Chapter 45
~Kieran~
Kieran was happy for his wife. Many questions were left unanswered, but there was hope to finally meeting Alexia's mother. He certainly wished that Avery would return, just as she promised.
Unfortunately, they could not dwell on the matter for now. Kieran had to leave for the capital to clear his name. He brought Alexia with him to testify that he had no opportunities to give orders to attack small packs. After all, they were busy, day and night, making love. Kieran and Alexia only lingered for a day before leaving for the capital. They arrived at the palace at night and rested to prepare for the council of alphas meeting.
The following day, the couple entered a meeting hall within the palace. Unlike the ordinary chamber that accommodated only the top alphas of the lands, the meeting venue was one of the largest halls in the castle.
"Alpha Kieran, you are finally here," Beta Ford, the king's second in command, said.
"Kieran," Alpha Declan was seated closer to Kieran and greeted him. Kieran saw how the man was agitated. He wondered why. He saw the same furious expression from Alpha Baxter and Alpha Kai.
"Kieran," Alpha Kai greeted. He motioned Kieran to take the seat next to him, and he approached, bringing along Alexia.
As he and Alexia walked to the table, he could feel everyone's burning gaze. He saw Alpha Vincent of the east was there, his eyes throwing daggers at him. Kieran also witnessed the same from the other alphas who were newly present for that meeting. When Kieran made it to his seat, Alpha Kai briefed him. He whispered to his ears, "Most of these newly attending alphas are the ones whose packs were attacked. I don't believe them one bit. In fact, Alpha Declan, Alpha Baxter, and I have been defending you over the past few minutes."
Kieran tapped on his back, saying, "Don't worry, Alpha Kai. We will get to the bottom of this. Thank you for having my back." He gazed at Alpha Declan and Alpha Baxter, giving them a nod, and they nodded back.
To Kieran's shock, the next alpha who arrived was Alpha Blaze. A commotion suddenly erupted in the room when Alpha Baxter growled, "Why is this traitor here? He did not help defend the southern borders. He fled when the fight commenced!"
Alpha Declan barked the same, but soon Beta Ford warned everyone, saying, "Alpha Blaze is here as a witness. His sanction for not actively participating in the war remains the same."
Alpha Blaze and his pack were being investigated. They were not allowed to enter the capital and were asked to render one hundred thousand hours of community service to aid the rebuilding of the southern coast.
"A witness?" Kieran immediately protested. "A witness to what? Should we trust whatever lies come out of a traitor's mouth?"
Alpha Ford sighed. He shook his head and revealed, "Her Majesty's orders. The Queen insisted all sides should be heard."
The news made Kieran squint. He always thought Queen Helen did not approve of him, but to allow Alpha Blaze to speak to the council of alphas was another story. Somehow, he felt trouble coming his way.
The waiting subsequently ended. The king and queen entered the meeting hall with their son, Casper. Rarely did Casper attend such meetings, but that day, he graced them with his presence.
Kieran felt a hand around his arm. He turned to his wife and heard her say, "I don't feel good about this, Kieran."
"Relax, Alexia," he assured her. "The king will always have my back. He will clear my name."
He saw her honey-colored eyes filled with worry, but after his words, she nodded, her gaze landing on the king, and somehow, she believed the same. She mindlinked, 'Right. He treats you well.'
Soon, Beta Ford called everyone's attention. He announced, "We are all gathered here for the alphas meeting. The war between Taplean and Eswen has ended, but sadly, a new war has begun, an internal conflict which needed to be resolved."
Turning to the affected packs, Beta Ford explained to everyone, "Five packs had been attacked. Their money was taken, their houses burned, and their women were assaulted."
One by one, Beta Ford named the packs and their alphas. They all came up in front and testified in front of the council.
"The group of werewolves named Alpha Kieran as their leader. They claimed my land by leaving the Stone family crest. They said we should pay the Stone Blood Pack money moving forward," Alpha Vincent said. He was the first to narrate the invasion in his pack. "My wife was raped."
He cried, "They had the power of men twice our strength? Who else would be strong enough to attack my warriors? It could only be warriors from the Stone Blood Pack!"
The other affected alphas testified, recounting the same. They all blamed it on Alpha Kieran.
After their reports, King Balthazar asked, "So this is based primarily because the attackers claimed Alpha Kieran instructed them?"
"Yes, My King," Alpha Vincent said.
"We have not captured anyone from their side and made interrogations?" The king stopped, feeling his chest. "I'm sorry, I have not been feeling well lately."
"What I am saying is, I don't see that we have enough proof to pin it on Alpha Kieran. For all we know, this is just a ploy to blame him!" The king pointed out, and Alpha Declan echoed the same.
"Alpha Kieran was away for his honeymoon. We traveled together en route to the mountains of Taplean. How could he give orders while he was on vacation?" Alpha Declan said.
"Is that true, Alexia, child?" The king asked. "Please tell the other alphas."
Alexia stood up from her seat and described, "This is true. Kieran was with me the whole time. We were never on the phone. He gave no such instructions. Furthermore, don't see why he would. My husband is a compassionate alpha. He aids other packs, even those not in his territory -
"But that doesn't mean Alpha Kieran had not been planning this all along," Suddenly, Casper, the king's son, spoke. "We have a witness to attest to this." He turned to another table, saying, "Alpha Blaze. Kindly share with us what you have discovered." As Alpha Blaze stood up and took the center of the hall, Kieran was on the verge of shifting. He wanted to bite off Alpha Blaze's head. The only thing that kept him in control was Alexia's hand over his.
"During the war planning, I entered
Alpha Kieran's tent to discuss a
problem with the mines, but he was not there I saw on his desk letters addressed to his beta and gammas, who were keeping his territories secured. I stole one of these letters," Alpha Blaze declared. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Alpha Blaze presented the letter and said, "It has Alpha Kieran's family crest in it, suggesting it was his plan all along The letter instructed his men to prepare for an attack over the small packs to the east and south to gain power! I was scared of Alpha Kieran, so I did not come
forward then-"
"That is preposterous!" Kieran shot back, his fangs already elongating in anger. "Did you see me write the fucking letter? Anyone could make a letter and fake my family seal on it!"
"Oh, but this one has your handwriting, Kieran!" Alpha Blaze pointed out. "Let all the alphas see for themselves, including the king and queen."
The letter was passed on to everyone, but while the other alphas started questioning Kieran, Alpha Declan, Alpha Baxter, and Alpha Kai, they remained on Kieran's side.
Alpha Baxter said, "I have also been in and out of Kieran's tent. Heck, I slept there once when my tent was ruined! I did not see such a letter, nor did we have time to make letters, you fucking asshole!" "We should have that letter analyzed!" Alpha Kai proposed. "I believe it will never match Alpha Kieran!"
"And it would not!" Kieran snarled. "Because I did not write that letter!"
"Enough!" The king rose from his seat, infuriated. He said, "Kieran is our hero! How dare you make accusations against - Ahhh!"
King Balthasar clenched his hand against his chest, looking like he could not breathe.
"My King! My King!" The alphas expressed their worry.
"Give room for King Balthasar!" Beta Ford ordered.
Immediately, Kieran suggested, "Maybe we should stop this for now. This isn't the right time to have this meeting. The king is not well - "
"Actually, this is the best time," the queen rose from her seat and announced, "Since your wife is here, Alpha Kieran, this is the best time to also bring up another betrayal - my husband's betrayal!"
"Do you all want to know why my husband, your great king, favors Kieran? To the point of denying his mistakes?" Queen Helen said in indignation. She pointed to Alexia and declared, "It's because of that woman! My husband's fruit of his deception!"