Page 88 of Lycan’s Hunt

Chapter 38

• Aubrey •

He hesitates, and that hesitation alone is enough to make my heart skip a beat. Soren rarely hesitates. He’s always calm, always in control, always sure of what needs to be done. But right now, he looks… conflicted.

“Let’s sit,” he says quietly, taking my hand and leading me to the couch in the corner of the bedroom. I follow without protest.

The silence stretches between us as we sit, and I can’t take it anymore. “Soren,” I prompt, my voice sharp. “Tell me.”

He exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. “They’re both in custody.”

Relief washes over me like a tidal wave, my shoulders sagging as the tension I’ve been holding onto all day begins to ease. “That’s good, right? This is what we needed.”

“Yes, but there’s more,” he says, his tone carefully measured. “There’s going to be a secret trial. The council wants to handle this quietly to avoid any public unrest. They want to make sure everything is tied up neatly before we move on Alaric.”

A secret trial makes sense. The last thing we need is a public spectacle that could give Alaric time to cover his tracks. But something about Soren’s expression tells me there’s even more.

“And?”

“I need to offer Bianca a deal,” he says finally, his voice low. “If she agrees to testify against Rhett and Clyde, they’ll lessen her sentence.”

“Wait, I don’t understand?” I just stare at him, the words not fully registering. When they do, a cold fury rises in my chest, hot and sharp, making it hard to breathe.

“A deal?” I repeat, my voice barely more than a whisper. “They’re offering her a deal? After everything she’s done?”

“I suggested it,” Soren tells me and I feel like he slapped me.

Soren reaches for my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “Aubrey, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but we need her testimony. Without it, there’s a chance Rhett and Clyde could find a way to wriggle out of this. Bianca’s testimony will seal their fate.”

“I can testify. Bianca told me what they did to your wife, Alaric’s involvement, and Clyde’s.”

“That’s hearsay, and given your history with Bianca, it won’t be enough. When we captured Rhett and Clyde we learned Alaric is building an army. Clyde will try to say this is just a vendetta against him and Rhett since you are my mate. He even tried to claim he was there to stop Rhett.” He runs his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Rhett and Clyde won’t speak against Alaric. Even commanded we couldn’t get them to, meaning Alaric has used compulsion on them. Bianca hasn’t been compelled. I guess Alaric didn’t think she knew enough or wasn’t a threat to his entire operation.”

I pull my hand away, standing abruptly. I need space. I need air. Pacing to the window, I stare out at the darkened forest beyond the castle grounds, my mind spinning. I should be relieved—Rhett and Clyde are in custody, and the council is preparing to bring them to justice. But instead, all I feel is anger. Isn’t their crimes against me enough, I can testify about what Bianca told me about Soren’s wife and the council.

“She framed me, Soren,” I say, my voice tight. “She helped Rhett kidnap me, helped him force a bond on me. She stood by while he ruined my life, and now she gets to live while my Dad is lying in a coma and we don’t even know if he’ll make it?” I turn to face him, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “How is that fair?”

“It’s not,” he says quietly, his gaze steady and unwavering. “None of this is fair. But this isn’t about fairness—it’s about ending this. It’s about making sure Rhett and Clyde pay for what they’ve done and ensuring Alaric doesn’t get away with his part in it.”

I know he’s right. Deep down, I know this isn’t about revenge—it’s about justice. That doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

“And what if she lies?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “What if she twists the truth to protect Rhett? How do we know we can trust her?”

“We don’t, but I don’t think she will lie,” Soren admits. “She’s smart enough to know that lying won’t save her. If she tries to protect Rhett, she dies. This deal is her only chance at survival, and she knows it. We also have an incentive to make her talk.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Survival. That’s all she’s ever cared about, isn’t it? Saving her own skin.”

“And her parents.”

I glance at him.

“Long story, I haven’t got the energy for right now, but her parents are in the dungeons with her. She gave Rhett up when I threatened to kill her parents.”

Soren stands, closing the distance between us in two strides. He cups my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I hate this as much as you do, Aubrey. But I need you to trust me. I need you to trust this is the right move. We’re so close to ending this, to being free of all of it. Please.”

His words, his touch, the raw sincerity in his eyes—it breaks through the wall of anger. Slowly, I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I trust you.”