Chapter 51: The Forgotten Law

The Hall of Ashes had stood since before the Eclipse Pack had become the sovereign of all territories across the expanse of werewolf domination.

Its walls were carved from polished black stone that reflected every movement like dark water. Towering pillars lined the circular chamber, each bearing the crest of an Alpha who had ruled before Malachi.

Between them stood weathered statues whose empty stone eyes seemed to watch every judgment ever passed beneath the vaulted ceiling.

At the far end of the hall sat seven immense stone seats arranged in a crescent.

The Council.

Every Elder was already present, for the emergency summons had reached them less than ten minutes ago and they had all left everything immediately to be here.

No one had been told why. The only certainty was that the Alpha himself had called it.

That alone was enough to unsettle even the oldest wolves.

A minute later, the heavy doors groaned open, and every head in the room turned.

Malachi entered first.

He had exchanged his soaked clothes for black battle trousers tucked into polished boots and a dark sleeveless tunic that left little doubt that he had been wounded recently.

Fresh white bandages disappeared beneath the fabric across his shoulder and ribs, while another wrapped around his forearm. His pack insignia rested over his chest, untouched by the injuries beneath.

Despite everything that had happened to him last night, he walked with the same terrifying confidence that had made neighbouring territories fear speaking his name.

Della followed behind him. She had stood there and watched him change, still wearing the same torn clothes as last night. At least, it covered the cold air properly compared to that other gown Cassian had forced her to discard.

The moment several Elders saw her, their eyes turned rotten with looks and fell on her neck where the slave collar sat almost proudly.

Ravaryn simply watched her arrive, not in the least surprised to see that she was still alive.

Across the chamber, however, two younger Elders exchanged startled glances.

She was supposed to be in the Iron Pits by now..

Instead, she stood behind the Alpha.

Malachi reached the center of the chamber and stopped.

Silence settled over the hall, and no one dared speak first. Not while he remained standing.

His cold blue gaze swept across every Elder before coming to rest on Ravaryn, "I called this meeting," he said evenly, His voice carried effortlessly through the chamber, "And it concerns my wife, the Rotblood,"

Several brows drew together, and one Elder straightened in his chair.

"I am altering her sentence." Malachi continued.

Almost everyone present blinked like they’d heard him wrong, then a quiet murmur began spreading around the crescent.

Only a murmur.

No one interrupted.

No one questioned him outright.

Because no one forgot who stood before them.

Finally, Elder Orven inclined his head, "My Alpha..." His tone remained respectful, "May this Council ask... what has changed?"

"Out there..." Malachi answered without hesitation, "...she saved my life."

Another silence followed, this one a little longer than the last one.

Della herself stared at him, unable to believe he had actually said that out loud, to the most trusted people he had in the pack. She brought her hands together, squeezing her fingers together a little.

An Elder slowly folded his hands together, "No one here doubts Your Alpha’s word."

Another nodded, and continued too, "If she rendered aid, then the Council acknowledges the debt."

A few approving hums followed, and it almost seemed like for one brief moment, the matter would end peacefully.

Then another Elder spoke. He stood up this time, showing utmost respect and said the sentences that Della dreaded, "But Alpha, had the prisoner remained within lawful confinement, would Your Alpha have been placed in danger at all?"

The chamber quieted again, and several elders nodded in agreement quickly. There was never really a cause to end this peacefully in the beginning, especially when it has to do with a rotblood that has been standing next to the Alpha.

If anything, she was supposed to be long dead by now! It was an insult to the Pack to have a rotblood as the Alpha’s wife, married under a broken sacred Altar.

Everybody knows that!

Even Malachi knows that very much!

"No," Malachi replied, looking at him.

"Then..." The Elder lowered his head, "...the danger still began with her attempted escape."

The Elders nodded slowly even faster, then another added, "The Council is grateful for what happened afterwards, but gratitude cannot erase what happened first."

"I have already made my decision." Malachi remained unmoved.

No one answered immediately, for his words always carried weight.

"The Rotblood saved the Alpha’s life, after he encountered forbidden Moonfire again. If she had chosen to run away and left me to die out there, I wouldn’t be sitting here speaking to any of us. My corpse would be the thing facing you all this morning. She had chosen to carry me on her back, prepared herbs that would calm the effects of the poison and stayed with me through the night till I was able to stand on my own again. Surely...that is worthy enough for me to keep her alive!"

