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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Bonus

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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Bonu

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.”

I screamed, marching over in disgust. “He raped me

By law, you can’t rape a slave.”

No! He cannot take this away from me! The crowd silenced, sucked into the conflict between us four. Is there a level above fury? Because Neron’s face is turning as red as fire. And given that he has a weapon in his hands, this

Sage took out a book from his robe and flipped open to a specific page, whereas Jonathan couldn’t hide his smug smile. Neron is about to rip his head off! But he’s looking at

get straight to the point. Slaves are not considered 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 slave. You were merely an object, and one cannot

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

“It’s the law.”

laws to follow, Dad! That law is obsolete!” Neron shouted, his fists trembling with his fury. Many pack members cowered under the might of his voice. “This is your convoluted way of getting revenge for Mom and Nuria,

is my way of ensuring a friend doesn’t die.” Jonathan shrugged calmly, unfazed by his son’s anger. “And don’t act high and mighty, Neron. At the time of the alleged ‘rapes“, she wasn’t recognized as your mate. You didn’t know until

Jackie!” Turning behind me, I see the others restraining Jackie back from pouncing on

my sister,

voice anywhere. Odessa, standing beside Darien, had a smile full of glee at me but soured when facing Raina, “You

mouth, Odessa,” Raina

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She’s the abusive one! She’s hit me

Odessa to the ground, savagely 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. Nothing will stop her from beating the shit out of her former best friend–not even

tossed insults and degradation my way until Neron’s lethal

a piece of shit!” Jackie shouted in her rage, still restrained. “A sick man!

And you have a history of assaulting pack members, not just Tristan. That violates the deal

I’ll

the same man who ruined my life. Unlike Neron, he refuses to change. Deep down in his

me,

If you so much as f*cking try, I’ll send you to hell myself!” He bellows. “Senior authority does mean torturing

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

be a failure if it meant never become someone

can warm me

crowd, spotting many angry faces aimed at me. It seared into my flesh, sinking deep into nerves. I’ve ruined their peace. Daggers from their eyes pierced my heart in calculated ways to

me from going

called a liar and made out to be an attention–seeking whore. This pack never fails to disgust me. Why did I come out here? Why

a

my

work–repugnance, and lack of justice–I

Am I Crazy

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Bonus

102:02

“See how quickly they turned against you? No one truly cares

my shoulders. How could I be blind to the truth? This was

that you’ll get retribution from this hellscape. It’ll never come. Zircon

live. Cut one head off, three more appear. That’s how everything works with Zircon. Tristan is a single man in a sea of hatred. They’ve

my

will ever

I HATE IT!

Moon. You can be the striking gavel of retribution. The right way no longer applies, so why not take matters into your own

between right and wrong. Righteousness always prevails, right? But it’s not always fair. I’ve walked down that path–and karma still

I’m done.

sake of love and forgiveness. I’m tired of having to be the better person and hold back my anger for some nonexistent moral ground. This pack

with a broken, smug smile on his face. Jonathan will bail

what he’s thinking?” Osiris‘ saccharine voice asked

has about me and

this way