Chapter 39

I was gasping for air, my chest heaving as dizziness clouded my senses. It took a moment to regain my composure and grasp the reality of my situation. Hadrian’s gaze locked onto mine, unrelenting, as his long fingertips traced slow, deliberate patterns across my hands.

"You did well," he murmured, a smirk curling his lips.

He stood then, his fingers releasing mine with a deliberate finality. His satisfaction was unmistakable, but I was left floundering, trying to piece together what had just occurred. My eyes darted across the courtroom. Half of the council members sat frozen, mouths agape in shock. The other half erupted in an uproar, shouting accusations and venomous remarks toward the Vexleys.

I shifted my attention to the defendants. Guards restrained them, but their struggles were feral, their rage palpable as they glared daggers at me.

"It's a trick! A mind trick! Lord Protector Kessler made her say it—or she concocted the whole thing herself!" the former Warden bellowed, his voice frenzied and foaming at the mouth.

"W-what is happening?" I stammered, my hand clutching the edge of Hadrian’s sleeve as panic clawed its way to the surface.

"You spoke everything you remembered aloud," Hadrian replied with a casual shrug, as though it were the most mundane thing in the world.

"I… I did what?" I mumbled, my thoughts scrambling to catch up.

"The Warden raises an interesting concern. How can we be certain the testimony wasn't rehearsed? And who, pray tell, was the other man mentioned in her recollection?" Judge Zephyr’s voice carried a sharp, disdainful edge as she eyed me suspiciously.

Hadrian chuckled, the sound low and taunting, as though Judge Zephyr had unwittingly played into his hands.

"Shall we meet him then?" he asked, his grin growing wicked.

"M-meet who?" Judge Zephyr stammered, momentarily caught off guard by her own words.

"The negotiator from Cassius Marwood’s pack, Caelum Langridge," Hadrian declared with dramatic flair, snapping his fingers.

The doors swung open, and Mr. Larkspur entered, dragging a shackled man behind him. My breath caught in my throat. The same blond-haired man from my fragmented memories now stood before us.

The courtroom erupted into chaos. Shouts and murmurs filled the air as Mr. Larkspur dragged the prisoner to the front, stopping just before the judges’ lodge.

Dorian Vexley ground his teeth, his fury barely contained. His reaction alone spoke volumes—he knew exactly who this man was.

Caelum Langridge appeared anything but defiant. Though his body bore no visible signs of torment, his trembling told a different story. Fear clung to him like a second skin. I’d never seen a werewolf so utterly broken. He seemed almost… human. Was he truly a wolf?

I inhaled deeply, trying to catch a whiff of his scent, but there was nothing—just the salty tang of his fearful sweat.

"State your name!" Mr. Larkspur’s voice thundered.

"I-I’m… C-Caelum Langridge… from… the Southern Moons Pack," the man stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Who is your Alpha?" Hadrian asked, his tone cutting.

Caelum flinched, shrinking further into himself. He was a pitiful shadow of the wolves I’d known.

"C-Cassius Marwood," he muttered, the words barely audible.

The admission sent ripples of agitation through the room, punctuated by a smirk of triumph that tugged at Hadrian’s lips.

"He reeks of nothing! How can we trust Lord Protector Kessler’s claims? For all we know, he’s dragged some filthy human here to mislead the Night Council!" Judge Zephyr spat venomously, her words a blend of skepticism and disdain.

I glanced at Hadrian, whose confidence remained unshaken.

"Perhaps you’ve never heard of odorless werewolves?" he retorted, his voice dripping with condescension. "A rare mutation, present in less than one percent of wolves, renders their scents nearly undetectable. Vampires, with their heightened senses, are easily fooled. Simple herbs suffice to mask their presence, making them ideal spies."

I turned my gaze to Caelum. He didn’t even attempt to fight his restraints. His wide, terrified eyes darted between Mr. Larkspur and Hadrian, pleading silently for mercy. What horrors had reduced him to this?

"Was this the man from your memory?" Hadrian’s voice broke through my thoughts, directing my attention back to the prisoner.

"Yes," I replied, studying Caelum carefully. "He’s the one who negotiated with Theron Edgewater."

The moment the words left my mouth, Caelum snapped. He lunged forward, claws unsheathed, his rage transforming him into a feral beast.

"Traitor!" he spat, his voice raw with venom. "How dare you betray—"

Before he could finish, Mr. Larkspur struck him hard, sending him sprawling unconscious to the floor. My heart pounded wildly, my gratitude toward Hadrian immeasurable. The last thing I wanted was for the council to uncover the truth—that I was the daughter of Caelum’s Alpha.

I scanned the room anxiously, praying no one had pieced together the prisoner’s words. Thankfully, the council seemed far more interested in the spectacle than in deciphering his outburst.

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.

"There remains the matter of verifying our witness’s truthfulness," Lord Protector Ashcroft interjected, his smile icy and deliberate. "I propose the lead judge examine her herself."

My stomach dropped. I’d witnessed that process before. It wasn’t a mere test—it was an assault on the mind, like being struck by lightning.

"What if she fries my brain?" Panic clawed at me as my gaze darted to Hadrian.

But he remained unmoved, betraying no hint of concern.

