Bonus Chapter 1

The hall of justice is more crowded than usual today. Murmurs and whispers fill the large hall as everyone tries to predict the outcome of today's gathering. The long bench at the front, which has a raised desk, is filled with the six council officials exchanging papers and whispering into each other's ears. Behind them is the great seal of jurisdiction for the beast kingdom, which is of a Lycanthrope howling with both his arms splayed apart.

I'm sitting with Reagan at the front of the spectator seating, and as the royal family, we are the only ones allowed those seats. Other audiences sat two seats behind us on long benches while we sit on single customized armchairs meant for the royal family. As I said before, we are the only ones sitting here accompanied by royal guards standing rigidly at corners of the hall. Most royal family members try to keep away from courtroom meetings so as not to interfere in their matters.

The council is a separate arm from His Highness. They didn't always exist before, giving the King absolute authority to make laws, implement them, and interpret them. And with such great power, he couldn't be found guilty no matter what he did. But His Highness's grandfather had formed the council as the task became too heavy for him. Now, they have the power to investigate anyone, including a ruler, put him under trial, and dish out his sentence to him. They own the decision of interpreting the law, leaving the implementation to the King. But a King couldn't make laws without consulting the councils.

Reagan and I could have also skipped these court meetings, but this particular case had been dragging us here. We wanted to see for ourselves, especially Reagan, the sentence Janet would be given and make sure it was what she deserved. Her father, General Alphonso, had been doing a lot to wipe away every dirt on her name even though we're trying to expose her true colors.

We, however, lost when General Alphonso asked for his daughter to be trialed separately from the rogues. And since they couldn't find any evidence of her partaking in the trade of she-wolves, she was trialed separately. The rogues had denied her participating in their illegal business, and we think it's because General Alphonso got to them. And the she-wolves interrogated also claimed to not have seen her except the day of my kidnap. She must have hidden from them. So she is only being trialed for my kidnap and nothing else.

I had testified against her, recalling all she had told me in the warehouse about already discovering the hideout of the rogues weeks ago but not reporting it and instead, joined forces with them. So this is supposed to make her an accomplice to the trafficking, but she denied it all. And worst of all, she denied it while accepting that she had planned my kidnap. According to her, she had only contacted someone 'anonymously' to abduct me a day before she was caught, not knowing it was the same rogues abducting she-wolves. So she was oblivious to the trafficking and even pleaded guilty about my abduction to the council with crocodile tears falling down her cheeks.

Wanna know why this was bad? Listen up. Accepting she had planned my abduction and pleading guilty made the councils' attention divert from her being an accomplice to the traffickings. And she would get a lesser sentence and soon be out. And since everyone here knows what a 'saint' she used to be before this incident, they were quick to believe her, unlike me, who was a she-wolf that just newly turned to a Lycanthrope and joined the community. No one knew me here like her except for Reagan, Lexi, and Danny. They would support theirs first, of course. And since the King had refused to crown me a Princess even though I was Reagan's mate, everyone wondered why and what had made him make such a decision. Some thought I did something really bad, and that His Highness thought me unworthy. Although, I could care less what they thought about me.

No matter how bias the council wants to be, they just couldn't ignore some things.

I know I always have Reagan's support, and he particularly is pissed to see Janet win slowly. He's doing his best to help me, but royal families aren't allowed to interfere in court proceedings except for urgent or special issues.

So, after weeks of trialing the suspects found with kidnapped she-wolves, it was time to give a verdict. It's also the same day Janet will be given her sentence after gathering up all the information they had, and I was particularly sure she would serve very little. As for the human she had attacked in the forest late at night, with Danny being the only eyewitness, it was also hard to prove that.

Danny hadn't mentioned he was there during the crime as that would make him an accomplice for keeping his mouth shut all this while, so finding evidence to incriminate her was hard. Even though he was also a Prince, he could get into serious trouble for hiding such information.

All in all, Janet was one lucky bitch. And the secret smirk she kept showcasing to me whenever she passed by in her spelled handcuffs seriously irked me. Because of the strength we Lycans possess, the council has witches placing spells on any restraints used.

I feel the light brush of lips on the back of my palm and turn to find my mate's burning eyes fixed on me. Every day, it seems my love for him keeps on expanding. I can't even express how intense my desire for him is. It's unnatural. The sight of his blond hair always makes my heart jump, and his warm eyes are enough to turn up my mood anytime. Since we've been at the palace, he had grown more muscles in his biceps with his shoulders broadening due to his constant visits to the training grounds with his brother or one of the royal warriors. Watching him move swiftly and skillfully is my favorite duty of the day - that and our late-night sessions in bed.

