260

Bernardo

"That bitch."

He growled. I knew he was referring to Helaine.

"You mean Helaine?"

"No, Harlyn! She has been hiding her real self. Did you know?"

His words came out in a rush. As if he was trying to speak before he lost all his strength again.

"Oh, you still don't know that you got the wrong twin? That wasn't the Luna. That's her twin."

I informed her. Even the delta us looked shocked at what I said. Not a lot of people knew about the other Zeta Ross's kids. Not for long, once everything is sorted out, I will make an announcement that involves honoring the late Zeta again.

After the announcement tonight, the next announcement and the others that will follow will only be about positive things, like the mating ritual and coronation ceremony. Also, the birth of a new royal baby. I actually look forward to that a lot. I look forward to holding my child in my hands. The future ruler of the Crimson Moon. That's if he or she wants to be.

I have made a promise to myself that I won't force my child to train to be alpha king or Luna someday. I will let them make their choices and also give them the chance to do all the things I never got the chance to do. Explore the world and learn new things. Meet different people and make mistakes.

Theo's painfully almost inaudible growl brought me back to reality. He wasn't healing at all. Helaine really fucked him up beyond repair. The only person who could help his case was my Harlyn but I would rather walk on hot coal than let my mate touch his filthy body not to talk of healing him. What was the point when he was going to die anyway?

"I am going to kill her."

He rushed out and struggled weakly against the chains. I laughed out loud.

"Is that so? Do you want me to have her in the room with you for a minute? I bet that's all she needs to take you out. You messed with the wrong woman, Theo."

A woman raised by warrior vampires. Who has gone all her life without feeding! He unleashed the beast in her and she released all the venom on him. That's why he was so fucked up. He growled again. His weak attempt to break free actually made me laugh.

"I am going to kill all of you! I am going to kill you!"

I laughed and so did the delta with me. It was funny that he could barely move and he was talking about killing someone.

"Your days of killing are over, Theo. Face your new reality. You will live the rest of your miserable life in chains and behind bars."

I wanted to add that the remainder of his life wasn't so long anymore but decided to let that part be for now. Just for the fun of it.

"I won't go down like this. I won't lose like this! I can't give up now!"

His voice sounded a lot firmer and even his struggle got stronger but not enough to break free. The delta tried to hold him but I put a hand up to stop him.

"Let him."

I told him. He stared at me in confusion but didn't argue. Theo started struggling harder, trying to break free but all his efforts went to waste and about five minutes later, he gave up.

"Continue?"

I urged him.

"Fuck off! Don't fucking think you have won! This is not the end of the road for me! I will get out of here and I will get away!"

"And then what? Will you go hiding for months or years, plotting revenge that won't happen? I am so tempted to let you get away just so I can see how far your new revenge plan will go until you are back in chains because I know whatever you do, you will always end up like this! In chains. You aren't smart, Theo. You can never win over me. Anyway, this game has been playing for too long and I have no intention of prolonging it anymore so I won't let you go."

I told him. I meant it when I said I would have let him go just to see what he could come up with but I had my kingdom to worry about. I had my mate and our baby to worry about. I wanted my siblings to return home to a peaceful, secure kingdom so I couldn't go about playing games with Theo even though I really wanted to just for the thrill of it.

I listened to Theo rumble about what he would do and how he would escape. A whole lot of endless nonsense that I mostly ignored. There was no danger. The closer we got to the palace, the less he spoke.

At some point, I actually thought he died but then he moved and grunted in pain. It was as if as time went the pain he felt increased. No, not as if. It was really happening and I witnessed it in real time.

As much as I liked watching him growl, grunt, and make various painful sounds, I had to give orders to lock him up while I prepared for the announcement. I met with Damien and Ryan back at the palace after making sure Theo was locked away.

"See, nothing happened."

I said as soon as they stepped into my office. Ryan shook his head and Damien just ignored me. He went straight to his usual seat in my office and opened his laptop in front of himself. He started typing away almost immediately.

"What are you doing?"

I asked him just as my real personal assistant walked in. Honestly, I haven't been working with him a lot ever since everything started.

"Your majesty, we have thirty minutes until the emergency press meeting starts."

He announced.

"Okay, I will be ready."

I told him. He bowed and walked out of the office, leaving just Ryan, Damien, and me. I turned to Damien again.

"What are you doing?"

I asked him again.

"Trying to find the loophole. He shouldn't have been able to get into the pack not to talk of the palace. I sent a drone out to scan the areas. Also, I retrieved a handful of footage that can give me a clue."

Oh, that's a lot.

"Okay, you keep doing you. I will just go get changed and be back."

I said and stood up to leave.

"You can't leave. Your assistant already brought a change of clothes. You have to get ready here and also run what you are going to say to me. At least half of it."

If it was anyone else asking me to do something like that, I would have been pissed off and probably would have punished them but Damien was different.

"I am not going to say much. Just announce what has been happening and what I have chosen to do with the traitors."

I summarized.

"Okay, also, you need to fire your chief security officer."

I wasn't surprised. He turned his laptop for me to see.

"He met with him?"

I let out. It was right in front of my eyes.

"Obviously did and most have been working with him all these while. I had my doubts but I still kept an eye on him. Thank Goddess. Now we know how he got into the pack and how he was able to easily gain access into the palace."

Damien stated the obvious. I turned to Ryan and nodded. Another traitor to be picked up and arrested. That will be on beta Ryan because the traitor was someone from his division.

"Will work on that immediately. If you will excuse me."

Ryan said. I nodded and waved him off.

"Wow, Damien. I have been surrounded by mainly enemies. My own people turned against me. People I trusted with my life. People I thought would never turn on me."

I wasn't even angry. How could I be? All the anger was gone now. I wasn't surprised either. I had few people who actually were on my side.

"We will fish them all out. All the traitors. It might take time but surely, we will find them all and make them pay for their sins."

I nodded in agreement and patted Damien's back encouragingly before walking away to go change. Every Theo and Sean supporter was all about to get the biggest wake-up call.

Their illegal reign in my kingdom will end tonight. I won't prolong their execution either. I want that to be a lesson to anyone else who might think of doing what they did.