Wild and Free(193)

As a louder ripple went through the crowd and Callum watched the shoulders of the wolves in front of him slump with relief, one even bowed his head and covered his face with his hand as she-wolves sitting to the sides, mates and mothers of the men before him, burst into tears, Callum kept speaking.

“If any one of you again moves against Canis, there will be no trial. You will be executed immediately and burned on a pyre without family allowed to attend. Your ashes will be scattered without ceremony, a dishonor even traitors do not receive.”

Callum watched Titium swallow, his face reddening with emotion, his eyes darting back and forth between Callum and Sonia even as he heard Sonia’s breathing escalate, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her ass squirming minutely in his lap.

“Do you have something you wish to say?” Callum asked Titium.

“I…” Titium cleared his throat then asked in disbelief, “You show mercy?”

“Were you not listening?” Callum asked impatiently in return.

“But –” Titium started.

Callum felt his brows rise. “You prefer execution?” he enquired and a titter of humor went through the crowd as the men in front of him tensed.

“No!” Titium said loudly and swiftly, shaking his head. “No, no. I…” His eyes moved to Sonia. “My queen –”

Callum suddenly leaned forward, taking Sonia with him and he growled, “My wife has my ear, warrior, and she has spoken for you but you address me.”

Titium looked quickly back at Callum, squared his shoulders, sucked in a visible breath and announced, “I only wanted to thank her for her mercy and offer her my apologies for the pain I inflicted, your grace. You are correct. My behavior was loyal but misguided and I have, these past weeks, thought long and anguished on the hurt I caused our little queen who was doing nothing but trying to save me from myself and causing that hurt by acting rashly and in anger. I will never, not ever, your grace, forget her lying on the steps of Canis, brought low by my claws and my pride. A human female who tried to persuade me to see reason and who moved in defense of her mate.” He shook his head as if he still didn’t believe he’d witnessed this or caused it before he continued, “For myself, my mate and my wolves, I… there are not words to say how… how much our queen’s forgiveness and your mercy means. My mate would…” he swallowed then pressed on, “my daughter, my sons, the families of my wolves,” he looked to Sonia then hastily back to Callum, “you and she have saved them centuries, millennium of grief. She… you both have saved our loved ones that and…” he shook his head, swallowed yet again and finished, his voice rough, “I’m sorry, I don’t have words.”

“If you don’t have words, Titium, then I suggest you accept the mercy shown and my judgment so my queen and I can go home. We’ve important things to do tomorrow,” Callum suggested and another titter moved through the crowd.

“I accept your mercy and judgment, your grace, for myself and my wolves and I thank you on behalf of my family, my wolves, their families and myself,” Titium proclaimed loudly.

“Good, then we’re fucking done,” Callum muttered, ignored the relieved giggle Sonia barely suppressed, the chuckles Ryon and Caleb didn’t try to suppress and stood, taking Sonia with him and putting her on her feet. He turned to the she-wolf at her laptop. “This concludes today’s business.” He looked to Ryon. “See to the arrangement of the sentences and fines.” Ryon, grinning like an idiot, jerked up his chin. Callum looked to the crowd and called out, “Tomorrow, we’ll see you here under better circumstances.”

There was a moment of silence before a cheer rang out, loud and deafening, hitting Callum and his queen with a wave of sound and Callum had to hide his surprise for they weren’t simply cheering tomorrow’s joyous festivities. They were cheering his decision.

It wasn’t entirely shocking they would accept his verdict. He was king, they had no choice.

It was just a surprise that they did it so readily and, apparently, so soundly.

Then again, many of them had found their mates therefore many of them had their mates whispering in their ear. It was likely they were not fazed by the changes Callum had demonstrated that day knowing a human like Sonia whispered in his. Or, not so much whispered, but she found her way to get her point across and he, finally, learned how to listen.

He tucked Sonia’s hand against his side, drawing her close and he got them the fuck out of there.

They were in the SUV, going down the winding road surrounded by wood and Sonia was surprisingly silent.