Chapter 33

"On the twelfth of this month,"

were the beginning words of an elder as he climbed the podium of Moonsville Supreme Court. And there was my mate, by the right of the podium. Bounded in silver chains with dried blood from his injuries. His clothes were tattered and dirty. His head were bowed to the ground as his arms went above his head from the chains holding him. His knees stood against the rough concrete floor and his messy hair overshadowed his face so one couldn't look closely. But I knew, from the mate bond. He didn't care. He was neither furious nor in pain. He was just silent. Silent ever since he had been arrested.

"Kevin Manchester, Alpha of Greenville, killed the Lycan." The old man continued on a solemn note. "To achieve this atrocious crime of his, he compelled the boundaries guards with his powers and even the guards at the Pack House." He paused his lips as he glanced at barely conscious Kevin. It wasn't with hatred but compassion.

"The court of the elders hereby find Kevin Manchester guilty but if anyone thinks otherwise, kindly enter the witness box."

An uneasy silence dawned amongst the crowd until Gabriel arose from his seat. Walking boldly to the witness box regardless of the hordes of eyes on him.

"My name is Gabriel Herald, the Beta of Greenville."

He pronounced whilst holding the old man's gaze.

"Gabriel Herald, do you have any proof that suggests your Alpha is innocent?"

"Only my words." Gabriel responded.

"Your words." The elder repeated after several deliberation. "You may proceed."

Gabriel cleared his throat, glancing between I and Kevin for a brief moment.

"On that day, Alpha Kevin had indeed left Greenville. But it wasn't to kill the Lycan nor cause any harm. It was for his mate."

I stared at Gabriel like an enchanted being.

"Yes, the first time he visited, he caused ruckus and planned to kill the Lycan but that was because of a pure misunderstanding. And this time, he left for Moonsville to make amends. To be at peace with the Lycan and his mate, Claire." He pursed his lips while his eyes lowered to the ground for a split moment. Sadness was all that were imprinted on his countenance even as hard as he tried hiding it.

"Kevin can be many things but there's one thing I know, he would never ever dream to hurt his loved ones. The Lycan's death was just an unfortunate coincidence Kevin was entangled with."

"An unfortunate coincidence you say?" My brother blared beside me. His tone carrying great despise and anger as he rose to challenge Gabriel.

"So what are you insinuating then? That someone else would dare to kill the Lycan!"

"Perhaps." Gabriel answered calmly.

"I don't blame you." Blake retorted with a scoff. Alighting from his chair to join the elder on the podium.

"He is your Alpha after all and I'm sure you'll do anything to defend his dirty acts!"

Gabriel's fingers latched tightly to the wooden witness box.

"I'm not defending, I'm only trying to prove his innocence."

"Innocent indeed." Blake scoffed again and this time I stared at him. Wondering what my brother was up to.

"My fellow Pack Members," he turned to the crowd.

"I looked into Greenville's records after my father's horrible death and I am disappointed to tell you all that this same man, Beta Gabriel is shielding, killed his own step Uncle just to become Alpha!"

The crowds burst into inaudible chatters.

My lips parted and the warm tears I had long embattled finally overpowered my will. It toured across my cheek as I sat in silence. Like a statue. I was supposed to be defending my mate or at least say something. But I did otherwise, how could I possibly defend a man who killed my Father?!

And at that thought, my palms curled into a fist, I didn't care my fingers were hurting me. All I wanted was this emptiness and pain to fade away.

"It was a duel!" Gabriel pitched.

"Duel or not, the fact still remains he killed his own family!" Blake retorted. "There are many other ways to win a duel without leading to death but your Alpha, he chose otherwise!" Blake pointed to barely conscious Kevin while Gabriel gritted his teeth.

"If a man can kill his own family, what's going to stop him from killing his mate's Family?" He continued and my heart skipped a beat. Till now, I wasn't even sure if I had a heartbeat.

