Regretted Rejection : Wrath of the Moon
Chapter 26

The former Forrester pack members were sitting in the courtroom. Their Alpha Ken and Luna Claire were on trial for treason against the true Alpha. The ex-pack members were stunned when they came to know the reason for rogue attacks and why the pack as a whole was weakened over the years. Shook to the core of their very being, the guilt they were feeling was overwhelming.

Maya arrived in the courtroom, her team members were present to support her. Xander was standing beside her, very silently. She threw a look around the court room and perched on the seat the Council had assigned to her. Claire who was looking disappointed at Ken swithed to glaring at Maya when she walked in. Her lips curled in a snarl as she wished that she could escape the cuffs and scratch out Maya's face. Ken was glancing at Maya with sadness etched in his eyes.

The three werewolves council members, representatives of the werewolf race in the Council, were present as the presiding judges for the case. The three Council Representatives were quite impressive in stature and once they arrived, people in the court felt a slight pressure on their wolves. It was not completely dominating them but kind of reminding them of the representatives power. It was necessary to ensure peace in courtroom.

Claire's wolf quivered under their pressure. The procedure for the case started and Dylan stood up to present the case as he had investigated. The judges and the other people in the courtroom were shocked as various facts were placed in front of them. They couldn't digest the fact that a true Alpha gave up her position for her brother's sake and the whole pack turned around to betray her. The other people in the courtroom stared at the former pack members of the Forrester pack incredulously. The former pack members hung their heads in shame.

When Maya had vacated her position for Ken, her family had been grateful and praised her. But when she had needed them they ungraciously turned around and asked her to leave. The Luna of the dissolved pack had ensured that the true Alpha suffered so that she remained in power. Listening to these facts, the frown on the face of three judges got deeper and deeper. They had a grim countenance after Dylan finished speaking. The main judge turned to Claire and Ken and said, "Is there anything that you want to say in your defence?"

Claire opened her mouth to vehemently deny the charges but before she could get any word in, Ken spoke up, "We accept all the charges placed on us and we are ready to face the punishment issued.”

The main judge nodded thoughtfully and turned to Maya to ask, "Do you want any specific compensation from them?"

Maya threw a look around the room before nodding. "Yes, the company that was used to manage the expense of the pack. I want it. The pack is being disbanded and the few remaining members who were not accepted in any other pack are going to do menial work for Council. As such they will not have any use for the the company. The company was created by my forefathers and as such I would like the company to be handed over to me." she replied in a concise speech.

Everyone turned to her in shock. No one expected Maya to make a materialistic demand. If anything, they expected her to make a gesture of goodwill to show off her new position of a Council member. The werewolf Council Representatives, acting as judges, were quite surprised. If any of them had been in Maya's position they would have used this opportunity to gain sympathy which would in turn pave the way for climbing up through ranks of the Council. But after thinking about the fact that Maya was a new Council member they thought that she must be inexperienced in such matters.

"Are you sure that it is the only thing that you want?" the main judge asked in order to prompt her to make another decision.

"No. It is the only thing that I want. Please make arrangements for it as soon as possible.” Maya replied calmly. Xander sat next to Maya and had his hand on top of hers. He wanted to interlock their fingers but he wasn't sure if Maya would be comfortable with it. After all, he was part of the reason she was facing this situation today.

Xander never pushed Maya to accept their relationship faster. But he went with her flow. They didn't share a room but he often slept outside the door of her room. He loved her and was using little gestures to show her how much she means to him and how sorry he was for hurting her previously. "If that is all you want then we shall pass the judgement now." the main judge stated after a sigh. He expected more from Maya but maybe she would require time before she became aware of the hidden politics.

"Wait. I have to say something.” Claire interjected. Ken turned to look at her with disappointment in his eyes. And the other people were glaring at her in anger. Only Maya, Dylan and the judges maintained their calm. Xander displayed a blank face but Maya could feel his anger. She turned the hand he was holding and light locked their fingers.

"What does the ex-Luna Claire wishes to convey?" one of the judges asked her.

"Why are Ken and myself the only ones getting punished? We weren't the only ones who betrayed Maya. Shouldn't her parents be held accountable as well? Shouldn't some responsibility fall on Xander's shoulder as well? This isn't a fair trial.” Claire stood up and complained loudly in the courtroom.

"An Alpha and Luna are the highest authority in a pack. They enjoy all the power and amenities that are a result of that authority. However it also means that they hold the highest responsibility and accountability in the pack. Even if other pack members clamoured to betray me, then you should have used the authority bestowed upon you and ensured an ethical decision. The case is against the coup was carried out in Forrester pack. The only people who received any kind of benefits from the coup were you two. Also for the betrayal by the pack members they have all been assigned menial labor by the Council as a punishment for the rest of their life, irrespective of their gender. As for Xander, he only brought me to the lake. You were the one who sold me off. His crime is of hurting his mate and the only person who can decide a punishment for this crime is me. Not the Council, nor you have any right to question his punishment.” Maya replied her tone even.

"Oh please! Don't pretend to be a saint. You are saving him just because he is your mate and your wolf cannot completely abandon her mate. Your wolf is a weak bitch.” Claire snarled at Maya. Ken looked at Claire shocked, only to see the resentment she felt displayed on her face clearly.

"Weak wolf?" Maya smirked and released her aura to pressure Claire with it's full extent into submission. Claire tried not to let it affect her but she fell to the floor gasping for breath. After full five minutes, Maya reigned in her aura. Claire could barely move and yet she turned her head to glance at Maya with resentment in her eyes.

"Who says I am not being punished? The years I spent apart from my mate was my punishment. The moments when I see hesitation on her face when deciding whether or not to trust me is my punishment. The moments she has doubts on the strength of our relationship is my punishment. Staying close yet apart from her is my punishment. Looking at her agonizing whether or not to move ahead in our relationship is my punishment. But this punishment will be gladly borne by me for as long as it takes to heal her." Xander replied his voice soft but clear in the courtroom.

Maya's team members along with Dylan glanced at them worried. They didn't knew how long Maya would take to recover from the trauma she faced. They wanted her to be healed but they also knew that healing couldn't be forced. It will require it's own time and space. They were glad that Xander was making efforts for Maya's sake. However, they were wary of him in their hearts.

"That is not a real punishment.” Claire yelled back.

"How about never becoming the Alpha for any pack?" the main judge asked intervening.

Claired looked at the judges in confusion. Maya was just as preplexed by the question thrown. "Xander himself made a commitment to the Council that he would never occupy an Alpha position in any pack as the punishment for betraying his mate. Also if Maya rejects him in future and finds another male wolf for herself then he would remain mateless till the end of the time.” The other judge clarified. Immediately there was a buzz of conversation in the courtroom. Maya was shook by the punishment Xander had given himself. She glanced at him from the side of her eyes.

"You should stop throwing blame around. Instead of acting out, you should accept the punishment with same fortitude that your mate displayed just a few moments ago." The third judge who had been silent, spoke up angrily.

"Ken Forrester and Claire Forrester are hearby sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years. After which they can join any pack and start to build themselves from the bottom ranks of the pack. If any pack refuses to accept them, then they can opt of menial labor jobs with the Council.” The main judge gave their ruling and left with the other two judges following him.

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