Chapter 10
Adrian’s POV
“You killed Gale!” Adrian was completely feral, his wolf roaring. “You destroyed us all!” His claws ripped open her throat.
The smell of blood filled the room.
“Adrian… stop…” Seeing her son covered in blood, Victoria snapped back to reality.
“What… what have I done…” Adrian blinked, staring at his blood-soaked hands.
“It’s over… it’s all over…” Victoria’s face was pale. “Adrian, Sophia is the heir to the Wellington pack! They will never let this go!”
“Mom…”
“This is not the time to talk!” Victoria turned to Tyler. “Quick! Get the car ready! We have to leave, now!”
Tyler sprang into action.
“Right away!”
Victoria grabbed Adrian’s shoulders, her hands trembling.
“Adrian, we’ve already lost everything, we can’t lose you too! The Wellingtons will be here any minute, we have to run!”
Just then, the sound of car engines and running feet came from outside.
“Damn it!” Tyler looked out the window. “It’s the Enforcers! Someone must have reported it!”
The main door was kicked open.
Several uniformed Enforcers stormed in.
The lead officer saw Sophia’s body in the pool of blood and immediately drew his silver-laced cuffs.
“Adrian Blackwood, you are under arrest for the murder of a werewolf!”
“Wait!” Victoria ran forward. “My son was acting in self-defense! This she-wolf murdered his child!”
“You can tell that to the tribunal,” the officer said coldly. “For now, Adrian Blackwood, you’re coming with us.”
Adrian looked at his mother and Tyler, his eyes full of regret.
“Mom, Tyler… I’m sorry… I’ve dragged you into this mess again.” He held out his hands.
The cold silver cuffs snapped onto his wrists, instantly suppressing his Alpha power.
“Adrian!” Victoria cried, chasing after the Enforcers. “I’ll get you the best lawyers!”
Tyler followed.
“Alpha, we won’t give up!”
The Enforcer’s vehicle sped away, leaving behind a ruined manor and two desperate figures.
…
Six months later, at the Werewolf Tribunal.
“Adrian Blackwood,” the judge read the verdict in a cold, monotone voice, “given that your crime was committed under extreme emotional distress, and that the victim, Sophia Wellington, was indeed guilty of the premeditated murder of a minor, this tribunal sentences you to twenty years of imprisonment and hereby strips you of your Alpha status. Your pack will be
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formally dissolved, with all remaining assets transferred to the Wellington Pack.”
Adrian accepted the sentence calmly.
Compared to losing Elena and Gale, none of this mattered anymore.
Adrian sat in his cell in the werewolf prison.
The once-mighty Alpha had lost everything.
He heard that Elena and Marcus’s wedding was imminent and requested one last phone call from the warden.
“Elena… it’s me.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
“What is it?” Her voice was calm.
“I heard… you’re getting married to Marcus. I wanted to… to wish you well.”
“Wish me well?”
“Elena, I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” Adrian said, closing his eyes. “But I want you to know that I truly did love you. I did it the wrong way, and I hurt you, but my love was real.”
In the background, he could hear the sacred vows of a mating ceremony beginning.
“Your Highness, the ceremony is about to start,” someone urged her.
“Adrian,” Elena’s voice was soft, “if you truly loved me, you would let me go and be happy.”
“I know,” Adrian said with a bitter smile.
“That’s why I’m wishing you happiness, Elena. You and Marcus, and the children you’ll have… be happy.”
For a moment, there was only silence on the other end.
When Elena spoke again, her voice was thick with an emotion I couldn’t place.
“Adrian…”
“Don’t cry for me,” Adrian said gently. “I’m not worth it. Live a good life, Elena. Be happy,” he whispered, his voice cracking.” And forget the man who destroyed ours.”
He hung up the phone and walked calmly toward his fate.
Elena’s POV
At that same moment, in the Royal Cathedral of the North.
I put down the phone and took Marcus’s arm, ready to begin our new life.
My Luna gown sparkled in the sunlight, as beautiful as Gale had always dreamed it would be.
Mommy will be happy now, my love, I said in my heart to my son in the heavens,
Marcus kissed my forehead, his touch gentle and true.
This time, there would be no secrets, no lies.
I had finally found a mate worthy of me, and a future forged in truth, not lies.
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