Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Lucien POV
At first Sable seemed to be on a backfoot, but then she took a deep breath and said, “After Luna Auren defeated Julie and Max, I was sure that she had had some warrior training in her earlier pack. Otherwise how is it possible to fight back wolves of superior blood?”
I clenched my teeth. It was clear that she was playing her game to tarnish Auren. But there was no way I was letting her get away with it. “Oh, really? And how would you know that?” I asked, leaning forward. “Did you talk to Alpha Bram about it? Or did you talk to your friend, Maris? What lies did they cook up this time?”
‘Kill her. Now!’ Remus growled inside my head.
‘Oh, we will. Eventually.’
Remus didn’t like people who questioned his authority and this fucking woman was insinuating his mate?
Sable bit her bottom lip, darting a glance at her father, hoping to talk to him via mind link. But my Alpha aura had spilled out in the room the moment I entered. It was so thick in the air that all the wolves submitted to me and no one dared to talk via mind link without me hearing them. If they did, they would get a fucking severe headache with a possible nosebleed.
When Rizv didn’t help her, she gulped. “I—I didn’t talk to Alpha Bram. A-and Maris is not my friend,” she stuttered.
I scoffed, “Really? Maris told me that you are her close friend.”
“N-no Alpha,” she denied, shaking her head quickly. “I mean I know her, but not so well!”
“Then how did you assume that Auren had warrior training back in her pack?” My voice boomed in the room. Windows and doors rattled and everyone sat up ramrod straight, sweat appearing on their faces.
Sable was so rattled that she dropped to her knees and started crying. “Alpha Lucien, this is my assumption. Look, how she defeated me as well?” She glanced at her father again, who seemed helpless. “I am a well-trained warrior who often goes on patrol with other warriors, and she beat me. What other explanation can be there? It is possible that Luna Auren trained secretly in her pack.”
I narrowed my eyes because I knew where she was leading the council. She was trying to convince them that Auren had been hiding her true self all along and was nothing but a fraud. Sable was playing a victim card. “So based on your assumption, you fought with Auren?”
“Y-yes!” she nodded, wiping her tears.
“Do you know what an assumption is?” I asked, leaning back on the chair. “Let me explain. An assumption is something you believe to be true without having real proof or evidence.”
“Yes Alpha,” she replied feeling confident.
“So in your case, you made a decision on what you thought rather than what you knew.” I cocked my head. “If you’ll see dark clouds, will you assume it will rain, Sable?”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise.
I let out a slow exhale, indicating others her bullshit as I dismantled the nonsense spilling from Sable’s mouth.
“N-no Alpha. It’s just that I—”
I put my hand up to stop her. “So based on your assumption, you fought your Luna?” I said in a dangerous voice, hardly able to hide my irritation.
“Y-yes!” she nodded, sniffling.
“And you lost?”
“Yes, but—”
I cut her off again, “Let me get this straight. You assumed that Auren was strong, but you picked up a fight anyway instead of stopping it. As a mature and trained warrior, shouldn’t you be stopping the fight rather than being a part of it?”
Sable stared at me, devoid of words.
I leaned forward, my eyes flashing. “No Sable, you underestimated your opponent and got your ass handed to you. Was this a conspiracy to injure Auren? You had no business being a part of the fight. It is evident that you didn’t fight for Julie. You fought with Auren. If I were you, I would have stayed quiet, mitigated the situation and left while I had a shred of dignity left.”
Silence blanketed the room. Sable’s lips trembled and her hands clenched into fists. “Alpha Lucien, it is—”
I turned to the council. “Should we start investigating every warrior who wins a fight? On assumptions?”
A few chuckles rippled through the council members. Sable’s face turned red.
I looked at Rizv, who was shifting on his feet, looking like he was ready to flee. “You accused the doctor of treating Auren better than Sable. First, Auren is your Luna. So yes, she will get better treatment unless you want her to die. And if you want her to die, it’s treason.”
“N-no Alpha—”
“Second,” I silenced him with my loud voice. “You will never compare your Luna with anyone else in this pack! You get that? She is above all.”
Rizv nodded, going pale. “Yes Alpha!”
Then I turned my eyes to Sable. “I can throw you and your father in the dungeons for life, but—” I tilted my head and smirked. “I’m in a good mood. So I’ll throw you both inside for two days.”
“Noooo!” Sable protested, tears streaming out of her eyes. “Please, Alpha Lucien. I’m sorry!”
I got up, and added, “After two days in the dungeons, Sable will be expelled from the pack for a week. Tarian will see to this.”
“What?” Sable’s face became ashen white.
“Alpha Lucien! That’s a very harsh judgment!” Rizv protested.
I was in front of him in a flash of a moment, my hands on his throat. He grabbed my wrist, wheezing. “You dare to challenge my authority?” I growled, feeling my fangs slip out to rip his throat. “No one, and I mean, no one, will fight with my Luna and live to see another day. I am giving you and your daughter a chance to live!”
Rizv’s eyes turned red as he gasped for air. Sable whimpered, “S-sorry, Alpha Lucien. We accept.”
Her words calmed my wolf and I left Rizv. He dropped on the floor, gasping for air. I walked out of the room, feeling better that the father and daughter were in place now. However, Rizv’s great-grandfather was in the High Council. I had to be careful. But, I wasn't going to show mercy next time.
As I walked back to see my little wolf to smell and touch her to calm my frayed nerves, I knew that I had to declare to everyone that Auren was my moon mate. That way even though she will have bigger targets on her back, at least no one would pick small fights with her. Or would they?
I heard Sable and Rizv shouting at each other behind me as my guards tackled them and dragged them to the dungeons.
When I arrived in the main hall, I saw that Auren was in a jubilant mood. That automatically lifted my spirits. My chest filled with warmth, and my day looked brighter. I picked her up and made her sit on my lap. Only then did my wolf sit back lazily inside me, purring. Touching her, breathing in her scent—it was an addiction I had no desire to break. “What made you so happy today? Is it the aftermath of the orgasm I gave you?”
She blushed hard and slapped my chest. “Lucien!”
I chuckled darkly, and buried my face in the crook of her neck. “Yes, Luna Auren?”
“Julie came.”