Chapter 89 MISSED REDEMPTION
SIANNA'S POV
Five people confronted him. Marlena, the witch, Chad, Blayne, Vance, and me. My glance swung from Vance and Malik as I struggled to untangle the knot of confusion in my head.
"What did you just say?" I quizzically asked my mate, seeking help to come out of this dark tunnel so that the light of truth would unfurl my comprehension. The possibility caused my heart rate to peak.
Vance did not look at me. With rage, his eyes had marked his target and spared no vision for anyone else. "Malik is dead. This imposter is Curtis."
Turning to face him, Malik's wolf's eyes focused on Vance, but I had to hear him confess it. "Is this true?"
He remains silent, refusing to admit or deny the accusations. These two men were locked in a cold-war stare-down as though the first to break away would lose the challenge. The air was suddenly tense, and the forest became warmer. Scared for Curtis, as the dread rose, I fought to contain it. Praying that they were mistaken and this was not him.
But Curtis must have a death wish to come here. Was the idiot
seriously here to challenge the same Alpha of Alphas who sent him into a coma, months ago? Vance was the ruthless werewolf king. A mighty dragon to all in the supernatural realm.
Gulping, I decided to use my Luna command to fish it out of him, " Curtis as your High Luna, I order you to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when your High Alpha and I speak to you, starting now."
Enough of this nonsense. Whatever the fuck was going on, was going to be clarified now. Running my tongue across my lips, I gave them moisture. The only interrupting sounds were the whistling of the wind through the trees and the birds vocalizing.
No one interjected as I spoke, "Shift."
Holding my breath, I watched him transform into his human, expecting to see a revealing Curtis, but all I saw was Malik. What spell was this? The Luna command would not work on a person if it was intended for someone else.
There was no breaking my promise to Vance to let him take care of Curtis. But at this precise moment, the thought of him dying and being wiped off the planet forever was petrifying. Vance looked deadly dangerous at the naked man who stood before us.
"What crime have I done?" Malik appeared angry as he blurted the question out, attempting to be sly. He hid no part of his nudity.
Clearly amused by Malik's reaction, "Blayne, read his crimes to him."
Evily smirking, Blayne began listing his sins from memory:
"Attempted abduction of the High Luna,
Accomplice in heinous acts against the High Alpha Family members
Insolence and disobedience to your superiors
Conspiring with witches
The murder of goddess knows how many people - Malik, for example
Unlawful entry into an exiled territory
Unlawful breaking and entering into the Alpha's residence
Abusing pack members."
Blayne stops.
"How do you plead to these crimes?" Vance's tone held no emotion,
frigid and flat. Guilty or not, this wolf was going to die. Because I knew that within my mate, a silent fury burned and would soon erupt like a volcano.
"Do I look like Curtis to you? Why would you accuse me of someone's presumed crimes?" Malik lashed back.
I choked back my breath and frowned with a scrunched nose. Malik was not submitting or responding with humility according to the majorly risky situation that he was in.
"Are you Curtis?" I asked, studying him. He might be more at ease if he spoke to me instead. The mind games with words would not save him today. Not when he was cornered by the most powerful people in the world and catapulting the worst attitude.
He bites down hard on his lips to evade an answer. Blood trickled down his chin. Fierce eyes flickered between him and his wolf,
consuming resentment.
"Pussycat, what's got your tongue?" Blayne mocks as he dies for some action to begin.
This was sheer stupidity. He had no capability to hurt or damage either of us. Complying would have been better.
Malik chuckles as though he had the upper hand, "This innocent face has done no crimes. A small domestic dispute does not constitute this solemn gathering. You make me feel very valued, Alpha." According to this, Sammy was allegedly utilized as a ruse to stage the confusion about his genuine identity.
Blayne skids to appear behind Malik, wraps his right hand around his neck and forces him down on his knees. His icy cold tone surprisingly gave me chills, "It's rude to not bow and submit to your Alpha and Luna!"
Malik coughs as the grip is released and glares at Vance. Eyes soaking with untamed hatred and maliciousness.
