MAXIMUS
I woke up early the following morning and got dressed, about to start my day. I had a lot of things on my plate for that day-the escape of the invisible wolf and Lauren’s trial being the most important. I flicked my gaze at Starlette, who was still sleeping, as she had been since I came back to the room last night-or pretending to be.
I inched closer to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m going out now. Take care of yourself.”
She kept on with the pretence, not making even the slightest movement.
“I know you are awake, Starlette. You held your breath, and your heart rate accelerated when I came close to you. It takes only a conscious person to do that.” I bluntly pointed out.
Slowly, she finally opened her eyes and casted her gaze at me as she stretched. “I was meditating.”
“Meditating.” I repeated, an amused smile touching my lips.
“Yes.” She replied and quickly shut her eyes closed again.
I stood there for a few seconds, staring at her as I contemplated whether to ask her what was troubling my mind or not.
“Starlette.” I called, deciding to just shoot the question at her. She opened her eyes. “How did you know that the prisoner was going to escape?”
“Mind Lin-” She trailed off.
“What?” I urged her to continue.
“Nothing.” She quickly said, shaking her head.
“But you were going to say mind link.”
“Slip of tongue. Come on, Maximus. I am not a member of this pack yet. There’s no way I could mind link anyone.”
That made sense. She couldn’t mind link with anyone in the pack yet. But I planned to change that. Soon enough, she’d become linked to all of us. That was, by the way.
“So, how did you know that he was going to escape?” I asked.
“It was just a hunch. Remember you saw me speaking with him just before Lauren accused me of poisoning her?”
I nodded.
“He said something suspicious then. I asked him to just talk so that he wouldn’t have to rot there, and he said he wouldn’t rot there, nor would he speak. That made me suspect that he had hope for an escape. I was going to tell you, but I couldn’t, because, well, you know. I was sent to the dungeon. And when I remembered, it was too late.”
I exhaled sharply, slightly nodding. “So that’s how you got to know.”
“Yes.”
“Is there something else you want to tell me?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. Heading out?”
She changed the subject.
“Yes.” I breathed. “I have things to take care of. And also, Lauren’s trial is-”
She immediately jerked up. “When? I am attending.”
“It’s not now. Later.” I informed her.
“Okay.” She lazily laid back on the bed.
“Starlette.” I called.
She raised a brow. “Yes?”
“I am sorry for sending you to the dungeon. It’s just that there are protocols and-”
“They need to be followed regardless of the person involved.” She completed my statement, nodding. “I totally understand. I’m sorry I acted the way I did yesterday. I was just frustrated.”
I knitted my brows together, confused as I tried to understand her sudden change of attitude towards the whole situation. Was she sincere, or was there a reason behind the sudden change?
“For real. I am not angry about it anymore. I understand.” She assured me when she sensed my scepticism.
I nodded, still sceptical anyway. “I’ll head out now.”
A smile touched her lips. “See you later.”
“See you later.” I repeated as I turned around and walked out of the room.
That woman had mystery written all over her. Could I ever understand her?
For some reason, I felt there was something she was hiding from me about the invisible wolf that disappeared, but I quickly shut that thought off before my mind led me to suspect her again. She might be mysterious, but one thing I knew was that my mate had a pure and innocent heart.
Kade had asked to see me that morning, so I asked him to wait for me in my office. He was there when I arrived, with Tom seated beside him.
“Why did you want to see me?” I asked as I approached them and sat opposite them.
“We found this in the woods.” Kade said, holding ripped clothing up for me to see. “He must have transformed into his wolf form in the woods before running off.”
I immediately took the ripped clothes from him and sniffed them, confirming that they were his. His disgusting smell still lingered on them.
“What do we do with them now?” Tom asked. “Do we go around all the packs and start making wolves sniff his smell to trace him?”
“I have a suggestion, although you might not like it.” Kade said.
“Go on.”
“I have heard that witches can do locator spells if they have items that belong to the person they are looking for.”
“Do you know a witch?” Tom asked, puzzled.
“We’d find one.” Kade responded.
“It’s not the matter of finding a witch. It’s about finding one that is actually willing to help.” I quipped.
Werewolves and witches were sworn enemies, and finding one that would be willing to help would be really difficult, if not impossible. I hated the idea of having to seek help from a witch. Damn, I hated their guts. But at that point, I was desperate to find out who the invisibles were and protect my kingdom from them before it was too late. So, if seeking help from a witch could lead to a clue, then so be it.
“Leave the task to me. I’ll look for a way.” Kade said.
I didn’t know how he intended to do it, but…
“I am counting on you then. And please.” I leaned in, making a steeple of my fingers as I stared directly into his eyes. “Be careful.”
“Sure.” He nodded.
After Kade and Tom left my office, I drowned myself in the pile of work I had on my desk. And when it was time for Lauren’s trial, I abandoned the remaining work for later and headed to the courtroom.
The whole pack, including Lauren, who was on both knees, surrounded by guards, were already in the hall waiting for me. They all acknowledged my arrival with bows, and I waved at them in response.
“You can commence.” I told the interrogator once I was seated on the throne.
He bowed slightly before turning to look at her.
“Lauren Smith.” He started, his gaze fixed on her. “You have been accused of falsely accusing Starlette Cromwell of poisoning you. And also for murdering a maid with the help of an accomplice. Do you plead guilty?”
“That bitch came to this pack and stole everything I have worked hard for. It was only right that I tried to get rid of her.” She screamed, earning gasps from the audience.
“I would take that as a yes. You plead guilty.” He let out a sharp breath as he continued. “Lauren Smith, who was the accomplice you worked with? Who carried out the gruesome murder of the maid?”
“You can’t get no name from me!” She spat defiantly.
“More investigation would be carried out on that. But for now, since you plead guilty.” The interrogator turned to look at me, bowing. “Alpha, according to the laws of this pack, such acts mustn’t go unpunished. Please pass your judgement.”
The interrogator stepped aside, and the whole hall became utterly silent as everyone awaited my judgement.
I breathed heavily, settling my gaze on Lauren. Although difficult to admit, she looked pitiful. I couldn’t believe she was the she-wolf I had always wanted to make my Luna, and now I was to pass a judgement, possibly a death sentence, as everyone was expecting. Such a shame.
My gaze drifted to Starlette, who was in one corner of the room, awaiting my judgement just like everyone else.
I knew what I was supposed to do, but the decision was painfully difficult for me. Although she turned out to be wicked and remorseless at heart, she was someone I grew up with, someone I used to love. And that heart of hers was once pure and kind before cruelty found it. So, yes, memories of who she used to be made making a decision incredibly hard for me.
“Maximus.” Kade mind linked me. “Everyone is waiting.”
I was taking too long. I knew.
“What punishment do you suggest I pass?” I asked him.
“The one you know is right.” He replied.
I exhaled sharply. “Lauren Smith. Not only did you accuse Starlette Cromwell of a crime she didn’t commit, you also killed a maid in the process. We all know the rules of this pack. An eye for an eye. So, I thereby-”
“I am pregnant!” She suddenly blurted.
“What?” I narrowed my eyes, wondering if I heard wrong.
“I am pregnant.” She repeated. “And the pup is yours.”