~ISSA
Hubris. Petr was a victim of his own pride and it was what led to his downfall.
“Alpha Rasputin, is it to my understanding that because Lycan Frostwood owes you, it gives you the right to spy on him in his own territory?” Albus inquired with a stern expression.
“No, Chancellor Albus,” Petr faltered nervously. “I misspoke.”
“Well, you better be articulate because spying on other territory is an act of war, Alpha Petr, I understand that you are aware of that,” Albus said.
“Very well, Chancellor Albus,” Petr replied, glad that he scaled the blunder. He had no idea that it was just beginning.
“Now to reiterate my question, are you certain that Lycan Issa has remained unmated till now?” Albus asked again.
“I am very certain, Chancellor,” Petr replied with assurance.
I kept silent as he dug his own grave.
“Alpha Deucalion, you are a close confidant of Frostwood, are you certain of his single status?” Albus asked.
“He turned down my daughter when I tried to give him her hand in marriage. He wants no one, perhaps he is too proud for his own good,” Deucalion said with a subtle hint of mockery.
“Then state the verdict, Alpha Deucalion,” Albus said.
Deucalion cleared his throat and glared down at me arrogantly. I saw the belief in his face. The look that told me he thought he had me. I was about to prove him wrong.
“Issa Frostwood,” He basically sneered as he called my name. “Have you anything to say before we pass the verdict?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do,” I replied smoothly. “That is if the esteemed court grants me permission to speak.
“You are granted permission to say your piece,” Albus said.
The floor was mine. I inhaled and exhaled as I turned around the oval floor to look at the court.
“I know that I have a reputation. I know what you all think of me and I know I do a lot of questionable things, but I want to show you tonight that I do not behave without reason and I am going to prove to you that I am not the evil one here,” I began.
The crowd murmured and I saw the Alphas who were glad my downfall was coming scrunch up their noses at me. They thought I was just blabbing and Davina’s worried expression kept growing.
I smirked. “There are two reasons why I have refused to take one of the Rasputin daughters.”
Petr glared at me with a narrowed stare, there was pride in his every demeanor and I almost laughed at how embarrassed he would be when the truth came out.
“The first reason is the fact that I have not broken my end of the bargain!” The crowd exclaimed but I ignored them. “You all heard that my father mentioned that there is only one way to make that contract null and void.”
Silence fell over the crowd as they all frowned to understand the meaning of my words.
“Only if you find a mate and we know that you are not yet mated!” Petr snapped.
“Do not interrupt his speech, Alpha Rasputin!” Albus scolded and Petr shut his mouth.
“Unfortunately, Petr. . . I have found my mate and we are mated!”
“That’s impossible!” Iris suddenly yelled from the crowd and that was when I realised she and her sisters had been present and watching the trial all along.
“Order!” Davina yelled but I could see that even her fingers were trembling.
“You’re lying! You’re trying to mislead the court!” Petr roared.
Albus did not even try to scold him this time. “Lycan Frostwood, remember that no lies can be told in this court. Is your supposed mate present?”
My smirk grew wider. “She is.”
I saw Iris widen her eyes at me. Andrea and Leia were beside her. I saw the way Andrea looked from me to Yulia and realisation struck in her eyes.
Tears filled Andrea’s eyes instantly as she had finally understood what others were failing to see.
“Ask her to come forward,” Davina suddenly said and I could swear I heard a desperate sting in her voice.
I exhaled sharply and turned to Yulia.
“Esteemed members of this council. . . I present to you my mate- Yulia Moonheart. . . The last survivor of the Moonheart clan!”
Yulia rose from her seat and entered the oval space. The crowd went wild as utter shock cut through them.
Iris stood frozen as the blood drained from her face. Leia could not speak. Andrea started crying uncontrollably. Davina began to tremble and the Rasputin family. . .
Well, they were the most shocked. Petr turned as white as a ghost and his Luna was the first person to break the trance which everyone had entered.
“No! This is a lie! She can’t be his mate! Sh- she’s just a child that he saved from dying! She’s a nobody!” Olgah roared.
In a flash, she jumped into the oval space and was about to grab Yulia. I was also about to close in on her when Yulia swiftly stepped out of the way and left her foot there instead.
This made Olgah trip and she landed face flat on the floor.
“Control your Luna, Petr!” Albus ordered but I could hear the amusement at the base of his voice.
He was enjoying this entire show.
Yulia finally made it to me and I took her hand in mine before pulling her possessively by her waist. Then I turned to Petr who just finished lifting his fallen and humiliated Luna off the ground.
“Turns out you were wrong. I knew she was my mate since the first day I brought her back from my sister’s place,” I concluded.
I looked up to see Iris’ blazing stare down at me. Then she moved it to Yulia and I knew that she had to be stopped before she did something stupid.
I half expected her to lash out and attack Yulia but she surprisingly fell back into her seat without another word.
“Alpha Craven, what do you have to say about this new development?” Albus asked Deucalion.
The man was already white with anger. He had thought that he had everything figured out but he was wrong. He was just a pawn in my game.
“Since Lycan Frostwood has found his mate, then the matter has already been resolved and Petr must take down his complaint,” Deucalion stated in a voice that carried the anger simmering within him.
Albus chuckled. “Now, the council can’t just end like this. Petr will have to pay a fine for misleading the court as well as take whatever punishment the one he accused demands. . . Also, Lycan Frostwood stated there were two reasons. We’ve only heard the first one.”
I smiled. Albus really knew how to play his part right.
“As for the second reason,” I paused to garner momentum. “The War of The Black Rose was all Based on a lie!”
Deucalion flinched and my smirk only grew colder than it already was.
I had just put a crack in his castle of glass.