~ISSA
A shocked murmur overtook the whole court.
“Decorum please!” Davina’s magically amplified voice rang out through the court.
I looked over at Yulia and Miles, who both had anxious expressions etched on their faces. Jamal was the most confused and I could translate the look on his face. He was facially wondering what the hell I was doing.
I believed that the whole court was more concerned as to why I admitted to my guilt without hesitation or remorse. Even Petr himself watched me with a bit of worry. He, like everybody else, had assumed that I was going to deny his claim.
“Alpha Petr Rasputin, would you let the court know your grievances towards Lycan Frostwood?” Davina said.
Petr cleared his throat, glad that he was finally the centre of attention. He made use of the space that the oval floor gave him.
“Ladies, gentlemen, werewolves, witches and other creatures of the night. What separates us from animals?” Petr began. “The ability and the principle to stand by our words and our vows. The ability to make rules and regulations that govern us and stand by them. If we can not do this, then we are no different from the mindless beasts.” He paused for dramatic effect to check if the people of the court were listening.
It was no doubt that they paid him rapt attention.
“I met Frostwood on the battlefield of the War of the Black Rose, a war that threatened to shake the very foundations of our worlds. A war that took many good men, fathers, brothers, nephews, sons and heirS,” he continued.
I looked deeply into the eyes of Deucalion as Petr referred to the war. The war that his Luna started, the war that we falsely thought the witches started. I watched Deucalion until he subtly squirmed on his seat.
He was beginning to sense that something could go wrong with his plan tonight. He underestimated me for the last time.
I would make him rue the day he chose to betray the wolfkind for his selfish agenda. People died. And by my hands, I was going to make him regret it. All the blood I had spilled was on his hands. Including my father, mother and down to Marianna.
“The Frostwood Family came to my father and asked us to be allies in the war, and our price, a son of the house of Frostwood would take a daughter from the house of Rasputin as a mate so she can bear a child with Lycan blood, that was the deal!” Petr exclaimed. “However, my fellow members of this court, the first son of Frostwood has refused even after we diligently played our part in the war of the black rose. I beseech this court to compel him to pay what he owes.” Petr finished with a dramatic flair.
All eyes were on me now. I could hear the outrage from the people of the court, I could hear the disapproving murmur and grumbling from people who had no idea that their whole lives had been nothing but lies.
Petr took his position beside me and when I looked at him, I saw the smug triumphant glare in his eye. He believed that he had won.
“Alpha Deucalion, as a representative of the Werewolves, do you have anything to say about this matter?” Albus turned to Deucalion who was a bit surprised that he was called at all.
Deucalion looked at me and I returned his gaze with unwavering intensity. “I am humiliated to say the least,” He began. “As someone that represents the wolfkind in the supernatural communication, it is nothing but a bad look and it speaks ill of all of us werewolves if a Lycan such as you, Frostwood, find it hard to be a creature of integrity.”
He was good. He was really selling himself as a saint.
“I hope that by the time this trial is over, you can do the right thing and give werewolves out there a good name, that is all I have to say.”
“Now for the inclusion of the court, we would like to read what the contract says,” Davina said as she opened the old scroll.
“This is my decree. Should Issa Frostwood, first son of the of the house of Frostwood and heir apparent to be Alpha of Blue Lake Wolf Pack, fail in his quest to secure for himself a mate, I, Alexander Frostwood, Father, Lycan and Alpha of Blue Lake hereby decree that a mate from the house of Rasputin be betrothed to my son as a price for their allegiance in the war of the Black Rose. Furthermore, this deal can and will only be nullified if Issa Frostwood is Mated to a wolf granted to him by the Goddess.”
Murmurs erupted again and I threw a short glance at Yulia before I faced the judges again. Albus cleared his throat and the noise died down.
“Are we to believe that Lycan Frostwood has not yet managed to secure himself a mate?” Albus asked the court.
There was only a confused and unsure silence. I was sure that only two people knew of my status and they would not dare reveal it. Andrea suspected but she was not in the right state of mind to let it out.
Besides, she had a very bad relationship with Deucalion and she would not be believed. The second was Jamal because he had made subtle advances towards Yulia. I had revealed it to spite him, which I admit was a bit childish.
“What proof do we have that he is not yet Mated?” Albus pressed on as he looked around for answers.
“He has no Mate of his own, Chancellor Albus, I have kept an eye on Frostwood ever since the war ended.” Petr said.
“How so?”
“I have eyes and ears everywhere,” Petr said with pride.
“You do know that it is a great offence to have spies in another Alpha’s territory, Alpha Petr?” Albus asked.
Petr went quiet as his face reddened with humiliation. “I was merely protecting my investments, Chancellor Albus.”
“Protect your investment from who?” Albus asked.
Petr realized that he had spoken himself into a trap of his own making.