Chapter 79

~Grace~

I thought the Elder Lycan would explode. His entire face turned red, and I swear I could see steam coming out of his ears.

“Alexander Black, do not turn against your elder. You know that I only serve this clan. I have been loyal to your family since your grandfather ruled. I would never turn my back on you,” the Elder Lycan spat, quivering.

I couldn’t tell if he shook just because of his age, or his anger.

I looked at Alex. It was hard to read his expression. He was a professional when it came to that. It was part of Alpha training.

I hoped that he wasn’t taking in the Elder Lycan’s words. They were clearly lies and manipulation.

Alex lowered his head. “There is a testimony against you, Elder Lycan. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“You let the words of some… wolves poison your mind? You were doing so well until you met her!” The Elder Lycan pointed at me, and I flinched, shocked.

Alex growled, looking at the Elder Lycan darkly. “Do not speak ill of Grace. I thought you understood where my heart lies.”

The Elder Lycan shook his head. “You told me very clearly that you care more about werewolves than you do your own clan, who has been clinging onto existence for the last two decades!”

I was stunned. Nobody spoke to Alex this way, but he was letting the Elder Lycan. I understood now how much Alex respected him and why he would get upset if I even mentioned something negative about the Elder Lycan.

I glowered at the old man. It sickened me to know how much he hurt and manipulated Alex over the years. Even now, he was trying to wriggle his way out of something he was clearly guilty of by making Alex feel bad about himself.

What an old creep.

Alex deserved so much more than him.

He deserved his father, who the Elder Lycan got killed!

Anger bubbled to a boil in my chest, and I found it difficult to hold myself back.

But I couldn’t step in, not yet. Alex had to realize what a fraud the Elder Lycan was. If I took over the situation before he came to that conclusion on his own, I’m afraid he would never truly see it.

“I have been doing everything I can for this clan. It’s been my life goal,” Alex spoke quietly, and my heart shattered.

I could tell he was hurt by the Elder Lycan’s accusations, and he didn’t deserve to feel that way at all.

“Well look where the clan is, now. On death’s doorstep, with werewolves performing black magic on them! And you blame me for this? I thought you were better than that, Alex.”

I clenched my fist. I wanted to smack him so bad, knock those hideous glasses off of his face. He would not speak to Alex like that and get away with it.

Alex didn’t respond.

I looked at him, surprised. Was he just going to let this slide? He outright insulted him, Alex should be furious!

Just as I took a step forward to place my hand on Alex’s back, a familiar face stepped through the main hall’s doors.

Liam’s mother.

She stood tall and came in like a storm, her heels clicking against the tile and her hair billowing out behind her. Rage showed on her face.

I shrank a bit, a little intimidated by her presence.

Everyone turned towards her, and the Elder Lycan stumbled away from her.

“Y-you! You monster, you should be killed on sight for stepping on the ground, where werewolves spilled Lycan blood!” The Elder Lycan sputtered out.

Alex stood tensely. I grabbed his hand, and he wrapped his fingers around mine, squeezing my hand.

I knew he was hesitating. Here was Liam and his mother, right here, right now. If he killed them here, it wouldn’t be as taboo as Alex going into their clan and attacking them unprovoked. With them here, the story would be different.

It would seem more like they were the ones provoking him. And a lighter sentence would likely be passed.

It was dangerous for them to be here, but that proved their innocence for me. If Liam’s mom knew she could be killed for coming here, but risked it just to tell Alex the truth about the curse, then I knew she truly cared about the Lycans, even after all these years.

I just hoped Alex saw it that way, too.

“It is you who should be killed on sight, Elder,” Liam’s mother spoke up, curling her lip at him. She crossed her arms and stood in front of Alex, standing with her weight on one leg.

The Elder sputtered, but she put a finger up and gave him a sharp look. It surprised me to see that the Elder Lycan actually listened.

“What my son says is true. The Elder Lycan was responsible for organizing an attack on the Black Lycan clan twenty years ago and framed me for the bloodshed,” she spoke, her eyes moving from one person to the next.

I shivered. Her presence commanded authority, and the long scar across her face only helped push her intimidating appearance.

Nobody said anything. She seemed to approve of this and continued.

“He despised my relationship with Darius Black and tried many times to separate us. Fortunately, Darius did not listen to the Elder Lycan. Or perhaps it was unfortunate, considering the events that took place.”

Her eyes landed on the Elder Lycan who only glared back at her, pressing his wrinkled lips together.

I just knew he was bursting at the seams to say something awful to her, but I was glad he was letting her speak.

“One night, Darius had a heated argument with the Elder Lycan. I overheard it. He told the Elder that he was going to marry me and bridge the gap between werewolves and Lycans forever. The Elder did not want this to happen, he believes that werewolves and Lycans have no business being together.”

Her eyes landed on me, now. I shivered. I knew the Elder Lycan wasn’t supportive of Alex and I! And I knew he didn’t like me, either!

I was just glad I hadn’t had the chance to have long chats with him.

Who knows what he had been telling Alex behind the scenes? I’m just glad Alex seems to put his foot down every time the Elder said something negative about me.

“And so he took a drastic measure to stop the marriage from taking place: Framing me for betraying the Black Lycan clan and killing Darius and his daughter.”

She glared at the Elder Lycan, and took a step closer.

“I tried to save him. Darius. I heard about the planned attack from rumors of other werewolves. I tried to save Darius, but I failed. That’s where I got this.”

Liam’s mother pointed at the scar on her face, and I clasped my hands over my mouth. It looked so painful, and she got it trying to protect her lover…

I turned toward the Elder Lycan, anger surging through me. He caused this clan enough pain!