Ordinarily, that would have ended the discussion.

Then, Elder Ravaryn rose.

Unlike the others that rose before, he did not bow. Age had earned him that privilege generations ago.

The old wolf leaned upon his carved staff, his weathered eyes meeting Malachi’s without challenge, but without submission either.

"My Alpha." He began, his voice calm as the waters, "No one here questions your authority, for during your years as Alpha, you have ruled wisely, justly and because of that, this Council has followed every judgment you have ever passed." A respectful pause followed, then he continued, "But today..." He glanced briefly toward Della, "...the judgment before us is not the same one Your Alpha gave a while ago."

His gaze returned to Malachi, "The girl was caught, on the Night of the Sovereign Moon Ceremony, the most sacred night of the year with Moonfire in her hands, Moonfire on the ripped banner, and a witness who claimed to have seen her sneaking into the room where the banner had been kept. Despite all that evidence against her that should have caused her to lose her head immediately, more evidence came up that wasn’t aligned with the first...and the investigations began." He paused again, "And before any solid evidence could be found, the culprit herself confessed in front of you, that she had not only been responsible for the torn banner but had also traded with an assassin to kill the woman who had spoken against her that night! Right there, the sentence to the Iron Pits was pronounced by Your Alpha himself."

His staff touched the floor softly,

"Today, your Alpha seeks to overturn that judgment."

Malachi answered immediately, "I do."

"She put you in danger by escaping, and saved you again. It doesn’t erase any other crime that she has committed! We all know this isn’t her first attempt to escape you!" The elder took a step forward, "You must reconsider this new decision, Alpha,"

Malachi then looked straight into Della’s eyes. She stood there, watching everything quietly. She lifted her head and their eyes met, and for a few seconds, nothing came through into the mate bond.

Then, he looked down and saw the way her hands were clasped tightly over each other.

She was scared.

She was scared and hiding it from him. It didn’t take much longer before some of that emotion slipped into the bond.

"I will not change what I have said," Malachi announced unshakingly, "My wife, my slave...will remain under my custody, under my rule, under my orders...till further notice!"

Della sucked in a deep breath, some tension leaving her shoulders.

Then Ravaryn slowly drew a long breath, "I had hoped...that what I am about to say would remain buried with those who wrote it."

Several of the older Elders stiffened, while another frowned as though already recognising where this was heading.

"There exists an ancient statute." Ravaryn continued, "So old that most packs no longer remember it."

The room grew still.

"It concerns Alphas...who refuse the lawful punishment of one they have personally claimed."

Della’s heart picked up speed again. What the hell was he talking about now?!

Ravaryn’s eyes settled on the iron collar around her neck, "My Alpha, you have publicly declared that this woman answers to no Elder, no Beta, no Gamma, and no member of this pack. Only to you." He let the words linger, "Should Your Alpha continue upon this course...then the old law cannot be ignored."

Even the Elders who had been surprised earlier now looked uneasy.

Malachi’s expression remained unreadable, "What law?"

Ravaryn’s grip tightened around his staff, then he said it, "The Forgotten Law."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"It recognises only two stations for a woman publicly claimed beneath an Alpha’s authority." He looked directly at Malachi, "Either she stands beside you...acknowledged before every territory as your wife and Luna."

The words settled over the hall.

"or...she is declared your slave."

"She is already my slave," Malachi said.

"But she’s also your mate, which gives her a huge claim as the Luna of this pack! She’s also your wife, for you married back at IronRidge in front of everyone,"

No one spoke. No one even shifted.

"You have to choose one, Alpha," Ravaryn continued, and his final words broke the silence, "And should Your Alpha choose the second...the ancient Rite of Bonded Servitude must be fulfilled."

Across the chamber, several Elders slowly closed their eyes and a few of them even smirked and cast a weird look at Della that made her very uncomfortable.

"Bonded...servitude?" Malachi’s eyes narrowed questioningly.

"Yes, Alpha. Bonded Servitude," Elder Ravaryn explained, "Should you choose the second option, the ritual of bonded Servitude must happen. The slave in question, will be tied unto the ritual table, eyes closed and mouth gagged. She will be naked before every gathered Alpha that cares to join the ritual, and her body will be served to them,"

Della’s eyes widened.

Served to...them? Like...they would all take turns... sleeping with her?! Or rather...r*ping her?!