Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 33 – Am I Crazy Now?

“God damn right, you should be scared of me.” Control‘ by Halsey

Kiya

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02:13

Blinking back my tears, I backed away from Tristan. Shaking my head, I handed the blade to Neron.

Like clockwork, the crowd whispers behind me at the sudden revelation. They whisper why I’m hesitating or granting mercy. I scoffed silently. Gossip is a treasured hobby because they love to make wild assumptions.

“I’m sorry, Neron,” I whispered shamefully, “I thought I could do it, but I can’t.”

“It’s okay, Kiya.” A comforting smile rests on his face. He took the blade and used his free hand to smoothen my hair. He k*ssed the top of my curls, “I’ve asked too much of you in a short time. Executing someone is a hefty responsibility, and I’m glad you backed out. You stayed true to yourself. I’m proud of you.”

Onyx growled softly in him, making his presence known to me. Standing on my moral ground awakened a dissimilar sensation. I’m proud, but I feel ashamed. The crowd expected to watch me murder my assaulter, but things changed.

How many think I’m weak? How many haven’t changed their thinking from the dark days? Many faces in the crowd are the same faces back then. It’s been five years since my suicide and my arrival, and I foolishly hoped some had the heart to change.

But one thing’s for certain: I can count on my friends. Zircon Moon? I’m still hesitant on trusting anyone except for the Gammas, including Neron and Raina. I’m watching for changes but I’m also watching for slipups.

Neither has slipped up yet.

Relieved, I can retreat to my safety net and watch the execution. Neron has the blade, so he’ll kill Tristan for

1. me.

“Stop this, immediately.” A voice echoed. “No crime has occurred; thus this execution is to be null and void for lack of evidence and misconduct.”

Everyone’s heads shot to the right to see Jonathan Prince marching toward us with an older man in robes beside him. His aging face contorted in what I think to be…satisfaction? My eyes widened at his proclamation and commotion erupted again, but not as much as the anger from Neron.

“Dad, Elder Sage, what the f*ck is this?!” Neron demanded as they cut through the crowd. “You have no right

to stop these proceedings!”

“I do when I recognize a gross miscarriage of justice.” Jonathan glowered at his son. “While I’m not acting as Alpha, I have senior authority. You’re preparing to execute an innocent man over wild accusations–and

without a trial!”

“Under his own volition. Tristan confessed to me and Raina!” Neron yelled. “He’s forfeited his right to a trial because of it. He harmed the Alpha’s mate, punishable by death! I told you last night that you won’t stop me!”

Wait, I remember this! Last night, I was heading to my room for the evening when I heard yelling from the

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fourth floor. Two separate voices battled out with hints of glass breaking. Werewolf senses can pick up on the smallest noises, but I couldn’t make out what they spoke about. It came from the Alpha Office, so I knew 02:11 Neron was arguing with someone. His Dad!

“There are many errors to your declaration, Alpha Neron.” Elder Sage spoke emotionlessly. I recognize him as one of the pack elders. Every pack has one or two. Where the f*ck was he five years ago?! “No rape took place.”

it did!” I screamed, marching over in disgust. “He raped me for years! How can you stand there and say it never happened?!”

By law,

when Jonathan dropped that bomb. No! He cannot take this away from me! The crowd silenced, sucked into the conflict between us four. Is there a level above fury?

hide his smug smile. Neron is about to rip his head off! But he’s looking at me with a look that says, “I always

whole beings. They’re property. They have no rights. normally granted to non–slaves. Rape is the forced sexual acts between two people–the perpetrator and the victim. Applying this to your context, you claim that Tristan Dudley raped you when you were a

my throat, shrilling through the air. “Tristan brutalized me! You cannot tell me my rapes didn’t exist because Jonathan

“It’s the law.”

trembling with his fury. Many pack members cowered under the might of his voice. “This

until your ceremony. Are you

on and tearing Jonathan apart.

this to my sister,

innocent in all of this.” I knew that grating voice anywhere. Odessa, standing beside Darien, had a smile full of glee at me but soured when facing Raina, “You brutalized the stupid bitch as much as anyone else here and you call for justice? Might as well kill yourself, Raina, because you’re just

mouth, Odessa,”

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slave doesn’t exist, so no one did anything wrong. She’s the abusive one! She’s hit me and 02:0 threatened me countless times, but guess you didn’t know that, huh? That’s what this pack wants as a Luna?! The slut

punching her in the face and throat. Darien tried to stop her, but because of the differences between his rank and strength, it was hard.

members backed away while some tossed insults and degradation my way until Neron’s lethal

shit!” Jackie shouted in her rage, still restrained. “A sick man! I’ll tear you apart for defecating on

crime occurred today. Because of your lies and hysteria, you almost got a man killed. And you have a history of

I’ll kill you.”

is taken by the same man who ruined my life. Unlike

me,

You won’t hurt Kiya or take her away from me! If you so much as f*cking try, I’ll send you

end this ridiculous execution, and you dare to talk back to me? I raised an Alpha, not a weak man! You’re a failure, Neron, and you’re taking this

failure if it meant never become someone like you!”

even Neron’s arms can warm me up. No matter what I

aimed at me. It seared into my flesh, sinking deep into nerves.

from going insane

come out here? Why did I agree to train the pups? Above all, am I stupid for setting foot upon a

a mistake.

my

work–repugnance, and lack of justice–I should’ve stayed my

I

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silence. “See how quickly they turned against you? No one truly cares about you, Little Moon. All of them are little

ghostly touch on my shoulders. How could

an innate trait within his bloodline. Stop believing that you’ll get retribution from this hellscape. It’ll never come. Zircon Moon has been very lucky to avoid punishment for your torment.

Tristan is a single man in a sea of hatred. They’ve

my

never get justice. No one will ever be held responsible for my pain.

I HATE IT!

can be the striking gavel of retribution. The right way no longer applies, so why not take matters into your own hands? Don’t wait for justice; take it.”

between right and wrong. Righteousness always prevails, right? But it’s not always fair.

I’m done.

and forgiveness. I’m tired of having to be the better person and hold back my anger for some nonexistent moral ground. This pack won’t suffer on their own, no

to Tristan, leaning back against the bark with a broken, smug smile on

to hear what he’s thinking?” Osiris‘ saccharine voice asked me. “I can give that to you.”

all the vile thoughts he has about

this way just to