NovelEnglish
Chapter 253
I hold my breath, not sure I can hear this, but certain I can’t not hear it at the same time.
“By majority vote,” Samsen announces. “We find Alpha Aaron Rathborn guilty on all charges.”
Noise erupts through the hall, some people exclaiming in shock, others protesting, some even
cheering.
It’s chaos.
But I’m stuck on the words he said.
By majority.
Does that mean not all of the Council believes Aaron is guilty?
If some Councilmembers don’t agree with the verdict, then surely they can’t go ahead with this.
There must be some sort of appeal process, some way to get this reversed.
I’m frozen and dizzy and feel sick, but also not surprised.
Aaron kept telling me how this was going to play out, but I
didn’t want to believe him.
“The hall will come to order!” Samsen shouts over the chaos.
Eventually everyone settles down and it becomes silent again.
My breathing sounds unusually loud, and I realize I’m on the
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verge of panic.
“Alpha Rathborn,” Samsen says. “By virtue of a guilty verdict from this Council, you are sentenced to
death under the next
full moon.”
It’s getting harder and harder to breathe.
I look over at Aaron, but he’s closed his eyes and dropped his
chin, and I can see the grief settling over him, as if maybe he
didn’t fully believe it until this moment either.
“Luna Leah, you will approach the stage,” Samsen then says.
I don’t react right away.
My legs are weak, and I don’t think I can walk.
Eventually, however, one of the Enforcers steps over and grabs my arm, pulling me to my feet and then
ushering me toward the stage.
Once I’m there, he releases me and I lock my knees, trying not
to sway.
“Luna Leah,” Samsen says, looking down on me. “The court
is allowing you a choice in your fate. You may remain mated to Alpha Rathborn and risk your own
death through the
mating bond upon his execution, or you may choose to break
the mating bond and possibly save yourself that fate. But,
be aware that breaking the mating bond can in itself cause death, depending on how deeply you and
Alpha Rathborn are
mated.”
I want to glance at Aaron, but it’s like I somehow locked all my
muscles, not just my knees.
Aaron and I are more deeply bonded than either of us could have ever imagined. And now it goes both
ways because last time we were together, I claimed him just as he had claimed
1. me.
The chances of me surviving if we break the mating bond are probably slim.
But somehow, I know in my bones that if I don’t break the mating bond, I won’t survive Aaron’s
execution.
Our bond transcends death.
Aaron proved that when he brought me back from beyond death that night Liam betrayed me.
I close my eyes for a moment, forcing myself to breathe
through the increasing panic and dizziness.
This is what Aaron wants, I remind myself.
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This is what I need to do to have even a chance of getting
home to Ethan.
“Luna Leah, we need a decision,” Samsen pushes, clearly impatient to have this all over with.
“I–I choose,” I managed to get out, though my tongue feels
thick in my mouth. “I choose to break the bond.”
There’s another roar from the crowd.
They think I’ve betrayed Aaron by doing this.
They think I’m being dishonorable, being selfish.
No honorable wolf would choose themselves over their bond
with their mate.
But I’m far beyond caring what anyone else thinks of me.
Right at this moment, it’s all I can do to keep myself upright,
since it feels like I’m drowning.
Samsen brings the crowd under control and this time when he looks at me, his expression is filled with
disdain.
“So be it,” he says. “Your mating bond will be broken.”
It’s the last thing I hear before the panic finally wins, stealing the last of my breath and making
everything go black.
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