Alpha Luciano’s POV
I smelt fear.
Pure unadulterated fear.
Since the day I lost my parents, I knew the scent well. Initially, I disregarded Arabella’s claims as a ploy to extend the decision time. I approved. I wanted a stay on her execution as well and a few white lies here or there never hurt anyone.
The moment Anastasia’s scent had changed, I had grown wary. It was subtle like she was actively trying to calm her body’s reaction down. I had never seen that level of mastery over one’s body before. Especially not from an airhead that was supposed to become my trophy wife.
That was when my suspicion kicked in. Uncle Tommaso hadn’t noticed yet that Anastasia was beginning to crack under the pressure.
Meanwhile, I was waiting on Mikah’s report. He was supposed to give me a detailed rundown on Anastasia any minute now. That was why I had given Arabella an opportunity to speak. I had no idea that she was even more informed than me about the affairs going down in my pack.
If everything that had been said so far turned out to be true, Anastasia would be unable to face my wrath.
“Speak Emery.”
Since when had Emery and Arabella become a team? This alone was worth considering the veracity of the information.
“Anastasia planned a breakfast for all the women in the harem masquerading as a kind gesture, she poisoned all the women in the harem save myself and Arabella who was absent for the celebrations.”
“Bianca, Giuila, Aria and Emilia have passed on. Anastasia went a step further by hiding their bodies so that their families would be unable to take the bodies for burial. All to hide her crimes. The rest of the women here are still suffering from degrees of poisoning.” Emery said looking dead ahead at Anastasia who glared at her like she would rip her apart anytime now.
“Luciano, the women’s harem had an outbreak of waterborne diseases due to contaminated water from the common bath. I only kept it hushed because of the delicate situation on ground.”
Emery’s jaw dropped in shock.
“Emery, thank you for your contribution, you may sit.”
Emery opened her mouth as though to contest it but seemed to think better about it before sitting.
Alright. I was interested in seeing how she would dispute Margaret’s claims.
“Margaret, speak.”
“I was on my way to the harem to get Arabella as you sent me via the pack mind link on the day of the incident that was when I overheard the conversation between Anastasia and the late Alec.”
“Luciano, this is ridiculous. Are you just going to allow that glorified help to talk bad about me like that? Everyone knows she is a biased witness. She likes Arabella Bianchi and would say and do anything to save her from her well-deserved sentence.” Anastasia projected her voice so that the wolves at the periphery could hear as well.
There was an intense murmuring among the audience. Many of them didn’t trust Arabella. She was a Bianchi after all. How could they?
Anastasia was putting doubt in their minds about the credibility of Arabella’s claim. Why would she need to do that if she was innocent? Had Anastasia been manipulating us all along? Manipulating me?
She would soon learn the reason why few dared to do that.
“I have a recording.” Margaret said.
Uncle Tommaso exploded. “If you truly had such proof why not bring it to your Alpha immediately instead of waiting for the spectacle of a trial to bring it to our attention.”
“I have been unable to get the Alpha alone since the murder so I was unable to talk to him about it. Shall I play the recording?”
Margaret requested.
“Play it.” I said watching Anastasia.
“He is a hard nut to crack. I can’t seem to get into his office alone. At this point, we may have to go through with the entire wedding.” Anastasia’s soft voice was clear and indisputable in the suddenly dead silent room.
Alec laughed that grating laugh that had made me consider killing him several times.
“Then spice things up. Not everyone likes the virginal bride persona. Maybe he wants a whore to fuck like most of the women in his harem.”
“There might be some truth in that.” Anastasia seemed to consider the point. “I’ll try it out but you shouldn’t forget the main reason we are here. I’ve seen the way you look at Arabella. She is one of his favourites, if you go after her after he denies this request you’ve made, you will be signing your death sentence.”
“Chill out Ana. How could I forget about the annexation? Crawl before you walk Anastasia. You can’t get him to fuck you and our time is running out.”
“All good things take time, Cos. Just be careful I don’t trust that Arabella freak as far as I could throw her.”
Then we heard stomping of feet.
“Where have you been? Alpha Luciano wants to see you in his office now.” Margaret’s voice came in over from the recorder. She was now talking to Arabella.
Margaret stopped the recording. And for a second everywhere was silent and then everything went to hell.
Anastasia was out of her seat in a millisecond. She twisted away as though she was about to argue with Margaret, and then she was off and trying to exit to a different side of the hall. The only problem for her was that I’d been anticipating it. The moment she would break.
In one, two, three strides, I caught her. The commotion in the crowd died down so that all attention was on us as I can’t get then began to drag her back on stage.
“Going somewhere, fiance?”
“Luciano please I,” She struggled against my hold
Alpha. I heard Mikah in my head. Anastasia isn’t what she seems. I found something.
Don’t worry Mikah, you can bring the justifications in later. I am already taking care of this affair.
“The members of the Lupo-Mortale pack feel betrayed about this issue because most people have been affected by this in one way or the other.
I have listened to the guidance of the council and this is the ruling. In the case of Arabella Bianchi murdering Alec Esposito, I find Arabella guilty.” I saw Arabella’s eyelids close ever so slightly as she absorbed the decision.
“However, due to the sense of justice she displayed in not only killing a traitor of the pack but in revealing the truth behind my ex-fiance, I have decided to grant her a pardon and apologize for her poor treatment. Uncuff her. ” I gestured at one of the guards and he got the cuffs off her, thinking of the suffering that Arabella had time through because of me. Sort of.
Arabella bowed to me deeply.
I didn’t even look at Uncle Tommaso.
This was all his fault. If he had taken the time to do a thorough background check on her instead of just finding the next available woman who could be convinced to marry me all because he didn’t want me to fall in love with Arabella.
“As for this traitor, due to the fact that Anastasia is a guest here and was supposed to become my mate and so has been promised hospitality so she shall be made to receive one hundred and fifty lashes from a silver and wolfsbane tipped whip and sent back to her family with her cousin’s dead body for a proper burial. If she is found around this vicinity again, her life will be forfeit.”
I crooked my finger and the cuffs that had been on Arabella found their way to my hand and then onto Anastasia’s wrists.
“You can’t do this to me. I will not forgive this slight. My family will not forgive this slight.” Anastasia said, struggling in my grasp. I held her neck and squeezed.
“Even I will not forgive this slight. Your pack will pay dearly for this. The only reason you are alive is because an Elder brought you in. If you try anything else, I will forget about my uncle and then your life is forfeit.”
I dropped her to the ground. “Get her out of my sight now.” As the guards bundled her out, she shouted obscenities and threw threats around like they were confetti.
No one seemed to mind her. “For all the victims of this case, they will be compensated and I offer my sincerest apology that things turned out this way. As your Alpha, I will ensure that things like this will never happen again. I declare this trial over.”
As I started to leave the podium, Uncle Tommaso caught my arm. “Luciano, do you know what you have just done? You have started a war we might not be able to win. You should just let Anastasia go–”
I removed his hand from my arm. “I just punished a traitor that you were foolish enough to bring into our pack. Lightly at that. As for wars, I have always loved a good fight. Maybe you should concentrate more on honing your perception skills in your old age. You have become weak.”
I left the podium. I saw Arabella leaving the hall supported by Margaret as she limped on her injured feet. The wounds should have healed already but she kept reopening them with every step and didn’t look like she had eaten in days.
I approached them. “Let me.” I told Margaret.
Arabella looked at me with wide eyes as I lifted her bridal style.
Truth be told, I didn’t know why I was doing this. It just felt better than watching her struggle.
I still hated her though.
“Margaret go and get something for her to eat and bring it up to my room.”