As he made that statement about her disappearing and being in cahoots with a witch, I remembered my experience with the vampire’s witch friend, and just like that, I remembered where I had first perceived the fragrance on the black dress Nivera had worn home after she had been allegedly kidnapped. It was the same fragrance I had perceived on the witch.
At that sudden realisation, the wooden doll dropped from my hands and I staggered backwards in immense shock.
“Alpha Tyler, are you okay?” Nivera asked.
“Don’t act like you care about that,” I said to her.
“What?” she seemed puzzled.
“I said, don’t act like you fucking care!” I screamed at her, much to everyone’s surprise. “That day… that day you disappeared and came back wearing a black dress, stating you were kidnapped, you were with the vampire, not so?” I inquired, at the top of my voice.
“I… I…” she stuttered, as her teeth chattered. She obviously hadn’t seen that coming.
“Answer me! And if you lie to me, your punishment will be much more worse than just death,” I shouted at her.
She didn’t say a word, but couldn’t meet my eyes and just began to cry.
In that moment, I felt the worst possible kind of hurt as a stroke of pain slashed my heart and ached terribly.
“Did you see him that day or not?” I asked, bringing my voice a little bit down as I clenched my fists.
She nodded her head in the affirmative, making my heart ache even more. “Please, let me just explain myself,” she said.
If I heard any other thing from her, I might run mad. “I have heard all I need to hear. Nivera Hayes has been found guilty of practicing witchcraft. She is hereby sentenced to death.”