Fate's Dark Side Chapter 822

The moment we stepped out, the crowd began to hail us, singing the northern anthem, grateful that we were victorious and indeed there will only be one king. Tamia and I waved at them and allowed people to take pictures before entering the hall. There was a big screen outside with speakers so the crowd could witness what was going on in the hall. It was a judgement and sentencing so it was traditional that everyone will be a part of it. We also made provision for the events to be televised so that people from all over would see it.

Tamia and I entered and made our way to our loge.

Everyone was seated in their places. Leo, Erik, Andrew, Devin, and the rest of the council members were in their seats, Likewise the lords too. They were in their place. Marcel's father, Lucas, my mother, and Jake were in their place too. Jake looked frail and shouldn’t have come but he insisted he wanted to witness the sentencing. I could understand him. They had no reason for what they did to him. To think he lost his wolf for nothing. It was a hard thing but we were glad to have him with us, and their wedding was still going to take place. Erik was hopeful Jake’s wolf will return but there was no guarantee. Gezel sat beside her daughter in the Lord’s loge where Leo should have been seated if he wasn't the head of the council. I noticed Gezel’s eyes wandered to Erik from time to time and he looked at her and smiled. I was ready to bet that something was up between them, but I will do that in a less serious situation.

Leo addressed everyone and started the hearing. The southern Alphas were the first to be arraigned.

“You all are guilty of committing treason, against your people, against the head alpha of the south and your King, what do you plead?” Leo asked them. The tone indicated this was just a formality.

One of them stepped forward in tears.

“I honestly had no choice, your Majesty, it was either we joined up or die like Michael of Pridewood. Alpha Corrigan had left the south so we chose the only way we knew to survive,” He said and I did not know his name.

“Your name?” Leo asked him.

“He's alpha Klein of the Pinetree pack in the south,” Devin volunteered and I noted.

"You could have left the South and tried to settle elsewhere. After all, that was what my alphas did when their packs were taken over. If Devin wasn’t around, you could have reached out to the King's office for help. Why didn’t you do that?” Leo asked and he could not talk.

“You didn’t only betray the King and your alpha, you also followed the enemy to battle, to fight against the people that were sent to liberate the south. Do you still claim innocence? After all, Beta Lukaman was among you. He was held captive and freed. He found a way to give us information and help us regain control of the South. He risked his life in the last minutes to warn of the bomb, while the rest of you stood in defence, defending the intruders and laughing at the alphas sent to rescue the people. Do you want to say you had no choice still because it seems to me you had plenty of choices but chose the treasonous option?" Leo said, summing it up and they were silent.

“You would have died in the field because the intruders did not have plans for a future for all of you. They knew you weren’t immune to silver like they were, yet they rigged the place with bombs that would spray silver in the air, injuring most of you and killing some of your men. What do you have to say to that?” Leo said and there was total silence.

“Very well since you have nothing to say, here is the judgement of the council; you have all been found guilty of treason against the King, your leader, and your people. We will leave his majesty to pronounce the punishment for your crimes,” Leo said and people began to murmur.

The alphas were silent. All of them resigned to their fate. Luckily for them, Sylvester had abolished the law that states the family should be wiped out if any member is guilty of treason. If not the population in the south would have reduced drastically after this.