"We have our own ways of uncloaking you," Vance scoffed. He had done exceedingly well with his restraint. There was a calmness about his tone, except for the fiery red eyes that showed his dominance and that his wolf was eager to surface. Even his aura was held back, but I knew that it didn't mean much. "Say your last words to Sianna, because today is the day that you die."
Malik's eyes finally moved to mine, snickering softly, "Would you kill me today, Sianna? Do you need my blood on your hands?" "Confess to me, Curtis." I cringed at the guilt trip that he wished on me. Anger and hurt sank into my heart. If this was Curtis, I wanted to see him in his own body before he died. Though to be honest, I had no desire to see him killed. My next words pained me even more, " Marlena, please remove the cloak on this criminal."
Marlena nodded. It was her time to get a piece of the action. Standing with her hands extended and palms vertical, she utters, "Uncloak this man, reveal his hand; that which is hidden dies as the truths arise; undo the blood exchange, convert and change; and return to the rightful owner his face."
This was the first time that I heard her conduct a spell in English. The spells usually sounded like gibberish or another language. Her palms emitted light waves that formed a large bubble around Malik.
Moving lips chanted the gibberish spells that I was used to hearing. Malik's face gradually blurred under the influence of an unnoticeable, soothing vibration before Curtis' appearance and his blue eyes took shape. His body had scars, no doubt that they were priorly inflicted by Vance.
Taking a breather, I closed my eyes to quiet my emotions. Challenged to watch his execution, and forbidden to feel. The chaos of my thoughts burdened me.
Sensing my mixed emotions, Vance frowned as he held me around the waist. Blinking as I fought to prevent my wolf from emerging, why was she reacting like this? Vance seemed apprehensive before casting an angry glance back at the man.
"What have you done, Curtis?" My fears for him were prominently
carved in my tone, "To come here was suicidal. You were smarter than this." A soft sigh subdued my rising anxiety. "Crimson Hyde was a way for you to rebuild your life and move on."
"Virgil and Astrol wanted me dead, courtesy of your Alpha," Curtis looked crazed as his screaming voice laced with blaming Vance, "I despise him for stealing you from me. He is evil and he takes what he wants without a conscience."
"Curtis, mind your words," I warned him. Frightened that his end
would be extremely brutal with the impertinent manner that he
carried on.
"Stop being so fucking blind, Sianna!" He screamed and bitterly
continued, "This is your doing! You let him get between us!"
Vance growls a warning at him for shouting at me as his face darkens with the sinister thoughts going through his head.
"He's my mate!" This was ridiculous. I wanted to go over to him and shake sense into him, but that would only aggravate Vance. Feelings engraved to hug him, soothe him and encourage him to be logical. Howbeit, my secret intention to see him live was in vain.
"No, he is not!" He genuinely held onto this false notion, "He forced you but you won't admit it to anyone."
"I love him," I hoped that sufficient conviction was in my voice for him to understand my heart. "Vance is my fated mate." "And what about my mate?" A forced laughter came from him and
he said, "You killed Jazmine out of jealousy," he slowly shakes his
head, "Tell him that you love me too. I know that your feelings for me never stopped."
"You were my friend," Pained by my use of the past tense, my voice cracked, "But a good friend knows how to want the best for others and when to let go of unrequited love."
Smiling with fixed eyes on me, his lips parted to give way to rumbustious laughter. A joke that only he got. He bent over and with his hands palmed down on the dirt. Then he stared at the ground,
zoning out.
"I am sorry, Curtis," My watery eyes released a slow flow of tears, "I
hope you find peace in your other life." Giving a nod to Vance, "Let's get this over and done with."
Lifting his head, he sadly said, "Before you send me to hell, tell me
why you butchered Jazmine if it was not for us to be together." A different version weighed on his mind, "Was it to hurt me?"
"Everything is not about you," I explained and sniffed, "Jazmine conspired and assisted in hurting both Vance and Valen." "Bullshit! Your son is alive, and who gives a shit about your mate."
He loudly retorted, "You took her away from me. And who can hurt this fucking mighty Alpha?"
