Chapter 195: The Execution And The Love Triangle!

After Soren was tied to the stake and everyone had lined up ready to be involved in Soren’s death, Neve had Skarr snap the dark magic out of him.

"Do it," Neve commanded.

Skarr raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The moment his finger snapped, the dark magic that had been controlling Soren shattered like glass.

Soren came back to his senses immediately.

He started panting hard, gasping for air like he had been drowning. His eyes went wild as he turned his head to check where he was. The realization hit him like a physical blow.

He was tied to a wooden stake in the center of the village. His wrists were bound tightly with rope. His legs were secured to the base of the stake. His chest was exposed and vulnerable.

The last thing he remembered was him about to complete his dark magic ritual. He had been so close to gaining ultimate power. And here he was now, tied up like an animal waiting for slaughter.

Around him, dozens of villagers stood in a line, each holding a weapon. Each waiting for their turn.

Soren’s eyes went from person to person, trying to understand what was happening.

Then his eyes landed on Neve.

And he realized.

"No," Soren whispered.

Then Soren glared at Neve who stood in front of him, watching him with cold eyes.

"How dare you?" Soren yelled, his voice echoing through the square. "What makes you think you can go scot-free after laying your filthy hands on me? What makes you think you can treat a chief this way?"

He struggled against the ropes, his muscles straining.

"As chief I order you to cut this rope! I order you to release me right now!" he screamed.

"Well, you won’t be chief anymore once you’re dead, right?" Neve asked calmly, tilting his head to the side. He wagged the sharp weapon in front of Soren, letting the light reflect off the blade.

Soren’s eyes followed the weapon, fear starting to creep into his expression.

"You can’t do this. You can’t kill me. I’m the chief. The tribe needs me," Soren said, his voice getting desperate.

"The tribe needs a chief who doesn’t kidnap innocent people," Neve replied, his voice steady and cold. "The tribe needs a chief who doesn’t try to use dark magic to gain power. The tribe needs someone who actually cares about them."

Soren’s eyes widened as he started struggling harder to release himself. He pulled against the ropes, trying to break free. But Neve had made sure the ropes were tied so tight that there was no way Soren could escape from them. The knots were perfect. The tension was unbreakable.

"I’ve always tried to avoid bloodshed, especially when I’m pregnant," Neve said, still walking toward Soren. "I’ve always tried to find peaceful solutions. I’ve always wanted to protect everyone."

He stopped in front of the tied wolf chief.

"But you took it too far," Neve continued, his voice getting harder. "You dragged three innocent children into this. You kidnapped members of my family. You tried to sacrifice them for your own power. You thought you could get away with it."

"Stay away from me!" Soren yelled, thrashing against the stake. "Don’t come any closer!"

But Neve did not listen.

He walked straight toward Soren and held out the weapon.

"Today is the day you’ll die," he said coldly.

Neve thrust the weapon forward and stabbed Soren right in the shoulder.

Soren screamed.

The blade went deep, piercing muscle and sinew. Blood poured from the wound, staining Neve’s hand and dripping on the snow between them.

"You won’t die a quick death," Neve said, pulling the weapon back. "It will be slow and painful. Just like you made everyone else suffer."

He turned to the others waiting in line as he mumbled under his breath.

"I wish I had failed the mission when the system asked me to save your damn life," he said bitterly.

Neve passed the weapon to the first person in line. It was an old man, trembling slightly as he took the weapon.

"Avoid the heart," Neve smiled at him. "We want him to suffer for as long as possible before he dies."

The old man nodded, his hands shaking.

He walked toward Soren.

Despite his age and his trembling hands, the old man’s strength was surprising. He held out the weapon and stabbed Soren five times. Each stab was deliberate and went in so deep.

Soren screamed with each wound.

Neve stood beside Cael and the others, watching as the weapon was passed around the crowd. One by one, each person took their turn.

A woman stabbed him twice in the chest.

A younger man stabbed him in the leg.

A tiger beastman stabbed him in the arm.

Each person had their own reason. Each person had their own hatred for Soren.

