The Alpha King's Witch Bride
Chapter 191: _Cover Up For Negligence

Chapter 191: _Cover Up For Negligence

When Odessa and I walked into the throne room with Layla leading the way, we were met with three witches, including high priestess Althea, sitting on a rectangular table facing my throne.

I glanced at Odessa, tightening my grip on her hand ever so slightly in a way that would be reassuring before we continued walking.

"Alpha King Kaelos." The witch sitting at the center of the others was the first to speak.

Althea and the other witch remained silent.

This witch at the center was Coven Head Arachne, one of the oldest and possibly the most powerful witches on the continent currently.

She had long grey hair and wore a black robe with intricate designs of blooming white flowers printed on it, as well as the golden star of the coven behind her. Her piercing blue eyes showed the centuries of wisdom she had and the staff she held with her right hand showed her power and prestige among witches.

"Elder Arachne and high priestess Nimue of the Luminari Coven." I greeted the two new witches apart from Althea with a nod as I sat on my throne.

Odessa stood in front of me, her head lowered slightly and her hands placed in front of her body while her back faced the Elders.

"Odessa Pierce." Arachne barely acknowledged my response as she fixed all her attention on Odessa. "Hybrid blood. Do you know why you’ve been brought before the elders of the Luminari Coven?"

’Talk about going straight to the point.’ Damon sniggered in my head but I could tell that there was hidden anger behind his voice.

He didn’t like the fact that our mate was brought before these... Elders, because of something that was completely out of her control.

And neither did I.

"Before we begin, elders..." I raised my right hand and cleared my throat, my voice booming through the large throne room. "I got word that priestess Lucinda would be coming as well. Where is she?"

My voice was calm but I did nothing to hide the coldness and sternness within.

The coven head sat down quietly, drumming her fingers on the table with a sharp look in her eyes. But I remained unmoving as well, tilting my head slightly and tapping my right foot on the floor gently to show my growing irritation.

It seems these witches have forgotten who they’re sitting in front of.

"Lucinda will be here any minute. She’s still trying to heal properly after facing the apocalyptic magic of... The hybrid." High priestess Nimue, a woman with whitish blonde hair who seemed to be in her fifties, spoke out dismissively.

I clenched my jaw, glaring directly at her for several seconds until she was forced to look away with quivering eyes.

"Last time I checked, Lucinda was the one who attacked Odessa. Not the other way around." I continued, my grip on the armrest of my throne tightening a bit.

"Before Odessa was even revealed as a hybrid, Lucinda tried mentally subduing her simply because she wanted to prove her fickle superiority."

The high priestesses, including even Althea, glanced at each other and began murmuring, their expressions pensive.

"Is... Is this true, Odessa?" Althea finally mustered the courage to ask Odessa who seemed like she’d rather prefer to stay silent and invisible.

She slowly raised her head, but stared directly at me without saying anything at first. I stared at her in return and gave her one reassuring nod.

’Remember you said as long as I’m here with you, you’ll be alright.’ I said to her mentally through the mate bond. ’Well, I’m here and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Don’t be afraid. Don’t yield. You aren’t the monster they’re trying to paint you as.’

Her eyes softened and a warm smile soon spread across her face as she gave me a nod as well.

’Thank you.’

With that, she turned away from me and faced the high priestesses fully. Coven Head Arachne dimmed her eyes but seemed ready to hear her out.

"Lucinda had tried intimidating me earlier that night with telepathy and even tried compelling me to kneel," Odessa revealed with a clear and unshaken voice.

"I resisted and didn’t make any big deal about it throughout the rest of the night. Alpha King Kaelos is my husband and she dared to pull such a stunt in his territory. Have you thought about the repercussions if he had decided to take things further?"

The high priestesses glanced at themselves once again and all seemed to be stumped on what to do or say.

"For years I’ve faced bullying led by your perfect young witch, Lucinda." Odessa continued with a bitter voice that echoed around the room.

"Yet even though I’ve awakened my magic, I didn’t think about getting any sort of revenge on her. I didn’t even think of attacking her... Until she declared before the humans, wolves, and witches gathered that she would rid the earth of me."

Coven Head Arachne seemed disturbed and waved at Odessa to stop with her right hand while she rubbed her chin with her left.

I felt pride surge through me as I stared down at Odessa. She was handling this way better than I would.

"As... Wrong as Lucinda was, it doesn’t erase the fact that the continent and beyond know of your hybrid nature. And that you slaughtered several people during your breakdown." Coven Head Arachne said with a solemn tone, folding her hands in front of her face.

Odessa parted her lips to speak but this time, I decided to take over by clearing my throat.

"The werewolves suffered most of the casualties that night out of the thirty-two people who died," I said bluntly. "Only two witches died, and none were even from your coven. Eleven humans died. Guess who the remaining nineteen were."

There was a long pause after I gave that report. I scanned my gaze on all three of their faces before I continued.

"Werewolves. Elite werewolves from all over the continent. Under MY rulership and MY territory." I continued, my voice cold and guttural now as I slowly got on my feet.

I could feel the fear rising from the witches like a collective miasma, but I ignored that, clenching my fists and speaking with a thundering voice.

"I don’t care what any of you think. I will not let you use my wife as a scapegoat to cover up your negligence and incompetence."