"You seem distracted." Reagan's gruff voice fills my ear even with the loud noise in the hall.

"Do I?" I comment, turning to stare around at the massive hall before turning back to him.

"I've already told you not to worry about yourself." He sighed, leaning towards me to place a kiss on my forehead. He looked down then, to stare straight into my eyes, not caring that we are surrounded by curious prying eyes.

"Anyone who dares touching what's mine will suffer dire consequences. And no one, not even Janet, can escape that." He promises with a stern look. I'm surprised how confident he sounds when everything seems as if it's going downhill. Does he know something I don't?

Silence filled the hall then, as the large double doors leading into the justice hall is pushed open, and in walks two royal guards, dragging an exhausted Jack Brigham. Cells here seem worst compared to that of my former pack. Jack, in the short time that he has been here, seems to have lost about ten pounds. His hair is longer and unkempt, his eyes are always looking droopy with bags underneath them, and his chin bushy with an overgrown beard. He does, however, have a clean set of khaki pants and shirt on, but it was all a show for his court meetings. I am sure that immediately as he is locked back up, the neat cloth would be exchanged for some tattered, dirty rags. Call us barbaric.

His eyes meet mine for a brief moment as he was dragged by, to the dock. He could barely even stand on his own, but no one showed him any sign of pity, only glares of hatred. He is standing as the leader of the rogues who had trafficked the she-wolves, and whatever punishment is given to him, the others will also have. Only Janet had escaped that.

As Bella had promised, Gina had already been sent to a small pack in South Korea where she would serve thirteen years in a cell. She won't be treated too poorly, and a chance to be part of the pack will be given to her when she comes out. But it was up to her if she wanted it or not. So she wasn't going to face the same fate as her father.

"Your Highness! Lycans!" The head council had already stood up to address us. He is a short, stout Lycanthrope, aged with grey hair all over but still looking stern. "Alphas! Lunas! Betas! Warriors! And werewolves." Like I said, the hall was filled up. Jack and his team of rogues had infiltrated a lot of packs in California. And they had all traveled here to witness today's judgment. All were pissed and craved for the criminals' blood as they had abducted daughters, sisters, friends and sold them off with no means to trace or find them.

The black market, just like any other, was difficult to find. Jack hadn't ever met his buyer but only contacted them through phone calls. They usually delivered the girls to another warehouse and bound them up, leaving them alone till their buyers arrived. The next day, he would get his money wired to him as the she-wolves had already been collected. So he never had direct contact with his buyers.

"We are all gathered here today to witness judgment being bestowed on those deserving it. I, just as you all, am shocked by the actions of these werewolves, found guilty, to us." His sharp eyes direct to Jack this time just like everyone else, and he is at the mercies of the glare thrown his way. Many wanted him dead along with his rogues. Let's not forget they also attacked pack members and killed some of them, especially their warriors trying to defend their packs.

The head council's sigh fills the hall, and everyone reluctantly peels their eyes away from Jack back to him.

"But regardless, we can't dish out justice in anger and malice as that wouldn't make us any better. They may have taken out precious family members from us all for some worldly possessions, but they won't escape justice now. And with all these, my council members and I have collected all evidence and found this man, along with his team of rogues, guilty! Guilty of the murder of innocent pack members trying to protect their homes, ambushing unsuspecting packs and their homes, destruction of homes and other properties, abducting she-wolves from their packs both underaged and adults, enslavement..." The list went on and on with everyone listening on, in satisfaction. Jack had his head bent low with no emotion shown on his face as he listened to the judgment passed on him. It was a good thing he got his daughter a better deal than what he's about to face.

After a long list of their crimes, the head council cleared his throat, and everyone waited in baited silence for his next words.

"For all this, Jack Brigham, along with the other criminals, will be sentenced to life imprisonment and transported to Night Walker's Pack in Colorado to serve their sentence with maximum security. Twelve hours of labor will be given to them every day except on Sundays, which they will be entitled to rest. No visits by family members will be granted to them until after serving ten years minimum of their sentence. They aren't entitled to parole either and will never see outside the walls of Night Walker. This court is adjourned till the next proceedings, which will be in a few minutes."

The judgment hall had already erupted with sounds of protests even before he finished and went back to his seat. Jack was already being taken out with guards surrounding him as many wanted to push through and cause him harm. Life imprisonment might not seem fair after all their crimes, but death was also too easy a way out. Many might not understand, but suffering all your life was worse than a quick death. And Jack didn't deserve a quick death. No, he deserved to be punished all his life for his sins. And werewolves live longer than humans.

I stare back at the six council members at the front, whispering into each other's ears once more, probably about the next proceedings, which was of Janet. Now, that one I'm eager to see.