Book 2 Chapter 51
John
“I too speak for Xavier. He’s a good Shadow, and that’s what got him. I feel like he deserves leniency.” Warrior Commander Litruce waved his hand.
There were murmurs of agreement, though I still had to speak his crimes. The king only glared, saying nothing.
“Xavier Robins, Chief Elder and leader of the Bearclaw Clan, Ex-Alpha of the ShadowMoon Pack … you broke your oath to the Crown; however, it was under the circumstances of partial knowledge. You only knew your pup was in danger, and you wished to get her asylum within your home pack, however she is not a Shadow, nor is she an initiate. The penalty for Oath Braking is death, though your heart may still beat depending on the views of the pack. Are there any more who would speak for him.” I said loudly, and Heidi raised her hand.
“He has protected you and me since we were in CharredMoon… it doesn’t seem right not to give him another chance… especially when Jesse had so many.” She said quietly, though we heard her just fine. There were murmurs of agreement, though the King said nothing.
“…. You say nothing in public, but all of you feel the same in private. She’s nothing but a dirty Devil Worshiping Dark Half Witch that should be handed over to the Churc-!” she snarled, though Terracotta had had enough.
“You will be Silent.” He snarled, grabbing her face to look him in the eyes before letting it go. I was torn hearing her say this about my mate, and I took a deep breath.
“I will be silent… but I speak the truth.” She hissed. I flicked her good enough to sting. She couldn’t rub her forehead, but I’m sure she wanted to.
“Enough. I must make my judgment…. None will vouch for Jesse, so there will be no mercy. There are six thousand across this state that hail to my father… and four that hail to me. There is also an entire pack you lived in that could call for you, as they were notified last night… including your old friends by Alpha Ronitus, my father, in an attempt to be fair, yet none shared a good word. In this audience of every ranked member, and about a third the warriors, NONE share a kind word for you.”
“Someone would!” She yelled, and I flicked her again. No one said a word. I saw the girls she looked at on the ground, so they were no help dead. The only ones who could have said anything were going to be burned soon, and even if they lived I doubted they would do anything other than stand there. They weren’t her friends. About the biggest lie she never accepted was the fact that she was fake… and the people she chose to be with were as well.
“Your actions… time and time again were pardoned, or wrist slapped… and you became worse. You are no longer my pack member… or my sister.” I said pointing at her. “As My charge you were my responsibility, and as such, you will die. Jesse, you are banished. Death by the Wronged Hunt.”
“So you’re going to kill me slowly for something I didn’t do?! I didn’t even use the key! John you can’t do this, it’s worse than just dying here and now…” she cried, but I cut her off.
“Then it’s what you deserve.” I growled with crossed arms. “Your past catches up with you today. Banishment by a Prince can only be overturned by the King, so you will never be in a pack again… and you deserve that too. You have wronged me, my mate, the pack… and the King himself along with all the Shadows sworn to his power. All ranked wolves must participate. If you are an Omega, you may use the ATV’s or opt out, all others prepare yourselves. You will receive the maximum period of grace.... Sundown. Run.” She had about twenty minutes, and I uncuffed her, though she stood there dumfounded.
“John you can’t be serious.” She mumbled in disbelief, though every shifter there could hear her.
“So I would just untie you to go home? After what you’ve done? After the lives that Would have been lost? You think jeopardizing the pack would warrant mercy?” I asked, snarling as I did so. I took steps to her, but she took steps back. “I told you to run Jessie. You better hope it isn’t me that catches you.” I growled, and she looked fearful now. I don’t know if anyone thought I was bluffing but I wasn’t. It was my order; if I caught her, it wouldn’t be merciful.
“Do not worry, you will see the Lady very soon.” Silence had yelled as she shifted, getting snickers from his fellow Shadows. Actually… she was a target to everyone….
I think I made the most befitting ruling. This death wasn’t as fast as I would have liked, but was for the best. This way everyone gets a chance to get their vengeance… It’s what I told myself to keep myself going, because I knew I would lead said hunt, and have to kill her anyway.
“My judgment on Elder Xavier will be different. Wolves of good standing vouch for him along with my mate, and given the circumstances, I will give him a different death. Death of Status… and the Betrayer’s FaceBrand.”
There were murmurs of approval... as much as I hated to give such a heavy sentence. It had to be done to keep him protected from his own people. “He is hereby stripped of all rank, titles, and standing within the pack of LapisMoon. He is hereby banished, annexed into StoneMoon as a rankless pack wolf, where he will remain until he is dust. He will be relieved of his rank as High Elder, and will be banished from his dual pack citizenship, as the penalty for Oath Breaking is to be burned alive in ShadowMoon, and I believe he may still be useful. He will re-give his oath, but instead he will do it here to me. He is my charge; do you think you can live with that…?” I asked and he chuckled.
“It isn’t what I think Alpha…. you have made a judgment… I accept. I oath on blood and bone to serve his grace, and protect his mate with all my power… and I know what must come next.” He stood, showing that he was able to run pretty much the entire time. I had to claw his face... He would be visibly marked for the world to see the rest of his life… Lady this wasn’t fair.
He showed no emotion, but closed his eyes for the blood. I let my claws come out, and I raked him deeply. We were wolves, it was already almost healed, but claw marks that deep would forever scar his face with four thick lines. We both bit our hands and shook.
“And I Oath that if you ever break this again, that I will put you down.” I knew I couldn’t… but now that I swore it, I had no choice if he ever pulled this shit again.
“Ronitus, it is your turn.” Snarled the king. They both stood, staring at each other a long time.
“Understood.” He said leaving with him. I was left to address the pack… and grasp what I had done.
“Pack here me, and know this well. I may not be a conventional Alpha, who rules with fear and aggression, but I will Not tolerate breaking of the law. I will not tolerate family, or friends… but I will do everything within my power to protect you. It is my sworn duty, and I take it seriously.” I growled. Those who would be in my pack kneeled, while those in my father’s bowed. I had both packs’ respect. I didn’t think I could sentence my own family.
She is Not family. Snarled my wolf. Family sticks out for each other…. All she has done is think of herself. She went too far, and she tried to kill our little mate. He growled loud enough to make my ears ring, and I could understand his anger, but right now we had more duties…
“Thank you, Alpha John… for your mercy… but this was destined. I knew from when she was a small child… that I should have sent her off to be a Shadow. Right now she would be either arranged and mated to a fully initiated Shadow, or going through training herself right now but I didn’t want that… Since I’m stationed- well banished here, she would have never knew me or your mother. By then there would be no reconciliation with her personality either… she would be a trained killer. Who knows maybe her crazy obsession with Luna Heidi would still exist, and she would have been a bigger threat.” He said quietly.
“Xavier, you forgot that she would have been trained by your brother…” She said it like it was a bad thing, so I assumed that it was.
“No I hadn’t... Xander would have probably spoiled her worse since he had no girls….” He mumbled.
“You wanted her to live a normal life, have normal friends, and choose later for herself right?” I asked and he nodded. “Then as a father you did everything you could for both of us, and for that I thank you. I’m sorry that I will be the one to put her down after you did so much for me…” I said unable to meet his gaze, but he firmly pat me on the shoulder.
“Don’t linger in the lie, you’ll drown in it.” He left with my adopted mother, who cried.
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