Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Ashlyn’s POV

“Kneel. Apologize to my dead mate.”

Hunt’s words sent another ripple through the breathless court. While I just stood there, half laughing, half losing my mind.

A queen never bows her head. A queen never kneels before her subjects.

Unless the moment she is crowned. Never before. Never after.

“Do you understand what you’re asking me?” My voice was a foreign whisper, even to my own ears.

To kneel before the entire court and apologize to a dead woman would be to acknowledge her as the true Luna Queen and me as—

“Kneel,” Hunt ordered again. His face, an unmoving mask of hatred.

Cold laughter clawed my throat as I shook my head in disbelief. This didn’t make sense.

To punish me was one thing. But to publicly strip me of my respect—

“No.” My words tasted like ash as my tears blurred my vision. “You can’t do this.” My curled nails dug into my palm as I stood my ground. “I am the high Luna. Even if I wanted to, I cannot kneel before the court.”

Sharp inhales went up around me.

My wolf began to whimper. Against Hunt, my words were as good as challenging the Lycan.

But he had gone too far.

The entire crowd was silent. Behind me, not even Lucinda dared to speak a word as the temperature of the hall plummeted further.

Drinks iced over.

Court ladies grew closer to their partners. Seeking warmth and praying to the goddess for mercy.

Still, I didn’t move. I held Hunt’s gaze, pushing my wolf and every atom of fear deep within me.

“Fine.” Hunt broke the spell. His eyes were soulless as they dragged over me.

“You are indefinitely suspended from starting Luna duties.”

“What?!” Shock doused me like a bucket of ice-cold water.

Around the hall, pack members broke their silence with horrified gasps while I was frozen.

Almost unable to breathe as Hunt growled darkly.

“Now. Kneel.”

The sheer power of his aura rose about me. Ice to douse my flames, it circled my throat. Cutting off my air and forcing my wolf to bare her throat.

I couldn’t resist it if I tried.

But I didn’t.

My insides were numb. Broken.

It felt like death all over again as my knees dropped to the stone staircase and my tears completely blurred my vision.

Once again, Hunt’s command rang through me. This time, non-negotiable. “Apologize to my dead mate.”

My throat burned as my lips parted. “I– “

My voice cracked. Each word cutting through my chest like rugged glass.

“I apologize… for disrupting the memorial. And… for any offense caused.”

My soul was completely shattered but he wasn’t done.

“Louder.”

Hunt drew out my humiliation. Watching as I lifted my head before the pack and repeated the words.

Then the court descended in utter silence once more. Not even the sound of breathing to be heard.

Hunt’s eyes flicked over me once, then he turned. “You’re dismissed. Get out.”

No one moved or spoke as he turned his back to me.

But I could feel it. Their judgment, their pity, and worse—their disdain.

Was this hell?

Death might have been more merciless than whatever this was.

I was present, and I wasn’t.

Like an out-of-body experience, I watched my form rise from the staircase and slowly exit the hall.

The moment I was out in the darkness, everything crashed back into me and I broke into a sob.

I longed for death.

Living was torture.

Each breath stabbed through me, reminding me of all I’d lost.

My child. My mate. My life.

I moved through the hallway blindly, sobbing as I felt my insides burn.

My hands clutched at the walls, my chest, the stupid dress. Just anything to hold myself together.

“What am I doing here?” I whispered, shaking. But there was no answer.

The hallway was silent. The wall paintings mocking me as I fell to pieces before them.

I don’t know how long I stayed like that. Half hidden in a dark hallway alcove. Trembling and fighting the will to die.

But I had just managed to pull myself together when I heard a man’s voice.

“So when are we going to kill the Lycan?”