Page 89 of Lycan’s Hunt

Relief flashes across his face, and he pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. I close my eyes, resting my head against his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart calm my racing thoughts.

“I hate this,” I murmur again, my voice muffled against his shirt.

“I know,” he says softly, kissing the top of my head. “But it’s almost over. Just a little longer, love, and we’ll finally be free.”

I cling to those words like a lifeline, hoping he’s right, hoping this nightmare really is almost over.

“So what happens next?”

“The trial is tomorrow. We have Clyde and Rhett here. I don’t trust the council fully so I demanded we hold them. Then we plan the wedding. We have a plan, it will work.” he assures me.

I sigh heavily. That doesn’t make knowing Bianca will barely be punished for her crimes any better, but at the same time, I don’t believe her crimes against me warranted the death penalty. However, Clyde’s and Rhett’s definitely do. And we are only just learning the full extent of Alaric’s crimes. “I need to shower and then check on Max,” Soren states.

I nod before pausing.

“Can I borrow your phone? I wanna check in with Mom, see how Dad is doing?”

Soren pauses, pulling his phone from his pocket and passing it to me. “Why didn’t you use the landline?”

“Issue at breakfast, I could feel you. It set my anxiety off. So I’ve spent the day in here not wanting to scare Max or the staff.”

Soren sighs. “Let me shower and see Max, then I’ll take you for a run. It might help.”

I chew my lip nervously and reluctantly nod, as he wanders off into the bathroom. I dial my mother’s number to check on my dad.

It’s strange, after everything with Rhett and my parents disowning me, I feel relief upon hearing her voice. Maybe it is because I know they only did it hoping I would choose them, and how I wish I did. At the same time, I don’t regret it because it led me to Max and Soren. My father’s pack is no longer home for me; I found home here. I get her voicemail, it makes me wonder if Dad is ok because she hasn’t answered for a few days now. Soren told me she would be busy with damage control because he has also been helping on that front, since they want to keep everything quiet as long as possible—at least until the wedding. I just hope my father wakes before I have to walk down that aisle.

• King Soren •

The next day

The hall feels heavy, weighed down by the stone walls and the tense anticipation that hangs thick in the air. Damian walks toward me, his usual cocky grin replaced by a hardened expression. He knows how important this trial is. Everyone here does. If word of it leaks out, we risk chaos—not just in our kingdom, but across every pack aligned under the council’s protection.

I glance at Aubrey, seated beside me. Though her face is impassive, I can feel the turmoil beneath her calm exterior through our bond. Her anger simmers, her fingers tapping restlessly against her thigh. I reach over and place a hand over hers, stilling the movement. She relaxes slightly at my touch, but the tension in her body remains. She hasn’t said it but I know she is nervous about facing Rhett today.

“You don’t have to come in if you don’t want to, we have enough evidence,” I whisper to her, though I already know what her answer will be.

She turns her gaze toward me, her eyes hard and determined. “I do. I need to see this through.”

There’s no arguing with her when she’s like this. And truthfully, I don’t want to argue. I want her by my side for this. She deserves to see justice served, especially after everything Rhett and Bianca put her through.

Damian stops beside us, having checked the security measures we have in place.

“Ready?” he asks. I nod, rising. I hold my hand out for Aubrey to take, and she reluctantly does. This is the first time she has been off the castle grounds and despite being nervous, she is keeping her instincts in check. Though I can feel the sensory overdrive in her through the bond; every little noise, every flickering of light or movement and voice has her jittery. We are in the old council chambers, one rarely used. Located on the old castle grounds which are no longer part of the main one but where the ruins of the original castle are. This outer building is in working order, it has been well maintained despite hardly being used.

Damian glances at my hand as she takes it, her fingers wrapped tightly around mine, and I grit my teeth at her grip before tucking her hand against the crook of my arm instead. She can squeeze away there. I prefer to keep my fingers attached to my hand; she is still learning how much stronger she is and often forgets. Her face blushes when I move her hand and I feel the circulation return to my fingers. Damian tries to hide his amusement, his lips quirking slightly in the corners.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.” I tell them.

The old council chamber is a small, secluded building far from the castle, hidden deep within the woods. Its thick stone walls are designed to muffle sound, ensuring nothing said within these walls can be heard outside. My guards surround the perimeter, armed to the teeth and under strict orders to let no one in or out without my command, including the council at this point. I don’t trust any of them, I’m not against wiping the council out if needed. That decision will be made upon whatever verdict is given today. Because if I have even an ounce of doubt against the rest of them, they won’t be leaving this building, which is why I demanded the hearing be down here, not publicly. Luckily, they agreed, knowing the shit storm this would cause if we couldn’t control the narration that the media presents if this was public. Just as my relationship to Aubrey is under scrutiny, the council would be too once word gets out of Clyde’s involvement.

As we step inside, the cold air of the room bites at my skin, but I barely notice. My attention is focused on the three prisoners being escorted in—Rhett, Clyde, and Bianca.

Rhett looks like a shell of the man he once was. His skin is pale, his eyes sunken, and there’s a haunted look in his gaze. The severed mate bond with Aubrey is destroying his health, and though I feel a flicker of satisfaction at his suffering, I push it aside.

Clyde, on the other hand, looks as smug as ever. Even in silver chains, he carries himself with an air of arrogance, as if he still believes he has some trick up his sleeve and he will come out of this unscathed. I make a mental note to keep a close eye on him along with the other council members present today.

Bianca… She’s a different story. She’s not shackled like the others, but she might as well be, given the way she cowers between two guards. Her eyes are wide with fear, darting around the room as if looking for a way out. She knows her fate is hanging by a thread, and for once, her usual snide attitude is nowhere to be seen.