The Tripartite Mate Bond Chapter 80: CHAPTER EIGHTY

In a few hours, he had been rounded up and presented before a now fully awake pack, awaiting trial.

Cora was beside herself, tears flowing as I held her tight.

I wish my gift could extend to mates whose partners betrayed them this way, at least I'll be able to console her but she has to watch the man that she loved so much turn into something else for reasons best known to him.

We were gathered in the pack hall, each person being served the tea Elena brewed to clear the vestiges of the sleeping spell he had poured all over us, his mission unclear.

The camera had shown him getting the items from my foster father who had the audacity to actually come all the way here, but it didn't show if he had done anything beyond sending us into a deep sleep and then delivering the cursed rabbit to my laps.

A shiver ran down my spine at how close to death I'd been. I finally understood Kane’s reaction to the whole thing. He was beyond livid.

I mean, how could he have traveled for the council's meeting with this whole traitor thing hanging around our necks? My other two mates were due at their packs and this was simply delaying everything but right now, Axel was sitting close to me while Ares stayed close to Kane. Either for moral support or to prevent him from doing anything rash.

According to Kane, he had always hated his sister's mate but one didn't question the goddess in matters like this. I thought otherwise but I was out of my depths here. If someone was terrible, they didn't automatically become glorious just because they got a mate, if not, it'll be considered the biggest reformation institution ever known.

They had set up a mini court arrangement where Cameron was tied and put in a box and Kane was standing at the other end, trying to keep his cool. I wish I could be closer to him but Cora needed me more. Her mate was probably going to die today and at the hand of her brother, no less. She was the victim today, not me.

When everyone was finally stark awake, Kane walked to the front of the crowd, his body disposition making it evident that his wolf was rattled. This man didn't only try to harm his mate, he was probably hurting his sister emotionally. Thus, when he began speaking, everyone was at the edge of their seats.

“DarkMoon!” he roared.

“Ahoo!” They responded in unison.

No one was fully aware of what had happened, they just knew that they had an amazing night, at least those who were mated and then had the longest sleep of their lives. I knew they were about to be brazenly shocked.

“A few weeks ago, someone helped a prisoner escape,” he started and the pack's reaction showed that they weren't aware of this development.

The rowdiness was getting prolonged so he lifted his hands and everywhere quieted down.

“Yes, it's been obvious that a traitor lived amongst us but I didn't want to put any member of the pack under unnecessary duress and also, I didn't want them to know my next plan of action. Alpha Axel here, is very good at technology and security issues so he installed cameras for us in a way that everything can be captured. So I'll show you all what this bastard did just so he could hurt my mate!” He snapped, before proceeding to show the pack the video taken from the cameras.

We all watched as Cameron got to the bigger cameras and covered them before doing everything he did.

By the time the video showed when he got into the Alpha’s penthouse, the entire was angry and demanding his head.

Cora couldn't hold her tears anymore and I had to hold her hand while she sobbed.

Kane went back to the front of the pack and continued addressing us.

“I have always been a fair Alpha, ensuring everyone had what they needed and we weren't like some other barbaric packs that used their pack members for the benefit of the Alpha family but what do I get in return? My mate is being threatened right in front of me! Do you know what that does to a wolf? I'm sorry, sister but he does today, this morning in fact but before then, Cameron, you're either going to confess everything on your own or be forced to do it. Alpha Ares is here and that's his specialty and as you can see, he's not as rattled as I am, he won't kill you off easily. Now, start talking!” He snarled, his anger pouring out of him.

The entire pack were tense and I could see their wolves coming out, ready to defend their alpha.

I had expected Cameron to start talking without any drama considering his mate was here, crying her eyes out over his betrayal but he was as zoned out as he had been right from the moment he was caught.

“So you want us to do this the hard way. Have you considered how your mate will feel seeing you punished so severely?” Kane asked, and I could see how much he loved his sister at that moment. I was sure she was the reason why Cameron wasn't bleeding out by now and I guess we all hoped there was a genuine reason why he did this so there could be some sort of saving grace.

“I can give him a truth potion, it'll just take a few minutes to prepare. You will have to ask the right questions though,” Elena spoke up from the crowd, making Cora and I breathe a sigh of relief at the same time. I wasn't prepared to watch her go through that pain.

“That's great, thank you Elena. You are proving yourself to be useful to the pack,” Ares replied to her and she smiled broadly, going out of the big hall to probably get the utensils and herbs for the potion.

I may not have been looking for a friend after my altercation with Juno but Cora has been doing an amazing job helping me settle into pack life, and it's been so amazing knowing I have someone on my side as I navigated this new path in my life so it hurt seeing this happening to her. I finally understood why Ares gave his Beta time off after Juno turned on all of us because of her revenge. I guess she was waiting for Axel to find his mate so she could carry out her plans.

As we waited for Elena to finish up, as the pack members engaged in conversations that revolved around his betrayal, I knew I had to take Cora away from the room. Even if it was for a few minutes, they were saying some pretty cruel things and they didn't even care about her hearing them.

“Come on, let's get you some water, okay?” I told her, lifting her sorrow filled body off the chair.

She followed me as we walked out and people kept murmuring, it was irritating but I kept quiet, not wanting to snap at anyone today. I took her out of the hall and into the kitchen where some Omegas were working on lunch.

I realized that even though most mated couples cooked in their houses, a lot of them preferred having breakfast and dinner with the rest of the pack.

“That smells so nice, Martina. I'm just getting water for Cora here, don't mind us,” I said to the ladies as I grabbed some water from the fridge and opened it for Cora.

“Thank you, Aurora. I'm sorry I'm being such a mess, I just don't know what to do or how to feel. What am I going to tell Damian? That his father wanted you to get hurt? It makes no sense!” She cried out, frustration and anger enveloping her usually calm self.

“You are allowed to feel anything you are feeling right now, Cora. He probably has a good reason for this and I wish he would just say something. Maybe he was threatened or something?” I wondered out loud.

“But even at that, our Alpha is quite strong. What made him think he could hurt you and get away with it? For crying out loud, you are the most protected woman on this side of the world, three mates and two damn dragons! Who could be stronger than them? Maybe the goddess is punishing me for something, because this makes absolutely no sense,” she sobbed and I held her tighter, giving her another napkin to wipe her tears.

Elena walked into the common room where we sat and we got up, taking collective deep breaths.

“You are ready to find out why your mate is an asshole?” She asked, nonchalant.

“No better time than the present,” Cora replied, and I realized she was a very strong woman, not allowing anyone to get to her, especially her own pack members.