Chapter 196 THE ACCUSATION OF A CROWN BETRAYER
Chapter 196 THE ACCUSATION OF A CROWN BETRAYER
Chapter 195
Rosa’s POV
My heart skipped, my eyes darting as though someone were speaking in a foreign language.
“I… I don’t… understand…” My voice quivered as I struggled to find the right words.
The room fell into a deep silence again. His eyes lingered on me, his lips moving like someone who wanted to say something but was holding back—probably searching for the right words.
His face twisted with horror, pain, and revenge. I had never seen Alpha Vexhood like that.
He tapped his totem on the ground repeatedly, his lips curling in anger.
His legs were spread wide on the chair, hidden beneath the gown he had put on.
I had taken a few cautious steps, closing the distance between us. Fear hibernated deep within my chest.
But I couldn’t get too close to him—lest Leo’s fate befall me.
“So, because I allowed you to gain access to the throne—something far beyond your destiny and the position life assigned to your family,” he paused, swallowing hard, “you now have the audacity to steal everything I’ve worked for over the years.”
I dropped to my knees. My legs hit the ground with a dull thud. I rubbed my palms together, pleading.
“I swear to the Moon Goddess—whose name I would never use in lies or treachery…” I paused, clearing my throat as I searched for the right words before Elder Vexhood’s anger worsened. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Your Honor…”
Alpha Vexhood let out a strange laugh. Its intensity cut through the air—a laugh he used when he was about to act, when no one could predict his next move.
“You plotted the downfall of my son.” The words dropped into my ears like a stone into still water. Ripples formed instantly.
“You allowed him to be locked up in Alpha Dominion’s pack while you manipulated everyone here—not to become a queen…”
He paused.
“But to become a king!” His voice thundered through the empty hall.
“A king! A whole king in Stormfang Pack—what a lofty idea…”
My stomach knotted painfully, like prey cornered with nowhere left to run. I felt it twist inside me.
He knows. He knows everything.
“I made you a queen… I brought you here…” he continued.
“How did you grow beyond our plans? How did you suddenly begin nurturing the idea of becoming a king? I received reports that you came to me—asking for help. You even went as far as telling my subordinate to assist you in striking down an omega.”
I said nothing. My lips trembled uncontrollably.
“You didn’t stop there,” he went on. “You sent my son to prison—locked away in Alpha Dominion’s pack. And you were the one who killed Astra.”
“Ryder… locked up? I swear, I didn’t know anything about that—”
“Shh…” Alpha Vexhood cut me off.
“A king in Stormfang Pack? That is a grave taboo.”
“I swear to the Moon Goddess, never in my life have I nurtured such an idea…”
“I only gathered the workers to inform them that Alpha Jax would not return for two weeks…”
I paused. My voice thickened, but I forced it steady.
“And since his Beta wasn’t around to take charge, I offered to oversee the pack’s activities until his return. Not long after, I received news that Alpha Jax was dead…”
“You told that idiot lying there,” he said, pointing to Leo’s lifeless body soaked in blood, “to take care of Jax.”
“No… no…” I quickly countered. “He acted on his own. I only asked him to do a job for me…”
“To kill someone again?”
“No—to prevent one of my secrets from being exposed. A secret that could have gotten me expelled from this palace. I was already on the edge… Jax’s judgment would have fallen on me soon, and I had to stop it.”
“Then I promised him something I couldn’t fulfill…” I paused. “But he kept coming back, threatening my life…”
“I swear, I didn’t touch Alpha Jax… and I didn’t instruct anyone to do so. I knew the consequences.”
“How are you so sure Jax is dead?”
I quickly responded, “He brought me pictures. Pictures of Jax… lying in a pool of blood…” my lips trembled. “
“Go and get them for me,” Alpha Vexhood ordered.
I sprang to my feet like an animal released from death’s grip.
My shoes clicked sharply against the floor as I rushed toward the quarters.
Along the way, I saw palace workers carrying their belongings, fleeing.
It was taboo. They knew it. It was only a matter of time before the gods struck.
I hurried into the quarters. The guards who once stood at the door were gone. Alpha Jax’s sudden death had thrown everyone into mourning.
I stepped into the living room—and froze.
Lyra stood there, bent over, picking up the pictures in her hands.
“You!” My voice echoed. “What are you doing here?”