Bullied Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 152

Lily's pov

Familiar night exploded in the room and the entire room burst into pandemonium because when the darkness cleared, Aiden was no longer seated on the Alpha's seat but barreling towards his uncle, his eyes filled with murderous rage and when guards stepped in front of Víctor, their hands out as if to keep Aiden away, shadows seeped out of his body and flung them out of the way, knocking them into the walls around and I was sure that I was probably the only one un the room grinning with pride as the guards fell to the It was unclear whether they were just unconscious or dead.

ground.

With no one in his way, Aiden was on Víctor in seconds, slamming him against the wall and pinning him in place with a firm grip around his throat, his shadow hounds melting out of his body and baring their teeth on anyone that tried to get close. "Stop this at once!" one of the elders screamed and the others agreed, hounding Aiden to put Victor down but if anything, it seemed Aiden was even more determined to do the exact opposite.

"Your uncle is still the recognized alpha of Night Shade and until the Elders give their verdict, raising a hand against him is a severe offence that is punishable by death." Another man yelled and a noose tightened against my neck as Dahlia's hackles rose. Death? I obviously couldn't let that happen.

I rose to my feet immediately, my heart beating so fast, I was certain it would explode and even though I knew Aiden had every right to kill Victor after learning what he knew but with the way the elders were screaming and the way Victor raised his hands in surrender, doing nothing to defend himself but wearing a smug smile even though Aiden's claws were digging into his neck.

"I've always looked forward to ripping your throat out, uncle" Aiden growled, raising a clawed hand, his hounds taking a more ferocious form as everyone tried to get past them, "thank you for finally giving me was another Elder, a woman this time that answered.

"The only way to overthrow an Alpha without facing punishment for treason is to challenge him to a duel and win."

"Then let's do it." Aiden answered almost immediately, growling at his uncle who didn't even flinch even though I was sure everyone was terrified of Aiden and his shadows right now.

Victor's smirk widened briefly before his face changed to one that I was certain was to garner pity, his voice shaking.

reason to kill you," he said, refusing to look at us and it

"Where is your honour, nephew? Are you so desperate that you would challenge me, your handicap uncle who is yet to even recover from the injuries I sustained while trying to protect the pack during the recent invasion? Where were you by the way when it all went dowm happened?" He took a long look at directly at me and I barred my teeth in rage at him, giving him a Dahlia worthy f**k-you smile.

"Hmm, it's easy to know where you were, playing lovesick puppy with your new toy. While I was at the forefront, you were hidden like a pathetic coward. And even after the attack?" He tilted his head, those grey eyes that were all the wrong shade peered at his nephew. "You couldn't be bothered to show up to protect your parents' legacy but suddenly you think you can be Alpha? Don't make me laugh."

Murmurs erupted in the hall and I could hear some of the elders agreeing with Victor's point of view and it made me realize that Victor had been banking on Aiden attacking him so that he would discredit him in front of the council and even though I knew that Aiden couldn't care less what the council or anyone thought of him, if he killed Victor now, he would never have their support or approval.

And I can't let that happen.

Walking towards where Aiden pinned Victor, I heaved a sigh of relief as the pack of dogs parted, recognizing me as I passed through and when I touched Aiden's shoulder,he flinched before his body registered that it was me and relaxed, his face turning away from his uncle to look at me but I kept my eyes on Victor, making sure he saw my anger and that I knew what he was trying to do.

"This is not the right time or place, Aiden. You need to let him go. If you do this, you'll have to deal with losing the council's support or worse being separated from me. I can't lose you, Aiden, I don't want that. Do you want that?"

"No." He finally answered, gritting his teeth as he dropped Victor to the floor and called back his hounds and I heaved a sigh of relief as he took my hand.

Leading him towards where the head of the table for the Night shade pack was located, I stared at him and he nodded with a smile, sitting beside me in the Alpha and Luna seats and there were audible gasps, the hall breaking into murmurs again until Ignazio, Zac's father banged his first on the table, causing the room to fall into silence,

"We were all called here for a reason so I suggest we get back to it so that some of us can go home and rest with our families. It's been a long couple of days."

Nodding, one of the elders asked Cade to take the stand and as the list of offences was listed off, including treason, murder and conspiracy to betray Shadow cove, I found myself biting my lip in worry.

"You may plead your case. If you are convincing enough and cooperative in helping us replace where your mother might be hiding, then we will be lenient in our judgement but if we detect that you are lying to this council, to the elders, you will be torn apart by an executioner like any other traitor to the community." One of the elders said and I couldn't hide my terror.