"He swore to kill the Lycan the first time he ever stepped foot in this Pack! And he fulfilled that promise. So, I don't know why the elders are putting up this issue for a debate because, Alpha Kevin Manchester!" He roared with glowering eyes as he finally glanced at Kevin.

"Is guilty of my Father's murder and he should be punished with an agonizing death!"

I watched my twin brother declare but I remained on my seat. Regardless of the eyes on me, regardless of Kevin's mother sobs my ears could pick from the crowd behind me, regardless of Gabriel's pleading eyes. The only thing that shook me, was Kevin. He didn't bulge a bit at the mention of a death sentence.

"Is there anyone else who can prove Alpha Kevin innocent?" The old man asked but when no one came forth as Gabriel left the witness box, he continued.

"From all the facts and testimonies given, all evidence points to Alpha Kevin." He stated.

"But before Moonsville supreme Court gives its final verdict," he pursed his lips. "Alpha Kevin, do you have anything to say in defense for yourself?"

All eyes fell on him and for the first time, My Kevin lifted his head up with a sad smile. His Hazel eyes gleamed of innocence, not for a second did he look like he regretted anything.

"I don't care what the entire Moonsville Court have to say about me." He mumbled and then his eyes locked against mine. "If my mate says I am guilty, then I am guilty."

And once again eyes fell on me.

"Claire," the elder called softly. "Alpha Kevin is your mate and you were the first witness to your Father's death. I want you to speak from your heart and not mind. I want you to think deeply," he pursed his lips again.

"Do you find your mate guilty of this crime?"

My mind said yes but my heart said otherwise. Aubrey and Lupus said otherwise too. And in oblivion, I went on a memory path. My subconsciousness relived that moment again.

*******

I pushed the twin doors open, ready to tell my Father I was going to Greenville to set things right. And as I stepped in, I was sharply greeted by the scent of Blood. And there, I found my Father, in his own pool of blood. My mate beside him, holding him with tears and blood stains across his clothes and hands.

My mouth opened and tears seeped out of my eyeballs like blood. My heart exploded; pain surged in my chest as if I was being ripped in half. My muscles went numb and my body quivered from the horror and haunting cold that stormed my body.

"Claire..." He whispered.

"F-f-father!" I blared and trotted to both of them. I held his lifeless face, tapping it repeatedly even though I knew he wouldn't respond. I couldn't hear his heartbeat, he was gone. Killed by the hands of my loving mate. I clutched unto my old man, my tears soaking his blood coated shirt.

"You murderer!!" I screamed, disgusted by his fake sad countenance.

"Claire...I didn't do—"

"Guards!!" I yelled and immediately, scores of them launched into the building.

"Are you happy now?" I cried. "You've had your long-craved revenge, you've made me an orphan, you've taken a piece of me. Are you happy now?!" I muttered in a trembly voice. My tears made my vision so hazy that I couldn't see his face clearly. I didn't even want to see it.

"Arrest him." I ordered while I faced my Father. Holding his cheek dearly. He was my only true family left and my mate had destroyed that.

*******

"Guilty." I pronounced without further thoughts. I chose my mind and not some mate bond influence. It was the ugly truth; my mate killed my father.

The crowd burst into another chatter, but all Kevin did was smile.

The elder sighed before mustering courage to talk again.

"For the murder of Sir Isaac Perkins, the Lycan, Alpha Kevin is guilty as charged. And he shall be publicly executed in two days." He paused and I felt another ripping pain course throughout my body. I was going to lose another dear person in my life. I had lost that chance to tease my Alpha, to run my fingers across his soft brown hair, to be enchanted in those dazzling Hazel eyes of his, or to be greeted by his warm embrace every morning, or to be called little one.

Regardless of the murmurs, my legs took control. And in oblivion, I had already stepped outside. Away from the tensioned environment. Tears began to tour my cheeks again as I strode towards my vehicle like a lifeless being.

"Claire!" I heard a familiar voice call behind me, but I didn't yield.

