Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama
Chapter 129: My rule or yours?

Chapter 129: My rule or yours?

Noah POV

The large oak doors of the General Assembly Hall crashed open with a deafening sound as I and the other Lycan Kings were shoved roughly into it. We were dragged from the quarters where the Lycan Kings were staying to the hall. I could see their faces battered with bruises and dirt.

I was no exception either. My ribs ached from the merciless blows of the mercenary soldiers’ batons and kicks. As much as my heart was boiling with fury, there was nothing I could do. We were held bound by handcuffs... not just any kind of handcuffs but handcuffs made from the bark of a whispering tree.

It could hold even the strongest of Lycan. The more you struggle against it, the more it sinks into your skin and the more the poison travels around the body. I wanted to stay alive, so much and I knew at this point, that I just had to do everything they were saying.

"Move!" the foot of one of the soldiers connected with my rib and I fell to the ground coughing. I could feel the metallic tang of blood in my mouth as my hands grabbed me roughly and steadied me on my feet. My vision was getting blurry... something was wrong. I could feel it. Lycans healed twice as fast as ordinary werewolves and had more endurance and stamina.

My gaze flitted to the rest of the king, noting that all the bruises formed on their faces and was surprised that the wounds were not healing at all and they were all showing signs of weakness. Falling and rising, wobbling on their feet... everything that a man would do if he was drugged. I shook my head and tried to concentrate on my mind link but as soon as I thought of it, I remembered that Reid had been bewitched too and I wasn’t sure he had come back to his sense. So, until I confirmed that, I couldn’t contact him.

"Kurtis!" my heart leaped with fright. I turned and scanned the faces of the people with me inside the hall sighing with relief when I noticed Kurtis wasn’t there too. If he didn’t see me, he would do something about this situation. We were pushed inside the hall and the doors were closed. Conrad strode in behind us, his face twisted into a cruel sneer as he made his way to the high-backed chair which was where I always sat down whenever I was here for a meeting.

Our gaze met briefly as he lowered himself into the chair, relish on his face.

"I’m sorry everyone," he feigned sadness "I didn’t want it to get to this, honestly. I would never try to punish anyone of you like this. I was just going to talk to you about it and leave it at that but your stubbornness made things difficult for me. "So, before we move further, I have a very important announcement to make,".

His eyes scanned the hall, waiting for everyone’s gaze to be on him before he continued "My brother King Tanner is dead," a loud gasp passed through the hall, as the eyes of all the Lycans widened with surprise "Yes, and although I want to desperately take credit for killing him with my own hands but I won’t do that. I facilitated his death and that was because of his defiance and refusal to listen to reason,".

The Kings began to whisper amongst them. I could see the fear slowly creeping inside them at the announcement. All Lycans had immortality unless they were killed by a special means. Notwithstanding it was unheard of for people to always be killed by their blood. This was the kind of news you’d hear amongst Fox packs and other Werecreatures but not wolves. It was a taboo to shed the blood of your brother.

"As I did today, I presented the idea to him, reminding him that the leadership of the Lycan Kings were far too large not to have some sort of manager and what better person to lead than someone from the West? We have the resources and the tools. Wild Hunt pack is more advanced than any pack here so you’d agree with me that we deserve it more," Conrad said.

Then he rose to his feet, slowing pacing before us with an almost manic glint in his eyes. "Starting from this moment, there will be no collection of Lycan Kings again. All leaders of the various packs in the regions would be appointed by me who will be the one and only true Lycan King. I have assumed that mantle, whether you losers accept it or not,".

He left his seat and walked up to me looming over me with his teeth bared in an animalistic snarl. Suddenly, he struck me against my cheeks with such force that my vision darkened for a moment and the painful sting of his hand that followed in the aftermath brought tears to my eyes.

"Look at you, Noah Steele or is it, Noah Carrell? Since I arrived here, you have abused me in every way, treated me as less than I am due but guess who is in chains now kneeling..." he raged with a satisfied smile "You! You had better submit to me now, or else, I will make an example of you to others,".

I started to laugh. It started as a low rumble before it turned into a full-blown mocking laugh. "You have won, Conrad... why do you need my approval for that? Is that how much you want to be patted on the back and told that you’ve done well? And just so you know... this is sloppy. If this is your grand idea then I’m disappointed," I spat, huffing with disdain as I held his blazing gaze, refusing to bow or show fear or react further to Conrad’s taunt.

I know my refusal to cower in fear to him was aching him more than anything. I watched as he stared at me for a moment before he scoffed and turned to one of the soldiers "Bring them to the table and make sure they’re properly restrained. There’s still so much to do, so wasting my time and spittle on someone like him is useless.

The soldiers came forward and seized us. Half dragged; half marched us to the long table. I grunted with pain as I was shoved into a chair that had my name and pack. Immediately, an additional pair of thick iron chains were wrapped around our wrists and ankles.

In front of us were several documents, spread out easily and labelled according to how they wanted us to read them. Conrad returned to his chair and began to address us.

"In front of you, is a detailed analysis and explanation of how taxes, tributes, laws, rules and regulations would be handled in this new regime. There is also a document for defiance or betrayal. Normally, I would just ask you all to go ahead and sign your signatures but because I don’t want to look like a bad person, I’m going to allow you an opportunity to read it carefully don’t worry, if you don’t want to obey it, you’ll be made to obey through..." he shrugged "alternative means,".

One by one, the I and the Kings met Conrad’s gaze with cold ones of theirs, refusing to look at the documents in front of us. It was our way of communicating our refusal to be forced into doing what he wanted us to do. What Conrad didn’t know was that these Kings had pride and most of them would rather die than allow themselves to be treated worse than omegas. So, we kept staring at him with stony glares and set jaws.

"Are you all deaf?" Conrad blew an exasperated air and turned to one of the soldiers "I told you to take it easy with beating them. I hope you haven’t beaten deafness into them?"

"Of course not!" the soldier scoffed "They are not cooperating?"

"It appears so!" Conrad chuckled.

One of the Kings suddenly spoke up "Conrad, I don’t know what kind of orientation you received from your brother but you should know that we’re not scared of you nor your antics and you still have a chance to right your wrong by letting us go. I promise we will go easy on you. Do you think that with everything happening, there’ll be no reply? C’mon, you’re not holding Alphas... You’re holding Lycan Kings... so make amends now and we’ll shorten your sentence,".

"Very funny," a dry laugh escaped Conrad’s lips "I expected this... in fact when I was discussing it with these soldiers, they thought I was exaggerating but my brother was a king and I know how much proud airs he puts up every single time. Anyways, I think it’s time to clip your wings,".

Raising one hand, he signalled to one of the mercenary brutes standing close to the entry and immediately they trooped to the podium and in one swift motion, they revealed a massive projection screen.

Immediately, it flickered to life. There were several small screens on the big screen, each representing all the pack of the kings present including Moon Whisper. Images of people, women and children shouting appeared on the screen.

Buildings were burning, the entire screens were filled with smoke... I felt my heart plummet as the lower villages of Moon Whisper flashed onto the screen. That was when it hit me... Conrad knew we all had weaknesses and it was our pack. He had held our people hostage and used us as a distraction. Judging by the images and the videos on the screen, it’ll be a pure blood bath if we don’t surrender.

Both sickened and enraged, my gaze swung back to Conrad. His eyes danced with glee and I knew he was enjoying this.

"You can’t do this to those innocent men and women, Conrad. This is not fair play... this is against our rules..."

"I make the rules now, your majesty," Conrad mocked "I know the only reason why the other kings are not agreeing is because of you. So, do the right thing... what will it be, Noah... my rule or yours?"