As much as I didn't want to lose Aiden, i couldn't lose Cade either. I clenched my sweaty palms and prayed to the goddess that the council will at least be merciful if not fair.

I remembered how I had been forced to watch my father's execution, along with my mother. It was so that we would never forget what he had done and to warn us of the consequences of following in his footsteps.

The council, from Cade's confession would replace out the truth today, the truth that my father was innocent but that wouldn't bring him back. And that wouldn't change how my life was destroyed afterwards.

Aiden linked his hands though mine and his warmth caused me to look at him. I could see his guilt for the part he felt he had played in my life and even though I remembered as well, I had forgiven him. The two of us were victims of this conspiracy, had our families ripped apart by the greed of evil people. The only solace I had was that they would face the judgement that they deserved soon.

The room was silent as Cade revealed everything, including the role he played in his dealings with the hunters. Although I had heard this part of the story before, it really started to sink in as he narrated his experience. Wolfsbane, rhodium, ferablooms... those were recipes for disaster on their own. What was Cynthia thinking manufacturing then and worse, selling them to our enemies? Is she that greedy for wealth?

As he rounded off his speech, Mariah raised a hand and stared at him, amdist the murmurs that were brought upon by the damning revelations.

"Do you still stand by your claims that Victor worked with your mother against the packs and the stability of Shadow cove?"

"Yes, I do." Cade answered, his face solemn as he glared at Victor, his gaze unflinching.

"Victor had always been privy to my mother's plans and dealings with the humans and he was the one who orchestrated the entire m******e and pinned it on Edgar Beauregard."

If a pin dropped in the room right now, it would echo because of the stunned silence in the room. The gravity of the accusation laid heavy like a cloud over our heads but it was Victor who broke the silence with a laugh that sounded amused as he rose to his feet, leaning on his walking stick.

"If I may be allowed to speak, dear Council?"

The man at the center of where the Elders was sitting, who I now realized had to be their leader, nodded and Victor bowed before he started.

"Let me say by reminding this great council of how I had foretold a great doom that would take place in the future if we allowed Lily to live and how nobody believed me..."

"Stick to your accusations, Victor" Ariel interjected immediately. "The prophecy you speak of is unfounded and we as a Council refuse to be remembered as one that killed a child because of something as vague as your words which from the new accusations, aren't supposed to be worth a dime. Stick to pleading your case and do not speak out of turn again."

Victor blinked, not expecting such a harsh rebuttal but he forced a smile and bowed.

"My apologies."

Ariel didn't answer him, only turning to look at me and I smiled, hoping she could see how grateful I was that she had my back. However, I made sure Victor saw the sneer on my face as he continued to speak.

"I suspected Cynthia's affiliation with the hunters for years but she never let me get close enough to be certain about it which was why I never brought it up to the Council. It was only a few years ago that she began to let me in on her important dealings with the humans and I only played along because I wanted to rat out as many hunter camps as I could and get inside information that would be good enough to hold weight against the council. You do know that it is almost treason to accuse an Alpha of a heinous crime without evidence, is it not?"

Clapping his hands, he gestured to one of his men who stood up and handed a file to the Chief Elder, who was skeptical as he opened the document and began to read through the paperwork.

"The file contains valueable information about the hunters I've gathered over the years. I am not a traitor to Shadow Cove. How could I ever be? This is my home. Why would I collude with someone to have us killed? Our own people that I vowed to protect." Aiden's growl shook the entire room and it looked like it was taking everything in him to not speak or lunge at his Uncle because the Council already looked like they were buying his story.

"So, Victor? Are you saying that you are innocent? How do you plead in regards to Cade Corrigan's accusations?" Mariah asked and Victor shrugged.

"Cade is a hurt and confused child and if I were him, I would probably do the same. Try to convince myself that my mother couldn't be acting alone. I might even go as far as he has and try to pin my mother's atrocities on another person, especially someone that you wouldn't mind if they died at the executioner's block. But like I said, he's a child so I won't hold grudges against him."

"You fvcking liar!" Cade growled, getting out of his seat and making for Victor but he was immediately grabbed and pulled back by the guards. "Tell them the truth, you lying, evil prick!"

I could see the pain in his eyes, like I was staring into a mirror. I had once fought tooth and nail to try to prove that I was right, that my father was innocent but just like that time, it looked like we had already lost.