"Claire!" The voice pitched closer, but I approached my vehicle regardless. I was about to open my door, but her warm hands stopped me. I raised my head up only to be greeted by Kira's endearing face.

"Let me drive." She pleaded in a soft voice, her eyes hinting tiny traces of tears. Truth be told, I wasn't in a good condition to drive. I would only be causing more harm to myself than good. But what pain could probably be greater than the pain of losing a Father and a Mate?

Perhaps, at this point I didn't really pay much relevance to my life again. Kira held unto my shoulders as she escorted me to the other side of the vehicle.

"Claire." Another voice called, and hearing it alone broke me further. I turned to face the teary-eyed Luna Serene. Kevin's Mother. We paused for a minute, searching for the right words which never came. And then, a sad smile gradually crept to her lips as she inched closer.

"I am sorry." She whispered in a broken voice, refraining herself from letting the tears drop. "For everything." She heaved while my palms curled into a fist. It wasn't out of hatred but of guilt and regrets.

"Kevin has always had a rough destiny until you came like a star. You were his light to his darkness." She pursed her lips. "There's no point in proving his innocence now, he's done some bad things in his past and perhaps this is his karma." A tear finally trickled. "But I want you to do me a favor, please have mercy upon him.

You can sentence him to life imprisonment but not death, no mother can bear to witness her son executed right before her. Please." And at this point her strong wall failed as those tears finally stormed out her eyes. With her palms against each other, pleading like her life depended on it but I only froze. Remained like a statue till Gabriel reached us.

His face beheld discrete sadness and anger intertwined as he held unto her.

"Kevin is not perfect Claire and I'm deeply sorry about your Father's loss. But we both know something," he pursed his lips.

"Kevin is innocent. He is your mate; you should at least know that." He muttered in a cold fashion before taking Luna Serene away.

And for the first time, I was seeing the cold side of Gabriel. But I couldn't blame him either, he was frustrated, angry and disappointed at the same time. And on that note, I resigned into the vehicle.

"I don't know who Kevin exactly is but he's your mate, Claire." Kira finally pronounced after minutes of silent driving.

"I feel he isn't guilty." She added while I heaved an inaudible sigh. I wasn't any different to her claims either but at the same time, this was Kevin. A man who clearly has anger issues and deep resentment for my father.

"I honestly don't know what to believe anymore, Kira." I sighed and I could feel her stare on me.

"Yet you declared him guilty. You just proclaimed a death sentence for your mate."

I swallowed my saliva, staring like an enchanted being at my windshield.

"I chose my mind." I mumbled in a weak fashion.

"He is my mate but at the same time, Kevin has been harboring this hatred for my father years before I even came into his life." I pursed again. "He's Rebellious, Kira. He would only do that which he pleases, or he's extremely forced too. And I'm not sure he'd let go of revenge for some mate bond."

I mumbled with no conviction.

"And what if your heart is right?" She asked, drowning me further in an ocean of confusion. Perhaps my heart was right, but I needed a sign. A sign that could shun my mind and prove to me, he was completely innocent.

"I need some time alone." I finally muttered a word as we alighted from my vehicle parked in front of Pack House. She nodded slowly in understanding while I wobbled into the building and up to my room. As I stepped into my room, I recalled the last conversation I shared with my Father. How he had proclaimed Kevin as his successor.

I was still busy reliving those moments when I felt pressure within my stomach and an urge to vomit. I ran into my bathroom, feeling a tingling sensation within my stomach. I rushed to my toilet only to vomit.

But I still felt that tingling sensation and sparks over me. They weren't the usual ones I felt around my mate. They were different and it could only mean one thing. I briskly rushed to my wall mirror and I gasped.

My eyes were glowing a shade of blue and not the usual golden yellow.

Blue eyes, tingling sensation and vomiting, this were all first stage symptoms of a pregnant Werewolf.

My jaw dropped in awe as realization struck me.

I was going to be a mother soon.