Chapter 11
Gradel
I wanted nothing else, even watching Iris secretly than attending the pack's welfare meeting. I could imagine what they would talk about, and my head was already aching, by merely imagining the kind of stares the elders would throw at me.
Against my wish, I found myself trudging towards the courtroom, my mind occupied with why I cared about what my father wanted.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to. I doubt you will understand whatever we will deliberate on today." The annoying voice of my brother stoked the flames of anger that I'd barely squashed.
I was torn between replying to him or behaving like I didn't hear someone speak, but I chose the former option and turned around.
Putting on my most deceptive expression, I took a few steps towards him. "I don't believe I'm that dumb, I'm still a member of this pack and somehow I'm affected by what happens to us,"
"So now you care?" He interrupted me sarcastically.
I snorted, as his question struck an invisible cord in my chest. "We'll be late for the meeting," I replied coldly and stalked off.
***********
"Good morning, everyone," I greeted, slightly smitten with how punctual the elders were. The only empty seats I found were the ones belonging to my brother and me.
They mumbled some greetings in return and I lowered myself onto the chair.
Devin stepped in some minutes after I did and marched towards his seat, his expression dampened. The elders didn't bother to spare him a glance which was quite surprising.
He was usually the center of attention.
An adjoining door adjacent to my father's throne opened with him walking fluidly towards it. Sometimes, I allowed myself to admire his polished gait.
Though I bore deep grudges against him, I cast them aside and watched how he carried himself regally, knowing how highly revered he was. Even his confident steps reminded everyone present that he wasn't a man to be joked with.
It was with his high-handedness that he ruled this pack, but it was also because of his stoicism that he fell out with his mate, my mother, and caused her a shameful death.
The reminder caused a burning sensation of pain in my chest, and the urge to storm out of the meeting gnawed within me. I suppressed it, clenching my fist tightly. This wasn't the time to act on my feelings.
"All rise," Elder Hanson, the mediator, ordered and we stood up.
After my father settled down, we sat and waited for the meeting to kick off.
"I want to thank you all for honoring the Alpha and being a part of this meeting. As you all know, we have several pending issues to be taken care of but the first and most important one to be tackled is the case with Iris Damine and Prince Gradel here." Elder Hanson mentioned and I shot a gaze at my father who nodded.
A cackle resonated beside me and when I glanced at him, a smirk was evident on Devin's face. It riled me up as much as it piqued my interest.
They were definitely up to something.
"What are you all talking about?" I asked tersely though a ball of rage threatened to explode within me.
Father cleared his throat. "What we are supposed to be talking about, I suppose, or did you think that you would imprison a member of this pack in my cell and I wouldn't know about it?"
I gasped as my body went taut with disbelief. "That is a private issue which I can handle. You don't need to interfere with my dealings, Alpha!" I lashed out, unable to suppress my anger anymore.
"I get that, son, but she stole from you and as far as we are concerned, stealing is a criminal act punishable by death. You represent the pack and if she took something from you she would be judged by our standards."
My head was reeling from the realization that Iris' case had been subtly snatched away from me. Though I threatened to execute her, I knew deep down that I wouldn't go through with it.
"You can't do that, Father. I've asked Hegar to find the bracelet for me and I'm sure that he will find it. Why are you all in a haste to execute her?" I roared, unable to hold back myself.
How dare he act like a saint when he was the devil himself?
How dare he interfere in my business when he knew that I didn't want to be here in the first place?
"Gradel, why are you suddenly defending the girl? I thought you never liked her?" My father asked calmly with a smirk appearing on his lips.
My brows arched against each other and I tilted my head to the side. I scoffed as it dawned on me that I'd been under his surveillance.
"You wouldn't know that if you hadn't been watching me. I'm not a child for the goddess's sake. How do you expect me to be your successor when you don't even trust me?" My fist landed on the table and my nose flared. I didn't want to talk about the past as I'd buried it in the deepest part of my heart, but seeing him spill all sorts of rubbish stirred up the hurtful memories. "This is all my fault anyway," I sighed, pushing my chair backward as he stood up.
"What are you talking about?"
My wolf growled with agitation, fighting to come out, but I couldn't let it. It would be an abomination to fight against my father.
"I should have taken the same route Mama took, maybe I'll be enjoying a peaceful life on the other side with her, rather than being with a hypocrite and a selfish ruler like you." The words rolled out of my lips without hesitation and a sense of satisfaction filled me up, seeing that I wasn't the only livid person around.
The glare I fixed on my father made me oblivious to Devin's closeness to me.
"You shouldn't speak to our father like that, Gradel. Not in the presence of the pack's elders." He scolded me and approached our father.
I was almost forced to roll my eyes.
My breaths came out fast and uneven, so I drew in a deep breath to steady myself. My wolf retreated, snarling. "I will deal with Iris as I deem fit, Alpha Cronus, please don't interfere."
I'd almost gotten to the door when his dark chuckle caused me to halt on my steps. "She'll die tomorrow, whether the bracelet is found or not."