Chapter 8 The Alpha's Judgement

The Creek Castle was one of the most exquisite and excellently designed buildings, known to be the tallest among all other castles in the region of the Cosmox woods. Most packs deemed it wise to build their territory in these secluded areas of the New Orleans woody region to ward off curious humans, who would explore whatever caught their fancy. After covering a considerable distance, Karen finally arrived with the troops of tight escort unwaveringly sticking to her sides. Although she had mixed feelings about meeting Damion, she promised herself that she wouldn't give in to his pleas easily, until he had apologized profusely for his denial. At least, that was to get back at him for the embarrassment he had given her at the party. What Karen didn't know was that the whole thing was plotted and that she had been tricked into believing that her mate badly wanted to see her. As they approached the gigantic gates of the Creek Castle, the extreme anxiety of the moments that would transpire between her and her mate replenished her heart, causing her slow footsteps to gradually develop into quick paces. Soon, she found herself running until she got to the gates and opened it, only to behold the contrast. A fierce-looking Damion, embellished with an aura of dangerousness and authority welcomed Karen, causing her to pause in her steps. She looked around and saw that everywhere was filled up with a sea of anxious shifters. Both packs had encircled around, their eyes glued to an unknown body wrapped up in a white linen. Amidst the throng of shifters, Karen recognized her father and his beta watching in uttermost dismay. The cold look in their eyes revealed unconcealed disappointment and bitterness as they gazed at Karen. Karen, who was yet to understand the reason for the panic, slowly walked into the circle, the shifters avoiding her like an infectious disease that could harm them at even the slightest touch. "What's happening here?"Karen asked no one in particular, her eyes moving to and fro only to see the gruesome looks on the faces of everyone. Perhaps, no one gave her a response since her question hadn't come out directly. 'What's up with Damion, Dad, and all these people? Instead of talking to me, they're giving me a cold shoulder. At first, I thought that he wanted to apologize to me in front of everyone but seeing this dead body, I think there's something more to why he summoned me. I better go check it out myself', Karen reasoned inwardly, walking to the spot where the lifeless body was laid. Just when she was close enough to the body, a charnel smell that exuded from the covered corpse, wafted into her nostrils. Her nose twitched in disgust, yet she crouched in front of the body. Gradually, Karen put her hand forward to open the blanket, her heart beating fast out of curiosity. Even before the tip of her finger could touch the linen, a rancorous, cold voice jerked her out of the act. " Get the fuck outta there! Don't you dare lay your filthy hands on her? Aren't you contented enough that you murdered her in cold blood just so you can satiate the unquenchable thirst of your cursed beast?" Surprisingly, Karen wheeled around to see that the one who had spoken was Damion. This was the same mate Richardson had told her that he was dying to see her was also the same person shouting at her? He stepped down from the corridor into the circle, and the dangerous aura of his presence saturated the whole place. Damion, as young as he was, remained the most feared, domineering, powerful alpha among all others who were under him. He narrowed his gaze at Karen, a venomous glare burning in the rim of his golden eyeballs, as he continued releasing a torrent of accusations on her. " Yes, you heard me right. You killed her, didn't you? You good for nothing bitch!" " Killed who? Hang on a second, I don't get your point. I can't believe you called me here only to embarrass me again. You must be ridiculous", Karen chuckled uneasily and obstinately went ahead to lift the blanket, against Damion warning. Immediately the cloth was removed, the deceased face was revealed. Karen gasped in horror, her body reeling backward while her heartbeats thumping more loudly than normal, like it was going to jump out from her rib cage any minute from now. She wasn't expecting to behold such a horrific sight. The body lying lifelessly on the floor turned out to be her elder sister, Charlotte. " Charlotte!" she groaned bitterly, shutting her mouth with a hand as tears streamed down her eyes. " Just quit the act, bitch. Everyone knows that you're the murderer. You killed Charlotte! Tell me, why did you have to kill her? Is it because you weren't honored to be chosen as my mate? C'mon, answer me!", Damion yelled spitefully. " No…no, that's not true. I didn't kill her. I'm not a murderer!", Karen interjected sharply, her words muffled by tears streaming down her eyes. " But you killed something