Chapter 90 - Please

Adea

I gasp in surprise. I knew she had to be punished but I didn’t know the death penalty was on the table. With Shane, we had demanded he be exiled.

Being cast out as a rogue is a terrible fate but for what he had done it would have been normal for him to be executed. Even though his crime was severe he basically got a slap on the wrist.

Shane had been royalty and maybe I should have known better than to expect the same leniency but it didn’t stop my heart from dropping into my stomach. I didn’t want her to die.

Odis jumped to his feet so fast his chair clatters to the ground, his face distraught. “No!” Odis growled shaking his head.

My heart plummeting at the sight of the man who normally has his feelings under wraps lose control. Odis slammed his hand down on the table while his chest rose and fell with panic before turning to Ethan.

The guards standing on both sides of Olivia ignore his outburst, turn to her and grab her. As they start pulling her alongside them Odis snarls and snaps at them. His eyes glow and flicker back and forth between his eyes and his wolf. He’s on the precipice of losing control.

One of the Deltas turns to Odis and assesses his posture. “Stand down,” he commanded as the other Delta grabbed Olivia’s arm. When Odis didn’t respond and moved to step forward Ethan snarls and the room goes deadly quiet.

It took one look from Ethan to make Odis reevaluate his actions. Odis stilled and closed his eyes and we watch as he tries to reign in control of his wolf. After a few moments, Odis opens his eyes and straightens his back.

“I’ll take her,” Odis says pleadingly.

“No,” Ethan says.

“Please,” Odis begs. “Even in her last moments, she deserves someone by her side. The Deltas can follow but let me be the one to take her out of here. I’ll stay by her side so please, let me,” he croaks.

The muscles in Ethan’s jaw tick and worry fills his eyes. With a nod Odis’s shoulders relax an inch and the Deltas move aside. Odis strides to Olivia’s side in a heartbeat and searches her face. She doesn’t make a move to go to him but Odis grabs her arm and turns to look at Ethan.

“When is the execution?” Odis asks.

“Tonight,” Ethan breathes.

A look of despair stretches across his face before he pulls Olivia towards the doors. The Deltas turn and follow behind. All eyes in the meeting room follow them out. When the doors close behind them whispers break out in the room.

“Where are they taking her?” I ask and turn to face Ethan.

“Where we put the prisoners… in the dungeons,” he says.

A gasp escapes my lips before I can stifle it. I don’t know what I expected but the reality of this situation starts to set in, stealing my breath. She’d betrayed us all but for what?

“Did you disagree with my ruling?” He asks.

I don’t know how to answer his question so instead, I don’t respond.

“Did you think I wouldn’t be fair in my ruling?” He asked in a quiet voice.

“I didn’t say anything about fairness but death by execution…,” I reply in a hushed whisper.

Ethan’s eyes soften as he searches my face. He gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes before turning back to the pack members.

“There are no exceptions. She is a traitor and will now be treated as such,” Ethan boomed, and through his cold exterior, I can see the pain he’s buried deep. He tugged on my hand and I rose to my feet.

He stared out across the meeting room making sure to make eye contact with the pack members. “Our priority is the safety of our pack. If anyone here, regardless of rank, is found to be working with Shane, you will meet the same fate,” he growled.

His arm slid around my waist and despite my height, I let my gaze travel around the room and stood at full height. I was determined to come across as poised and unified with Ethan.

Some members nodded and others bowed. After a few moments, he turned and led me out by his side.

****

Odis

Guilty.

Execution.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

My thoughts swirled in my head and I forgot to breathe as I ran from the meeting hall. I will obey my Alpha but I couldn’t help the shock that welled up inside of me threatening to overflow and explode.

Execution.

Fuck.

“Ow,” a quiet voice called from behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. I stopped and turned around letting my eyes drop to see Olivia staring down at her arm.

She looked tiny and fragile and I was barely able to contain the need to rescue her. My eyes scanned her arm until I remembered my hand was wrapped tightly around her.

My grip was strong enough to stop the blood from flowing as her arm appeared whiter around the area my hand gripped.

I immediately let go and the Deltas stepped closer. I grabbed her hand again and glared at them before I continued walking. There was no point in apologizing. My grip was nothing compared to the death she would experience later.

Fuck.

The idea of losing her… of living in a world where she wasn’t sliced deeper than a knife. Troy howled in agony as the fear that pierced my heart also troubled his. I knew his thoughts lingered on getting her out but that wasn’t an option. I would not betray my back, not even for her.

My mind raced as I weighed my options, her options. I was guiding her down down down back to the dungeon. I pushed the door open as I came to a conclusion. There was nothing.. I couldn’t do anything for her.