Chapter 59: Like a caged beast

"How much did you get paid to spew these lies?" Nina demanded, her voice rising in panic. "Dad, don’t believe a single word he says!"

"Quiet, Nina," Davian warned, his voice cutting through the room with absolute authority.

"You have truly lost your mind if you think I had to pay anyone for the truth," Andrew remarked sharply, casting a disdainful glance at his sister.

"Your Majesty," Caroline interjected, bringing the focus back to the matter at hand. "The reason it took so long to present my witness is that Emmett was forced out of his position shortly after that night. He was no longer in the territory, and we only crossed paths with him by chance in the Islands of Azure Cay."

"Azure Cay?" Seraphina chimed in, her eyebrows knitting together in suspicion. "That is far beyond our country. What were you doing out of the country?"

"We were on our honeymoon," Andrew answered plainly, stepping closer to Caroline. "As for Emmett, Victor stripped him of his title as Head Beta simply because he failed to execute Caroline as ordered. He had no choice but to flee."

"What made you leave Sylvaterra entirely, Emmett?" Davian inquired, his dark eyes searching the former beta’s face.

"I had wanted to leave Sylvaterra for a long time, Your Majesty," Emmett asserted, standing tall. "The only thing keeping me tied to the Crystal Moon Pack was a debt my father owed to Victor. Once he stripped me of my rank, I knew my life was in danger. If I hadn’t fled the country, I wouldn’t be standing before you now. He would have had me eliminated, too."

Davian’s jaw clenched as he turned to his valet. "Summon Alpha Victor," he ordered, his voice echoing with dangerous edge. "I want him in this hall immediately."

Nina’s eyes brimmed with tears as Alarick placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Victor made a fool out of you, Nina," he said softly. "He was two-timing you all along."

Caroline looked at Nina, her expression softening into solemn sympathy. "That day when I saw you at the house for the first time, I had gone there to tell Victor about my pregnancy. But he never even gave me the chance to speak. Instead, he rejected me on the spot, telling me outright that an omega like me could never bring him the power and status that you could, Princess Nina."

She took a quiet breath before continuing, "I never lied about anything. I loved the wrong man simply because of the fated bond we once shared. I don’t know what promises he made to trap you, but he is not the man you think he is. That night, my father was already dead when my mother begged me to run for my life. I couldn’t even stay to draw my last breath beside them."

Davian and Seraphina gazed at each other while Nina dashed out of the main hall.

~~~~~

Victor sat back comfortably in the recliner of his room, sipping his drink, when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. He stared at the screen for a moment, letting it ring twice before sliding it open.

"Who is this?" he asked.

"That is not important right now, Victor," a woman’s voice chimed in through the speaker. "What matters is that Emmett is currently in the capital. Prince Andrew and Caroline have brought him straight to the palace. I suggest you brace yourself, he must have exposed every truth you have been hiding for so long."

Victor bolted upright, his face contorting in sudden fury. "What did you say?!" he shouted into the receiver.

Before he could get an answer, the line went dead. Swearing under his breath, he frantically redialed the number, but it was switched off.

"Ahhhh!" Victor screamed in fury, tossing his phone onto the desk. A second later, it rang again.

He answered instantly, assuming it was the same unknown caller. But he didn’t react immediately.

"Am I speaking to Alpha Victor?" a calm, authoritative voice asked over the line.

"Yes. Who are you?" Victor demanded, his brows pulling into a deep frown, hearing a male voice.

"I am the Head Butler, Kyran Richter, calling directly from the royal palace," the man delivered smoothly. "His Majesty, the Alpha King, has summoned you. You are required to report to the palace at your earliest convenience to avoid incurring his wrath."

"May I know why His Majesty wishes to see me so urgently?" Victor inquired, trying to keep the edge of panic out of his voice.

"I am not at liberty to disclose that, Alpha Victor," Kyran stated plainly. "Please make your way to the palace shortly. I strongly advise you to catch the immediate flight to the capital."

Without waiting for a response, the butler hung up, leaving Victor staring at the silent phone as dread settled in his stomach.

"Emmett, you traitor!" Victor muttered under his breath, pacing the floor like a caged beast. "No... I can’t go to the palace. If I step foot in the palace, the Alpha King will order my execution on the spot."

Brain racing, he was already formulating an escape plan when his phone rang for the third time. His throat went dry as his eyes landed on the caller ID. It was Nina’s call.

Refusing to answer, he ignored the ringing screen and sprinted toward his walk-in closet. He grabbed a duffle bag, hurriedly stuffing it with stacks of cash and a couple of changes of clothes before slinging it over his shoulder and rushing out toward the hallway.

"Victor? Where are you going in such a rush?" demanded his father, Joseph, who had just stepped inside from the pack grounds.

"Dad, something urgent has come up. I have to leave right now," Victor stammered. He abruptly stepped forward and pulled his father into a tight hug.

Joseph found the sudden display of affection completely out of character, but before he could press for an explanation, Victor pulled away, grabbed his bag, and hurried out the door.