Chapter 108 Chapter 108 – Letter

Chapter 108 Chapter 108 – Letter
Lilly's POV

“All done,” Ria said, smiling at me in the mirror. She had just finished my hair and makeup for the mating ceremony, which is happening in about an hour. “You look absolutely lovely.”

I gazed quietly at my reflection as Ria packed away her supplies. She still needed to get dressed herself and would return later to help me into my mating gown.

My eyes lingered on the blonde girl in the mirror. My hair flowed softly around my shoulders, and my eyes were done in a light pastel hue. Yet I still recognize the girl who was a slave a few weeks ago.

My mind drifted back to earlier—Ria entering my room with a wide smile. We had grown close, and I already loved her like a sister.

“I’m not going to cover your face in layers and layers of makeup,” Ria said when she started unpacking. “You’re a natural beauty. I’ll just focus on your best features. I promise you’ll look stunning.”

I didn’t argue—I knew nothing about makeup and trusted her judgment. Now, staring at my reflection, I understood why she hadn’t plastered anything on. My green eyes seemed to glow against my skin, even captivating me.

“I’m going to leave you for a few minutes,” Ria said, closing her supply case. “Don’t get in too much trouble while I’m out. I shouldn’t be long.”

I rolled my eyes, nodded, and waved her off. She giggled and hurried out and closed the door.

I sighed, long and deep. Things were finally falling into place—well, most things. There was just one last matter to resolve.

My gaze dropped to my wrist—the bracelet still cold against my skin, a reminder of everything I’d been through.

Sade was officially locked up in the dungeon, awaiting trial. The omega who helped her had been dealt with. Sade had bribed her, and for betrayal, Lex had punished her—ten lashes with the whip at the pack assembly point in front of everyone.

The guard who released Alpha Darius under Sade’s influence—seduced and bribed with sex—received a similar punishment, but he was stripped of his rank and received fifty lashes. It was either that or banishment.

Alpha Darius was a different case altogether. He would never bother me or any other woman again.

Lex had left it to me to decide his punishment. I chose banishment—with a twist. Yes, I was dramatic, but I needed him to feel what he’d made me feel.

The banishment ceremony took place yesterday afternoon—the entire pack, including all the surrounding packs, attended. Everyone was curious about what I would do.

I wanted Alpha Darius to feel the dread and fear pulsing through his body when I branded him with a hot iron as a rogue so that everyone could recognize him as a betrayer.

I wanted him to scream in agony.

I wanted to see the fear in his eyes.

And I did.

After I finished branding the rogue symbol on his neck, Alpha Alexander stepped forward to speak the words that would strip Darius of his Alpha title and break the tie to his pack.

The realization hit Darius hard—he begged Alpha Alexander not to do it, promising he would change.

Lex stepped forward and took over, not because Alpha Alexander couldn’t do it, but because Lex wanted everyone to understand why Alpha Darius was being punished so severely.

In a chilling exchange, Lex called Darius’s wolf forward. He asked only one question: How many girls did Darius abuse?

The bitter truth was so severe that the pack Alphas were outraged. One by one, they came forward and spat on him. Then, as one, they turned their backs on him. Alpha Alexander broke Darius’s pack bond and handed leadership to Darius's youngest son, Lorenzo—a boy only sixteen years old, with a heart of gold.

But I wasn’t finished. Stripping Darius of his rank and making him a rogue wasn’t nearly enough for what he’d done to me and other girls.

A little grin crept across my face. I gave Alpha Darius a two-minute head start before releasing the warriors, Alphas, and anyone who wanted to join in the chase—with the promise of a reward to whoever returned with his head.

A shiver ran down my spine as a smile settled on my lips. If Darius managed to cross the border, another surprise awaited him—my father, the royal Gamma, who would track and kill him.

In the end, Darius made it to the border—maybe because he was finally sober.

“Alpha Darius is done,” Lex later confirmed. “Your father took care of him.”

I heard it through gossip that the second Darius thought he was safe, my father ambushed him—as planned—and ripped his heart out.

My mind shifted back to Lex. He seemed so proud of my decisive punishment—yes, it was cruel and cold, but it needed to be done.

Lex had suggested a similar punishment for Sade. The idea had crossed my mind previously.

“I have a better idea,” I told him. “We still need to find Angelica. We’ll use her as bait. I want to punish them together.”

He nodded in understanding.

Alpha Alexander and Luna Emily were still searching for her, but she slipped away every time they got close. She’d abandoned her home—the Black residence—and we were certain someone or something was helping her.

My thoughts turned to Lex. We’d decided to wait before taking over the royal roles—we weren’t in a hurry to be crowned king and queen. We wanted time to get to know each other and watch our pups grow in my belly.

A soft knock on the bedroom door caught my attention.

“It’s open,” I called, and the door opened. A warrior entered.

“My apologies for interrupting, Luna,” he said, bowing his head. “I was asked to hand-deliver this to you.”

“What is it?” I asked as he handed me an envelope.

“She didn’t say,” he replied, then took his leave.

For a moment, I stared at the handwriting, knowing exactly who it was from.