"Yet there are no excuses for your crimes," I had nothing left to say.
This day needed to end with me in a steamed bath and some strong liquor to numb my agonizing heart. "Vance, please get on with it." "You are just as crazy as I am," He laughs and looks at Marlena with the most horrifying expression, "Witch, show Sianna who Alpha Vance truly is." 1
Marlena does not respond and stares blankly at him. Blayne flickered his tongue to say, "You don't give the orders here, bug." Hoping to evoke some emotional appeal, Curtis rants, "That wound on your chest from the blade will kill you, Alpha!" He fired with vehement bitterness and pointed at Vance while directing his words to me, "He will die soon. The wound you gave him will kill him and
you will know what it feels like to lose a mate." He shouts and spits on the ground, "I used to look up to you....." Marlena came closer to both me and Vance. With a glowing left index
finger, she touched the wound on his chest. It sealed and the dark lines and patches that protruded from it disappeared, leaving his skin perfectly flawless and smooth. Curtis stuttered in astonishment, "N-no." Shaking his head in disbelief, his hands went on top of his crown, "No, no. Impossible."
"Be done with your mumblings," Vance sneered with a dark and
menacing aura and naught else. Eyes black with a terrifying sparkle. " It's time to end your pathetic life."
Vance shifts into his ultra-large black wolf and goes in front of
Curtis, who acts as though nothing was happening as he continued his wretched ramblings. His mind was completely gone as he spoke and smiled through it all, laughing to himself.
Vance's wolf tilted its head to the side, opened his large mouth, and took Curtis' entire head between his sharp canines. Then compressed its mouth and twisted Curtis' head from his body as its jaws locked
and smashed his skull. Lifeless and headless, Curtis' body fell to the ground.
My legs felt weak and I almost dropped, but Vance was fast enough to shift and catch me. Chad had previously gone to the trees to retrieve clothes for themselves. Vance puts the pants on as I try to keep my balance.
He caressed my cheek, his voice was soft and sweet, "Are you okay?"
"Yes," As the sparks tingled my body, a yearning presented for his warmth and embrace. "Can we go home?"
He nods and kisses me the gentlest. I clung to him, feeding off his
love and flavor, seeking his tongue as I sucked and played with it,
wanting more. When he broke our kiss, I whimpered since my craving was not filled.
"Marlena, thank you for today," He addressed them, "Chad and Blayne, take care of the body quietly." They diverted in different directions as Vance carried me bridal style,
all the way home. I fell asleep in his arms and my soggy eyes opened with the scent of home as we entered through the front door. He takes me up the stairs and into our master bedroom, straight to the bathroom.
This was the hardest that I have ever fought to keep Curtis from my thoughts. In the tub, with my knees bent upwards, I rested my head on them and cried for him. Vance's arms encircled me and he tried to comfort my soul.
"None of this is your fault," he whispered lovingly, "He had several
chances to redeem himself and refused. They were all his choices and not yours." Crying more, I had to let it out. All the good and bad memories surfaced and reminded me of our connection. His face, smile, and
happy moments. Curtis was gone.
Vance peppered kisses on my left shoulder, getting closer to his mark. Slowly the sparks overpowered my mind, as his tender lips pressed on his mark, sending tingles down my pussy. Like flipping the book cover closed, my thoughts were now totally focused on my mate. I wrapped my left hand around his head as his mouth and tongue tickled my neck, eliciting moans. "Let's go and have something to eat," Vance suggested as we got out
of the tub and dried our dripping bodies with towels. "I am not hungry," I hugged him after slipping into our bathrobes.
Feeling him was all that I desired. "My appetite is gone." He held me for a minute, stroking my hair.
"I linked Mom to keep Valen for the night," he tells me. Furrowing my brow, I looked up at him and questioned, "Why?" I was opposing this. Valen has never been away from us, so I feared that he might wake in the night for his mommy, who would be
nowhere near him.
"Because it's time for your punishment," he casually told me. Pecking the tip of my nose.
Confused and shocked, I wondered, "What the hell for?" He smirks devilishly as his eyes are tainted with malevolent intent.