Dane's POV:
“Which of you had the guts to mock my Luna?” My fist clenched as I glared at each of them standing right before me. They were scared, and I understood that, but it wasn't going to make me stop. It wasn't going to make me let go of them easily.
When they had begun to speak ill about my mate, they could have thought twice. They could have reasoned properly that they feared Alpha Dane and wouldn't want him to get furious at them.
My fist clenched as I kept waiting for a response. They weren't speaking at this moment, and it infuriated me even more.
“Speak or I…” I was going to place a threat, but just then, one of them spoke up, cutting me short, which I disliked so badly.
“No one, Alpha Dane… none of us spoke ill of your mate and Luna!” He immediately went on his knees, his head bowed to me to show respect while he lied.
How was it possible that after lying to me, he had the guts to act like the victim? At this point, it was obvious that everyone was going to see me as a monster, but I wasn't going to mind or give a fuck.
With three strides closer to where he was kneeling, I crouched down to his level on one knee, a cunning sneer curling up on my lips.
“Repeat yourself…” I demanded with a deep voice, the conversation just between us at this moment.
“I… I said…” he paused the second I reached for his chin and lifted his face up to mine, my eyes glaring right into his.
“I said no one, Alpha… we wouldn't dare to mock your Luna! We won't!” He shook his head incessantly as he tried to deny it.
“You know what I hate so much? It is lying when you have been caught, young one… you know, I was willing to let you go if you had stated the truth… but unfortunately, you didn't!” I snarled, my grip around his chin tight and firm.
“I… I'm speaking the truth, Alpha Dane!” He still insisted as if I were a fool.
“Wow…” I stood to my feet, a scoff leaving my lips in utmost shock.
“Then if you didn't, who did?”
“I don't know, Alpha Dane… we were just…” Just as he was going to say or lie even more, I didn't hesitate to punch him right in the face, the gasps and exclamations of everyone watching echoing in the air.
He was the one who had mocked Astrid.
“Get up!” I commanded, but he delayed, clutching his face in pain.
“I said get up!” He slowly stood to his feet, his form still trembling.
I grabbed him by his neck and pulled him closer to my face, gritting my teeth.
“I'd let you go… Do you know why?” I asked, making him shake his head in ignorance immediately.
“Because I have better people to deal with… you aren't worth my time!” I lashed out as I gave him another hit in the face, throwing him to the hard ground again.
Swiftly, I turned on my heels and walked over to the podium where I was sitting before. It was best to stop all rumours now before it became too late and difficult to stop.
“Let's begin!” I commanded, and just then, my guards bowed to me, walking out, heading for the cell to get the men who had committed these crimes.
Just as they left, I couldn't help but see Astrid, my Luna, walking up to where I was seated. She had her own seat beside me.
“Alpha Dane.” She bowed to me, taking permission to sit.
“You may sit, Luna!” I uttered in a low, deep voice. If only she was aware of the battle I had just fought for her.
After waiting for a few seconds, they brought them out, the men who had dared to defy the orders of their Alpha.
It was pretty simple at this moment: kneel them before everyone, question them, get Edmond out, and kill him before the pack members for what he had done.
The second they got before everyone, they were made to go on their knees instantly. My eyes glared at each of them, including the one I had tortured the most. He kept his head bowed and couldn't lift it to the crowd.
He looked odd, and I sensed a bad energy from him, but I wasn't sure what it was. I wasn't sure what had happened.
“At your orders, Alpha Dane!” Beta Ivar notified me, pulling me out of my thoughts. My eyes trailed over to where Mr. Edmond was sitting, and his sneer was still increasing.
It felt like he had done something. He wasn't scared, even when he was the one who had sent them.
“Alpha!” Beta Ivar called out again, and just then, I had no other choice but to give the order that he wanted from me.
I stood to my feet, and taking three steps forward, I crossed my hands behind my back, scanning the crowd for a second before speaking up.
“The men right here attacked the pack and abducted the Luna… my Luna!” I turned briefly to glance at her before darting my gaze back to the crowd.
“They were caught after we rescued my Luna, Luna Astrid… but one thing we didn't get to know was who sent them! They will testify about their leader right here, right now, and justice must be carried out immediately! Either by flogging or…” I paused as I turned to look at Edmond, who had his stare fixed on me too.
“By death!”
A smirk tugged at his lips at the sound of death. He wasn't scared.
“Beta Ivar?” I turned over to him. “Begin the questioning!” I commanded, and immediately, he obeyed me.
“Yes, Alpha Dane!” He bowed his head as he walked over to where they were kneeling.
“Who sent you?” He threw the question at them, but they didn't respond. They were too busy bowing to him.
“I asked, who sent you?”
They still didn't respond, and at this point, I got pissed. So pissed that I felt like punching them in the face.
“I…” Beta Ivar was going to keep asking, but I stepped in, walking over to where they were kneeling with so much anger buried within me.
“Do you prefer getting the truth out the hard way? Who sent you?” I growled, and just then, they looked up at me.
“I'm waiting…” I lashed out through my gritted teeth, and finally, he spoke.
“Alpha Halfdan sent us!”