"If I may speak, council," Ren spoke up, "I can use my powers to prove once and for all who is telling the truth and why it is Cade."

"Except, we are aware of your interesting little bond group with Lily Beauregard as your central mate and you will do anything to protect who she holds dear, won't you? Even lie to the council at the expense of the truth " One of the elders sneered, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"Don't go putting words into my son's mouth now, Ezekiel." Ariel chidded coldly.

"That boy is not your son. He is the son of a w***e. Maybe instead of trying to sway the judgement of the council, why don't you-" "Keep my wife and my son out of your mouth, Ezekiel, or be prepared to face the consequences as soon as we leave this building." "Are you threatening an elder of the council?" The man named Ezekiel stiffened, his big eyes bulging out of his sockets at Irwin.

"Depends on if you continue to disrespect my family and I will gladly explain why that is not a good idea on your part since it is clear that you have forgotten your place here."

The chill in Irwin's voice was enough to silence the very annoying elder.

"We will be taking a vote now." The chief elder cleared his throat to diffuse the awkwardness. "Everyone except the guards, of course, please cast your votes now." The chief Elder said and the ten minutes that followed felt like an hour.

It probably felt worse for Cade since they were deciding his fate and when the results came out, even Aiden looked like he was going to explode with anger. Zac and Ren wore mirroring expressions as the verdict was read.

Only my mates, me and the alphas and lunas of Silver moon and Poison Fang had voted to have Cade forgiven and Victor punished.

"As you know, our verdict does not mean that things are just as they seem." The chief elder said to Victor. "In light of the valuable information you have given us today, concerning the hunters' camps and their plans against us, we do not believe that you are disloyal to Shadow cove. It is not in our best interests to replace out that you were dining with Cynthia while knowing about her dealings with the hunters all along. Your movements and calls will be closely monitored and reviewed weekly to ensure that you are not a threat." No... My heart sank. How can they do it? How can they do this?!

"As for you young man" another Elder said to Cade, and my hands shook with fear.

"You are to seize producing Rhodium and wolfsbane immediately. Your mines and wolfsbane fields will be confiscated. And you and all of Gold Crest cease to be a part of the Shadow cove community, effective immediately. From now on, you will no longer be protected by the wards or the joint forces that govern Shadow Cove. You are to leave the city at once and if you set foot into our community again, you will be killed on sight and your representatives arrested and deported."

There was pandemonium in the house because while some people felt the punishment was too lenient, others advocated strongly against it, including Ariel, her eyes brimming with anger at the horror of the situation.

"A death sentence! This is as good as a dead sentence to send one of our own outside the wards!"

"Just kill him now! Kill the traitor!"

"He is just a child. You cannot punish him for the sins of his mother." Ariel said, her voice clear and firm.

"That is why we are sparing his life, Luna." The Chief responded and tears trickled down my cheeks because it felt like all those years ago all over again. A child paying for the sins of their parents.

"This is as lenient as the council will ever be with the child of a traitor, especially because Cade willingly confessed to partaking in her crimes. We can't let him go unpunished." Another Elder added and all I could do was hold on to Aiden's hands, my entire body shaking with anger and pain at such a sentence.

"What the actual fuck?" Zac exploded, livid. "It's clear that the council is not as fair and just as we all think. It's obvious whose side you're on. What? Did Victor promise you immunity? Cash or are you all just so far up his a*s, you can't even think clearly for yourself? This is all bullshit!"

"I suggest you don't reduce to such vile and profane way of speaking, Talaverra."

"I will talk however the fvck I want, as$hat!"

"I'll have to ask you to leave immediately."

"My son will not be sent out of this room like a common hooligan."

"Then I suggest you train him up properly, Mariah."

"Why don't you come and say that to my fvcking face, Rico?"

Cade didn't look surprised at the verdict, bowing respectfully but when his eyes found mine, I saw the pain that he tried to hide and I was about to go to him when Victor spoke, silencing the chaos.

"There is something else I wish to reveal to the Council. I had thought this would not be the right time but in light of the current insecurity in Shadow Cove, I believe it would be best to introduce my daughter to the Council so that she can be protected and treated like the rest of the royal offsprings in this room."

Narrowing my eyes at him in confusion, I looked at Aiden who was also perplexed by Victor's words and it was obvious that Zac and Ren didn't have a clue that Victor had a daughter as well from their confused looks.

Waving a hand at the door, the guards pulled it open and my mouth felt like it would fall to the ground in shock when Mauve walked in, grinning wide.