Eliza's POV
"He will answer for his crimes, and his Luna will too. They will be wiped off their alpha and Luna status immediately." My father threw out his demands as Alpha Morgan was dragged away; I looked to my brother, who reached for my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. I couldn't look at Mabel's lifeless body strewn across the floor in front of us. Alex went to check for a pulse and put her in the recovery position. My father grunted and walked out of the room. I watched him go, wondering if killing the old woman was the right thing to do. He was understandably angry about what happened to me, but I was shocked. I couldn't make sense of any of it. Alpha and Luna would lose their titles, meaning the quadruplets would have to take Daniella as their mate and Luna. Creek could not go without a leader, so why should I care anyway?
"She is dead," Alex confirmed and clicked his fingers, causing the guards to scoop her body up and take her away. I couldn't even cry. I was numb.
"I need to get some fresh air," I said, turning on my heel and running for the door. As soon as I was outside, I threw up in the bushes and felt someone behind me.
Ryder.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. Is there anything I can do for you?" he whispered, rubbing my back as I attempted to calm down. He looked so concerned, but I didn't want any sympathy. I just wanted to be alone, to process it all.
"Thank you, Ryder, but I will be fine." I pretended to act okay, but I wasn't. Inside, I was hurting. Jasmine had fallen silent on me since I rejected the quadruplets, and I just felt overwhelmed with emotion,
"Look, Princess Eliza, I am so sorry, but please know I am here for you. I am." he pulled me to his chest, and our eyes met. I felt like everything could melt away and be forgotten. It was just the two of us.
"Maybe we can finish our dance?" Ryder tried to lighten my mood, but before I could respond, I spotted my father striding towards us.
"Eliza, you must stay where I can see you. Nobody in this kingdom can be trusted." he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me away from Ryder, causing me to yelp in pain. "Father, you are hurting me," I told him, but my words fell on deaf ears.
"You may leave now, Ryder." My father told him and dragged me back into the palace.
"You are to stay in your bedroom until further notice. Your alpha mates are leaving. Their parents are going to be harshly punished for their crimes. Eliza, this is for your good," my father thundered as people quickly stepped out of our way. I looked around for my brother, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Father, please?" I exclaimed as he opened the door of my bedroom and shoved me inside. "Calm down. I can handle myself." I told him crossly, but he was beyond furious. Without a word to me, he slammed the door closed behind me, and I heard the lock turn.
I collapsed onto the bed, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of confusion and fear. I just wanted to escape, to escape all this chaos and destruction.
Rylan's POV
We had been waiting for what seemed like forever. My mother paced the floor continuously. "Mother, sit down," I heard Rio say with a sigh. She ignored him and kept on pacing. Suddenly, the door flew open, and two guards stepped inside, each standing on either side. Then, the King entered.
"Your father has been imprisoned for his crimes. Your mother will also be taken in for questioning. I will not sit by and allow my daughter to be badly treated by anyone. You and your pathetic alpha will be immediately stripped of your alpha and Luna titles." The King's words echoed, but I couldn't understand it.
The room echoed with a chorus of gasps. "Your majesty?" Enzo tried to reason, but the King growled, and my brother immediately bowed and fell silent. Rio and Ed remained still, their eyes locked on our mother. The fear in her eyes made me look away. I knew that she had done wrong, but she was still my mother, and I did not want to see her hurt.
"Seize her immediately," the King demanded, and my mother fell to her knees, begging for forgiveness. "No. Please. I will explain everything, but Your Majesty, please give me a chance."
I stepped forward, trying to intervene, but the King held a hand. "Stay where you are, Rylan. You will not interfere with this investigation. Otherwise, you and your brothers will be punished and not let off so easily. Have I made myself clear enough for you to understand?" H snarled. His eyes looked as if they would pop out from their sockets. He was the King, and I knew I had to follow his orders.
"Of course, your Majesty." I bowed and sat back down.
"Good," the King said, turning back to his guards and clicking his fingers. Get her out of my sight."
I watched as our mother was cuffed and dragged away. The King smirked with satisfaction and turned back to the four of us. "Now is your chance to make your pack better and more respectable before I destroy your entire lot. Take this as a last chance to improve how your pack treats its members."
"Yes, Your Majesty, of course," my brothers bowed and agreed in unison. "And you agree as well, or will you defy my orders? The King raised an eyebrow and glared at me.
A loud knock on the door caused us all to look up, and there stood one of the palace servants; he looked afraid to see the King so angry.
"What is it? Can't you see that I am busy?" he snapped.
"Your Majesty, Princess Eliza has run into the palace grounds," he said, trembling as he spoke.
"I will be back!" The King warned us as he left the room to collect Eliza.