The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 113: Chapter 113

Jordan POV
He held my hand tightly, the pack gathered around us, his face lifted to view them as they waited expectantly, his voice grim as he addressed them all. I knew this had to be hard for him. The way he’d spoken back in the dungeon, I’d sensed his grief, his anguish as he’d tried to understand his sister, only to be blown off by her. She’d deliberately tried to provoke him and had stirred up painful memories that had brought anger to his face and caused his eyes to darken with pain. While I had interjected and defended him, I suspected for the moment, it had done very little good. I could not erase the past that continues to haunt him to this day.
“My sister Stefanie will be banished from the pack today and henceforth be a rogue forevermore” he boomed as the crowd gasped, some looking spellbound and shocked to the core. “She has been charged with attempting to kill my mate and Luna and conniving with the enemy to do so. I asked all of you here today, to witness the punishment being dealt and to witness as a pack that even if you are of the Alpha’s bloodline it will not excuse you from obeying the laws and rules of our pack and of the shifters in whole.”
The crowd was silent and uneasy, casting glances at each other. Some of the women looked triumphant though, others relieved. Stefanie was not well-liked in the pack and it was showing. Some of the men, I couldn’t help but notice, looked dismayed and unhappy about it. I heard my mate’s indrawn breath and felt his body tense in anticipation.
“Bring out the prisoner” he boomed as the crowd turned expectantly.
Thomas led Stefanie out, harshly dragging her as she kicked and tried to punch him. He shoved her in front of him and she fell, swearing, to her knees, the crowd glaring at her as Blaze stared at her silently. She spat, her hair whirling around her face, her eyes glittering with contempt. I flinched from the look of hatred she shot my way.
“You have been found guilty of attempted murder and of trying to harm my luna and mate,” Blaze said formally as Stefanie cackled at him.
She looked wild, unhinged. Demented even. Did she not understand what was about to happen? Or was she naïve enough to believe that he would change his mind? I felt uncertain. She didn’t even look frightened about the fact she was about to become rogue. An almost certain death sentence. Or was she arrogant enough to believe she was going to be perfectly fine on her own?
Stefanie sneered at everyone, biting her lip and drawing blood. It was eerie, a stark contrast to the pale pallor of her face. She struggled to her feet as Thomas stood behind her, a foreboding look on his face.
“Always have to have the last word, don’t you big brother” she mocked, her hands in front of her, her dress flowing around her, her eyes narrowed, challenging Blaze.
Blaze’s lips tightened. The crowd muttered amongst themselves, unable to believe her audacity in challenging their Alpha, even if she was his sister, for the moment at least.
“Do you deny the charges?” Blaze said evenly, squeezing my hand as I kept my silence.
She laughed. Actually, laughed, right in his face. “Do I deny trying to kill that fat b***h that’s standing right next to you?” she said with venom as I tensed “No I don’t. I’m only sorry that I didn’t succeed” she spat out, her tone full of derision “you could have done so much better Blaze” she shook her head as the crowd began to glare at her, not liking that she was being offensive to their future Luna “instead you settled, and we all know it.”
“Silence” Blaze thundered, disgust in his tone.
I said nothing but she’d spoken my worst fears. I had always wondered if Blaze was settling for me. That he’d chosen to stay because of the unborn child, rather than because he loved me. I fought back the tears, knowing she had done this deliberately to provoke me. That she was lashing out because she knew it would hurt me. Still, it stung. I bit the inside of my cheek and kept my gaze on her.
“Why? Don’t want Jordan to know the truth?” she sneered “Because I’m judging by the expression on Jordan’s face that she already does” she taunted.
Blaze drew me into his side and wrapped a protective arm around my waist. “Don’t listen to her, she’s just trying to stir up trouble” he whispered into my ear “I love you.”
I relaxed, trying to quieten the doubts in my mind. Stefanie looked disappointed. The crowd looked murderous. Blaze shook his head sadly, viewing his sister regretfully.
“I’m sorry,” Blaze said simply, confusing everyone with the apology.
She looked confused now and stunned. I was also a little shocked. What was he apologizing for? He had done nothing wrong.
“For what?” she spat out, bitterness in her voice.
“For not saving you from our parent’s influence and for not realizing what type of person you were earlier. For not saving you from yourself” he told her earnestly “if I had, this might never have happened.”
For a moment she looked disconcerted. Thomas shuffled from one foot to the other. He waited patiently for instructions. It looked as though she was having trouble maintaining her composure. For the first time, Blaze had gotten under her skin and she didn’t like it. For one second, she looked vulnerable and I felt a flash of pity for her.
I hesitated. “Blaze” I whispered, “maybe we shouldn’t…”
He shot me a look and subtly shook his head. He would not be swayed from his decision I saw with regret and I would not prevent it. I felt selfish but as long as she remained at the pack, I would no longer feel safe or at ease. I had our unborn child to think of.
