Chapter 39
· King Soren ·
Bianca hesitates, glancing nervously at Rhett.
When he bares his teeth in a silent snarl, her shoulders tremble, but she continues.
“He… he went to the council, demanding his father hand over the pack. When that didn’t work, he started talking to people—making connections. That’s when he met King Alaric.”
Monroe leans forward slightly. “And what was the nature of Rhett’s dealings with King Alaric?”
Bianca wrings her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. “Rhett agreed to… to smuggle humans for him. For the blood trade.”
Monroe’s expression hardens. “Explain the details of this arrangement. How did the smuggling work?”
Bianca flinches. “Rhett used the pack’s transport trucks to move the humans and kidnapped werewolves. They were hidden in unmarked containers. The shipments were taken to the docks and loaded onto Alaric’s ships or trucked to wherever the shipments needed to go.”
“And who else was involved in this operation?” Monroe asks, her voice cutting like a blade.
Bianca hesitates, her gaze darting to Clyde. “Councilman Clyde. He… he made sure the council didn’t interfere. He kept Rhett informed about any investigations or raids.”
All eyes turn to Clyde, whose face has gone ashen. He stammers, “That’s a lie! How do we know the King hasn’t planted these lies in her head and commanded her to believe this is her truth?”
Magnus slams his gavel down. “Councilman Clyde, you will remain silent unless called upon. Continue, Bianca.”
Bianca nods, her voice trembling. “Clyde also helped arrange the permits for the trucks and shipments, making it look like everything was legitimate. When Rhetts father found out he told Rhett to cut the deals with Alaric and refused to ever hand his title down.”
“How did Rhett take that news?” Monroe asks in return.
“He killed his father and made it look like an accident.”
Monroe nods slowly.
“You lying bitch!” Rhett suddenly roars. He lunges forward, but the guards are quick to restrain him, forcing him back into his seat.
Magnus slams his hand down on the table, his aura flaring out in warning. “Enough! You will remain silent unless spoken to.”
Rhett snarls, but he doesn’t dare defy Magnus further. Instead, he turns his glare back on Bianca, his hatred palpable. “You think this will save you? You’re as good as dead.”
“Once Rhett took over the pack, he continued to work with King Alaric of Nocturna?” Bianca visibly trembles, but to her credit, she keeps going. She knows that if she stops now, her deal is off the table.
“Yes, until Alpha Jefferson got involved.”
“How so?” Monroe asks and I feel Aubrey tense beside me.
“Alpha Jefferson started getting fines, and he started investigating Rhett’s father’s death.
They were business partners and friends.
He learned the documents were forged and took over the docks, refusing to allow King Alaric’s ships to dock.
Which in turn caused the alliances in place to fall apart. ”
Elder Monroe leans back, her eyes narrowing. “And what did you gain from this arrangement, Bianca? Why did you stay involved?”
Bianca’s hands grip the podium tighter, her knuckles white. “Rhett promised me… he promised me that once he became Alpha and took control of the council, I would be his Luna. He said we would get a spot on the council. That we would reshape the packs—strengthen them.”
“What would Alaric get out of this?” Monroe asks.
“He wanted to take over the council. He wants to enslave the packs, and the human population. He doesn’t believe the king should be in control, that humans are beneath him, and hates how the council works with the human governments.”
“Does Rhett share these beliefs?”
“In part, yes, but I believe he mainly wanted a seat on the council and the money Alaric paid him for trafficking humans.”
“And you shared the same belief?” Monroe asks, her tone sharp.
Bianca’s lips tremble. “No, I never trusted Alaric. I always believed that part of Rhett’s plan was misled.
But I supported him becoming Alpha, and he said this was the only way he would remain leading his pack.
That a war was coming, and this was the only way to ensure the pack’s safety.
I believed him. But then…” She glances at Rhett, who glares daggers at her.
“Then I realized he didn’t care about me.
He just wanted power. I was just… convenient. ”
Elder Monroe exchanges a glance with Magnus, then goes through some more paperwork before continuing. “Let’s talk about the queen. King Soren’s late wife, Queen Jacinta. What do you know about her death?”
Bianca’s face pales, and her voice drops to a whisper. “She… she found out about the smuggling. She was investigating the council, asking questions. Rhett said she was getting too close to the truth and warned King Alaric.”
Magnus’s voice is like a whip. “And what did Rhett do about it?”
