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Chapter 164
Chapter 164
80. Justice for the Past
ROYCE.
“Once again, you show no compassion. You drove him to become what he was… by abusing him, mentally and physically. You broke him from the caring big brother he once used to be. Grooming him not only to be competitive but to go to any length to achieve what he desired, and he did.” My voice rings powerfully across the arena as I keep circling Dad. 1
“I did nothing of the sort! He made his own choices of his own free will!” he replies, his eyes flashing. 1
“Did he? You expected more of him, wanted more from him! You put the seed of hatred for me into him!” I snarl, grabbing him by the collar, my heart thundering.
“The match has not started. Let’s follow the rules, son.” He says, smiling tauntingly. A smile that grates on my nerves.
I never realised how badly he treated us… I was so accustomed to everything that I dealt with it, but he is the root cause of it all.
I let go of him and shove him away, backing up a few steps.
“Very well then… before we start, I will go over the crimes that you have committed to remind you and the audience of them. Let’s start with the first known crime; you tried to have Alpha Rafael Rossi killed when you were at the now discontinued Alpha Training camp. Next, you commanded the murder-”
“That was not on me!” Kenneth snarls, cutting me off. “Rafael Rossi was not my doing!” 2
“Oh yeah? Then who was it on?” Alejandro snaris, leaning forward.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Dad says, spitting on the ground in disrespect before a cold smirk crosses his face as he looks at Alejandro challenging. 4
“Stop playing fucking mind games.” Alejandro snarls. “Carry on with listing his crimes. We don’t have time to fucking waste.”
“I agree,” I say, turning back to Dad. “You commanded the murder of your first-born child simply because she was a female and not as powerful as the standard Alpha. You experimented and tortured your sons in the name of science and pitted them against one another! Lied to your mate about not only the death of her first child but the abuse you were dealing out on your own children! You wanted to lure the Lycan King’s daughter to gain more. power over the council!”
I take a breath, my heart thundering as I try to control my rage. “You are the one who created a monster out of Aleric, ultimately making his crimes yours. I challenge you, Alpha Kenneth Henry Arden, for the position of Alpha of the Shadow Wolves pack. If I win this match, you will hand it over or be killed.”
“Kill him!”
“He’s better off dead!”
There are several cries from the crowds, and I look at the man before me. Despite it all… do I want to paint my hands with the blood of another family member?
I don’t answer as Dad’s eyes blaze. “I have a request! If I win, I want my sentence to be lightened!”
“You are in no position to request anything,” I growl.
“Why? Do you fear that I might just get what I want?”
“No. You just don’t hold any footing to barter. Now accept it.” My command is absolute and there is not one Solaris-blooded werewolf here who can disobey me.
His head lowers slightly, but I can sense his rage as he glares back at me in humiliation.
“I accept.” He spits through gritted teeth.
I hear Mom whisper a prayer to Selene and I glance towards their seats.
My eyes meet Skyla’s, and she gives me a small smile.
‘You got this Reign… you know I’m usually always fucking wrong about who to bet on, but this time, I’m betting on you and something tells me I’ll be winning.’ She says through the link.
I smirk at her. ‘Good to know…’ I reply before speaking the following words out loud. “I love you, My Goddess.” 2
“I love you too.”
There are a few whistles and giggles from the crowd.
“Alpha’s totally in love!”
“They are such a gorgeous couple!”
“Their chemistry is hot.”
I can’t help but smile at her before I turn to Mom and my sisters, giving them a smile too.
It’s going to be ok.
I see him move from the corner of my eyes and raise my hand, blocking him without even turning.
“Begin,” I say, turning my blazing blue eyes on him.
He scoffs as he jumps back and rolls his neck. ” You are my son, Royce. I trained you. I know your weaknesses!”
“I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I am no son of yours,” I say quietly as I dodge his every attack.
For several minutes, we exchange blows, and I simply match his speed blocking and striking.
He’s good, but I don’t think he realises I held back… he never knew the true extent of my abilities as I grew older and especially after I shifted. I never let the true extent of my power out.
This isn’t an Alpha Gen X game where there’s glory… This is a fight between a father and son for the betterment of their people…
The crowd cheers when I kick Dad to the ground with far more force than he was expecting. He coughs up blood as he rubs his chest, clearly shocked.
I don’t have the time or desire to draw this out.
I close the gap between us, grabbing him by the neck and raising my fist.
“This one is for Aleric,” I say quietly, punching him in the stomach, feeling something crack.
Perhaps a rib… Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
He grunts as I punch him across the face, this time throwing him to the ground.
“That one was for Winona, your firstborn,” I “I say as I straddle him, raising my fist again.
There’s a suffocating pain in my chest, my heart thudding violently as all the pain I feel inside. threatens to take control of my emotions.
“This one is for Mom.” I lift him by the collar and punch him square in the nose as he struggles against me.
“This one is for Skyla,” I whisper as I punch him across the face again. “I know you shouldn’t punch a man when he’s down, but this one is for Rafael Rossi.”
Standing up, I kick him where the sun doesn’t shine. He grunts as he rolls over, cupping his crotch as he groans before I deliver a punch to the face, making him cough up blood. 2
I crouch down, grabbing his hand that he tries to reach for me.
“This one is for Charlotte…” I whisper.
Each hit holds immense power, and I have broken several bones. My attacks are not made to simply injure but to leave an impact.
I’m waiting for someone to stop me, to tell me. that I can’t hit him when he’s down, but no one interferes.
“This one is for everyone you have ever hurt that I don’t know of,” I whisper as I shove him. to the ground again.
I look down at the man who once pretended to be the greatest of Alphas. He has always been nothing but scum.
“You…” He chokes out. “I made you!”
“No. You tried to make me, but you failed.” I whisper as I stand up. “Forfeit, or stand up and fight!”
“Never! I will never forfeit. I am the Alpha! I made this pack! You will never be a good Alpha, Royce. You don’t have it in you! You can’t commit, you are far too selfish!” he sneers as he tries to get up but
fails as he barely manages to lift his head from the ground.
My knuckles are a bloody mess and so are his face and shirt.
“I know I was… but henceforth, I won’t be. I know being an Alpha is not easy, being a king is even harder… but I am going to do my best. But one thing I am certain of is I will never be an Alpha like you.” I say quietly.
He cocks a brow.
Despite the state he’s in, he refuses to back down. It’s like I’m looking at Aleric all over again.
There’s no remorse or regret… I turn away, unable to look at him any longer.
“My only regret is…”
I freeze, turning back sharply as he slowly gets to his feet. There’s an expression of sadness on his face.
A sliver of hope that there’s a little regret in him flickers alight within me.
‘Be careful.’ Skyla’s voice comes into my mind.
‘I will be.’ I reply through the link.
“My only regret is that you are the one standing here and not Aleric!” He thunders.
A sharp stab of pain rushes through me at those words.
He practically wished I was dead.
He roars in rage as he suddenly shifts and launches himself at me at incredible speed.
I raise my arm in defence, but that moment of shock gave him the time he needed. His huge form throws me to the ground. Pain rips through my head as I hear a few screams and I plunge my hand into his chest, ready to rip his heart out…