His Cursed Luna

16. The Unforeseen

Elijah stood still, surrounded by the guards who were ready to take him away. He knew he had no chance of escaping their grasp. How did he end up here? His eyes met Isabella once. Would things be different if he announced her as his soulmate? His chain of thoughts broke as Isabella's scream echoed through the hall, making everyone bewildered. The guards looked at each other, uncertain of what to do. On the other hand, William greeted his teeth as he glared at his daughter. He had always known that she was headstrong and impulsive, but he never wanted her outburst at this time. The outcome could be devastating for him, and he couldn't afford to lose his power and authority over the Ancients.

"Father, please, stop him," Isabella implored, her voice cracking with emotion. "You know he is my soulmate. He has done nothing wrong, and I can vouch for him."

Her words hung in the air, and the room fell silent. Even the Ancients, who had been watching the drama unfold, were stunned by this unexpected revelation. Ancient Gerald's frown deepened as he confronted William. "William, is it true?" he asked, his voice low and measured. "Why haven't you told us that Isabella found her soulmate?"

The room fell silent as Ancient Gerald's words hung in the air. William's eyes darted nervously around the room but knew he couldn't avoid the question. He had never imagined that this day would come.

Gerald's frown deepened as he waited for William's response. The rest of the Ancients looked on, their faces expressionless. They knew that something was amiss, but they didn't know what. The bond between soulmates was sacred, and the announcement of it was an honour that couldn't be denied.

William cleared his throat, his voice low and measured. "I apologise," he said, his tone formal. "Isabella has indeed found her soulmate, but I did not announce it publicly because I felt it was not the right time."

There was a murmur of disapproval from the other Ancients. They had always believed that it was the King's duty to announce the mate bond of his daughter. It was a tradition that had been followed for centuries, and it was considered a great honour to be chosen as a princess's soulmate. Hiding the mate bond was seen as a sin, a betrayal of their society's ancient customs and traditions.

Ancient Gerald's voice was sharp as he spoke again. "William, you know that hiding the mate bond is a sin. It is a betrayal of our traditions and customs."

“The facts are obvious. An ominous power is rising, and I didn’t want my daughter to leave the safety of the castle at this moment. And now Elijah is being accused of such treachery,” William replied in his defence.

“No, father, he is not a convict,” Isabella mumbled.

As the tension in the room rose to a fever pitch, Lycan King William finally spoke. "Isabella, you know the law. We cannot let this go unpunished. Elijah's Beta has succumbed to darkness, and he failed to stop him. He must be taken into custody for questioning."

As Penelope watched the scene unfold before her, she couldn't help but smirk. The newly developed events were sure to cause a stir among the Ancients. Elijah was now in a difficult position, and there was no doubt that he would be interrogated thoroughly. The Ancients would not let him leave easily, not when he had been caught in the middle of a chaotic situation.

But what intrigued Penelope the most was the fact that Isabella had declared Elijah to be her soulmate. This added extra fuel to the fire, and Penelope knew that the Ancients would be even more interested in this case. A princess finding her soulmate was a rare and significant event, and it was always treated with the utmost respect and attention.

Isabella's plea for Elijah only added to the drama. She had already caused a scene by jumping into the middle of the chaos, but now she was making a direct appeal to her father.

Penelope watched the drama with interest. Isabella's plea was powerful, and it carried a weight that could not be ignored. A soulmate's plea was one of the most potent forces in their society, and it could sway even the most stubborn of minds.

But Penelope knew that the Ancients would not be so easily swayed. They were proud and stubborn people, and they would not let a mere plea from a princess sway their judgment.

As she watched, Ancient Gerald spoke up. "Isabella, we understand that Elijah is your soulmate," he said. "But we cannot ignore the fact that he was caught in the middle of a chaotic situation. We must investigate this matter thoroughly before we can make any decisions."

Isabella's face fell, and Penelope could see the despair in her eyes. She had hoped that her plea would be enough to save Elijah, but now it seemed that it was not enough.

But then, something unexpected happened. Isabella stood up, her voice firm and strong. "Ancients, I understand that you must investigate this matter," she said. "But please, do not judge Elijah based on the circumstances of his capture. He is a good man, and I know him to be honourable and just."

