Chapter 22

"Are you ready?" I asked, staring deep into Claire's eyes. She nodded.

"Are you sure?" I asked again. As hard as I tried to read them, I couldn't phantom what was going on in her mind.

"Gosh Kevin, you've asked me this same question for like the hundredth time!" She chuckled lightly but I heaved a sigh. This was no laughing matter.

"Claire, yesterday was traumatic for both of us. I don't want you to be hurt again or feel bad even in the slightest." I mumbled hoping she would understand my own point of view. I recalled my mother advising me to let Claire stay clear of stress related issue. But here she is, seated in my car parked in front of Greenville High Court. I alongside the elders of Greenville were going to give our verdict upon Jerry and his criminalistic friends.

"I'll be fine, Kevin." She gently stroked her palm against mine. And once again, those exciting sparks coursed through my body. This feeling never gets old for me, but it wasn't enough to dissuade me.

"Why do you even want to be here? You were the victim here. You should be resting."

She heaved a sigh while her smile gradually vanished. Her eyes fell on our fingers, intertwined.

"I just want to see his face, whether he felt remorse for his actions or not. I don't want to remember him as a monster he was last night." She pursed her lips while her other hand gently caressed my cheek.

"Besides, your anger can get the better part of you and you'll eventually end up looking him."

"I'm not gonna kill him." I stated with less conviction as I glared at my windshield.

"Promise me," she carefully turned my face to hers. "Promise me we're going to do this together."

I could have said no but how could I resist my mate's pleadings.

"I promise." I wore a smile causing her lips to wear one too. We both alighted from my vehicle before reviewing the moderately built building rooted in front of us. The Greenville High Court was a place for most criminal cases, where the Elders, dignitaries, the plaintiff, the criminal and few Pack Members are gathered. The verdict is mostly passed by the Alpha and sometimes, alongside the Elders but this time, I already had my own verdict regardless of what anyone says.

We stared at each other one last time as our fingers intertwined.

"Let's do this." I muttered while she smiled before we proceeded into the building. Immediately we emerged into the building, my eyes darted to Jerry and two of his companions I spared opposite us. Their wrists and ankles were bound to chains rooted to the ground, so they found it hard to break free. His face was still damaged from all the punches I had given him.

By my left was the Greenville symbol, large and inscribed on the wooden wall. And to the right, where the seats. Arranged in rows and stair-like fashion. The Elders took the first row followed by my Beta and other officials. The other rows were occupied by Pack Members interested in this case.

Eyes stalked us as we climbed to the podium, our fingers still intertwined. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous a bit, but Claire didn't show any of it. In fact, her eyes were purely gazing at Jerry. I wondered what ran through her mind whether she was angry or broken. At the same time, I tried to remain calm as possible. For Claire.

"Last night!" I announced, my gaze on Jerry's damaged face. "Jerry Manchester and his minions abducted my mate, Claire, and almost killed her."

The members burst into indistinctive chatters, but I cared less.

"You Son of a traitor!" Jerry growled in a weak voice. My muscles constricted as I tried to subdue the rage igniting within me. Claire must have noticed, perhaps why her fingers gripped me tighter. Beckoning me to relax and in a strange way it helped.

"You took everything from me. You killed my Father and then you stole my mate. What do you think I was going to do?!"

"First of, the match between your Father and I was a duel. I didn't plan on killing him in the first place but when he refused to yield, I had no choice." I lucidly stated.

"Secondly, I never stole your mate you blatantly rejected." I gestured my hand towards Rose, seated beside Gabriel.

"Whether I rejected her or not, you had no right to openly flirt with her when you knew she had a mate!" He retorted as he hopelessly fought against his shackles.

"I gave you second chance Jerry!" I yelled causing an eerie silence to dawn. "I released not because to see me flirting with your mate publicly but to make you realize your mistakes!

Mates are a blessing; they are one of the best things to ever happen in our lives. But what did you do? You rejected her!" I blared.

"Do you even know that it's because of Rose, Claire, my Beta as well as few others that I didn't take your life the first time?!

Even now, the same Rose you rejected pleaded with me last night not to take your life!

My mate made me promise not to take your life even after your heinous atrocity. You disappointed me Jerry. I gave you a chance to be a better man, but you ended up squandering it." I uttered with a light sigh. I was actually surprised I haven't flared up at this point. Thanks to our mate bond.

"How did you even find out Claire is my mate?" I shot him a quizzical look. He hesitated.

"How?!" Claire suddenly blared. Her tone was a mixture of anger, sadness, and disappointments. This was the exact reason I didn't want her to come. I dearly hoped she wasn't going to lose her cool.

"Imogen told me." He muttered after several seconds of muteness. At least half of the crowd turned sharply to the lady positioned at my Beta's other side.

