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.”

me for years! How can

dumb child. By law, you can’t rape a

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

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 me with a look that says, “I

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 rape an object. Whether or not you

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

“It’s the law.”

pick and chose what laws to follow, Dad! That law is obsolete!” Neron shouted, his fists trembling with his fury. Many pack members cowered under the might

alleged ‘rapes“, she wasn’t recognized as your mate. You didn’t know until your ceremony. Are you killing Tristan for her sake or to ease your guilt? Because, from the looks of it, you’re putting an innocent man on death’s door over baseless accusations of a mentally–ill woman.

I see the others restraining Jackie back from pouncing on and tearing Jonathan apart. Her eyes, formerly emerald green, are

can’t do this to my sister, Jonathan!” Raina shouted.

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 as

your f*cking mouth, Odessa,” Raina warned.

410

so no one did anything wrong. She’s the abusive one! She’s hit me and

but because of the differences between his rank and strength, it was hard. Nothing

and degradation my way until Neron’s

shouted in her rage, still restrained. “A sick man! I’ll tear you apart

man killed. And you have a history of assaulting pack members, not just Tristan. That violates the deal between your pack and mine. I should have you in the

and I’ll

justice I wanted is taken by the same man who ruined my life. Unlike Neron, he refuses to change. Deep down in his black heart, he still blames me for his wife and

threatening me, son?”

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

won’t mate or 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 glorious pack

if it meant never become someone

me up. No matter what

my flesh, sinking deep into nerves. I’ve

going insane

me. Why did I come out here? Why did I agree to train the pups? Above all,

a

my

this was what I’m repaid for my work–repugnance, and lack of justice–I

I

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102:02

in the deafening silence. “See how quickly they turned against you? No one truly cares about you, Little Moon. All of them are little monsters waiting to hurt you again, and they did! They sided with the abusers! Didn’t I tell you

from Osiris‘ ghostly touch on my shoulders. How could I be blind to the truth?

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

a single man in a sea of hatred. They’ve hidden behind an outdated law

my

never get justice. No one will ever be

I HATE IT!

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

it’s not always

I’m done.

pain disregarded for the sake of love and forgiveness. I’m tired of having to be the better person and hold back my

back against the bark with a broken, smug smile on his face. Jonathan will bail him out.

what he’s thinking?” Osiris‘ saccharine voice

vile thoughts he has about me

thing. Coming all this way just to