Chapter 73 Chapter 0073
•NADIA•
When the elders announced the execution of Jane and Liam, I felt like rejoicing in my first victory.
By the time Mason returned to the pack, his position would be questioned and many pack members would want him to step down.
And Ronan and I would finally be together.
"Execution?" Liam asked, his voice tinted with disbelief. "How did you reach that judgement without proof of the crime we committed?"
"I have done nothing," Jane chimed in, her voice rising as the guards tied their hands behind their backs. "I would never conspire with anyone to kill our Alpha. How could you suspect me of such a gruesome crime after everything I have done for this pack?"
"Everything you have done?" Elder Draven repeated. "You have done nothing for this pack that wasn't already expected of you. Loyalty is not a gift. It is a requirement and you have broken it."
"We have broken nothing," Liam answered. "And you know it. Every person sitting in this hall knows it."
"What we know—" Elder Orin replied, rising from his seat. "Is that you stood in this council hall, denounced your position, and attempted to abandon your pack during an active investigation. That alone is punishable by death under the pack law. The conspiracy charges ensure there is no room for appeal."
Jane scoffed. "This is not justice, but murder."
"Murder?" I scoffed as I stood up from my chair, frowning. "Murder is when you conspired with Cassandra to kill the Alpha because she wanted her revenge against us. You paved a way for her to plot evil against the Alpha, and thought you could get away with it."
"Where's your proof, Luna?" She asked. "Those texts you presented to the council hall were forged, and you know this."
"Watch your tongue, Jane," Elder Draven scolded her. "You shouldn't insult the Luna in the council hall. That's a charge on its own."
"The Luna and this council hall can go to hell," she hissed. "You will all answer to this one day. Our blood will speak against you, and you will know no peace."
"Take them out!" Elder Orin commanded the elders.
The guards led them outside the council hall, and the elders and I followed them at a little distance.
People were starting to gather in the courtyard, and some were murmuring things I didn't even bother to pay attention to.
My father was already waiting there with the other council guards.
As the guards positioned Liam and Jane at the center of the courtyard, I moved to stand apart from the elders.
Elder Orin leaned forward and told the pack members about Jane's and Liam's treason. Even though most of them were hurt by the news, there was nothing they could do.
I stepped closer to Jane as the elders talked with the executioner at the far end of the courtyard.
She heard my footsteps and turned her head.
I leaned closer and opened a mind link between us.
"This didn't have to go this far," I said through the mind link. "If you had stayed out of my way and never disrespected me, none of this would have been necessary."
"I knew this was—"
"The elders made their decision," I replied. "But you were just too much for your own good, Jane. But I'll tell you this," I smirked. "I admired your friendship with Cassandra. She would be happy to hear you died for her."
Her nostrils flared, but she didn't answer. I smiled at her and cut the mind link when she tilted her head and looked at Liam.
The guards forced them to their knees and I leaned closer to see their faces very well. I wanted to hear the screams before they died, and the fear in their eyes.
"Jane," Liam muttered, looking at her. "I am so sorry I never protected you enough."
"I need to tell you something," she whispered.
His brow pulled together. "Jane—"
"Listen to me," she murmured. "I found out three days ago. I was going to tell you when things settled down. I was waiting for the right moment."
"What are you talking about?"
My heart started racing, and my brows knitted as I realized what she meant. But I knew if they let them go, it would be over with me.
Mason would return and blame me for going ahead with their execution.
"We are pregnant, Liam," she whispered. "We were going to be parents. We would have been wonderful parents."
"Kill them!" I called out. "They shouldn't be allowed to live one more moment after their plan to kill the Alpha for their own gain."
Jane lifted her eyes and looked at me as tears filled the corners of her eyes. Her lips trembled, but my mind was made up.
The executioner moved into position and cut Liam's head off first before he cut off Jane's head.
I closed my eyes and breathed before I walked toward the pack house. My father caught up with me.
"What's the plan when Mason returns?" My father asked, and I stopped, turning to him.
"I will be the Alpha when Mason returns," I answered, and turned toward the pack house.