Chapter 8
794words
Lucas and Mia were bound to pillars. Mia, already having wet herself in terror, continued cursing Lucas relentlessly for being useless.
That was just the kind of she-wolf she was—one who never once reflected on herself.
I stood on the platform.
"Lucas Ashbourne and his accomplices are guilty of treason against the Kingdom, regicide, and trafficking pups.
"He is hereby sentenced to execution by soul-shattering."
Soul-shattering wasn't just a simple death. Instead, it used a secret technique to shatter the wolf's soul, preventing it from rejoining the ancestral spirits and erasing it from existence completely.
It was the harshest punishment for werewolves.
"Proceed!"
At my command, several burly executioners raised their heavy hammers.
"No! Elena! I love you! I really love you! You can't do this to me!" Lucas screamed desperately.
The first hammer fell with a loud bang, and his anguished scream pierced through the sky.
I didn't look away. I simply watched coldly as the werewolf who had ruined half my life and killed my father slowly lost his life in excruciating agony.
Until, in the end, he became nothing more than a puddle of mangled flesh.
By this point, Mia had already passed out from terror.
"Mia Starling is exiled to the wastelands," I ordered. "There are countless Rogues there. Since she enjoys stealing other she-wolves' mates, she can indulge herself over there."
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Long live the Alpha Queen! Long live Elena Nightbloom!"
…
Half a month later, in the northern wastelands, Mia—the she-wolf who used to scream at the mere sight of mud splatter on her dress—was now sprawled at the feet of several mangy Rogues.
At first, she had relied on her beauty to get food, but the environment here was brutal. Before long, the face she'd once been so proud of was covered in frostbite sores filled with pus.
The Rogues eventually grew tired of her body and stopped providing her free food, so she'd crawl on the ground, begging, just to get herself a single piece of stinking, rotten meat.
That mouth, which had once only spat sharp, venomous words, was now replaced with groveling.
"Please… Spare me just one bite. I'll be very good. I'll do anything you want…"
A one-eyed werewolf stepped on her head, his expression filled with mockery. This was exactly the kind of lowly, crippled werewolf she'd used to look down on the most.
"Well, well, isn't this Ms. Mia Starling, the one who almost became Luna Queen? How did you end up like this?
"Come on, bark for me. If you bark convincingly enough, I'll toss you a bone."
Mia didn't even hesitate for a second. She wagged her tongue frantically and barked a few times. "I'm a cheap bitch."
Amid the jeering laughter, she devoured the chunk of rotten meat mixed with sand and ice shards, tears and snot streaming into her mouth.
Perhaps at that moment, she finally realized her mistakes.
"Alpha Queen, that's Mia's current state," a Beta responsible for monitoring Mia reported respectfully, kneeling on one knee.
I listened to the update without the slightest flicker of emotion.
"Understood. You're dismissed," I said, waving my hand lightly. "You don't need to report to me about her anymore. Trash like that isn't worth wasting time on."
I turned around and looked toward the place where Dad had sacrificed himself.
A new monument now stood there.
…
Three months later, the Silvermoon Kingdom had been completely restored.
I had eradicated all of Lucas' remaining followers, abolished many outdated and corrupt customs, and the Kingdom's strength was growing every day.
The coronation was held once again.
This time, there were no scandalous photos, no humiliation—just tens of thousands of werewolves bowing in respect.
I wore the pure black Alpha Queen's battle robes, scepter in hand, and walked step by step up to the throne.
The Grand Elder carefully held the garland that symbolized a fated mate and asked cautiously, "Alpha Queen, shall we select a worthy mate for you from other packs?"
I stared at the garland.
Once, I had humbled myself to the very dust just to obtain it. But now… I reached for the garland and casually tossed it into the nearby fire.
The flames consumed the vibrant flowers.
"No need."
I sat on the throne, overlooking the dense sea of werewolves below, my golden eyes reflecting the blazing fire.
"I, Elena Nightbloom, do not need to rely on a mate. I, by myself, am an army of thousands."
At that moment, I felt as if I could see Dad's heroic spirit smiling down at me from above.
I tightened my grip on the scepter.
Outside, the blood-red moon retreated, and dawn broke.
