Chapter 248 Chapter 0248

Chapter 248 Chapter 0248
•CASSANDRA•

"Thank you, Sonia," I answered after she had finished doing an ultrasound. I wiped the gel off and pulled down my shirt.

"Everything is perfect, Cassandra," she replied. "Your little boy's measurements match his weeks. But I would recommend that you rest more and not take on too much workload yet."

"Of course." I smiled as she walked to the door and left. Dante's hand tightened around mine, and I looked at him, finally allowing myself to feel relieved.

"Our baby is fine, babe," he replied. "I think you should stop worrying yourself too much now. There's nothing that's going to happen to him. The curse that Arsela talked about was only a threat."

"I know," I answered. "And I am choosing to believe that." I looked down at my stomach for a moment before looking back up at him. "Mason called me yesterday."

Dante furrowed his brows. "What did he say?"

"Damon is in custody," I replied. "He's going to be tried for everything he did. The abductions, Holland's death, and what he did to me." I paused. "I want to be there."

Dante looked at me. "Are you sure about that? Not long ago you were ready to end his life yourself."

"I am sure," I answered. "I don't want to kill him anymore. I want him to sit before those elders and answer for everything he did. I want to watch him face it." I sighed. "He needs to get what he deserves, and I want to be there when it happens."

Dante was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. "Alright. We'll go."

"Thank you, baby. And when we come back, we will have more time to deal with the rumors and that director who's pushing the narrative that I am not human."

"I think I may know who started the rumor."

•••

We left for Silvercrest the following morning. Alena sat in the backseat asking questions the entire drive, and Dante answered every single one of them.

When we arrived at the Silvercrest pack house, Mason was standing outside waiting. And beside him was Amelia.

I stopped walking.

Amelia stepped forward before I could say anything. She stopped in front of me and looked at me.

"I owe you an apology," she replied. "I treated you like an enemy when you had done nothing to me. I helped people who were trying to hurt you. And I am sorry, Cassandra. Genuinely."

I looked at her for a long moment. Then I stepped forward and hugged her. She exhaled sharply against my shoulder like she had been holding her breath.

I pulled back and looked at her. "It's okay," I replied. "I forgive you, Amelia. Whatever happened is in the past now."

She nodded and pressed her lips together.

I turned to Mason and leaned close enough that only he could hear me. "Be careful with her," I muttered.

He looked at me with an almost amused expression. "She told me everything," he answered. "Everything that happened between the two of you. I know who she was and I know who she is now. I'll be careful."

I nodded and stepped back.

We left Alena inside the pack house with Rowan, who took her hand immediately and led her toward the kitchen, telling her that Amelia had bought a specific snack she had never tried. Alena looked delighted and went without any argument.

The council hall was already full when we arrived. The six new elders were seated at the table. Warriors lined the walls.

Damon was in the center of the room, his hands bound and a silver chain around his neck. He looked up when I walked in.

The moment he saw me, something broke open in his expression. He leaned forward against his restraints and reached toward me with his bound hands.

"Cassandra," he replied. "Please. Speak with Mason. Tell them I will accept whatever conditions they put on me. Tell them I will go anywhere they send me. Just ask them not to do this." His voice cracked on the last word. "Please."

I looked at him and said nothing.

An elder stood up and addressed the hall. After reviewing every crime, each elder cast their decision. It was unanimous.

Damon would be stripped of his wolf and exiled from every pack territory. He would leave as a wolfless rogue, and he would not return.

I stepped forward before the witch moved.

"Before this is carried out," I replied, loud enough for the hall to hear, "I want it on record." I looked at Damon. "I denounce Damon Drake as my brother. Whatever blood we share, I no longer claim it, and I no longer claim him."

Damon's face collapsed. "Cassandra, don't do this. You cannot do this. I will hold this against you; I swear it. Stop this right now!"

I stepped back and said nothing else.

The pack's witch moved forward. She raised her hands and began the ritual.

Damon screamed. His body doubled forward, and he hit the ground on his knees and kept screaming as the wolf was pulled from him piece by piece. Blood appeared on the ground beneath him, and his hands clawed at the stone.

Then it stopped.

He lay on the floor breathing in shallow, broken pulls. His eyes were different now. My heart almost ached for him because he was once my brother.

Two warriors moved in, pulled him upright, and led him out of the hall.

Mason came and stood beside me a few minutes later. The hall had started to empty around us.

"There is something else I need to tell you," he replied. "Sadie, Damon's wife, is dead. Along with her unborn child in Crimson Ridge." He paused. "She had been consuming protective herbs for the child, and something went wrong. She didn't survive it."

I sighed as I fully turned to him. "That's a pity. I never even got to meet my sister-in-law, and she's already dead. Anyway," I huffed. "Thank you for what you've done here today. I see that you've also appointed new elders."

That was the impressive part. It was a relief to walk into the council hall and not see the familiar faces who had condemned me five years ago.

Mason looked back at the elders and smiled. "I have changed a few things to ensure that no one is ever punished wrongfully. And I think the entire pack owes you an apology for judging you wrongfully as well, which is why they are gathered in the courtyard as we speak."

I couldn't believe it when I saw the people chanting my name. Dante held my hand as we walked toward the courtyard.

Amelia and Mason were leading the way.