His Father’s Luna : The Betrayed Warrior’s Return

Chapter 4

Lyra’s POV

Light filtered in from the narrow slits in the wall above, pale and gray.

I hadn’t managed any sleep at all, running everything through my mind over and over again, calculating every possible reaction, preparing every argument and threat that I’d unleash once I was yanked into the light of day. The metal cuffs dug into my skin and the gash in my shoulder throbbed painfully, but thankfully I was still wearing the King’s huge fur cloak, which kept me from freezing to death. The smell of it was as powerful and intoxicating as ever – a constant reminder of the weapon strapped to my body.

Heavy footsteps rang through the stone stairwell below.

“On your feet, traitor,” Commander Torin’s voice ordered roughly, as he opened the dungeon door and four Vanguard elite wolves surrounded me. “The court has gathered.”

I stood slowly, deliberately looking weakened. I allowed the heavy chains attached to me to make their ominous sounds as we walked out of the dungeons, then up into the noisy corridors of Northwitch Castle.

As the oak doors to the Great Hall swung open, the sounds from inside spilled into the hallway. The hall was overflowing with pack elders, Vanguard commanders, and other members of the pack hierarchy. There was an audible gasp from the crowd as I was dragged across the aisle in the middle of the room, the noise slowly dying down.

I held my head down, my long fiery-red locks falling over my face in greasy curtains, creating the perfect picture of a submissive woman.

I was dragged to the center of the room, where I sank to my knees in front of the elevated platform.

The King’s throne was occupied, as usual, by the massive figure of Warlord Fenrir, whose dark armor was highlighted by the early morning light. Golden eyes surveyed the crowd around him sharply.

To the right of the throne stood Anton in royal velvet. On the King’s left was Princess Selena, dressed in a magnificent gown made of silver silk, with her platinum hair impeccably styled.

I looked up from where I kneeled on the polished marble floor, heavy metal chains clinking ominously as I did.

Anton’s face went pale the instant he caught sight of me, and for a few minutes his face took on an expression of horror and shock that made clear what happened to those assassins. This woman was supposed to be dead by now, rotting somewhere in a snowbank.

His sister kept herself collected and composed, but the slight widening of her beautiful silver eyes gave away her panic. She quickly regained control of her aristocratic face.

“What is the meaning of this?” Anton demanded fiercely, taking a step down from the platform and pointing a trembling finger at me. “I banished this woman yesterday! She was forbidden to set foot back in Northwitch Castle!”

“She appeared at the castle gates earlier today and surrendered to my justice, Lord Anton,” Commander Torin replied calmly, bowing before the platform. “She claims she was ambushed in the forest and sought out our King’s justice.”

“Justice?! This woman is a known traitor!” Anton snarled, rage making his voice crack. “We discovered your stolen ledgers in her possession, along with a flask of concentrated wolfsbane, intended for assassinating the royal bloodline. She is in violation of her banishment and should be executed immediately.”

“Yes, Father, you need to execute her,” Selena agreed smoothly, placing a delicate hand on Fenrir’s armored shoulder. “This woman is obviously unstable and dangerous. By allowing her to survive despite her failed assassination attempt, you will appear weak.”

But I didn’t shout that these people were lying, and I didn’t pull my hands towards them and force them to tell the truth. No, I only managed a low, heartbroken moan.

I raised my head slightly to look up at the king, tears streaming down my dirt-streaked face.

“I’m not a traitor,” I moaned, my voice trembling pathetically as I clutched the Warlord’s huge fur cloak more tightly. “I’ve been fighting on our borders for years. I’m a simple warrior who doesn’t know the first thing about poisons or royal documents. I swear to you, my King… I did not do it.”

There was a murmur in the crowd as people listened to my pathetic, heart-wrenching cries.

They weren’t hearing the lies of someone who tried to stab their King in the back. They heard the terrified voice of a young and frightened girl who begged for her life.

“She’s lying!” Anton shouted angrily, descending another two steps of the dais, his face turning red from panic. “She’s a manipulative stray trying to prey on your mercy, Father! Guards! Escort her to the courtyard and execute her publicly!”

“Silence.”

The sound of the King’s command echoed in the Great Hall. It was a simple but absolutely commanding tone, one that silenced every single person in the room.

Fenrir slowly rose from his obsidian throne and the aura of an alpha crashed down into the room, silencing everyone instantly.

Anton took several steps back in fear, but his father simply looked sideways at him, sending a chilling glare that caused him to take another step back.

“I said silence, boy,” the King rumbled. “You banished a member of the Vanguard elite without bringing her before my throne. You discovered the poison in her chambers without consulting with me. You played at being a Warlord, Anton. The games are over.”

For once Selena’s flawless mask cracked, her silver eyes darting around frantically in a panic as her plot was unraveling in front of everyone’s eyes.

Fenrir approached me slowly, but there was no mercy in his golden gaze. He looked like a wild animal ready to pounce.

He didn’t turn to either of his children, but continued walking until he stood right in front of a battered woman lying on his marble floor.

“Father…” Anton tried again.

Fenrir simply sent him another glare and turned back to me.

He didn’t grab my wrist or hoist me up, but placed his huge palms over the iron chains on my wrists, his body radiating primal energy.

He didn’t ask anyone for the key. He simply growled deep in his chest and tore the iron apart with his bare hands, the pieces clinking on the floor noisily.

Everyone gasped in amazement and shock as the chains fell off me.

“You…” Anton stuttered in disbelief.

“I’ve demonstrated my ability in front of this court,” the King replied coolly. “This woman walked through a blizzard and hunted me down just to show me my justice. She didn’t flee into the neutral lands as a true traitor. Her actions speak louder than any accusations.”

“F-Father… the evidence…” Selena sputtered, almost as white as the walls.

“There is no physical evidence except for the circumstantial timing of the events,” Fenrir replied, never taking his blazing gaze off of her. “That alone proves your involvement in this affair, princess.”

Now he focused his golden stare on the crowd.

“This Vanguard elite is officially pardoned of all crimes and released from her banishment,” he pronounced loudly, his voice thundering in everyone’s ears. “However, her crimes were serious and she was ambushed by skilled assassins in my forests. Therefore, her situation remains a matter of personal security to me.”

He looked down at me with his golden, glowing eyes.

“She’s under my personal protection,” the Warlord announced, stripping the children’s authority over this situation. “Until further notice, she’ll stay sequestered in the royal wing of the castle, interrogated privately by me. None of my subjects are to speak to her, touch her or approach her without my permission.”

He looked at me briefly again, the aura of pure possessiveness that he gave off scaring me almost more than his anger.

“I’m going to get everything I want out of her,” Fenrir warned, leaving everyone in no doubt of how he felt about me.

The court bowed deeply before their King.

Anton looked utterly destroyed while his sister was absolutely terrified.

Fenrir put his arm around me protectively and escorted me to the throne room, holding me close and keeping away from everyone.

And I leaned against the King’s armored chest, hiding my victorious smirk in his fur