54

Chapter 54

Jace's POV 

"Let this be a lesson to all those who think they can fool the Alpha King just because I trust them." I announced as I paced around with a flaming torch in my hand. 

Behind me a pyre was built in the middle of the city for people to watch. On it Liza was tied to a pole. She was drenched with petrol and shaking. Her eyes were red. She begged me to let her go, that she was honestly apologetic. That she acknowledged her blunder and would go away. 

"My trust has never been a weakness. My willingness to believe in those who stand beside me does not make me blind, nor does my kindness make me a fool. I give people my trust because I choose to see the good in them. Because I consider them my previous ones. But the moment that trust is betrayed, do not mistake my silence for ignorance. And don't ever think that you can outsmart me."

I came to a halt. The flames were crackling beside my face. It was night now, the sky was dark with no stars. There were light poles around, but the golden light of the flames radiated on my face. My people's eyes were glued to dark features. 

Women stuck closer to their husbands as the men gulped hard. Children were in the houses, peeking from behind the curtains of their stoned windows. They weren't allowed to come here and watch because children don't need to see this. Some still peeked through their window at the example I was setting. 

"I may forgive a mistake. I may even overlook an insult. But betrayal is different. When you cross the Alpha King, you are not merely deceiving a man. You are challenging the very authority you swore to respect. And remember this well—" I cast a sharp gaze around. "I love my people and expect the same in return. But love doesn't mean you cross your lines and threaten my family's happiness." 

"This woman here, you know her as my ex-mistress. As my cousin. I took solace in her arms when my first mate died. I respected her as my cousin and kept her with me even after my wife and chosen mate came to stay with me. We had arguments over her. My wife demanded I throw her out. I never did because I trusted her but she had something else entirely going on in her mind."

"For my kindness, she betrayed me. Hence, today, I'm going to give her the end she knew she could avoid but she didn't." My people moved back as I raised the torch. 

It billowed in the air as I held it up. All the eyes gaped at it, wavering in fright and caution. 

"So look closely. Remember this moment. Because from this day forward, I will not forgive anyone who dares to double cross me or put the happiness of my family at risk. Even if you are my close relative or my favorite person or the people of my kingdom, you will end up here if you think tricking me is excusable."

With that, I mounted the pyre.

"J-jace, no. No. No." Liza started squirming violently. "I will... I... I will go away from here. I swear I will never try to come between you and Jenna. Please don't kill me. Please..." I acted like I heard nothing and brought the flaking torch towards the pile of dry sticks arranged around her feet.

"NO... NO... JACE, NOO. NOOOOOO. AAAHHHH. ARGHHH, AHHHHH!" The flames engulfed the pile of sticks and rose up to her body.

Then she was swallowed by a ball of fire that crackled and rustled. Gasps exploded around the pyre as women tore up in fright and men held back their breaths. Some screams erupted from the windows in the houses around. I observed the curtains flow back as the children disappeared behind it.

I still stood on the pyre, the heat touching my face. My skin turned clammy as the flames turned bigger and bigger. Liza's screams were competing with the crackling sound of the fire. I enjoyed watching the transformation of her skin. First it was her normal color, then it turned red as the skin came in response with heat.

Later blisters formed and the outer layer began to char. My wolf basked in the sight as the red skin now started darkening into dirty brown, the fire eating her up. The odor that emitted from her burning body was intolerable. People quickly covered their noses.

It was as though someone put fire on a heap of decomposing meat and fat. Liza's screams began to lower. Soon there was nothing as her body became stiff from all the burning. Within thirty minutes, there was just a skeleton with charred and cracked skin stretching over it in dark leather-like texture.

I lingered there until her body fully burned. Until what remained behind was a black corpse, fully burnt like a piece of chicken forgotten on the grill for too long. 

I felt a weird kind of liberation. My heart was light. It was as though the chains I had bounding my hands had fallen off. 

Perhaps this was the feeling of not being tied to a certain responsibility. A liability. Liza had become a responsibility I paid a lot of attention to fulfill. So much so that my own family broke. 

I gulped hard as the fire still licked at the charred corpse. Coming down, I handed the torch to a soldier and arrived at a dark and empty alley. I let my tears fall as I sat on a bench placed outside a shop for its customers. 

Jenna. I miss her. My heart was aching for her. I don't know where she is, though I checked her study room first and foremost after she left. I hope I'll find her there. I didn't. 

"Jace," Oakley's soft and sympathetic voice came. 

He was standing to my left. We hadn't been on talking terms as friends since our last fight. But he came now, making me feel weirdly relieved. At least my best friend was here. 

"I've sent out a team in search of Jenna. I'm going to leave with another team right now." He said while touching my shoulder. 

"I'll come with you." I replied desperately. I wanted Jenna to know I searched for her like a husband in guilt should find his hurt wife. 

"You should go to Jared. Old Luna Isabella had mind-linked me just now. She said Jared hasn't stopped crying." I felt as though someone cut a piece out of my body like a steak. 

My son... I forgot about him. He hasn't stopped crying since Jenna left. He's still so young. He can't survive without his mother. 

'It's my fault too.' Denis whispered. 'I lost my temper and said things to hurt her. Jenna wouldn't have gone if I didn't break her heart.'

I didn't respond to him. We both were at fault actually. Fifty percent his, and the other fifty percent mine. 

Without another word, I headed home. I was outside the gates only when Jared's loud cries hit my ears. The air was tense and the area around the castle was echoing with his pained and needy cries. 

I ran inside to see him in mom's arms. Dad was behind her, holding a handkerchief. They both sighed helplessly when they saw me. 

"We can't control him. He's not drinking formula milk either. He needs his mother." Mom's voice quivered.

I took Jared from her and held him against my chest. My heart was ripping apart at the sound of his cries. A baby this small crying for his mother is the weakest and most helpless moment for a father. 

"Sshhh, I'm here, son. Dadda is here." I patted his back. 

"M-mam-mammaaa. Mam-mamma." He was hiccuping. 

"Shhh." Controlling my own tears, I pressed my lips on his forehead. 

"Your Mamma will be here soon, baby. It's a promise." I gulped as I hugged him tighter. 

I don't know if eight mom old kids can understand what a promise is, but Jared calmed down. That somehow constricted my chest more. 

T-the promise was just a fake assurance. I'm not sure if Oakley and the team would ever manage to bring our Jenna back. I don't know if she would ever want to come back to us. 

Closing my eyes to suppress my tears, I looked ceiling-wards as I wished, 'Oh moon goddess, please bring Jenna back here. If not for me, for my son at least. I've learned my lesson. I'll do anything to get her back.'

Thunder shook the sky outside, causing my son to jump in my arms. That made his cries return. He was scared by the sound. But I shushed him down again with another promise. 

A promise that his mother will come back again, and never leave us. 

Tbc...