Chapter 198 Back in Vahl 4

Chapter 198 Back in Vahl 3

Ira's POV

A cool sensation spreads through my wrist, power stirring beneath my skin, eager to answer the rage building inside me.

I force it down.

Because whatever happens today will be witnessed by Vahl guards. Every word, every action, every decision.

They already hate me enough as it is. If I lose control now, they will remember it long after this trial ends.

How I act today may determine how strays will be seen from now on in Vahl.

Gestrid, looking frustrated with her father's lies, blurts out. “You drugged him and his mate the moment he sat in the pack house, waiting for the alpha king to be done with the meeting. A meeting that you knew they wouldn't escape alive from.”

Andre's face darkens instantly.

“You lying little bitch. You think anyone will believe the nonsense coming out of your mouth?”

Gestrid doesn't stop, “You thought the wolfsbane was enough to knock him out but it didn't. They were too strong to be killed so easily so you instead threw them into the fight where you and your long dead followers wounded them so badly it was impossible for them to win the fight.”

Near the doorway, Cael blinks repeatedly. His chest rises sharply like he's barely holding himself together.

Even Ruel's stoic expression has given way for a furious stare, his brows knit together.

“Remember what he said, Father?”

Andre glares at her, his breathing growing heavier.

“He begged you not to touch his son and his mate. But you are so vile you wanted to rape her right there in front of his corpse! She couldn't stand the horror of suffering that way. When she yanked that dagger, I thought it was for your dark stained heart but she slit her throat herself.”

“YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. SHUT UP GESTRID!” Andre charges.

The guards stumble trying to restrain him. And for a moment, I genuinely think he might break through them.

Gestrid doesn’t even flinch. “Perhaps to a sick man like you it was mercy but I watched you mold Ruel, their son, into your pet. I must say he was quite obedient and useful, I even began to desire him.”

A scowl forms on my face.

“Relax, Valira.” Gestrid's lips curl into a disturbing grin.

Maybe she truly is insane. And how does she know my name?

“Your mate didn't even let me get a kiss.” She mutters. “But then isn't this weird, that you fled from your own inheritance. You should be the alpha of Vahl pack. You know that right?”

Several Alphas turn toward me immediately.

Surprise flashes across some of their faces. Not Davan, not even Romano.

“VAHL BELONGS TO ME!” Andre's roar literally shakes the hall.

“It belongs to me! I fought for it. I protected it. I sacrificed for it. I cleaned the filth from this pack while everyone else sat back and watched. No stray will sit on my throne. No daughter of a Sempyr will ever rule Vahl while I breathe!”

The Vahl guards within the hall shift uneasily.

“She is right.” Lady Mira's voice trembles from behind. “If this is indeed Valira, then Vahl pack belongs to her bloodline. Her father was a Sempyr and her mother the only child of our Alpha. Although most of us weren't in support of our heir mating with a Sempyr, she still is the only child they had. Whether we like it or not, the royal seat belongs to her.”

Murmurs spread around the hall.

“Do you still deny you killed so many innocent people only to lead Vahl the careless way you are doing now?” Alpha Romano questions, bringing everyone back on track.

Andre opens his mouth…

“Because with the reports from Vahl that we received, more innocent people have been imprisoned. More slaves have been captured.”

“And who made them illegal?!” Andre shoots.

“The Alpha Council,” Romano replies calmly. “The body entrusted by every pack to prevent abuse of power and ensure that no Alpha rules above the laws agreed upon by all.”

“Well fuck you then.” Andre yells out before drawing his sword.

The metallic sound rings through the room.

Alpha Romano, to my surprise, chuckles. “I do enjoy a little play but maybe when I'm done reading this, okay Andre?”

His eyes darken.

“Several innocent lives have been lost. The Sempyr clan, witch and warlock clans have suffered great loss, including more than half of Vahl pack force. But the worst of all your crimes Andre, was sending your forces to kill the heir of Veilfang pack, a member of the alpha's council.”

The doors open just then and Scarface is dragged inside.

Shock ripples through the hall. Several Vahl guards look triggered but take no action.

The former commander keeps his gaze lowered when forced to his knees before the council.

“Scarface, you invaded Veilfang pack with the intent to kill, true or false?” Alpha Davan asks.

“True. I was sent by Alpha Andre to capture ex commander Ruel and his mate Ira. I was to kill the strays. But I wasn't ordered to hurt any member of Veilfang pack.” Scarface answers with a rough voice.

Andre's eyes blaze with fury.

Scarface continues anyway. “After spending several weeks in captivity, I've realized that Alpha Andre never cared about the men beneath him. We died and he replaced us. We bled and he demanded more.” His voice breaks.

“I regret the day I vowed to serve Alpha Andre.” his eyes darken with fury. “Even as a prisoner in Veilfang, I eat better than I did as a commander. I sleep better too.”