"Very well," he said indifferently, "let her see for herself if the witness lies."

I flinched at his words, disbelief tightening its grip on me.

No… Hadrian was supposed to protect me. How could he—

My thoughts spiraled, chaotic and desperate.

Hadrian’s grip on my hand was firm as he pulled me from the witness chair. I stared at him, fear and confusion tightening in my chest, but his expression betrayed no emotion. Instinctively, I resisted, straining against his hold even though I knew my meager strength was no match for his. Still, I had to try—I couldn’t simply let this happen.

"No!" My voice was barely more than a tremor, lost in the tense air of the courtroom.

He didn’t even glance at me. Without a word, he dragged me forward until we stood before the main judge.

"Do your job and get it over with," Hadrian said, his tone cold and detached.

The female judge hesitated, her expression a strange mix of reluctance and unease. Unlike the others in the room, she didn’t appear eager to subject me to the test. Her eyes flicked to Hadrian, uncertain.

"Are you sure about this, Lord Protector Kessler?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes. If it will put their doubts to rest, proceed," he replied, his voice carrying an edge of cruel indifference.

I flinched at his words, their sharpness cutting through me.

"That’s surprising, Lord Protector Kessler," Ashcroft interjected, his nervous chuckle betraying disbelief. "I would have thought you’d care more for your employee."

Hadrian’s expression didn’t waver. "As the protector of Monteforte City, my only priority is to see traitors punished. And she," he gestured toward me, his smirk cold and calculating, "is just a human. Why should I care for her?"

A tremor ran through my body as his words sank in. Was this truly who Hadrian was? Had he deceived me from the start, using me until I was no longer of value? I had done everything he asked, delved into the depths of my mind under his influence to retrieve the truths he sought. And now… was this his way of discarding me?

"You promised..." I murmured, my voice trembling as I forced him to meet my gaze.

But Hadrian didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at me. Instead, he shoved me forward into the hands of the main judge and returned to his seat.

"Close your eyes, dear," the judge whispered softly, her hands settling on either side of my head.

I obeyed, shutting my eyes tightly and taking a shaky breath. Fear clawed at my chest as I braced for the unbearable pain I had seen others endure. My heart pounded wildly, a frantic drumbeat in my ears. I prayed it would be quick, that unconsciousness would take me before the agony became too much.

But instead of pain, there was a gasp.

I opened my eyes cautiously, finding the judge staring at me with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher. She seemed flustered, though she quickly composed herself. Clearing her throat, she announced, "She’s telling the truth." Her hands slipped away from my head.

I nearly collapsed in relief. I was alive, unscathed—and I wasn’t the only one surprised by the outcome.

"What’s the meaning of this?" Lord Protector Ashcroft hissed, his frustration palpable. "How can a mere human survive your test, Judge Kessler?"

The judge smirked, her demeanor growing more confident. "Because she’s human, her mind offered no resistance. Unlike vampires, there was no mental pushback against my abilities." She shrugged, her tone almost dismissive.

My hands trembled as I tried to process her explanation. Was it truly as simple as she claimed? Or had she lied to protect me? If the latter was true, I owed her my life.

My gaze darted to Hadrian. He was watching, the faintest hint of a smile curving his lips. Did he know this would happen all along? Was it all part of his plan?

"Guards!" Judge Kessler called, her voice ringing out. "Escort Ms. Drayton back to the witness seat."

Two guards approached and gently took hold of my arms, steadying me as my shaky legs struggled to support my weight. Hadrian’s piercing gaze followed their every move, a flicker of concern crossing his face.

"It seems there are no further issues to address," Judge Kessler said, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she glanced at the other judges.

Though most nodded in agreement, at least two wore expressions of displeasure, their dissatisfaction clear.

"As for the wolf," Judge Kessler continued, gesturing to the unconscious Caelum Langridge, "he was marginally useful in these proceedings. Grant him a swift death."

In an instant, the guards who had just escorted me turned to Caelum. Without hesitation, they seized him, twisted his neck with a sickening crack, and dropped his lifeless body to the floor. The courtroom remained deathly silent, its occupants showing no reaction to the execution.

Judge Kessler didn’t pause. Her voice was steady, as though the violent act had never occurred. "As for the Vexleys, the evidence presented has proven their guilt in planning treason. This warrants a death sentence. I call for a vote."

The council members cast their votes, most agreeing swiftly. Whether out of genuine outrage or fear of opposing Hadrian, I couldn’t tell. Regardless, the outcome was the same: Hadrian had gotten what he wanted.

Judge Kessler’s cold smile widened as she turned to the condemned family, their desperation etched across their faces. "The Night Council has spoken," she declared. "The Vexley family shall be executed by removal of their hearts and dismemberment." Her words were punctuated by a sadistic grin.

"No! You can’t do this!" Dorian Warden howled, his fury shaking the room. "I curse you! I curse you all!"

The guards moved swiftly, dragging the screaming family out of the courtroom. Their protests fell on deaf ears. Though a few council members wore uneasy expressions, none dared speak in the Vexleys’ defense.

"The Night Council’s session is adjourned," Judge Kessler announced cheerfully. "Members are dismissed."

I let out a shaky breath. At least justice, however brutal, had been served. Those treacherous bastards had finally met their end.