The Guard often opened it's gates to wolves. They rarely held trials most issues could be solved without the need of such violence or grandeur. The institution of The Guard were neutral powerful beings who maintained peace and treasured beauty. Tonight was not beautiful.
Tonight, the moonlit gates opened with the heavy groan of ancient magic; as if the realm itself disliked what was about to happen. The grand ballroom had been transformed into a tribunal. One table was at the center of the room surrounded by a square of tables. Wolves across the territories had been summoned as with Fae nobles who filled the tables. The air was thick with tension.
The Guard had prepared runes around the table and the fae whispered enchantments. Queen Rowen leaned in toward Stacy and spoke softly " The enchantments make lies taste like ash on the tongue and the truth weigh like iron on the chest."
Colt sat beside Stacy, jaw taut, shoulders squared. Declan was unsettled, pacing just beneath his skin. Every once in a while she could hear suppressed growls from Declan through their bond. The runes formed a massive circle of judgment and began to glow brightly as George and Vivian entered and took their seats.
George's once commanding presence had dimmed, but not broken. He held himself with forced dignity, spine straight, eyes cold. Vivian, however, twisted against her silver restraints, her lip curled, her dark hair tangled around her face. Queen Rowen stood and when she spoke, the ballroom went quiet. "Let the Trial of the Two Realms begin".
The Head Guard stood "George Myers of Thunder Heart pack, Viviane Myers of Thunder Heart pack. You stand accused of crimes that violate the laws of wolves and fae alike." The Head Guard paused to review his notes "you stand accused of embezzling pack fund for personal gain, violating the sacred trust of the Alpha bond. You further stand accused-along side your Luna- of kidnapping Fae children belonging to the Seelie Court, and torturing the children at the Moon River facility. You stand accused of colluding with the Unseelie Court in the kidnapping, wolf suppression, conspiracy to traffic Alpha Anastasia Bloodmoon, conspiracy to impregnate against her will, the conspiracy to profit from her bloodline".
The Head Guard hovered his hand over an empty table. Stacks of parchment materialized on the evidence table "members of the guard have digitized the ledgers to simplify the understanding of the crimes" the room dimmed and a smart board descended from the far wall. Gasps filled the room as the totals were read aloud. Each spread sheet displayed with shock and horror. Crimes of ghost accounts created under the names of long-dead wolves. Shadow funds disguised as emergency budgets, inflated contracts creating fake vendors, paying them to provide a non-existent service and funneling the funds into his personal accounts. Evidence of shell companies and off shore accounts damned them in guilt.
The Head Guard announced that George could speak in his own defense, the ballroom quieted. George rose slowly, silver shackles clinking, shoulders tight with a pride that refused to bow-even as his empire crumbled. His voice, when he began, was steady and deep, almost regal.
"None of you cowards do NOT know what it means to lead and to sacrifice for the greater good!"
The words echoed through the ballroom. "None of you know the weight of it. None of you understand the decisions an Alpha must make when the world is changing and the threats grow every year."
Some wolves growled, some scoffed, while others listened with narrow eyes.
"You think the pack was thriving? Always accepting new mouths to feed? You think we were safe? NO! You only saw what I allowed you to see. The borders were failing. Our alliances crumbling. Attacks increasing every season. We were weak!" Colt shot to his feet "The borders were failing because you diverted funds!"
George ignored him and faced The High Guard "I did what I had to do. You say I stole. I say I invested - in power, in leverage, in things this pack would have never secured through diplomacy or honor alone."
Queen Rowen arched a brow. "You think stealing our children would secure your power?" she asked soft and lethal. George's jaw clenched.
"I took what opportunities the world offered. Children with abilities beyond mortal understanding- abilities that could protect my pack. I intended to train them, not harm them." A lie, a bold lie. "Every kingdom uses what resources it has. Wolves are stuck in the past, bound by honor that does nothing when enemies slit your throat under moonlight!"
Queen Rowen stood- radiant and impossibly tall- stepped forward. "When wolves break your own laws" she said lightly, "that is your matter. But when wolves break my people, that becomes mine." Her tone shifted slightly darker "You stole our young. You would have sold them into darkness. You would have used their magic for your gain. That cannot be forgiven."
George panicked "I did what I had to" he said. " The pack needed strength. Needed wealth, and the fae..." his words drifted off.
