Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter One Hundred and Sixnoveldrama

Something about the elders' always invokes fear me. My palm was all sweaty. Once again, I had to watch Thane being judged by them.

There was this sense of deja vu I felt standing her with Axel by my side, but of course, this hadn't been the first time I had been placed in this situation.

The elders were all present, cloaked in flowing white robes, rustling softly with every movement they made.

The only difference was that this time there were more unfamiliar faces amongst us, members from other packs who had come to witness the great and most feared Alpha, Thane's demise. Finally Thane walked in.

This time there were no excorts by his side. That was the first thing that seemed off. He came to a stop before them.

There was pindrop silence, all eyes watching him he had promised me he would survive this. I wanted to believe him, but at this moment, I couldn't see how it would be possible for him to escape this.

"There is a question of uncertainty, Alpha Thane. You were reported to be here in this pack at the time your father was found dead. We wonder if you could shed some light on how you managed to kill your father." They asked, but it was clearly not a request, more of a demand.

From what I know about the elders, they always spoke with courtesy, even before they sentenced a wolf to death. There were so many things disturbing about them.

"No. I will not shed light on that." Thane answers mockingly and there is a silent gasp.

Axel's hold on me tightened.

"We could get the truth out of you whichever way."

"You know well that you can't. Is it a pity that your mind sorcery does not affect me?" Thane replied, and I knew there had to be a smirk on his face.

Freya had said something about the elders ability to get the truth out of a person without even their approval, something like mind reading. Thane was immune to that. "What is he doing?" I asked Axel, but I got no response, maybe because he was just as

confused as I was.

"We have decided on your judgment for murdering the Alpha King. An eye for an eye, blood for blood, a life for another. You would face death."

Everything seemed to pause before my very eyes.

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He had promised. Those words rang over and over in my head.

"No!" I cried out.

I pulled free of Axel's grip on me, running forward. I only managed a few steps before Axel caught up with me; this time I couldn't pry free of his hands.

"I am disappointed," Thane says. "I would have expected the elders to come up with better judgments than this" he says, not at all shaken.

He seemed to be baiting them.

What was his plan?

What was he getting at?

What would be worse than death?

I had never seen an elder smile, but when the one in the middle did, it was the scariest I had

ever seen.

"You are correct," he answers. "But that gives you no advantage," he says, and his eyes glowed. Thane let out a pained gasp that tore through me. Whatever 'sorcery' he was performing now clearly affected Thane because he seemed unable to move, and the elder never did let him go, rather entertained by watching Thane in pain.

The one who spoke next was a female, her eyes just as cold as the rest. I wondered how old they were. They seemed to have lived so long that they had lost the ability to feel, yet each and every one of them still looked youthful, the only proof of their true age in the depths of their

eyes.

"Alpha Thane of the Nightshade Pack, your punishment is due. Let others learn from your mistakes. Since death is too little a punishment for you, then you will be stripped of your title as Alpha, also your wolf would be no more; you will for the rest of your life live like a mere human, perhaps this punishment soothes you better."

One of the elders walked forth, an object in his hands; he held it like it was something sacred.

The elder with the scary smile, accepted the object. Only then did I notice it was a dagger, but not like any I had ever seen; it glowed golden and then switched to an emerald color.

The Cursed Weapon.

I had heard about it, but I always thought it was nothing but a myth, a story told to children. I was wrong. Some believed the cursed weapon was a heart-shaped crystal, symbolizing the heart of the moon goddess; others believed it wasn't a weapon to be wielded, and only a few knew it was indeed a dagger.

He walked forward, his hands wrapped firmly around the dagger; he came face to face with Thane.

Chapter One Hundred and Six

"Do something!" I cried out to Axel, attracting attention, but I didn't care. "They are going to kill him; please do something," I begged, tears running down my eyes.

"I am on orders," he says.

"Then I order you to let me go."

"I cannot do that, Luna," he says, almost pleading.

Somewhere in the crowd, Freya the true murderer stood, watching her soon and sobbing silently. She should be the one there, not him.

"Let this be your curse," the elders chant in unison.

Then the elder lifted the dagger, but just before he could stab the blade into Thane, he made a move. The clear shock was registered on the elder's face; it should be impossible for Thane to break through their spell, but he did. Faster than my eye could catch, he angled the blade back at the elder and stabbed the curse blade into him.

And Seven