The Trial Three

Achilles POV

I understand Hélios's anger and Khalid's reasons... Both are right in their views, and Khalid is not wrong in saying that we failed as a pack, not only that, we failed to protect our Fated.

I watched as the greenish energy transferred to the pen drive and held my breath, as Azrik showed no sign of noticing the strange energy, but he began to work on the laptop without any issues, and the energy dissipated after a few minutes.

"I do see several pieces of evidence here that Naomi, or Sophia, was not kidnapped." Azrik said, lifting his face from the laptop.

His eyes sought Ivar's, who stood his ground.

"Who abandoned Naomi, I'll call her that for now, injured and almost at death's door?" Azrik asked.

"We don't know." Gáta answered. "Things are confusing, even the Bond of Fate is strange and fragile."

Gáta made a motion with her hand, and then two red lines appeared, one on my wrist and one on Ivar's... Mine was dimmer, weaker, while Ivar's was brittle and emitting small sparks.

What surprises me is that no line appeared on Hélios's wrist, but I know I am connected to him. Could it be that Gáta doesn't want the beings in this room to know that Sophia is Fated to Perseus and Hélios as well? It's a good possibility.

"As you can see, the red line appeared and there are disparities on both sides." Gáta said.

I know she is manipulating things to make it seem like they didn't lie.

"We only worked with the factors that appeared." Ivar said, showing his wrist angrily. "My bond shouldn't be like this! And it's their fault!" He pointed at us.

I couldn't hold back and let out a loud, mocking, and ironic laugh.

"Really? It was you who invaded the damn my pack and took my Fated!" I exploded.

Even my patience is running out.

"You did so much that, even my Alpha awakened his demigod side!" I looked at Azrik. "If what Ivar did was right, the gods wouldn't have interfered and given that gift to Perseus and Hélios."

I then looked at the Elder of the Witches who had been quiet until now. It wasn't possible that someone like her hadn't seen that Gáta was manipulating things.

"What is clear is that this woman, Naomi, does not seem to be just an ordinary human." Azrik said.

I turned my attention to the Judge.

"Bring the girl here." Azrik ordered.

"My Fated is very injured, as you know, we rescued her from the hospital. Perseus attacked her and almost killed her." Ivar responded.

Azrik sighed and looked at me.

"Alpha Ivar has another interesting point... Why did your Alpha attack his 'Fated,' as you call her, Beta Achilles?" Azrik asked seriously.

"Perseus was under a very strong spell." Hélios answered. "So strong that for a long time, I, his wolf, couldn't reach him. The spell was only broken when Perseus attacked Miss Sophia, thinking she was betraying Achilles."

It was the truth, without many details, but Hélios hadn't lied.

"And what led Alpha Perseus to think such a thing?" Azrik continued with the questioning.

"I was the one at fault." Khalid answered first. "Perseus thought I had seduced Sophia. My fault was not staying as far from Sophia as I should have."

Azrik smiled amusedly at Khalid, surely not expecting such actions from the vampire.

"You betrayed your own code of honor for a woman, who in the end, won't be with you. Was it worth it?" Azrik asked.

"Yes, because my love for her is not measured by how much she loves me." Khalid quickly replied. "I love her, I don't care if she loves me or not. What matters is that I have the duty to protect her, to give her the world if she asks me, but I will never expect Sophia to love me in that way."

Khalid let out a low laugh.

"Some would say that this is one of the purest forms of love... Loving without expecting anything in return." Khalid put his hands in his pockets. "Others would say it's insanity... I think it's a middle ground between the two."

Azrik looked at Theron and gave a low laugh.

"I never thought I'd live long enough to see Khalid speak so passionately about someone." Azrik said.

Theron sighed.

"I think he's been alone for too long, and loneliness makes beings do stupid things." Theron answered.

"What will happen when you find your Fated, Khalid?" Theron asked.

"I don't know... Only when that happens will I have that answer." Khalid replied.

"Well, considering the information so far, I will order that Miss Naomi Blanchet be transferred to a neutral hospital, under my direction. As soon as she improves, she can decide what to do." Azrik closed the laptop and looked at us.

"As I understand, a group of witches was responsible for this situation. They healed Miss Naomi, but also put some spell to hide her from Ivar. This may have happened while she was still studying to be a nurse at Gillian's Memorial Hospital." Azrik stood up, adjusting his clothes.

"I believe it was this spell that caused the bond to break and split. Miss Naomi will need all the help to survive, as the process of balancing could kill her." Azrik began to move his hand to give his verdict.

"NO!" Ivar shouted. "Naomi is my Fated! I found her first."

"And you didn't protect her enough." Azrik said, his expression closing. "It was your fault this is happening, and be satisfied that I am not deciding that you pay for your other crimes."

"I have another suggestion." For the first time, a female voice was heard, the Elder of the Witches, Shangō Furen.

Her long silver hair seemed to float, as if there was a breeze. Her eyes, bright like blue embers, pierced me with a gaze that carried centuries of secrets and power. Her face was sculpted with refined features, beautiful and impenetrable, but her expression was cold and distant.

Her black robes flowed around her slender body, adorned with golden embroidery that shimmered in the light of the lightning. There was something mesmerizing about the way the fabric moved, as if it were alive, responding to the energy that vibrated in the air around her. In her firm hands, a staff glowed with blue sparks.

"Even if Miss Naomi Blanchet is injured, it will be easier if she comes to us now. Since it is the Full Moon, it is the best time to perform the rejection rituals." She looked around. "We have many auras and many powers here, we can keep her balanced and alive, and any problems that arise, we will have more resources to solve."

I looked at Hélios and then at Khalid. This is a good option, but it means that everyone will see that Sophia is not just an ordinary human.