Crimson Moon Redemption: My Alpha's Brutal Mistake
Chapter 62: Twenty lashes (Alpha Zach)

Chapter 62: Twenty lashes (Alpha Zach)

It is deeply painful that those I trusted the most have betrayed me the most. From my family to the ones I cherished and would have sacrificed everything for.

Gaius and I have a long history, dating back to when he started to grow close to me at the Lunar Echoes tribe. Initially, I believed it was because I had saved him when we were kids, but he was the first to support me when Zion exiled me.

Gaius was the one person I believed I could rely on with my life, yet he disappointed me. He rescued Annabelle and deceived me by hiding his true identity as a Lycan.

His smartness and way of processing information differed from me and sometimes, I paled in the way he handled matters like a born leader. I fear that, being of his kind, he may be plotting against my tribe or planning to overthrow me.

His strength rivals that of an Alpha, and when my new gamma, Hart, informed me of visitors with crucial information, I hesitated but eventually instructed him to inform Gaius. It was only when Hart mentioned that the strangers had information about Gaius that I became suspicious.

Despite my initial disbelief, I decided to listen to them, and it was only when Gaius confirmed their claims that I realized the truth. Initially, I directed my anger towards the strangers for making such an audacious accusation, but ultimately, it was Gaius who betrayed my trust.

As he was being dragged away, I felt like a part of me was taken with him. That’s how deeply we had bonded. However, when one of the strangers requested to be my beta, my anger flared.

If I couldn’t trust Gaius anymore, how could I trust a stranger like him? "Leave my pack immediately," I replied, unable to stand their presence.

Shock appeared in their eyes, clearly caught off guard. "Alpha..." one of them, who had introduced himself as Merlin, started to say, but I interrupted, "Either leave on your own or face the consequences."

The fact that a non-tribe member knew information about my beta that I didn’t was suspicious. It seemed like he had done his homework too well.

Even those I thought I knew well had proven otherwise, so how could I trust strangers who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere claiming to be rogues?

They appeared too refined to be rogues, and if they mentioned any tribe, I would definitely investigate. The second individual who approached me, Fey, looked at my gamma, Hart, with pleading eyes. I sensed something amiss when Hart began advocating for them.

"Alpha, now that Beta Gaius is to be banished, you will need a replacement. These individuals have shared information with you that you were unaware of for years, so I believe one of them would be a suitable candidate for your beta."

After gamma Reid’s betrayal, I found it hard to trust another and had not sought his assistance since his election. How dare he speak in favor of strangers like this?

As he finished his plea, I reacted swiftly, delivering a harsh punch to his face, causing him to fall to the ground. The onlookers were shocked, but none dared to speak.

Addressing the gathered tribe members, I issued a decree. "Gamma Hart has been stripped of his position as Gamma, and the position will remain vacant until further notice.

Perhaps it would be better to work alone with my trusted warriors until further notice because I didn’t feel comfortable with someone like him at my pack house.

How could he so eagerly side with strangers? If he had recommended a tribe member among my warriors, then that would have been understood, but not this.

The two visitors, Merlin and Fey, had strange looks in their eyes, and when I stared into them, I felt as if I was drowning. As such, I forcefully averted my gaze and never held any form of eye contact with them again.

With strong guts, one of them challenged me. "Alpha Zach, aren’t you being too harsh? He was just pointing out something you failed to see."

"Indeed," I replied sarcastically, blending it with a glare that made him cower. "I relied on strength to give him the gamma position. He needs some brains for it, and as for you, since you dare to talk back, you shall both receive twenty whips each for daring to dip your mouths into the tribe’s private affairs."

As soon as the words left my mouth, the warriors surrounded them, carrying out my orders and administering twenty lashes to each of them. Once the punishment was complete, they fled from my tribe with their bleeding backs, stumbling and rising together.

The tribe members laughed, but I sensed something more significant was unfolding. Someone had targeted Gaius for removal, and I was determined to uncover the reason behind it.

The realization that Annabelle was the woman from that night weighed heavily on my heart, especially since Gaius’s predictions appeared to be coming true. It also dawned on me that she was carrying my pup, the one I had attempted to kill, and likely the girl who had saved me.

Despite her role in Iris’s death, I couldn’t shake the feeling of indebtedness towards her. Gaius had mentioned these details in passing, but without concrete evidence, I had dismissed them until Zion corroborated the information.

I felt powerless in confronting Gaius, but after some contemplation, I gathered a group of warriors and went to meet him in the dungeon.

Everyone I cared for had betrayed me, except for Iris, who had become a victim. Even Ivy had deceived me by acting covertly.

"I have not forgotten your past loyalty to me. Therefore, I have decided to exile you from this tribe. However, you are free to seek refuge with any other tribe willing to accept you," I declared to Gaius, who sat on the floor with his head bowed.

After saving Annabelle, I knew Zion would quickly accept him, but his unexpected response surprised me.