I shifted back to human form and roared. The sound echoed through the throne room and carried an alpha command that made every wolf in the room drop to their knees in submission. My newfound strength, fed by Wen’s presence through the fully open bond, made it impossible to resist.
I stepped in front of Wen and glared at everyone still standing. Growled low in my chest at anyone who even looked in her direction. My wolf was fucking wild right now. Protective and possessive and ready to kill anyone who threatened our pregnant mate.
My guards had rounded up the remaining men loyal to Andreas. They dragged them forward and forced them to their knees in a line in front of me.
Lord Matthias was among them. His face was pale. “Your Majesty, please. I was coerced. Andreas threatened my family-”
“Silence.” My voice came out as a growl. “You tried to kill my mate. You sent an assassin after a defenseless woman. There is no excuse for that.”
Another council member spoke up. “We did not know she was your mate! You said she was nothing to you!”
“That’s no excuse,” I growled. The sound was harsh. “You believed I would let anyone attack someone under myprotection, even if she wasn’t my mate? You believed I would not hunt down everyone responsible?”
Aurion shifted back to human form and positioned himself next to Wen. His presence calmed me slightly because I knew he would protect her if anything went wrong.
I walked down the line of traitors slowly. Let them see the blood still dripping from my mouth. Let them see the wolf in my eyes. Let them understand exactly what was about to happen.
“Please,” one of them whimpered. “Please, Your Majesty. Mercy.”
“Did you show mercy when you sent that assassin to strangle her? When you killed two of my good men?” I stopped in front of him. “Did you show mercy when you tried to murder my pregnant mate?”
His eyes went wide. He opened his mouth to speak but I did not give him the chance. My hand shot out and wrapped around his throat. I lifted him off the ground and squeezed. Felt his windpipe collapse. Dropped his body when he stopped struggling.
The next one tried to run. My guards caught him and dragged him back. I killed him just as quickly. Just as efficiently.
One by one I went down the line. Matthias begged. Another stayed silent. A third tried to fight back. It did not matter. I showed no mercy. Gave no second chances. Just delivered swift, brutal justice to every single person who had threatened my mate.
When it was done, when the throne room was covered in blood and bodies and the traitors were all dead at my feet, I turned back to Wen.
She was pale and shaking. One hand pressed protectively to her pregnant belly. The other was gripping Aurion’s arm for support. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear as she stared at me covered in blood.
But she was alive. Safe. Here.
And I had so much to explain.
29
— • —
Wen
I was shocked watching him murder all the traitors.
Not horrified or disgusted, just shocked at the efficiency of it. The brutality. The way he moved down the line without hesitation or mercy and delivered death to each person who’d threatened me. But I couldn’t lie to myself about the relief flooding through me. It was over. The threats were finally over. No one would hurt Mal or me or our baby anymore. Andreas was dead along with all his supporters. The nightmare was finished.
Once he was done with the slaughtering, he turned to face me. Blood still covered parts of his skin despite Aurion handing him a cloth. His eyes met mine across the throne room.
And fuck, it was so awkward.
We just stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. I could see him wanting to say something. Wanting to ask about the obvious bump under my dress. But the words seemed stuck in his throat.
“You’re alive,” I finally said. Because apparently my brain had decided that was the most intelligent thing to say after witnessing a massacre.
“Yes.” His voice was rough. “You are here.”
“Yeah. Clearly.”
The silence stretched between us. This was excruciating.
