Dane's POV:
“I asked, who sent you?” My voice was deep and authoritative as I glared at them kneeling on the ground, their heads bowed.
Seeing how furious I was, they lifted their heads and turned to me, a sneer curling up on their lips immediately. It was scary and, above all, felt intensely weird.
“Alpha Halfdan sent us!” they finally declared. My brows furrowed immediately at the sound of what they had just said to me.
“What? That wasn't what you told me! Who sent you? Say the truth right now!” I commanded, but it was fruitless. It was as though they had taken orders from someone and weren't going to speak up no matter what.
Slowly, I turned to look at the crowd that had kept mumbling. They were as shocked as I was too. Just then, my eyes met with that of Edmond, and the sneer that was on his lips drove home one fact: he had a hand in this.
He had done something to them, but how? When? Last time I checked, the cell was heavily guarded, so how the hell did Edmond get past the guards without me knowing?
At this point, one thing was certain: Edmond had men, he had spies that worked for him in the mansion. He had someone buried in the midst of my guards.
With my eyes bulging at the realisation, I turned to look at the guards that were standing before me. One of them was his man, but who? I have never suspected any of them before.
“Alpha Dane, what do we do? They won't speak the truth no matter what!” Beta Ivar's voice broke through the silence and chaos that had engulfed me, prompting me to turn my gaze to him.
“He has done something…” I muttered before darting my gaze away from him and fixing it on the men that were kneeling before me and the crowd.
“He had his way to get into their heads, and they fell for it!” I lashed out through my gritted teeth. My fist clenched as I watched them.
“If we don't get them to speak, then everyone would really think that Alpha Halfdan is behind it all. No one would believe that Edmond is behind it all!” Ivar notified, making me laugh in anger.
“Exactly! Exactly!” I growled as I turned to Edmond again. He was enjoying it. He was enjoying every bit of what was happening before him.
“He knew when he did this! If it's Alpha Halfdan, he knew I'd rather go start a war with him or send a warning. He planned it so well just so it wouldn't affect him!”
“Alpha Dane, a judgement must be passed right now! The members of the pack are waiting.” Ivar declared, and just then, I finally came to a conclusion.
“If that wouldn't do just as planned… if they won't speak up just as we had agreed back then, then there's only one thing to do and without mercy!” I stated, turning on my heels, ready to walk out when my eyes caught sight of Astrid.
I bet she was going to be mad that Edmond had framed her ex for taking her away from the pack. I felt silly too for not being able to protect her, for not being able to help her out when she needed me.
“At your orders, Alpha Dane!” Ivar bowed his head as he stood behind me.
Slowly shutting my eyes briefly, I released a depressed sigh. “Kill them!” I commanded, my decision clear and concise.
“What? But they…” Ivar was going to say when I cut him short, turning my head halfway to look at him as he stood behind me.
“Do as I say! They don't deserve to live! Behead them immediately!” I commanded before I stormed out of his sight, heading back to the pack's mansion.
At this moment, I needed to get my head straight. I needed to stay in a cool place and understand what had just happened right under my nose.
“Alpha Dane?” I heard Astrid's voice call me from behind, but I just didn't want to speak to her. I wanted to be alone, on my own, and not have her by my side.
My pace increased, and just as I was going to get to the entrance, Edmond stormed up before me, halting me in my tracks swiftly and blocking my path.
“Hello, Alpha Dane… you don't look happy… What's wrong? Did something scary happen?” he asked, acting like he cared when in the real sense, he was behind it all.
“Get out of my way this minute, Edmond!” I commanded, but he scoffed.
“I am here to greet my Alpha, and that I must do… I'm sorry things didn't really go well for you today, Alpha Dane!” he snarled as his fake smile turned into that of a vicious old man.
“What do you want, Edmond?” I tried to stay as calm as I could, but trust me, Edmond was getting on my nerves. He was infuriating me even more.
“What I want? Simple! You gave the command to kill the men that abducted our dear Luna…” he paused as his eyes trailed to her briefly before he looked back at me.
“Now, it is time for you to discuss with the elders what will happen to Alpha Halfdan!” His tone, carrying a sense of urgency and evil, reverberated in my ear.
“Leave my way, Edmond… I am not discussing this with you!” I declared, hoping he'd leave. But he didn't. He stood his ground as if he were glued to that spot before me.
“You know, I think going to attack the Greenstone pack would be nice right now! At least, you make him pay for trying to harm your Luna and also kill a potential threat to your relationship with your Luna!” he advised, my brows arching as I listened to every malicious word that left his lips.
“I'm pretty sure you are aware of the fact that they could get back together if something isn't done!” he added viciously, a sneer curling up on his lips as he stared at me.
“Are you…” I was going to say, but immediately, he cut in.
“I know you see it too… the fact that she doesn't see you for you, Alpha Dane! You love her, why don't you eliminate anyone that can put an end to your closeness with her while you still have the chance to!”