Forever Bound

CHAPTER THREE

Alpha Rex Edinburgh ditched his suit for his royal robe, his head reeling from the happenings of the past few hours. He was still trembling from the proclamations he had made at the park circle, and his heart was thumping furiously in fear of what was going to befall his mate and the woman he was starting to love.

His face in his hands, he sighed, a sigh of frustration and dilemma, a sigh of indecisiveness and weariness.

He couldn't believe it.

Although he had spoken to her just twice before the marriage because of his busy schedule and the need to obey the law of the Alpha and female being apart until the wedding night, he knew that she wasn't a thief.

She didn't look like a thief, she didn't sound like a thief, and she definitely didn't act like a thief. But how could he know? If only thieves had a tag on their foreheads, it would've been a hell of lot easier.

He wished she could see him now, he wished she could see the dilemma she had put him in, the weariness displayed on his face and the aching of his heart because he knew that she was in a prison cell at that very moment.

He wished she could understand what had just happened.

That it wasn't his fault, that his hands were tied by the law. He was never an impartial leader, and had never been. He wasn't going to start being partial because of her, he wasn't going to throw away the good government and excellent legacy he had because he was trying to rescue her.

He was rooting for her, he wished she was innocent, but how would he know?

What if she had really done it? After all, she was only a poor farmer and a commoner. What if she was pretending, and she had actually stolen from Seraphina?

And why would they accuse her so? They had seemed excited by her and her character, everybody had approved of her, including Richard. So why would they suddenly accuse her of theft? Why would they suddenly want to get rid of her?

Standing and sighing again, he made up his mind to face his fears. He had never been a coward and would never be. If he was going to lose his mate, then so be it.

If this was the moon goddess’s plan, then so be it, may her will be done.

The court where council meetings were usually held was filled to the brim with elders, each one of them taking their places according to hierarchy.

They all stood up when he came in, as was the custom, then sat down as soon as he took his place on the highest seat, which said he was the highest in the hierarchy and was the last decision maker.

The youngest of all the elders, Floyd Jefferson, used a small gavel to bang the table, bringing the court to order. He then spoke, his voice in sharp contrast to his smallish frame and stature.

“The case that has gathered us here impromptu today is the case of theft between Miss Seraphina, her partner, Richard and the accused, Luna Derek.”

The mention of her name seemed to increase the turmoil going on inside his head and he clenched the chair he was sitting on for dear life. He wanted the case to be done and gotten over with. The anxiety was head splitting.

Seraphina came into the court, Richard by her side. It made Rex wonder why he was hanging around her. The case didn't involve him, he wasn't even a witness. So why hang around her in court?

Shaking his head in anger, he decided to keep his mouth shut and not ask his elder brother questions, lest he start another war.

Lucas Blunt came in next, bearing his pouch and his dirty blacksmith clothes that had oil smeared on every part of them.

Luna Derek came at last, and when he saw her, his heart went out to her. Her eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed with tears. She glanced at him as if in plea, then withdrew her gaze, following the orders of the guard as he told her to climb the accused stand.

She mounted the stand, her eyes on the floor. He had always known she was a very shy and beautiful lady, but he didn't know who she was at that moment. She seemed frail, embarrassed and humiliated.

She looked guilty and the judgment of the case hadn't even started.

Elder Adrian stepped forward, his slim arms and slim frame doing little justice to how huge his elder robe was on his body. It wasn't fitted, and it hung on his frame like a flag upon a flagpole. He was the chief questionnaire, and when he wasn't available, the elder Clark, who sat at the far edge of the court, would take charge.

Rex watched the elder Adrian face Luna, his eyes twinkling in wickedness and his teeth glinting evilly.

“This case is already dead to me, oh great Alpha. From what all of those present in the circle heard, Luna Derek is guilty. She not only stole that moonstone, she did earn a profit too. We all know the punishment attached to this. Plus stealing in the palace. We all know the weight of her punishment, I believe.”

Biting his lower lip, Alpha Rex struggled with the urge to strike the elder Adrian across the mouth. Why assume that someone was a thief already without questioning?

“Question her regardless.”

He voiced out, his voice slicing the silence that had followed after Adrian's words.

“Miss Seraphina. Please repeat your story for this court to hear and judge.”