Chapter 188
King Braedon POV
I had heard enough. She would just continue to spew her hatred and venom. I allowed my nails to grow into claws. Blair let go of my hand. She appeared deep in thought. I stepped closer to Luna Bianca who was breathing shallowly now, her eyes wide with panic as she viewed me. I spared a glance to Alpha Johnathon who was looking resolutely at me now, his eyes fixed on his ex-wife. Blair was doing the same. I wished she would look away. She didn't need to see this. I didn't want her to have this image in her mind. It would remain there forever, imprinted, haunting her as Luna Bianca had suggested. I swallowed hard. The pack members watched eagerly. There was nothing but silence. I knelt. The warriors held down her arms and legs. She struggled but it was futile. "Your reign of terror ends now Luna Bianca."
I plunged my hand into her chest as she screamed, a bloodcurdling sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I found her heart and I grasped it, pulling it out of her chest. The sounds of her screaming stopped abruptly. I flung the heart away, seeing the light in her eyes fade, staring blankly upwards. She was dead. I could have severed her head from her body, but this was far quicker and more brutal. She would have felt pain. A warrior passed me a towel and I wiped my hand, getting rid of the blood. "Take her body to the forest for the creatures to feast on," I said tightly, nodding to her.
Several warriors began to drag her away. I motioned for the pack members to disperse, leaving myself, Blair, James, Sarah, Sierra, Josie, and Alpha Johnathon in the clearing.
"What now?" Alpha Johnathon said quietly.
I stared at him uncomprehending. "What do you mean?"
He gulped. "My punishment" he prodded "when is that to be passed down."
Silence. I had not anticipated that question. While it's true that he had abandoned Blair as a baby, he had done his best to prevent his mate from killing her. He was guilty of being naive and probably a poor Alpha leader, but that was all. I glanced at Blair. "You are to be stripped of your Alpha title," she said firmly and Johnathon nodded, not surprised in the slightest "It is of no use to you in this pack. As for punishment, there is to be none. You prevented Bianca from killing me. You were not aware of the breeding program continuing at the pack. If anything you're guilty of being stupid and naive" she said a little harshly as I winced "and a fool."
Sierra nudged her "Little harsh" she murmured "but I get it, I really do" she added.
"We need to be on the lookout for Brynn and I don't like what Luna Bianca was alluding to" I cut in.
The group looked at me mystified. I ran a hand through my hair "It almost sounded like she thought somebody else would want revenge for her death" I explained "but then, I don't understand why that would be. You're the only children she had, aren't you?" I asked turning to Johnathon suspiciously.
"Yes, we only had Brynn and Blair. She could never get pregnant after that, at least as far as I was aware" he said tersely "and I was happy because I didn't want to abandon another child if she deemed it not suitable."
"So what? She was probably bluffing" Sierra said with a shrug "trying to make you worried. She was about to die and she decided to mess with you. There's probably nothing to worry about," she said easily. "Maybe" Blair murmured "Either way, I'm glad she's gone," she said with a shudder.
Johnathon said nothing. He looked devastated. "I should go" he mumbled apologetically, turning around.
"Father" Blair said, and I raised a brow, while Johnathon looked lost, turning around quickly and viewing his daughter with shock at how she had used that title for him "Stay. I know that you must be upset, but I would feel better if you stayed," she said quietly, her eyes filling with hope.
She was offering him an olive branch. I silently begged him in my mind to take it. For his own sake as well as Blair. It would be a long time before Blair would make the offer again.
Johnathon gave a slow smile. "Okay," he said and rejoined the group.
Josie leaned against Blair. "We should get away from the smell of blood," she said tactfully, taking in Blair's white face.
We began to walk towards the pack house. "Why don't we go and sit in the kitchen and have something to drink and just talk" I suggested lowly "Maybe Johnathon might have some suggestions on where Brynn might have run to?" I added, turning to the man. I felt bad even asking him to betray another family member, but he looked thoughtful.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. I guess I don't know Brynn as well as I thought I did, but maybe I'll remember something as we talk" he said.
I nodded. I could see Josie and Sierra discussing something in the background, careful to keep their voices hushed. I wondered what they were discussing so vehemently. As we made our way to the kitchen, Sarah and James sat down and Sarah gave us all a tentative smile. “Um, so James and I have some news" she began, making Blair lean forward, while the rest of us eyed her expectantly.
She blushed and bit her lip. James took her hand and kissed it, encouraging her to continue, his eyes sparkling. "I'm pregnant with his pup" she announced.
"Congratulations" everyone chorused, Blair standing up and embracing Sarah, almost knocking her over, before I joined
her.
I shook James' hand.
"You owe me twenty bucks," Sierra said smugly to Josie as we stared at her "I told you she'd be pregnant by now."
"You made bets," James said incredulously.
"Yep, and you just won me a s**t ton of money. I estimate about $500 by the time I collect from everyone" Sierra said unblinkingly. The table burst into laughter.