CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY SEVEN
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY SEVEN
Jason’s POV
This was wrong.
I had Henry send the wine back to Shadowclaw for testing. It was the same toxin. How could it not be lethal?
Father, as stunned as I was, finally found his voice and said, “Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding. My son saw Alpha Nolan poison the wine himself. He wouldn’t lie about that.”
“It’s true,” I said. “The sample we sent confirmed that the wine contained traces of a toxin identical to what was found in the mad rogues’ blood samples.”
Nolan laughed and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Care to enlighten us on what is so funny?”
“Inadequacy must be an inherited trait,” Nolan answered. I could feel my father’s aura flare briefly before he composed himself.
“Your taunts won’t save you, boy,” Father said.
“I just find it interesting that you know so much about the rogues’ blood, perhaps you’ve spent more time with them than I ever did,” Nolan said.
“Watch your tongue, boy. It is you who is on trial,” Father snapped.
Before the argument could escalate, the Alpha King raised his hand. “That’s enough.” He turned toward Talia. “Talia, please bring the documents.”
She stood and crossed the room, handing over two folders: one blue and one red. Her movements were calm, but I knew Talia. I could tell she was angry.
“The blue folder holds the report you submitted,” the Alpha King said, looking at me. “The red folder holds the report of a previous analysis done on one of the mad rogue’s blood. When compared, there are similarities, but there are also key differences.”
I frowned. “Differences?”
Talia stepped forward again. “The report you provided shows…”
“Is it necessary for this omega to be speaking here? What expertise does she have in this area?” Father asked, cutting Talia off.
I could see Talia’s jaw flex. Before the Alpha King could respond, Talia said, “If you learned to keep your mouth shut for once, you would understand.”
Father looked at Talia then at Alpha King. When the Alpha King didn’t reprimand Talia, Father said, “Well then, explain.” I had to keep from cringing as I knew that tone. A beating always came later when Father used that tone.
“As I was saying, the report you provided, Alpha Jason, compared to the previous analysis, showed that the toxin was used but it missed key components that would be lethal,” Talia continued.
Father scowled. “That doesn’t prove anything. The toxin used was still dangerous. The intent remains.”
“There’s more. I had a third report. I had the blood tested that the toxin was pulled from to dose the Alpha King, thanks to Marco,” Talia countered, pulling out another report. She provided it to me and my father snatched it out of my hand to read.
Father looked impatient and asked, “And who is Marco?”
“He’s my Beta,” Nolan said flatly.
“So, you have a biased witness. He could’ve gotten that blood anywhere,” Father argued.
“Unlikely,” Healer Leslie interjected. “I checked the sample myself. Beta Marco’s batch of treated blood matches the one tested
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY SEVEN
+25 Bonus
from the wine sample, not the one from rogues. And before you say I’m biased, I honestly couldn’t give a damn about what is going on here.”
Father frowned and said, “That doesn’t mean anything. The toxin was still used.”
“Healer Leslie, would you explain this for everyone present?” Alpha King asked.
“With pleasure. If you turn to page 2 of the report, what you’re looking at is detoxified blood. Marco removed nearly all the lethal toxins, which is impressive for someone not in the medical field,” Leslie explained. “Anyway, only trace elements remained that could cause a temporary uncontrollable shift.”
Father’s brow furrowed. “A temporary uncontrollable shift?”
“Yes,” Leslie said. “If the Alpha King had drank the wine, he would have shifted on the spot, but he would not have gone mad.”
Father clenched his jaw. “That’s absurd. You’re saying this was some kind of experiment? I don’t believe that.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Nolan answered before Leslie could. “The blood used came from a mad rogue my warriors and I killed in Bloodmoon territory nearly two years ago. It had been preserved for testing. Over time, the toxins lose their strength.”
Leslie nodded in agreement. “That’s correct. Even without detoxifying, the toxin’s potency would begin to fade at time of death. Give it another year or so and the toxin would be no more.”
‘Did you know about this?’ my father’s voice boomed through our mind link.
‘No, I didn’t. L.’
‘I will have to clean up your mess once again. We will discuss this later,’ my father snarled before closing the mind link.
“You expect us to believe this nonsense? That a jar of old blood, conveniently detoxified, was used for a harmless test?” Father growled.
Leslie frowned and said, “I don’t know who you think you are, but I don’t appreciate you doubting my medical expertise. So, let me put this in terms that you’ll understand. Get your head out of your ass. It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not. The lab results prove it. The blood from the rogue and the one found in the King’s wine don’t match exactly.”
Father took a step forward, his tone rising. “Then where did this treated blood come from? How do we know this isn’t fabricated?”
“Because,” Nolan said, his voice calm but cutting, “it was tested under the Alpha King’s direct supervision this morning. Ask him yourself.”
The room went silent again.
The Alpha King finally spoke, “He’s right. I had the samples tested by my own people this meeting. The results confirm Healer Leslie’s explanation. The toxin in question was diluted and nonlethal.”
Father’s face hardened. “So, you’re letting him go?”
The King’s tone grew firm. “No. I’m punishing him, but not for an assassination attempt. Alpha Nolan acted recklessly and put my safety at risk. That cannot go unaddressed.”
I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, The situation was salvageable. Would the Alpha King banish him, take away his title? Either option would be workable. Then, my stomach dropped as I heard the Alpha King’s words,
“Alpha Nolan, you will temporarily be relinquished of Alpha duties and be a warrior for the nightly patrols along the northern border until the end of the Sacrifice Ceremony. Consider it a reminder of your place and responsibility,”
Nolan shrugged and said, “Understood, Your Majesty.”
I clenched my fists. “That’s it? He admits to poisoning the wine, and you send him on patrol duty?”
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY SEVEN
+25 Bonus
Father’s temper flared beside me. “Your Majesty, with all due respect, this leniency will only embolden him. You know what he’s capable of. You saw how he…”
“Enough, Elder Michael,” the Alpha King commanded. His Alpha aura filled the room, forcing us to submit to him. “You may consider the punishment light, but I consider it fair. Alpha Nolan’s intentions were misguided, but not treacherous. The matter is closed.”
The King turned to the guards. “Escort Elder Michael and Alpha Jason out. The rest of you are dismissed.”
We had no choice but to bow and step aside. As we turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Nolan. He met my gaze. I paled as Nolan smirked. There was a murderous glint in his eyes as he mouthed “see you soon” as the door closed behind me.
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