Bianca hesitates once again, tears welling in her eyes. “He said it was the only way to protect the plan.”
“Are you saying Rhett personally murdered the queen?”
Bianca shakes her head. “No. Rhett handled shipments to the castle. He drove the truck that day into the castle grounds. Inside the truck were rogues compelled by King Alaric to kill the queen.”
Aubrey stiffens beside me, her hand clenching into a fist. My own rage boils beneath the surface, but I keep my expression neutral, my gaze locked on Bianca.
Monroe presses further. “And Clyde? Did he know about this?”
Bianca nods again. “Yes. He helped cover it up. He made sure the investigation led nowhere.”
“Damning accusations,” Monroe says, turning her attention to Clyde. “Do you have anything to say in your defense, Councilman?”
Clyde’s face is slick with sweat, his usual smug demeanor crumbling. “Nothing I say will have you believe otherwise.”
“The evidence will speak for itself,” Monroe cuts back at him.
Elder Monroe looks back at Bianca. “What about the ports? What was the end goal of this operation?”
Bianca hesitates, her gaze flicking to Rhett again. “Rhett wanted to control the ports. He said if he could control the flow of goods and resources, he could control the packs. He planned to use the humans as leverage—with the Vampire King backing him, he thought no one could stop him.”
“And the council? What was his plan for the council?”
“He wanted to replace them. He said the council was outdated, that they were too weak to lead. He wanted to take their place—with himself at the head.”
Monroe leans back, her expression grim. “And what of King Alaric? What role did he play in this?”
Bianca’s voice wavers. “Alaric was using Rhett to destabilize the packs. He wanted to weaken the werewolves so he could… take control. He promised Rhett power in exchange for loyalty.”
When Bianca finishes, Magnus turns his attention to Clyde. “Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
Clyde smirks. “Defense? Hardly. She makes me out to be some villain. What I did I was doing to try to save part of the council. I’m naive enough to believe Alaric would keep his word.
I was trying to keep the damage to a minimum by ensuring my seat on the council.
Some say in what becomes of the packs is better than no say at all.
You can’t stop what’s coming. Alaric will rise, and when he does, you’ll all be nothing more than dust beneath his feet. ”
His words send a chill through the room, but Magnus doesn’t falter. “Your fate will be decided soon enough.”
Maverick then presents his evidence found on Clyde’s computer and admits to signing off on some of the things. After seeing the wording myself, it is clear he had no idea he was signing off on forged documents.
Next, Aubrey is called forward. She stands tall, her voice steady as she recounts everything Rhett and Clyde put her through—her abduction, the attempted forced bond, and their plot to take over her father’s pack.
None of this is necessary. We have enough evidence.
Still, I know she needed to do this, not for the case against them but for herself.
She doesn’t hold back, her words cutting like a blade.
By the time she finishes, the room is deathly silent, and it’s clear Clyde and Rhett could never talk their way out of this.
“Well, if no one has any more questions, we’ll break for deliberations.”
I can’t help myself, I want to make sure Rhett knows what kind of woman he chose over his mate.
I rise from my seat. “I have a question.”
All eyes fall on me. I move to the front and Aubrey stares at me confused, wondering why I’m questioning her, but my question isn’t for her. It’s for Rhett.
Magnus nods and I turn my attention to Rhett. He glares at me, waiting.
“Why did you decide to take Bianca as your Luna when Aubrey was your mate?”
He smirks, thinking he is hurting Aubrey. She doesn’t even pay him any mind, instead I feel her eyes boring into me.
“Originally, I planned on seducing her and winning her over, knowing I would get control of her pack and the docks through bonding. Then I learned she was my fated mate, so I was going to make her my Luna.” Bianca whimpers hearing this.
I get no reaction through the bond from Aubrey, for which I’m glad knowing she feels nothing for this man in front of me.
“Why didn’t you mate and mark her?”
“She was a fucking prude for one and wanted to save herself for the wedding night.” he scoffs and shakes his head.
“So because she wouldn’t sleep with you, you were going to reject her?”
“No, I had other means to entertain myself. I decided I would reject her when I found out she stole the money I owed you and the council for covering the fines. Had she not stolen it, we may not be here right now. I never would have lost control of the ports.” He glares at Aubrey, baring his canines at her. “She fucking ruined everything!”
Aubrey scoffs, and shakes her head.