Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 92: Chapter 92

Lucien POV
As soon as I walked out of the cave, I saw that my pack members had increased. Tarian had called more of them and I could sense a total of five hundred wolves from my pack. And they had surrounded the entire High Council.
My heart swelled with a warm feeling. They were all not only loyal to me, but they showed their loyalty to their Luna. And I knew that it was mostly because they had seen a Luna in centuries. Even Elder Ryna and Shaman were here.
I opened my mind link to all of them and instructed them to stay quiet, and not vandalize or attack anyone unless I signal them. Yes, this was what I was going to do. Fight the entire High Council and their fucking witches with magic in order to get my Luna back. They didn’t know who they were facing. Remus was the mightiest wolf in the north. And he wanted blood. How could they take away his mate?
When Trian said that Bram had come here and laid his claim on Auren as his mate, all I wanted to do was rip him into pieces. “How dare he?” I growled as my claws slipped from my fingers. “Does he have a death wish?” I started to walk out of the cave to fucking kill the bastard.
Tarian stopped me. “Alpha Lucien, don’t make the mistake of killing him at this time. He has declared that Auren is his mate, which means that he knows the law. The High Council is going to spare Auren’s life in exchange for signed documents that will prohibit her from going anywhere.”
“I don’t fucking understand!” I retorted. “What are you saying, Tarian?”
Tarian clenched his jaw, inclining his neck as my alpha aura slipped out in rage.
“Alpha Lucien, calm down. We have to go about it intelligently,” he breathed. “With Bram declaring Luna Auren as his mate, the High Council will spare her life. But the repercussions are that she will have to go back with him. The Council will ask her to sign papers according to which she won't be allowed to leave the Crimson Howl pack. Do you realize the extent of planning?”
My face contorted with so much rage that I punched a wall, cracking it at the point of impact. “So am I supposed to sit here and watch them? Besides, he was marrying Maris. What happened to that? He rejected Auren. I am her second chance mate. How can he even claim her like this?”
Tarian gritted his teeth. “You haven't marked her. No one knows about it. How can you prove that you are her second chance mate? As for Maris, I am surprised that she hasn’t accompanied him. So obviously, their relationship is not going well.”
“I haven't marked her because she is too fragile!” I retorted. “Can't you understand that it’s an everyday struggle for me not to mark her? By marking her, I will sign her death warrant. Of all the people, you should be knowing it!”
Tarian shook his head. “There’s more to it that meets the eye. Anyway, we have to do this cautiously, okay. Right now, let’s watch them. At the end of the day, if the High Council gives an untoward judgment, we will attack them, consequences be damned!”
I wasn’t sure why, but I strode to Tarian and pulled him into a firm hug. “Thank you,” I murmured, needing any form of support.
Tarian also embraced me back like a friend. “I’m always with you, Lucien.”
A few minutes later, I went to the High Council grounds along with Tarian, Elder Ryna, our Shaman and a few gammas.
Bram was there with his Beta. He looked at me and smirked, like he had the situation under control. I felt like punching him, but I clenched my fist to calm myself and my wolf.
From the left, I saw Auren coming out with four guards around her. Our gazes met. Her eyes filled with tears as if trying to convey something to me. I gulped the ball of emotions in my throat. She mouthed sorry and glanced at Bram. I frowned as to what she meant. Did she know that Bram had declared his claim on her? My heart raced wildly. What was she going to do? Ominous feeling settled on my shoulders. Was she going to accept him? Remus let out a growl in my head, pacing restlessly inside me. Fuck! I looked at Bram who confidently walked inside the main trial room.
I didn’t know what would happen, but one thing was sure—Bram had all the cards up his sleeve. And from where I stood, it seemed like he would finally win.
With a heavy heart, I entered the main hall. I saw Auren sitting in the dock. My emotions were all over the place. Tarian grabbed my shoulder from behind. “Stay calm,” he murmured.
The High Council Elders entered the hall. We all bowed to them before sitting in our seats. I was right behind Auren. My eyes landed on Elder Peter. He seemed…restless.
It was Elder Vincent who presided over the trial. He looked at Auren and said, “You are accused of killing Sable Brown and four other wolves in the cold in broad daylight. How do you plead—guilty or not guilty?”
“Not guilty,” she replied with firmness.
Through our bond, I could feel her fear, but she was braving it.
Elder Vincent raised his eyebrow. “Okay, then how would you like to proceed? Do you have someone who will argue your case?”
She lowered her face and chuckled. “One-eighth of the Shadowfang pack is here for me, but I will pick their leader, Alpha Lucien.”
How did she know? Pride swelled in my chest. She picked me. Not Elder Ryna, not Shaman, not Tarian. She wanted me to defend her. And that’s what I would do. I stood up and bowed to Elder Vincent.
“Step forward,” Vincent said. “You may start.”
I didn’t waste time and started. “Auren is wrongly accused of murdering Sable Brown. In fact, it was Sable who attacked her with ten other wolves. I am a witness to it. She wanted to kill Auren. And this wasn't the first time. She attacked Auren once before as well.”
“Do you have any proof?” he asked. “Because from what I know, Auren defeated Sable and injured her badly in that fight.”
My eyes widened. How did he know? I snapped my gaze at Elder Peter. He looked away instantly. It meant that Rizv had already prepared him for the trial. This was long coming to me.
“Yes, Elder Vincent,” I replied. “Auren used her agility and presence of mind to save herself.”
“You threw Sable into dungeons for attacking Auren and later you expelled her?”
“Yes. Sable couldn’t handle her defeat and so she lured Auren into an ambush.”
“But Auren killed wolves there also,” he pointed.
“No, it was me who killed those wolves,” I snapped. “It is common in the packs to kill all those who attack their Alphas and Lunas.” I looked at Auren, my Adam’s apple bobbing. “She is not a trained warrior. How could she defend herself against ten trained wolves? When I came to defend her, Sable ran away along with four other wolves.”
“Do you have a witness?”
“Yes, Julie. The girl who lured Auren into the ambush.”