Chapter 67

Sebastian

I pull away from Miranda, looking down at her. Her purple eyes pierce into mine. I want to steal her away from this place, to soothe her of all her sorrows and complications that hurts her.

How could I have been so blind? Lily’s abuse, and her father and step-mother’s, has claimed a part of her soul. It’s slowly been killing her through the years, deteriorating the once bright person she was before.

And we weren’t there to save her. My wolf growls.

Chaos is not a good enough word for what has broken out in the lower levels. Wolf nobles grab and push the trio. Their clothes rip and buttons from his shirt fly.

“How could you have done this?!”

“And to think we were friends!”

“You don’t deserve to be an Alpha!”

I can barely make out the yells and angered cries from the space below. Miranda steps away from me. She approaches the balcony and leans over the railing, looking down. I stand behind her, hands on her hips, and watch the erratic and emotional people yell and scream.

Her father barks at people, the veins on his neck bulging, as he pushes through the crowd. I grip Miranda’s waist and pull her away from the edge, dipping back into the cover of the unseen. Her chest rises and falls, moving faster and faster. She turns to me, hands gripping my sides.

“It’s okay,” I whisper so only she can hear, “it’ll all be over soon, I promise.”

She nods with my words and looks away. It takes everything in me to not pull her into my chest and console her and protect her from those who wish to bring her harm.

Pained yells and cries burst from the staircase. People’s heads fall out of view as gasps fill the small area. “Stop him!” A man yells from the top of his lungs.

I peer over her shoulder, watching as her Alpha father crashes up the stairs, bursting through the Gamma soldiers, no doubt using his Alpha strength. The Gamma soldiers fall to the side. They’re trampled under the feet of party goers who reach for the Alpha.

“Miranda!” The Alpha of the Silvertail screams over the chaos. He lunges at us, eyes crazed and wild, actions erratic and in a frenzy. I push Miranda behind me, one hand extended towards the Alpha. “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me!”

“Get him!” Other wolves screams. “Depose! Get rid of that girl too! She’s killing us all!”

My hand attaches itself around the Alpha’s neck once he gets close enough. My nails dig into his skin, breaking through his skin. Blood seeps from under my touch, staining my skin and the collar of his white shirt. I turn to the recovered soldiers.

“Get them. Now! Kick them out!” I scream the demand. They nod and grab the Alpha. I release him and wipe his blood on my pants.

“You’re a disgrace!” People hurl insults at the Alpha as he’s dragged down the stairs. They throw slaps and punches at him, getting in any sort of hit they can against the now disgraced leader. I sigh and rest my hands on my hips. My shoulders slightly relax until I hear a deafening slap and yell from behind.

I swivel around and see Lily who holds Miranda by the hair. She yanks Miranda back, who claws at her hands. Lily slaps my mate. I storm towards them.

“This is all your fault!” Lily screeches. Gamma soldiers break free from the stairs and pursue Lily and Miranda’s position. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be Sebastian’s wife! I would have been the Queen Luna! Not you!”

Once I’m close enough, I grab Miranda’s waist. The Gamma soldier yanks Lily off of her, peeling the girl away. She kicks and screams, still putting up a fight. My breathing is ragged, my eyes focused on the tears that roll down Miranda’s face. Without thinking, I swoop her up into my arms.

I escape down the hallway, the chaos fading into silence as I kick a door closed behind us. We enter an empty guest room and I gently sit Miranda on the bed. I kneel in front of her, my hands making themselves at home on her thighs. I give them a squeeze and try to peer into her purple eyes.

“Are you okay?” I whisper. Miranda’s face is covered by her own hands. She sniffles and shakes her head, unable to form a word. I sigh, sliding my hands up and down her clothed legs. “It’s okay. Take your time. I’m here, my love, I’m here.”

Disappointment strikes my chest.

I should have been here. I never should have left your side. Left you alone. It was a foolish and careless mistake on my part.

I’m so sorry Miranda.

Her purple eyes meet mine, poking out from behind her hands. I sigh with relief and tilt my head, watching her closely. She sniffles and my heart shatters. I take her hands into mine and gently kiss her knuckles. Her lips part, cheeks red. I bite back a chuckle and slowly stand in front of her, looking down.

“Miranda…” I sigh. Our eyes meet and the air is sucked from my lungs. She bats her eyes at me, looking at me as if she’s hanging onto every word. “Follow me.”

“What?” She blinks, suddenly taken out from the trance she was in. I slide my fingers into hers and lead her out of the room. We embark into the controlled chaos together, hand in hand, united as one.

The Gamma soldiers have gained authority over the crowd and the Alpha, Harper, and Lily are nowhere to be seen. One of the Delta officers marches up to me, salutes, then stands at ease.

“We have detained the Silvertails, sir, and have them cuffed up outside. What would you like us to do?” He asks.

I tilt my head down to Miranda. This is her choice to make, not mine. This isn’t my revenge but her own.

“Send them away,” she pushes the words out, “they are not welcome in the Silvertail pack or the King’s anymore. I do not wish to have them arrested, but ostracized.”

The Delta nods and turns on his heel, slicing through the crowd as he descends the stairs. I hold back a smile from her, loving how easily she slipped into authority while maintaining her kind heart.

It’s what I love about her.

I wave my Beta over and grab the microphone from his hand. Walking to the edge of the railed platform, Miranda stays by my side, holding onto my arm. I tap the microphone and the feedback alerts the crowd to go silent. They follow this cue and stop their chaos, turning to look at me.

“They have been deposed of and kicked out! They will no longer be welcome in our alliance!” I announce. They cheer and clap, celebrating this victory. I glance down at Miranda, who looks upon their faces with an awestruck expression. “Healer M shall take their place. She is the rightful heir! And…” Miranda looks up at me. Her eyes are big. Her grip on my arm tightens. “And she is my mate. Our future Queen!”