last night, didn't you?", Damion pressed on with his interrogation. The cold light of his eyes sent a rush of fear into the accused's bloodstream and she quickly looked away, not because she was guilty but to endure the humiliation. Sweat began to form at the back of her palms when she heard his question. She was surprised to know that Damion was aware of her encounter in the forest last night. After hesitating a while, Karen was forced to speak up as keeping quiet would only make things a lot more complicating. Moreover, she killed what every other werewolf would have taken down at the first glimpse. " Yes, I did but it was only a rouge", she replied hoarsely. " That was no rogue. That was Charlotte!"Damion yelled, contradicting her reply. His piercing gold-colored eyes constantly flickered to blood pools. Whenever Damion was incensed, he found it hard to control his temper. The oppressive aura resulting from his rage made every other shifter around the circle cower back in fear. " So this is it. This was a trick to bring me here, right? You lied to me"Karen bawled out, looking at Richardson with so much hurt in her eyes. The beta did nothing but lower his gaze to the ground, having been eaten deep of guilt. Somehow, he thought that Karen hadn't intentionally killed her sister but he had to keep silent since his alpha's perspectives weren't in line with his own. " According to the testimony I got from your father's beta, you had an appointment with her last night before leaving your room for the party, am I right?"Damion sneered, dancing around her. His vociferous eyes draining every source of life out of her body. " Not really…I mean yes, she wanted to give me her present but I told her that we could do it later because we were late for the party and that was it", Karen explained with all trace of innocence laced in her voice, while watching her back in case Damion attempted to hit her. " No, that was when you used the opportunity to lure and murder her!", he reeked in anger. "For crying out loud, I didn't kill her. I killed A. Rabid. Werewolf!", Karen stressed, still maintaining her stance. Alpha Damion went silent for a while, his dark lush brow knitted in fury as he glared at the young girl weeping in front of him. " I see that you're trying to pull my legs right, maybe this would be good enough to prove to you that you're guilty of this crime", he smirked subtly before he stretched his hands to Richard who handed him a small object. " Now, what do you say about this? What do you say about that? Answer me!", he yelled, raising the object to her face as well as pointing at a piece of red fabric on the floor. " That's... that my hairpin and I can recognize that other material as my ball gown but what does it have to do with the allegation? Is this some sort of setup?", she queried, feeling wronged. " Look, it was found in the woods beside the corpse along with your torn pieces of clothes. From the ghastly wounds on her body, all evidence pointed out that only a very strong werewolf could have done that and that was you!", he roared at Karen, who shut her eyes as she was startled by his booming voice. The next minute that followed was rife with murmurs and whispers from both packs; which entails to Karen that they believed every single allegation that was laid against her. Karen knew that the highest offense a werewolf could commit which can attract a severe punishment was murdering the Luna of a pack. The grudging glare burning in the eyes of every shifter present already crucified her as the culprit. Now, no one would rescue her from the alpha's wrath except her father, who she wasn't sure of his next attitude would talk to Damion. Although he was a subordinate to Damion, he was also an alpha too. " Father, you're not saying anything? Please don't let them do this to me. I didn't kill her. I…I know you are the only one right here who can rescue me from this mess", Karen uttered in deep emotions, despondent of their reply which might save her from this mess. But when both men bowed their faces and never said a word, Karen's high hopes were dashed to the floor. Just as her bitter heart was drowning in the depths of sorrow, the audacious sound of Damion's voice pulled her out to the shallows. " Listen everyone. With all evidence I've gathered in this case, this traitor here has been found guilty of the crime. As you all know, the crime of laying a hand or even killing an alpha's mate is heinous…" " She's not your mate. I am! And whatever happened wasn't intentional. Just try to understand…", Karen tried to defend herself but was interrupted by the harsh words of Damion. " Be warned to bridle your tongue when the Supreme alpha is speaking otherwise you wouldn't like the consequences", he seethed with contempt, his crimson red eyes flashing blazingly at Karen. Returning his focus back to the pack, who were anxiously waiting hear his verdict, he said. " Here is my judgment for this crime"