“I don’t need you to be sorry” Sarah finally yelled, “our parents loved me. They were perfect. They were great leaders. You are nothing in comparison to them and mark my words, you are going to run this pack into the ground with your soft heart Blaze. Kindness and compassion will be your downfall, just you wait and see” she shouted.
Blaze stared at her darkly. “Being kind and caring is not a weakness Stefanie. I regret that you never learned that. Thomas, please” he nodded to his Beta who snapped to attention “take the cuffs off her.”
Thomas moved stiffly towards Sarah, digging into his pocket and withdrawing a small key, which he used to unlock the cuffs restraining her wrists. The cuffs popped open and Thomas swiftly pocketed them, wincing slightly with pain as he touched them with his bare skin. He’d clearly forgotten to put gloves on in the heat of the moment.
Sarah moved her wrists around experimentally. I could see the scars on her wrists from the cuffs and felt a pang of sympathy for her, although it was short-lived.
“You don’t deserve to be Alpha of this pack” she screamed, “you never did. Our parents would be rolling in their graves if they saw what you had become and what you are doing to me.”
Blaze’s lip curled back “Our parents should never have been running this pack and quite frankly the only good thing they ever did was give birth to me. As for what I’m doing to you, you brought this on yourself,” he said quietly, the crowd still watching, holding their breath.
He raised his arm about to dismiss her and I quickly placed a hand on it, bringing his attention back to me. He raised a questioning eyebrow. I swallowed hard.
“You told her she couldn’t shift without your permission” I reminded him in a whisper “and she’s going to need to be able to shift as a rogue.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. He lowered his arm. I let go, going back to holding his hand. He looked at Stefanie coldly.
“I give you back permission to shift” he snarled, as Stefanie stared at him mutely.
“You’re really going to do this” Stefanie breathed, her eyes going dull and a blank expression going over her face.
“I cannot have you anywhere near my mate and Luna, let alone my child,” Blaze told her, his tone ominous and dangerous”
Stefanie you are henceforth banished from the Crimson River Pack, permanently and forever. To step back on this territory will forfeit your life and you will be killed on sight. Is that understood?” he told her coldly.
There was no forgiveness in his voice.
Her mouth dropped open. “Perfectly,” she said frostily “You son of a b***h, you’re going to regret everything you’ve done today. I’m going to make certain of it” she warned him.
Blaze just looked away, his jaw ticking slightly. He rubbed his chin with a slightly shaking hand. Stefanie stood there gloating.
“Leave Stefanie,” Blaze said, his voice thundering now “Leave now, and don’t come back. I pray you survive, but that rests entirely on your own shoulders now.”
She flipped him off, causing the crowd to yell and curse at her. She flipped her hair over her shoulders and then began to strip, right there in front of us all. I was amazed at her audacity. She stood there in full view, naked, her clothes next to her, and then shifted. Her wolf was grey and white, slightly bigger than the average wolf I saw, but not extraordinary. It would take a miracle for her to survive as a rogue. She gathered her clothes up in her mouth and her eyes flashed at the crowd as she began to slowly back away, the crowd yelling at her, incensed now. She snarled, and then turned and headed towards the forest. We watched, as she made her way inside, slowly going deeper and deeper as she began to head towards the boundary line, Blaze mind-linking patrol to ensure she did in fact leave the territory, making sure patrol didn’t harm her.
The crowd, now the excitement was over, began to disperse, shooting sympathetic looks over their shoulders. I patted Blaze on the shoulder and then hugged him, feeling him hold me tight.
“I love you so much it hurts” he murmured, “please don’t ever think I settled.”
“I love you” I answered automatically. How could I think that he’d just settled when he’d banished his sister, purely for my sake?
Thomas cleared his throat and stepped up, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Alpha Blaze,” he said cordially” And Luna Jordan” he added, winking at me “but your other Aunt and Uncle are expected for a visit today” he added sounding glum.
“That was today?” Blaze groaned “f**k” he swore as I looked at him confused, running a hand through his hair in exasperation “Great, wait till they find out Stefanie’s been banished, and that Jordan is my mate. If you thought my parents sounded bad, then wait till you meet my Aunt and Uncle” he said darkly and despite myself, my heart skipped a beat. It didn’t sound like it was going to be a pleasant visit, let alone that the day was about to get any better. Who were these relations and why did Blaze sound so glum about them visiting? Were they anything like Stefanie or cruel like his parents? Clearly, it wasn’t his Aunt Mary and Uncle John visiting, they were nothing but kind. I wanted to press but at the same time sensed it wouldn’t be the right time right now. All I could do was follow along behind Blaze as he let go of my hand and began to storm towards the pack house, his face like a thundercloud, Thomas behind me, a rueful look on his face. He looked as though he wished he hadn’t said anything, but it was too late to take the words back now.