Chapter 64 Freda’s Choice

Chapter 64 Freda’s Choice

The council chamber filled before sunrise.

Word of Elena’s trial spread through Silverpine faster than the morning rain.

By the time Freda arrived, wolves already crowded the corridors outside the chamber doors, voices low and tense beneath the sound of distant thunder. Guards lined the walls inside, their expressions hard and watchful.

Nobody spoke loudly anymore when James Reed’s name came up.

The loss still sat too heavily inside the pack.

Freda stepped into the chamber beside Lucian and Thomas. The room quieted almost immediately.

At the center of the floor, Elena sat restrained in a wooden chair with silver cuffs around both wrists.

Unlike Cassandra the day before, Elena looked openly furious.

Her dark hair hung loose around her face, and dried blood stained the sleeve of her torn jacket from the fight during Silas’s attack. Even restrained, she carried herself like someone still waiting for another chance to strike.

Her eyes found Freda instantly.

Hatred flashed there.

Freda felt nothing in return.

Only tiredness.

Councilman Reeves rose slowly from his chair. “Bring the proceedings to order.”

The chamber settled.

Rain tapped steadily against the tall windows.

“Elena Thorne,” Reeves said, “you stand accused of treason against Silverpine, conspiracy with enemy forces, unlawful infiltration of pack territory, and the murder of Delta James Reed.”

At James’s name, something tightened visibly in Thomas’s jaw.

Elena noticed.

A faint smile touched her mouth.

“You were offered sanctuary,” Reeves continued. “Instead, you used it to gather information for Silas Thorne’s invasion.”

Elena leaned back slightly in her chair. “That was the point.”

Murmurs spread through the room.

One of the guards stepped forward instinctively, but Lucian lifted a hand once.

The guard stopped.

Reeves narrowed his eyes. “You admit the charges?”

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

No fear.

Just cold certainty.

Thomas stepped forward before anyone else could speak.

“You murdered James after he discovered your identity.”

Elena turned her gaze toward him slowly.

“He was smarter than the others,” she said. “That became inconvenient.”

The room exploded instantly.

Several wolves rose to their feet.

“You killed him in our territory!”

“She deserves death!”

“Execute her now!”

Thomas said nothing.

But Freda saw his hands curl into fists at his sides.

Lucian’s voice cut through the noise.

“Enough.”

Silence dropped heavily across the chamber.

Lucian stared at Elena for a long moment. “Tell them everything.”

Elena gave a quiet laugh.

“You already know enough.”

“Tell them anyway.”

For the first time, something shifted in her expression.

Not fear.

Annoyance.

But after a moment, she leaned forward slightly in the chair.

“My father started planning against Silverpine almost eight months ago,” she said. “Not because of territory. Because of the child.”

Several council members exchanged uneasy looks.

“Liam,” Elena continued. “The rumors reached Bloodmoon long before you realized it.”

Freda felt Lucian tense beside her.

“Elena,” Reeves warned carefully, “choose your next words wisely.”

But Elena barely acknowledged him.

“Silas believed a child born from a cross-rank bond shouldn't exist.” Her mouth curved slightly. “Then he learned the child carried Alpha-level strength.”

The chamber stayed completely silent now.

“He became obsessed,” she said. “He thought Liam could either become the strongest weapon Bloodmoon ever possessed…” Her eyes shifted toward Freda. “Or the greatest threat.”

Thomas crossed his arms tightly. “So you came here to take him.”

“I came here to study the pack first.”

“And the other packs?” Evelyn asked quietly from her seat near the council table.

Elena looked toward her.

A long pause followed.

Then she smiled.

“There were others.”

The room chilled.

“Iron Hollow. Blackwater Ridge.” Her voice remained calm. “I entered both packs under false identities. Gathered information. Helped create fractures inside their leadership.”

“You're admitting this willingly?” Reeves asked carefully.

Elena shrugged slightly. “What exactly do I lose by lying now?”

Nobody answered.

Because everyone already knew the truth.

Elena leaned back again. “Silverpine was supposed to fall faster. Cassandra’s information helped more than expected.”

A few wolves cursed openly under their breath.

“But then your omega ruined everything,” Elena said softly, looking directly at Freda.

Lucian’s expression darkened instantly.

“You will speak respectfully,” he said.

Elena smiled without warmth. “Or what?”

The silver cuffs rattled softly when she shifted.

“You already won.”

The chamber held still for several long seconds.

Then Reeves exhaled slowly.

“The punishment for treason and murder is execution.”

Immediate agreement spread through the room.

“It’s the only answer.”

“She killed one of our own.”

“She worked for Silas.”

“James deserves justice.”
Thomas spoke then.
Quietly.
“He does.”
The room fell silent again.
Every eye turned toward him.
Thomas looked at Elena without expression. “Under pack tradition, judgment can be given by the wolf most directly affected by the victim’s death when no mate or immediate family remains to speak for them.”
Reeves nodded once.
“James Reed died protecting Freda’s son,” he said heavily. “The right belongs to her.”
The attention in the room shifted instantly toward Freda.
Freda felt it settle across her shoulders like weight.

Elena laughed softly under her breath. “Interesting choice.”

Lucian glanced at Freda carefully but said nothing.

He would not interfere.

Not with this.

Freda stepped forward slowly until she stood directly in front of Elena.

For a moment, neither woman spoke.

Up close, Elena looked younger than Freda remembered. Not innocent. Never that.

But human enough to remind her that monsters were rarely born looking like monsters.
“You killed James,” Freda said quietly.
Elena tilted her head slightly. “Yes.”
“You betrayed a pack that gave you protection.”
Elena’s eyes hardened. “I protected my own pack.”
“You murdered a man who was trying to stop you.”
That finally wiped the amusement from Elena’s face.

“He followed me,” she said coldly. “He cornered me.”

“He was trying to stop you from hurting my son.”

Silence.

Heavy and absolute.

Freda swallowed once before continuing.

“The pack wants your execution.”

“They should.”

A few council members shifted uncomfortably at how calmly she said it.
Freda looked at Elena for a long moment.
She thought about James.
About the emptiness his death had left behind inside the pack.
About waking in the infirmary days later after her fight with Silas and realizing how easily Liam could have been left alone.
Then she spoke.
“No execution.”
The chamber erupted instantly.

“What?”