Chapter 4

~ Alpha Kael's POV ~

I exhaled slowly for what felt like the thousandth time, my patience wearing thinner with every passing second as the elders of the Timberwolf Pack continued their relentless questioning about why I had spared the rogue’s daughter.

They kept talking and talking, but to me, it just sounded like an annoying noise.

I sat quietly on my throne, looking at them like they were nothing... like small dirty rats running around my palace floor.

"How long are you going to remain quiet to all the questions we've asked, Alpha Kael?" the Head Elder asked.

He was the oldest one among the council, a relic of the past. He had once stood beside my father… before my father was brutally slaughtered.

"Do I need a reason to spare that rogue's life?" I asked, my voice low, deep, and void of warmth.

I didn't want to tell them that the so-called rogue's daughter was my mate.

"Yes," another elder insisted sharply. "We need to know why you spare her life. You gave the order for all rogues to be killed because they were nothing but a threat to the pack, and now you're sparing Theron's daughter? Do you know how dangerous it can be to keep a rogue alive?"

A dark, humorless laugh echoed inside my chest.

Elara? Dangerous?

It was the most laughable thing I had ever heard.

Nothing about her gave hints that she was dangerous. She was too fragile. I could break her in two if I wanted to.

Killing her?

That's never going to happen.

I'm going to keep her alive to make her pay for every single thing her family did to me. I don't care if she is my mate.

The Moon Goddess could burn in hell for all I cared. If it pisses her off so much, she could descend from her precious moon and face me herself.

It's not as if I was afraid of her.

I have always been her most hated child, and that's why she watched as everything slipped from my fingers.

And I had foolishly believed… she would compensate me by giving me a strong, worthy mate.

Instead, she cursed me with Elara.

"You need to say something, Alpha Kael. Why did you spare her life?" another elder pressured.

"I gave the order for the pack to treat her however they wanted, isn't that enough?" I asked.

"No, it's not," the Head Elder said too quickly. "Even if she's being stoned, we'll only be satisfied seeing her dead. A rogue can't live among us."

My cold eyes glared at him. "Are you the one to give the order or me?" I asked, caring less if he was older.

He bowed his head slightly.

"Forgive me, Alpha Kael, for I'm only looking at the wellbeing of the pack. For centuries, we've known how vengeful and rebellious rogues can be. She has the blood of a rogue running through her veins. She's not supposed to be alive as we speak," he said.

My eyes scanned the rest of the elders, who were nodding their heads in agreement with what he said.

They'd blow up when they found out that the rogue they're pushing to her death is my mate.

They'd never accept her as my Luna.

And over my dead body would I ever crown her as my Luna.

The hatred I have for her can't contain the four corners of the palace.

"Give your order to have her executed immediately," the Head Elder said, bowing.

"Let her be executed," the rest echoed, bowing too.

My fist slammed against the throne’s wooden armrest.

The thunderous crack echoed through the hall, making each of them flinch.

My icy eyes were enough to make them step back a little.

Even if they were the elders of the pack, they feared me... more than they feared my father.

"She won't be executed. No one is allowed to kill her until I say so," I said with so much authority.

"May I ask the reason why you want to keep her alive?" an elder asked, but his voice was barely audible.

"I don't need to give you reasons why I want her alive. And as your Alpha, you all are bound to respect my orders... is that clear?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

They all glanced at each other before nodding their heads.

Of course they knew better than to disobey me. My sword always speaks louder than my words.

"You're all dismissed," I said after a swift second.

They began walking out of the hall until there was no one left. I could hear their murmurings.

I sat alone on my throne until Thorian approached me. He bowed before lifting his head to me.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I heard you gave the orders for the pack to treat Elara however they wanted?" he said carefully.

"And how does that concern you?" I frowned.

"She's being tied to a tree at the palace's courtyard.The pack is throwing stones at her. She's bleeding rapidly," Thorian said, his voice filled with concern.

"And how's that any of my business?" I asked, feeling absolutely no remorse for that weak wolf.

"She's a woman, Alpha Kael. A young, fragile woman. It's too much for her," he said quietly.

"Too much? Is what she’s going through even close to what her entire family did to me... to the pack!" I yelled, my eyes burning with anger.

"I'm sorry," Thorian apologized immediately.

"I'm sure you know why you're still breathing, Thorian. It's because I valued the friendship I had with you before I became the Alpha, but you know how ruthless I can be when I'm pushed," I said with rage.

"My apologies... but it seems like you don't want her dead. If you had wanted her dead, you'd have killed her yesterday. I'm afraid she might die before you even order her death," Thorian said.

My eyes snapped at him.

"What did you just say?" I asked.

"The pack is throwing stones at her. They might stone her to death, Alpha Kael," Thorian said, his voice filled with concern.

I sprang up from my throne immediately.

She can't die yet... not when I haven't started her suffering.

I left the council hall and headed toward the palace courtyard.

Just like Thorian had said, the pack—not the entire pack, though—were throwing stones at her.

She had so many bruises... she was bleeding. Her white fabric dress was already soaked with blood.

She was crying.

Something about her tears made me break inside... I knew it had something to do with my wolf.

I was the one who hated her... not my wolf.

But still... I didn't care.

I felt no pity for her.

She was just starting to pay for her family's sins.

"That's enough," I said as I emerged fully.

Their hands froze in the air, while Ysoria's smile dropped instantly.

As for the weak wolf that calls herself Elara, her wet eyes stared at me with nothing but hatred.

I chuckled silently.

Yesterday she couldn't dare to look at me. I loved how this was going.

I enjoyed the hateful look in her eyes... it's just going to give me more room to treat her like trash.

She's trash anyway.

"You all should leave," I commanded.

It's not like I don't enjoy her being stoned at. I just don't want her to die yet.

"Alpha Kael," Ysoria rushed toward me. "We aren't done torturing her."

"Do you want to get stoned at?" I asked coldly.

Ysoria's tongue went into her throat. She forced a smile and left. The rest of the werewolves joined her.

Being alone with Elara, I walked closer to her. Her scent slammed into me, sending sharp jolts through my entire body. I fought the urge and gripped her bloody jaw, forcing her to face me.

"How does it feel getting stoned at, mate?" I asked with a cruel smile.

Her tears mixed with blood as she stared at me with pure hatred.

Even with her bloody face, I could still see her freckles.

"Just kill me," she finally spoke up, her voice miserable.

"Just kill me, Alpha Kael! End my life already!" she said loudly, more tears spilling from her eyes.

And something inside me cracked.

I wanted to wipe her tears.

I wanted to untie her.

I wanted to...

Damnit! I cursed at my wolf.