Before Grayson could finish announcing Scarlett’s punishment, she suddenly dropped to her knees and began crawling toward him across the cold prison floor.
“Your Majesty, please!” she sobbed desperately, her voice cracking with terror. “I’ll do anything
Please have mercy!”
Her once–pristine appearance was completely destroyed. Her designer clothes were torn and filthy, her perfectly styled hair matted with blood and dirt.
She looked like a broken doll as she dragged herself forward, leaving smears of blood on the stone floor.
Grayson looked down at her with complete indifference, as if she were nothing more than an insect beneath his notice.
“Guards,” he said coldly, “throw her into the den with the rogue wolves. Let them decide her fate.” Scarlett’s face went completely white at his words. The color drained from her lips until she looked like a corpse.
“No, please!” she screamed, her voice rising to a hysterical pitch. “Not with them! They’ll kill me!” Her terrified eyes darted to Ethan, who had been standing silently behind us throughout this entire exchange.
“Ethan!” she called out desperately, reaching toward him with shaking hands. “Please save me! You have to save me!”
Ethan’s face showed clear,confusion and distress. He didn’t understand what had happened or why Scarlett was being punished so severely.
“Your Majesty,” Ethan said carefully, stepping forward despite Grayson’s intimidating presence. don’t know what Scarlett has done, but surely this punishment is too harsh.”
His voice carried genuine concern as he continued his plea.
“She’s just a young woman who made a mistake. Please, I beg you to show mercy.”
Grayson’s ice–blue eyes fixed on Ethan with laser–like intensity. His expression grew even colder if that was possible.
“I reject your plea,” he said flatly. “Are you questioning my decision, Alpha Stone?”
The title came out like a challenge, loaded with dangerous implications.
Although the crushing pressure from the Alpha King was making it difficult for Ethan to breathe, his eyes kept darting to Grayson’s hand holding mine.
The sight of us together, the obvious intimacy and protection Grayson showed me, ignited something primal in Ethan’s chest.
The anger of having his supposed partner taken away made him bolder than he should have been.
Ethan raised his head defiantly, meeting Grayson’s dangerous gaze directly.
“Although you are the Alpha King,” he said with growing confidence, “Scarlett is my family and a member of my Alpha household.”
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His voice grew stronger as he warmed to his argument.
“According to the traditional rules of werewolf packs, you have no right to directly sanction a member of another Alpha’s family without proper cause or trial.”
He straightened his shoulders, projecting authority despite the overwhelming power radiating from Grayson.
“As the Alpha of this pack, I have the right to refuse to execute your decision to exile her.”
The silence that followed his challenge was deafening. Every person in the corridor held their breath.
Grayson’s lips curved into a cold, mocking smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“As the Alpha of the pack?” he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. “You think you’re qualified to be an Alpha?”
His tone grew more vicious with each word.
“You are a coward who cannot tell right from wrong. You’ve been manipulated and controlled by this woman for years.”
Grayson gestured dismissively toward the cowering Scarlett.
“You allowed her to poison your judgment, to turn you against your own mate. You sent my Queen into the den of rogue wolves because you were too weak to see through her lies.”
His voice rose with royal authority.
“You are not qualified to be an Alpha. I hereby announce your formal dismissal from the Alpha position.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in complete shock. His mouth fell open as the implications of Grayson’s
words sank in.
“What?” he gasped, his face flushing red with anger and disbelief. “You can’t do that!”
His hands clenched into fists at his sides as fury overtook his initial shock.
“What right do you have to dismiss me from my own pack?” he demanded, his voice shaking with rage.
“According to werewolf law, only another Alpha within the pack can challenge me and win my position through combat or formal contest!”
His chest heaved with indignation as he continued his protest.
“You may be the Alpha King, but that doesn’t give you the right to simply remove Alphas from their own territories without following proper procedures!”
Ethan’s wolf was clearly agitated, his eyes flashing between human and wolf as his anger
mounted.
“I’ve led this pack for years! These are my people, my responsibility. You can’t just take that away because you disagree with my decisions!”
But Grayson remained completely calm in the face of Ethan’s outburst. If anything, he looked amused by the younger Alpha’s defiance.
“You’re absolutely right,” Grayson said with mock sincerity. “According to traditional law, only another Alpha can challenge your position.”
Chapter 27
He paused dramatically, letting the tension build in the narrow corridor.
Then he turned to face me directly, his silver eyes warm despite the cold situation surrounding
US
“Emma,” he said formally, his voice carrying the weight of official business. “You have awakened as a true Alpha. Your bloodline and power are undeniable.”
His hand squeezed mine gently, offering support and encouragement.
Are you willing to be the Alpha of this pack?”
