Chapter 138 I'm no coward
Ruel's POV
The crack of one of the elders fist slamming into the wooden arm of his chair echoes sharply through the chamber as he shoots to his feet.
His face is visibly flushed and his jaw tight. His trembling hand rises to point at me with barely restrained anger.
“I don't care what trick he pulled off out there. Commander Ruel is a threat to this pack and he must be put down.” he says with fury.
I stand silently at the center of the court, shifting my weight slightly as a sharp pulse of pain climbs up my side.
The deep gash near my abdomen is yet to fully heal and still hurts when I move. But I force myself to stand still before anyone can notice.
All eyes are on me and I can literally feel every stare, but it doesn’t bother me. If anything, it does the opposite.
It’s strange. Although I've never been shy to avoid being in the spotlight, I've also never felt this much pride from having so many people focused on me.
That’s the part I don’t understand.
I should feel exposed, at least a little bothered.
Instead, something in me actually likes this.
The realization unsettles me more than the pain. The more I lean into the strange yet pleasing feeling, the clearer it becomes.
This isn’t just me, neither is it all Krist. It feels like it's both our emotions merging to find a balance point.
Swears, the more I merge form with Krist, the stranger my character becomes.
“I never expected this from you all!” The old man continues. “Alpha King Andre, it's very obvious that I'm the only one who despite everything is willing to remain loyal.”
“Elder Urie, you speak as though we are rejecting the reign of our alpha king when in reality we are trying to sustain it.” Another elder, a woman about a decade younger speaks up, rising elegantly from her seat.
With a brief bow she addresses the king. “We have followed you through easy and rough seasons,” she begins, her voice calm but loud enough that everyone within the court can hear.
“We have stood beside you as you led hunts that filled our stores and defended our borders from the strays who sought to tear us apart. Yet here we stand today because of what happened in that fight two days ago.”
Murmurs of agreement rise gently in the air.
“You turned away when strength was demanded. You left before the rogues were defeated. How can we ignore that? It stains everything we have built. You are now negatively referred to as a coward by your pack. What alpha king is there without the loyalty of a pack?”
Another elder stands, his voice not nearly as calm as the woman's voice.
“My loyalty to you remains,” he says, looking directly at the king. “I remember the day you stood boldly to eliminate the corrupt crown prince and his mate. I remember how that courage brought us together.”
Alpha King Andre frowns, his fingers clenching the arm of his seat.
“But what happened recently plants doubt. If we allow it to pass without question, what do we teach those who look to us? Loyalty is not blind. It is built on actions that match the oaths we swore.”
The previous woman speaks again. “We cannot ignore what we saw. It was not just a mistake. It shook the foundation of everything we trust. If you do not face this, that trust will begin to crumble.”
Elder Urie steps forward again, his voice cutting through the noise with even more anger than before. “Nonsense. We must not ignore the other matter before us. Or are you now all defenders of treason?! Commander Ruel stands here accused of treason. He has gone against the order we have followed for years, and his actions now put our stability at risk. If he's spared, the pack will take the law for a joke.”
I could really use a meal, I think to myself as my stomach rumbles.
“Well, Elder Urie, this same offender saved over a hundred pack members during the rogue attack. Shouldn't he also be rewarded for his bravery? Considering the fact that he no longer holds the position of a commander and had done it out of sheer kindness.” The woman hisses.
Elric who's standing at a corner smirks at her statement. He definitely likes her now.
“No matter the charges against any wolf, the ancient law stands above all,” The second male elder says. “If an alpha has failed in his duty during conflict, a formal match must be held. If there's an existing competitor, his strength must be proven and not argued. Once failure is seen, the challenge cannot be refused. Justice requires the contest.”
His words settle over the room, firm and final, like the decision has already been made.
I take a slow breath, remembering my plan. Then I stride forward, ignoring the pain in my body.
“I do not want a match,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Give me my freedom instead, and clear Elric of all charges. If you really seek to honor my service, this will do.”
The room goes silent at once, nearly eerily cold.
I inhale deeply, waiting for someone to say something.
“The king must have told him to say that,” someone whispers nearby.
“This whole shit sounds like a fucking manipulation,” another voice adds.
My eyes shift briefly to Elric, who already has his gaze on me. But the harsh disappointment on his face forces me to look away.
Before anything else can happen, alpha king Andre stands.
The hall instantly falls silent.
“I am no coward,” he starts, looking across the room before his bitter gaze settles on me. “And I will prove it here, before all of you. My respect will be earned again through action. I accept the match. Under the next two moons, I will defeat Ruel and restore the order that has guided us.”
A young man steps forward immediately, opening the record and stamping it hard, the sound echoing through the hall like a final decision.
I let out a quiet breath, as the crowd slowly begins to filter out.