The Alpha's Hunt Chapter 169

1 Month Later. 

“Holy shit! You’re kidding me, did that really happen?” Mathilda screeched and covered her mouth.

“Fuck, Hazel,” Gabe winced and stepped back when he heard the news. A trial was held today, where a male member of the Lycan pack had been charged with rape- which meant today when he was sentenced, everyone got a reminder about the new laws set in motion a month ago. They were finalized and added to Valeria’s legislation last week and today I reaped the reward. It felt fucking amazing.

“Tell me again what happened, please,” Nora squirmed in her seat as we sat in the ballroom. We were preparing for a celebration where the Council and Alphas would all attend and an official announcement would be made about the new princes or princesses of Valeria. 

It had been just over a month and I had grown to the size I would’ve been in the seventh month with only one baby. As it turned out, carrying Lycan’s was different in more ways than one- you’re only pregnant for three months and since it’s triplets the doctor said that the last month could very well be spent on bed rest.

Walking had become a chore and I couldn’t stand for more than twenty minutes at a time. Darian had barely left my side the last two weeks and when he had to be somewhere else, Lauren was sent to babysit. 

Nora raised her brows and waited for me to tell them again what I already had- twice already. 

“Simon Kler raped a girl at a club. Some witnesses saw but chose not to interfere. According to the testimony-“ 

“The one you threw in the fire?” Gabe asked with a glint in his eyes. When I read the testimony it pissed me off so I burnt it. Being pregnant wasn’t easy.

“Yes, that one. According to that, they didn’t see a problem, they thought she wanted it, and they thought it was a game, that she was playing hard to get. ’It happens all the time in the club’ they defended,” my eyes started glowing and my claws extended without me realizing when I spoke. “So, Simon was charged with rape and the witnesses were charged with accessory to the crime,” a smile stretched across my face and Trixy relaxed. God, it felt good to say those words out loud, again. Maybe I didn’t mind them asking me to repeat myself. 

“Okay yes, but Simon's sentence was…?” Nora asked, dragging out the last word. Mathilda covered her ears and winced. 

“Castration,” I grinned.

“By…” Gabe said. 

A power filled me and I spoke with pride. 

“Cutting off his dick in the court hall,” if he couldn’t wait to put his dick in a willing girl, he shouldn’t have the choice to put it anywhere. I’d been told that even the Dark Guard had trouble watching it, but they’ll get used to it.

“He took a piece of that girl when he raped her, so I took a piece of him. An eye for an eye, that’s how it works now. If they don’t like it, they can stop raping!” I seethed.

Gabe raised his hands and took a step back. 

“I’m not arguing!”  

The hormones were doing the most of my talking lately but whenever I heard about someone getting hurt like that I thought back to my night at the Hunt. The male's eyes eating us up, Lily being fucked by those men like it was their god-given right to claim her body, and how we were hunted down and bitten. Dragged back to their homes like cattle.

And then an even darker nightmare merged, of my children experiencing that one day, and…there was not a chance in hell that I was letting that happen. I knew I couldn’t make Valeria perfect for them, and I’d probably always look over their shoulder and be the eyes in the back of their necks, but I would do what I could. 

“Nicely done,” Nora smirked through the pain of imagining the scene in the court hall.

A gasp peeled from me as I bent over in pain. I had been standing for too long. Darian grabbed my arm and told everyone to continue the preparations, with the housekeepers and maids running around with laters and boxes with trinkets and decorations. 

He led me up the stairs and got me into bed. 

“You’re staying in bed from now on, if you want you want to go outside, I’ll carry you. I don’t want you going up and down the stairs anymore,” 

“The doctor said that I was fine on my feet for another month,” I stroked his cheek and Darian leaned down.

“My love, I wasn’t asking,” his eyes hardened to show the depth of his seriousness but I laughed. 

He had been fussing over me since the war, and the bigger I got the more he hovered. 

But looking into those eyes and seeing the flame that was his love and affection, I just fell more in love with him.

The days passed with little excitement, I had done nothing but lay in bed because every time I tried to stand it felt like I would fall and roll down the hallway. Nora helped me with shorter walks around the room and Darian held true to his word about carrying me up and down the stairs when I needed some fresh air. He’d sit me down on a bench in the garden and after about an hour when even that became rough, he’d carry me back up.

Today was different though, I was getting dressed by the maids and the palace was filling with guests. Everyone gathered in the ballroom and I would make my entry in twenty minutes. 

They helped me downstairs and I waited for Darian to give his speech, addressing everyone with veiled threats regarding the recent decimation of the Royal Guards. The war was on everyone's lips, it didn’t matter if you were a rogue, Omega, or an Alpha- they had all heard about it by now. To ensure that such a thing would never happen again, Darian had taken precautions but he also made it clear to every leading figure in Valeria, everyone with power no matter how much or how little, that any sign of treason would be met with equal strength. It was dead silent in there when the doors opened. 

“I would like for you all to raise your glasses,” he called and everyone turned to watch me. 

“For my beautiful mate, Hazel Grey, Queen of Valeria!” 

The ballroom erupted in cheer from all corners and I found a few familiar eyes that helped ease the discomfort I felt from being a walking balloon.

As I neared Darian standing by a throne that I hadn’t seen before, someone grabbed my arm.

I turned and looked at Iliana who was smiling from ear to ear, but she did a poor job hiding the nervousness in her eyes, and the black circles below them told me she wasn’t feeling too well. 

“Hi!” She squealed. A loud growl sounded behind me and Iliana’s hand ripped from my arm.

“Do not touch the Queen!” I looked back and saw Lauren. My lip twitched in a smirk. There was no rule about touching the Queen, but there was an unwritten one amongst friends, that you don’t let backstabbing bitches get too comfortable. Of course, she was invited, I signed the invitation myself, she was the Luna and all leaders were present tonight but it was strictly business and I think she realized that now.

Darian took my hand when I stepped up to him and he immediately guided me to the throne. 

“Darian-“

“Sit. You shouldn’t be here at all, you should be in bed,” 

“I wanted to be here,” 

He sighed and brushed the hair away from my face. 

“It’s my job to protect you,” he said and helped me sit. 

“How about you retire for an hour?” I grinned. 

Darian pressed his lips against mine, kneeling in front of me as everyone watched in silence.

“Never.” He said, grabbing my chin, “Not even when I’m dead,”