I scrutinized her face carefully while she stuttered. She couldn't even utter a word of denial properly and I wasn't surprised either. My hatred for her only bloomed and now that I had power, I thirsted to make her life miserable.

"I planned on attacking you on coronation night, but she advised me to do this instead." Jerry added while Claire gasped. Hint of tiny tears soaked her face, and I could feel her sadness through our mate bond. It only took grace for fury not to get the better part of me.

"And in the end, see where it landed you." I pronounced and all attention returned to me. Jerry sighed, his eyes lowering in sadness, but I wouldn't be dissuaded. Last night only bloomed my hatred for him more.

"What do the elder have to say?" I stared in their direction while they conversed with each other in low voices.

"Alpha Kevin," one of the frail men finally arose while he cleared his throat. "This is a delicate case about mates here. Jerry Manchester had crossed all boundaries. Regardless of his hatred for you, he shouldn't have diverted his revenge upon your mate. Hence, the Elders of Greenville has decided, that any punishment you assign to Jerry and his accomplices, we agree to it wholeheartedly." The old man returned to his seat. I glanced at Rose, whose eyes were clearly pleading for mercy. My eyes darted to Claire, who wasn't any different either. It made me wonder why she easily forgave him. Left for me, I wouldn't have hesitated to rip his head off with a silver sword.

"Assuming I'm giving you a death sentence, what are your last words?" I asked.

He paused for minutes before staring at Claire deep in the eyes. I frowned.

"I'm sorry Claire." He muttered sincerely. "You trusted me as a friend, but I abused it. I know asking for your forgiveness is weighty for you, but I just want to let you know, that I'm deeply sorry."

Her hold on me tightened, she was fighting the tears. Holding the pain and tears from showing, trying to remain strong as possible.

"The only reason I'm not going to kill you is because of my promise to Claire and your beloved mate, Rose." I paused while his eyes gleamed with hope. My eyes fell on his right hand, the same hand he used to abuse my mate's breasts.

"But I can't stand looking at that pathetic hand of yours which abused my mate. Hence, as the Alpha of Greenville!"

I proclaimed.

"I hereby declare your right hand to be amputated. You and your other minions shall also be sentenced to fifty years imprisonment." I heard Claire heave a sigh of relief while Jerry's face morphed into horror. Staring at his right hand but I wasn't going to dissuade.

"And as for you Imogen, you're hereby stripped of your administrative duties at Greenville High school. You shall also be a permanent Delta at Greenville's prison for five hundred years, cleaning the prison yard." I proclaimed to her horrified face which gave this divine joy within me.

"This case is hereby closed!"

##############

"Claire!" I pitched as she stormed into the pack house, aiming for the mini bar.

"Claire stop this attitude!" I pleaded but she recklessly poured herself a glass of whiskey. Her health was already bad enough, drinking would only worsen things. So, I held her back from lifting the cup. I clung unto her shoulder, turning her to face me.

"You're not fine." I stated softly. Tears instantly trickled from her eyes.

"How do you expect me to be fine?! Two people I could call friends betrayed me for their selfish agendas!" She cried and immediately, I pulled her into my warm embrace. Letting her tears soak my shirt.

"I almost died yesterday Kevin! all because of my trust in them!"

I hugged her tighter trying to soothe her pain with the sparks flowing across our bodies freely. This was exactly the outcome I tried to avoid. I knew it would break her, but she wouldn't listen.

"I'm here for you now. No one is going to hurt you ever again. Those idiots are never going to bother you again." I ascertained with all authority. Her grip on my back tightened upon those words and her sobbing decreased. I glanced at the wall clock which displayed past nine.

"You need to rest; Today was a long day." I gently pat her hair before carrying her in my arms. She curled like a child while her leg leaned against my chest.

I climbed the stairs up to my room and to my King size bed where I gently dropped her. I gently lifted my blanket over her body while she kept on staring at me. As if she were lost in my eyes.

I planned on sleeping in a separate room, but I feared for what danger might befall her. And so, without further thoughts, I joined her. Staring at each other with a tiny smile of admiration. I recalled our kiss during the day, how I had claimed those pink lips to be mine. My head started to entertain lustful thoughts, but this wasn't the time. So rather than act on them, I pulled her closer, kissed her softly on her forehead before she leaned against my chest.

"Thank you, for not flaring up today." She whispered. I smiled while I gently streamlined my fingers past her long soft hair. Her hand curled around my waist while her soft breaths grazed against my chest. I could feel it, she was finally at peace.

"Goodnight." She whispered.

"Goodnight." I responded in the same mannerism. As I gradually sealed my eyes, I only prayed to the moon goddess for a blissful future.