The Vahl guards stare at him in disbelief.

Scarface turns toward Ruel. “I hated you because I felt I could achieve more for the base. But I couldn't preserve the life of the men like you did. I may never be forgiven for obeying the command of a heartless leader, but please forgive me for never appreciating the efforts you put in to keep the base running.”

Then he bows deeply.

Andre explodes. With a roar, he breaks through the guards and thrusts his sword toward Scarface.

Several Vahl guards rush forward.

I flick my wrist and the sword answers, flying from his hand.

Andre twists, reaching desperately for his sword.

The Vahl guards and Scarface stare at me with wide eyes.

“You may deserve to die, but not like that.” I say, my white hair rises around me before slowly settling.

“Right in front of the council you have attempted to kill another member of your pack,” Ruel says coldly.

“You pretenders.” Andre spits, struggling against those holding him again. “You didn't come to hear my truth. You came to humiliate me. To put a just man to shame. To turn my pack against me!”

I know what he is doing. He knows without a confession, doubt remains. Deciding to use the story that hurt him the most against him, I slowly step forward.

“She was scared.” I breathe out, capturing his attention.

“Ira?” Ruel calls, concern flashing across his face. I step back slightly, enough to ease him.

“She didn't intentionally sacrifice herself and you know it. You lied that you'll protect her. You say she failed for not being faithful but you also failed for not coming out when the Sempyrs you hate so much stalled the judgement, giving her a chance to say the truth.”

Andre's lips quiver.

“You didn't even plead for her.” I continue, knowing I'm hitting exactly where it hurts.

“I begged the alpha. No one listened.”

“Really, you went to a man you knew had little authority when it came to Sempyr law. You were in the hall during your mate's execution, you could have begged them to spare her life. You could have confessed that it was you who stole it. You could have had mercy on your mate when you saw the hope burning in her eyes but you instead turned away. Andre, you failed. No matter how many people you kill, or frame or hate, it won't bring her back. It won't change the fact that you failed.”

“It's your fault. It's all your fault, you vile Sempyrs. If you hadn't been in existence none of this would have happened. I should pierce your heart just like I did your father.”

My heart squeezes painfully. Knowing for sure that he killed my father himself, strikes deep in my chest.

“All of them deserved what they got. Especially that incompetent alpha. They were all losers. Vahl would never have been great with them!”

I scoff, “You call this great? Over a hundred complaints to the council within a few days. And all this trouble because of the war you created. Your pack doesn't want you. You not only failed your mate, you've failed Vahl pack.”

“The Sempyrs aren't part of Vahl pack. The strays cannot be counted as members of Vahl and in every war there's casualty. I did what I had to do to purge this pack.”

“So you admit to creating the war then.”

Andre freezes, his eyes widening.

I twist away when he jumps at me, stepping further away as more guards hold him back.

“Attack them!” he screams. “Attack these invaders who have come to spoil your hearts against your Alpha King!”

No one moves.

“How delusional of you to still cling to that title,” Ruel says. “Andre from today henceforth by the judgement of the alpha council, you cease to be alpha of Vahl pack.”

“You can't do that! You have no right!”

“You are hereby sentenced to exile until the day a successor arises. In the case of that, you will be eliminated and your title passed down to that person.”

Andre laughs. “The pack will never accept a filthy stray to rule them.”

“Yes we will!” a Vahl guard answers. “Even a beast is better than you,”

The moment the silver chains touch Andre's skin, his expression changes.

For the first time since the trial began, genuine fear flashes across his face.
"No," he breathes.

The Veilfang guards do not stop. They fasten the chains around his wrists and ankles.

"NO!” His shout echoes through the pack house. Guards aggressively pull on his chains with gloved hands, dragging him back while he twists violently, trying to break free.

The silver burns his skin but Andre doesn't stop. The smell of scorched flesh spreads through the room, unsettling me a little.

Several Vahl guards look away while others simply watch. Not one of them moves to help him.

"You ungrateful bastards!" Andre screams despite his cracked voice. "Everything I did was for this pack!"

The absence of support seems to hit him harder than the chains as his eyes search the room desperately.

Perhaps looking for one last loyal puppet.
The guards begin dragging him away and Andre thrashes so violently that two additional Veilfang warriors move forward to help restrain him.

"This is my pack!" He roars, attempting to stay within the hall. "MINE!"

The massive doors close behind him, and finally silence falls over the hall.

"Irrespective of whether the pack desires your reign or not, you are the heir to the throne. You must take the seat." Kami's voice breaks through the silence.

I turn to her in confusion. I thought we were done with the topic already?

Every eye in the hall focuses on me.

"You certainly don't intend to allow your parents' efforts be wasted, do you?" she adds, watching me closely.