"I never thought that old man would be that agile," Neve said to Cael, watching the execution with a detached expression.

"He lived through a lot," Cael replied quietly. "Soren hurt many people."

Neve nodded and kept watching as the weapon was passed around and everyone stabbed Soren one after another. He hated that he had to do this. He really did. But he was left with no choice.

Soren just had to go.

Suddenly, Gideon appeared in the square.

He was gasping for air, holding his animal skin bag. His jaw dropped completely when he saw his older brother getting stabbed as he was tied to a stake.

Seeing that no one was going to help him. Seeing that everyone wanted him dead. Gideon already knew his brother’s fate had been decided a long time ago.

Gideon turned to Cael, his second brother, and sniffed in.

"You’re back," he said quietly.

"Ah yes," Cael replied. "How have you been? What about father?"

Gideon lowered his head and shook it slowly. Cael grabbed Gideon’s shoulders with both hands.

"What happened to father?" he asked urgently. "Tell me."

"He... he was killed by Soren," Gideon said, his voice breaking. "Soren forced father to tell him the dark magic ritual process. And then he killed him. He said father had lived long enough."

The color drained from Cael’s face.

"That bastard brother of mine!" Cael gritted his teeth as he angrily marched toward Soren.

He grabbed the weapon from the next person in line and suddenly it was his turn.

His turn to inflict pain on the brother who had killed their father.

"How dare you? How could you kill our father?!" Cael yelled as he stabbed Soren deep in the stomach.

Soren, from screaming in pain, suddenly started laughing. His laugh was twisted.

"He had lived a long time already," Soren said between laughs. "I only needed to get stronger. I want everyone to respect me as chief! I want everyone to bow before me!"

"You weren’t like this," Cael shook his head, his eyes filled with tears of anger. "You changed all of a sudden because of this obsession with power. You became a monster."

He stabbed Soren one more time before turning away.

"Well watch what that obsession has gotten you," Cael said coldly. "Your death."

He handed the weapon to the next person and walked back to stand with Neve.

Neve turned to Gideon.

"You’ve got nothing to say to your brother?" he asked.

Gideon looked at Soren, tied to the stake, bleeding and dying. He looked at his older brother’s face twisted in pain and rage.

Gideon shook his head slowly.

He looked at Neve’s stomach, at the bulging belly that held the cubs.

He tried to smile but it came out sad.

"You have almost a month remaining, don’t you?" Gideon asked.

Neve nodded, rubbing his bloody hands on his stomach.

"Yes," he said and smiled. "Don’t just stand there looking at me. Make yourself busy. Help around the village. Help with the wounded."

"Ah. Right!" Gideon said and turned to look for someone to help.

He saw Popi standing close to a snake beastman and looked between them carefully.

Even Neve could sense that something was going to happen between them. After all, Gideon had liked Popi first and now Gideon had met his new rival.

Gideon immediately wrapped his arms around Popi from behind.

"I’m so glad you’re safe," he said, holding her close.

"Oh, Gideon. You’re going to act like a big baby?" Popi asked, chuckling at his behavior as she turned to look at his face.

Gideon pulled away and smiled. But then his eyes snapped to Varek, the snake beastman standing nearby.

"Who... who is he?" Gideon asked, his voice uncertain.

"Ah. He’s my mate to be. Varek," Popi said simply.

"Mate to... be?" Gideon stammered, clearly shocked by this revelation. "But I thought I was... I thought... I was going to make you first!"

"What?" Popi raised a brow, genuinely confused. "We’ve always been quarrelling and arguing..."

"Well, that’s because I liked you!" Gideon almost shrieked but he held his voice back because of where they were standing. His voice came out as an intense whisper.

"I love you, Popi," he said finally, laying his heart bare.

"Huh?" Varek tilted his head, his eyes suddenly focusing on Gideon with intense interest.

"I never expected to see a tiny rival from the leopard tribe," Varek suddenly spoke, folding his hands across his chest.

His snake eyes glowed with possessiveness.

"Who the hell are you?"