The crowd murmured behind me.
“You were spared,” I said. “Despite your crimes. Despite putting my mate in danger. Despite risking her life, and challenging my reign as Alpha of Blood Crescent. And I showed mercy.”
Gerald sobbed, shaking like he was freezing. “He—Marcus—he forced me—he threatened—”
“You walked onto my land today,” I cut him off. “Of your own will, because you thought the alpha who didn’t deserve to rule Blood Crescent was finally going to be put down. You thought Marcus was going to win, didn’t you?”
His breath stopped. He knew he couldn’t lie his way around that.
“Not only did you return,” I continued, “you came to support the man who challenged me. You stood with him. You cheered for him. You wanted him to kill me.”
“N-no—no, I didn’t—Alex, I was scared—”
“Do not d