The ballroom had gone silent. Not the silence of stillness, but the silence before the storm. George stood in the crystal circle, his wrist still bound in silver, his chest rising and falling in heavy, uneven breaths. Stacy then stood and faced George. My matron wishes to testify and to cast her judgement.
A breath of wind swept through the ballroom and the air trembled. Above the stone ceiling- the one carved with the phases of the moon- light bled through the cracks. Not a gentle moonlight and not the light of a physical moon but a celestial radiance. Pure, soft, and utterly overwhelming. The seams in the ceiling glowed brighter, then burst open like a flower blooming in reverse. Starlight rained down in streams, and the boundary between worlds thinned until the realm itself bowed in reverence. Every wolf fell to their knees and every fae bowed their heads.
First came the silver dust-like ground moonstone- spiraling downward in slow, weightless ribbons. Then the shape began to form within them. A silhouette of woman in moonlight, shifting like liquid stars. Her feet did not touch the ground. Her hair flowed around her like the night sky made fluid. And when she spoke, her voice was not sound-it was truth, vibrating through every cell, every bone. "I have come to witness the fall of the one who betrayed My blessing."
George tried to speak, tried to defend himself, tried to lie, or even beg. His voice had been taken by the sheer force of Her presence.
"You took My gifts," Mother Rhiannon spoke. "You twisted My favor. You stole those under My protection" George's voice finally broke into a hoarse whisper " I did it for the pack..."
The Goddess did not raise her voice. Yet her words struck with the force of a collapsing star. "You did it for yourself. You feared loss of power. You feared being forgotten. You clung to authority until you strangled your own people."
The Goddess reached out a single, luminous hand. Silver flames ignited along George's spine. Not burning flesh-burning spirit. He screamed without sound, mouth open in silent agony.
"You are no Alpha" The Goddess declared "and you never were worthy of the mantle I bestowed." With a flick of her hand the last threads of Alpha strength, the instinctive dominance, the heighted senses, the deep seated legacy of command- were ripped out of him like roots torn from soil. George collapsed fully, shaking, hollow, a wolf stripped to the soul.
Mother Rhiannon turned to the assembly "Let this be a lesson." she said, voice gentler now, "that leadership is not a crown, but a burden. Not a right, but a vow." The Goddess's gaze softened as it drifted toward Stacy and Colt. "Rise children of the Moon" The pair rose, legs trembling under divine scrutiny. The Goddess smiled "You will carry My blessing next." and kissed each of them on the forehead.
"Alpha Colton, I bless your strength. Let it never be turned toward greed. Let your claws defend the innocent. Let your roar call justice, not fear." Silver light poured into him and the crowd gasped at the beauty of the scene.
Then Mother Rhiannon turned to Stacy. "You who carry the duty of balance. Luna. Heart of your people, kneel."
Stacy lowered herself gracefully. The Goddess cupped Stacy's cheeks with both hands. " I bless your wisdom. May your voice be clear when others falter. May those you guide find peace. May your bond with your Alpha be the anchor that steadies the tides."
Gentle light swirled around Stacy, soft but powerful- like moonlit waves wrapping her in a sacred embrace. Then Mother Rhiannon placed their hands together. "As two you lead. As one, you rise."
With a final sweep of divine radiance, the Goddess stepped into the moonlight and dissolved into the sky.
Gasps spread-wolves, fae, and The Guard. For a heartbeat after the Goddess's final words, no one breathed. The ballroom once filled with murmurs, growls and accusations fell silent as if the very air had been stolen by awe. The first sound came from Colt "Holy shit" he whispered.
Queen Rowan was the first to move. She bowed. Not a polite, diplomatic bow-but a deep one, hand pressed over her heart, head lowered in genuine respect. "Mother Rhiannon has spoken," she murmured her voice trembling in astonishment. " Wolves touched by divinity...It has been centuries." Her court followed her lead and mirrored her gesture, the sight alone made several wolves gasp.
Every Guard member dropped, palms flat to the floor. Even the Head Guard looked shaken, his voice cracked in awe "She has not descended to bless an Alpha in over six hundred years." His eyes lifted to Stacy and Colts with something between fear and devotion woven together.
The wolves began to understand. This wasn't politics, it wasn't a vote, this wasn't even a council decision. This was divine selection.