Chapter 192 CHAPTER 192

Chapter 192 CHAPTER 192
A heavy silence hung over the council chamber as the Council of Elders gathered to deliver judgment.

The events of the past few days had shaken Ashwood to its core. Whispers filled every corridor of the palace and uncertainty lingered over everyone. For the first time in generations, both Ashwood's Beta and Gamma had been implicated in a conspiracy that had claimed innocent lives.

Ariel sat beside Zack and Alpha Daniel at the front of the chamber. Though her expression remained composed, her mind was anything but. The memories of the the other day and the Lycan power she had unleashed still haunted her.

Beside her, Zack quietly rested his hand over hers beneath the table. He didn't say a word. He simply reminded her that she wasn't facing this alone.

Beta Leonard was noticeably absent.

Earlier that morning, he had informed the council that he would not attend the hearing involving his wife, believing his presence could influence their judgment. He had also submitted a formal request asking the council to determine whether he was still worthy of serving as Ashwood's Beta after all the evidence had been presented.

The decision had earned the respect of many elders, but it did little to ease the pain he and Cassian had endured since Evelyn's imprisonment.

Elder Cedric, now serving as Acting Guardian until the investigation was concluded, slowly rose to his feet.

"This council is now in session."

His deep voice echoed across the chamber.

"Bring in the accused."

The massive doors opened.

Alaric entered first, his wrists bound in silver shackles. Despite the chains restraining him, he carried himself with the same pride he always had. His head remained high, and there wasn't the slightest hint of remorse on his face.

Victor followed shortly behind.

Unlike Alaric, he kept his head lowered, his shoulders heavy beneath the weight of guilt.

Once both men stood before the council, Cedric unrolled the official document before him.

"Victor."

The older man lifted his eyes.

"You stand accused of knowingly withholding information regarding the murders of Lucien Ashwood and his wife. After learning the truth behind Gamma Alaric's orders, you chose to remain silent instead of informing the authorities, allowing the deception to continue for years."

Victor closed his eyes briefly before nodding.

"I accept those charges. And I will accept the punishment this council deems fit."

“Very well, you’ll be returned to the dungeons until your sentence is determined.” He gestured to the guards who led Victor out of the   chambers.

Cedric waited for a moment before shifting his attention toward Alaric.

"Gamma Alaric."

"You stand accused of orchestrating the search for Lucien Ashwood and his wife, conspiring in their murders, and attempting to conceal the truth for over a decade."

The chamber fell silent.

"Do you have anything to say before this council passes judgment?"

Alaric looked around the room before letting out a humorless chuckle.

"I regret nothing."

His answer sent another wave of whispers through the elders.

"I did what I believed was necessary for this kingdom."

His eyes settled on Ariel.

"The Ashwoods have spent generations believing that blood alone is enough to make someone worthy of leading."

He shook his head.

"It isn't."

"Lucien was weak."

"Roland was weak."

"And Ashwood would have fallen under both of them."

His voice remained calm, almost convinced of his own righteousness.

"History never remembers the blood that had to be spilled to preserve a kingdom. It only remembers whether that kingdom survived."

Ariel's jaw tightened. Her nails dug into her palms as anger rose inside her once again. Weak? That was how he justified murdering her parents?

Before the fury could consume her, Zack's warm hand gently covered hers. The simple touch grounded her. She inhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain seated.

Then she looked directly at Alaric.

"What about my mother and me?"

Her voice was steady despite the emotion threatening to break through.

"I was in the car that day."

"If your plan was only to kill my father, then what were we?"

Alaric didn't hesitate.

"In every war, there are casualties."

His expression never changed.

"Your mother was one of them."

The words struck Ariel harder than any physical blow ever could. For a split second, she pushed against her chair, ready to stand. Zack's hand tightened around hers. His thumb gently brushed across her knuckles.

"Don't," he whispered.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment before slowly settling back into her seat.

Across the chamber, several elders looked at Alaric with visible disgust.

Even those who had served beside him for years could no longer recognize the man before them.

Alpha Daniel leaned forward, his voice cold.

"Why did you send the rogue to attack my son and Princess Ariel in the woods?"

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"Was that your attempt to finish what you started ten years ago?"

A slow smirk spread across Alaric's face.

"I wasn't trying to kill her."

He looked at Ariel again.

"I simply wanted her to understand that leading Ashwood takes more than royal blood."

His answer earned him nothing but contempt.

Elder Cedric slowly rose from his chair, disappointment etched across his weathered face.

"I served beside you for many years, Alaric."

His voice carried neither anger nor hatred.

Only sadness.

"And today, I am ashamed that I ever called you a fellow elder."

He turned toward the guards.

"Remove the accused while this council deliberates his sentence."

The guards stepped forward and escorted Alaric from the chamber as silence settled over everyone once more.

The council chamber remained silent long after Alaric was escorted out.

No one spoke.

The weight of everything they had heard settled heavily over the elders as they withdrew to deliberate. Ariel remained seated, her gaze fixed on the closed doors through which Alaric had disappeared. Zack never let go of her hand, sensing the turmoil she was fighting to keep buried.

"Bring the accused back in," Elder Cedric ordered after the deliberations.

The guards escorted Alaric into the chamber once again. He stood before the council with the same arrogance he had displayed throughout the hearing, his wrists still bound by silver shackles.

Cedric slowly rose to his feet, an official scroll in his hands.

"Gamma Alaric."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"After reviewing your testimony and the evidence presented before this council, we have reached a unanimous decision."

The room fell deathly quiet.

"You are hereby stripped of your rank, your position, and every honor bestowed upon you by the Ashwood Kingdom."

Alaric's expression remained unreadable.

"For conspiring in the murder of Lucien Ashwood and his wife, and for orchestrating the attempted murders of Princess Ariel Ashwood and Alpha Zack Ashwood, this council hereby sentences you to death."

A collective breath swept through the chamber.

"The sentence shall be carried out three days from today before this council and any citizen of Ashwood who wishes to attend."

Not a single elder objected.

The verdict had been unanimous.

Cedric lowered the scroll.

"May the Moon Goddess have mercy on your soul."

Two guards stepped forward and took hold of Alaric's arms.

For the first time since entering the chamber, he laughed.

The sound was quiet.

Cold.

Almost amused.

As the guards turned him toward the exit, he suddenly stopped walking.

"Oh..."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"One more thing."

Cedric frowned.

"If you have something further to confess, speak."

Alaric's eyes found Ariel.

A cruel smile slowly spread across his face.

"I suppose it doesn't matter anymore."

Confusion flickered across Ariel's features.

"What doesn't?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"Karen."

The single name sent a chill through the chamber.

Daniel's eyes narrowed.

Zack instinctively squeezed Ariel's hand.

Ariel stared at him.

"What about Karen?"

Alaric chuckled.

"I killed her."

The words struck the room like a bolt of lightning.

Ariel shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the marble floor.

"What?"

Her voice cracked with disbelief.

"You..."

She could barely force the next words past the lump in her throat.

"You killed Karen?"

Several elders exchanged stunned glances. Even Cedric looked momentarily shaken.

Alaric simply watched Ariel's reaction with satisfaction.

Her fists clenched at her sides as tears welled in her eyes.

"Why?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "What did Karen ever do to you?"

For a long moment, Alaric said nothing.

Then the corner of his mouth lifted into one last mocking smile.

"I guess you'll never know."

Without another word, he turned his back on her.

The guards led him through the chamber doors, the heavy wood closing behind him with a resounding thud.