Chapter 102 102
Venessa’s POV
She should have kept silent.
If she had, none of this would have been dragged into the open. The truth was already obvious there had always been something between her and the Beta. Trying to deny it now was foolish.
“I’m only saying that if she truly is your daughter,” Rochelle said quietly, glancing around the table, “then her wolf should reflect that. It should be partly Lycan not an omega white werewolf.”
My father’s expression hardened.
“I have seen my daughter’s wolf in its full glory,” he said. “When the rogues attacked us. She is half Lycan and half werewolf.”
He paused, his gaze sharpening.
“Perhaps Jahlil lied to you so he wouldn’t have to kill her. Did he tell you he was taken with her? That he offered her a place at his side as his mistress?”
Rochelle went silent.
The betrayal in her eyes was unmistakable.
“I cannot believe you tried to murder my heir,” my father continued, his voice dropping into something far more dangerous. “You may have killed Danisha and dismissed her death as that of a rogue but what of my child? Were you not meant to protect her? To love her?”
His voice rose, heavy with fury.
“You knew I was searching for her. You were supposed to find her and bring her home. Instead, you wanted my bloodline erased because you could not give me children. You wanted my life to end. You were willing to risk a war between Lycans, bears, and werewolves rather than allow my daughter to ascend the throne.”
Before I could blink, guards appeared behind Rochelle.
“You sent my young Beta to eliminate my blood,” he went on. “To wipe out my legacy for no reason other than greed.”
His voice trembled with restrained rage.
“I never imagined a day would come when your jealousy would consume you so completely, Rochelle,” he said. “You despised Danisha while she lived and plotted against her relentlessly. I was willing to let you remain with Wright while I stayed with my fated but that was never enough for you.”
He took a step closer.
“You wanted power. You wanted to be Luna. You wanted to be Queen. And Wright could never give you that.”
Silence gripped the hall.
“You conspired with my father against her,” he continued. “When she fled, you threatened her brother and her people until she had no choice but to disappear into the wilderness. And still, you did not stop.”
His words struck like blows.
“For twenty years, you hunted her. Relentlessly. Until you found her and killed her.”
I exhaled shakily.
“And when that wasn’t enough, you searched for her daughter. My daughter. My flesh and blood. The future of the Lycan Kingdom. You sought to destroy her too.”
His voice cracked just once.
“If the Goddess had not favoured her, you would have succeeded. And now you stand here trying to discredit her simply because she is my child and did not come from you.”
A heavy sigh escaped me.
“I thank the Goddess you were never able to give me an heir,” my father said coldly. “An heir born of your soul would have been a curse upon this world.”
His eyes darkened as his wolf surfaced.
“People like you should never rule. Should never decide the fate of others. You are evil, Rochelle.”
A collective gasp swept the hall.
“Though I cannot punish you for killing a supposed rogue,” he continued, “you will stand trial tomorrow for hunting my daughter and attempting to kill her. That is treason and you know the penalty.”
The guards seized Rochelle, clamping silver restraints around her wrists.
“Please—please,” she sobbed, shaking violently. “I’m sorry. Venessa is alive. Please, Jamar don’t do this.”
“You will stand trial before the Council of Elders,” my father said, unmoved. “Like any common criminal. If found guilty, the sentence will be carried out accordingly.”
She broke down completely.
“Take her to the dungeon,” my father ordered. “Lock her in a silver cage. If she escapes, your lives will pay for it.”
The guards saluted sharply.
“I did everything because I loved you,” Rochelle cried as they dragged her away. “Please I’m sorry.”
I had once thought she might escape with her life.
But my father was still mourning my mother.
For years, believing Danisha was alive somewhere in the world had sustained him. Now, knowing she was gone forever, the weight of that loss had finally crushed him.
Rochelle was the architect of that pain.
She would not survive this.
My father squeezed my hand gently as the Elders, the Gamma, and the Delta offered their congratulations.
“I can’t believe we finally have an heir,” one elder quiet throughout the night said in awe.
Because of the poisoning, no one had touched the food. Fresh meals were prepared and served, and we waited together, relieved and grateful.
There would be no war.
“We should hold the crowning ceremony immediately,” Elder Craig said eagerly. “She must be formally recognised as Crowned Princess. Alpha Denzel will need to be crowned as well.”
My father smiled.
The grief in his eyes remained but so did joy. He had lost his fated… yet he had found me.
“We must invite everyone,” Elder Craig continued. “I would pay anything to see Fabian’s face when he realises the man he once petitioned to strip of succession will become the future Lycan King through marriage to the Crowned Princess. He’ll turn green with envy.”
Of the five elders present, Craig was by far the most talkative and likely their spokesperson. Whatever his role, he was a pleasure to listen to.
We ate, laughed, and celebrated.
There was so much to process, so much to honour but progress had been made.
As joy filled the hall, my thoughts drifted briefly to the coming trial. Rochelle and the Beta would not be shown mercy.
My father was out for blood.
And she had earned every drop of it.