At the outpouring care for someone who is not her mate, Shane frowns at Destiny. Shane has been suspicious of Destiny for months, but he didn’t have proof nor did he think her accomplice would be his best friend.
Until now.
Because what good is a show without a little drama, am I right?
Shane growls at Destiny. “My best friend?”
Destiny stutters. “No, Shane, it–it’s not what it looks like. We never—I never—”
Shane grows a backbone, and it’s satisfying.
I almost don’t want to kill him.
“Shut up, Destiny. I don’t want to hear it. I knew you were sneaking around, but I didn’t know it was with my best friend,” Shane says.
“I can explain. It was never supposed to happen like this.” Cody is hoarse as he tries to speak as he strains against my hold.
“Yo, fuck you, man. You were my best friend, and you fucked my girl?” Shane shakes his head and looks at me directly. “It was Cody who lured Jay into the woods. He also is the one who carved into her.” Shane takes one last glance at Destiny. “And it was my idea to frame Jay for the boy’s death. Who we also lured out there.”
Everyone is going down. Himself included.
My eyes lock on Cody. “So, you’ve stolen from me.”
“No, that’s not what—”
I release Cody, giving him my back. “It wasn’t a question. You stole from me.”
Cody spews nonsense as Tyler hands me a machete from the cart. “Things got out of hand, man. I never intended for anyone to get hurt.”
“You stole from me. Do you think you can prey on what’s mine?”
I repeat the mantra like I’m summoning a beast because I am. My wolf surfaces, wanting to experience the justice about to be served.
Tyler nods to my men, and they bring out a wooden table and place it directly in front of Cody.
I point with the machete. “It’s going to be his right hand.”
Cody is sweating profusely. “Please, man. I’m sorry.”
“It’s interesting that you wouldn’t apologize for stealing your best friend’s girl something you should be sorry for, but you’ll apologize for this something I know you aren’t sorry for in the least.”
“Come on, man. Why does it matter what I did to a measly rogue?”
“Because I didn’t order it,” I grit.
In the middle of his pleas, his eyes light up. “F–Forgiveness!” He recalls the word. “Y–You said I can be forgiven.”
“I said you could ask for forgiveness. But forgiveness is not up to me. That’s between you, and our Goddess.”
My guys hold Cody’s hand firmly on the table. I thrust practice swings, making sure to line my blade up perfectly with his wrist.
In a panic, Cody scans the crowd, looking for a rescue. He sets eyes on the king. “Do something, please, Your Majesty! Have mercy, please!”
I pause with my machete hovering over Cody’s wrist and raise an eyebrow to the king. “Any objections, Your Majesty?”
“None at all. Proceed.”
The king’s tone is one of anticipation. Knowing him, he is foaming at the mouth for me to continue. He likely wishes he were inflicting this punishment himself.