Penelope watched in awe as Isabella spoke. Her words were powerful and carried a conviction that could not be ignored. She knew that Isabella was using the power of her soulmate bond to speak on Elijah's behalf, and it was clear that her plea was having an impact.

The Ancients looked at each other, their expressions thoughtful. Penelope could see that they were considering Isabella's words carefully, and she knew that they were weighing the power of a soulmate's plea against the seriousness of Elijah's situation.

Finally, Ancient Gerald spoke again. "Isabella, we understand your concern," he said. "And we will take your words into consideration as we investigate this matter. But we must also do what is best for our society. We cannot let your emotions cloud the judgment."

“I swear to the Moon Goddess, I can vouch for him, my supreme,” Isabella spoke defeatedly.

Penelope was silent for the longest. She hid her smirks behind tears, appearing to be a very docile and pitiful woman, as she spoke out loud, “cousin, please reconsider your words. If Alpha Elijah is convicted of the charges, you will also share the burden of his sins. I cannot see you suffering, cousin. So, please reconsider.”

The tension in the room thickened, and the silence was deafening. The weight of Penelope's words was palpable, and Isabella's heart sank at the realisation of the implications of her actions. She had put not only herself but also Elijah in danger.

William looked at Penelope, and his face twisted with anger. "How dare you threaten my daughter like this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls of the chamber. "Isabella is not responsible for Elijah's actions. If he is guilty, then he will face the consequences alone."

Penelope’s eyes welled up as she sobbed, "I… I am merely stating the facts, uncle," she replied, her voice dripping with concern and sadness, "they are soulmates, after all. Isabella's fate is intertwined with Elijah's. If he falls, she falls with him. Isn’t that how the mate bond works? I apologise, uncle, if I have spoken out of place. It was never my intention to slander Izzy. I care for her."

Her pitiful and concerned demeanour shut William up. The Ancients looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. The issue was a delicate one, and they knew that any misstep could result in irreparable damage to the kingdom. Finally, Ancient Gerald spoke up, his voice grave.

"Penelope raises a valid point, William," he said, his eyes fixed on the king. "As much as we would like to believe that Isabella is innocent, her actions today have put her in a precarious position. We need to investigate this matter thoroughly and determine the truth."

Isabella could feel the weight of the Ancients' words crushing her, and tears filled her eyes. She had never meant for things to get so out of hand. All she had wanted was to save her mate, but now she had jeopardised everything.

As William seethed with anger, he struggled to keep his composure. He knew that the situation had spiralled out of control and that his daughter's future was at stake. He couldn't let her be dragged into a mess any further, especially now that her soulmate was involved. He had to think fast and act quickly to save both Isabella and Elijah.

William's eyes narrowed as he looked at Penelope, who was still putting on a facade of innocence and fragility. He knew that she had played a hand in this chaos and had managed to turn the situation to her advantage. He felt a strong urge to lash out at her but knew that he had to remain calm and composed. He couldn't give Penelope the satisfaction of knowing that she had gotten under his skin.

William's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan to save Elijah. He knew that if Elijah was convicted of the charges, it would spell disaster not just for Isabella but for his entire kingdom. He couldn't let that happen. He had to find a way to save Elijah, either by proving his innocence or by silencing him forever.

The latter option made William shudder, but he knew that it might be his only choice. If Elijah opened his mouth and revealed the dark secrets that William had kept hidden for years, he would meet his downfall. William couldn't let that happen. He had to protect his kingdom and his family, even if it meant taking drastic measures.

As he thought about his options, William's anger began to turn into a steely resolve. He knew that he had to act quickly and decisively. He couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment. He had to be strategic and methodical in his approach.

The room fell into a tense silence as the Ancients deliberated. Finally, Ancient Gerald spoke up again. "Elijah will be held in custody until we can determine the truth of these accusations," he announced his voice firm. "Isabella, you will remain under our protection until this matter is resolved."

Isabella nodded, her heart heavy with sorrow. She had never imagined that her actions would lead to such dire consequences. As the guards led Elijah away, she turned to her father, tears streaming down her face, “I’m sorry father. I caused you trouble.”

William put his palm over her head, brushing her hair softly. He swallowed the situation of the evening though his blood was boiling in fury.