The moment the asshole judge pronounced his judgment, those that really want me dead jump up in their seats, happily cheering, hugging, and shaking each other's hands. Justin carries his mother up and spins her around, making her squeal with delight while Owen and his family cry tears of joy in each other's arms.
Even the judge himself looks down at all of them, smiling in approval as they rejoice. I don't think he's ever been prouder about achieving anything in his life.
"Finally! Finally! Finally!" Justin shouts enthusiastically as he punches his fist in the air. Then he walks towards me with a huge grin plastered on his face, closely followed by two of his friends that I recognize from back when we were in school together before I got expelled
"Enjoy your freedom while it lasts, man. The police will soon be here to take you and your cronies away..." He says, turning to the person on his right.
"I'm not quite sure Mike, what do you say to a bastard who is about to die?..."
Mike's expression changed to one of confusion
"Uhhh, farewell?... Rest in peace or something?..." He replies while scratching an itch behind his ear.
"Justin is not so bright but you Mike, you've always been the stupidest among the three of you." My dad's voice suddenly booms out from the back of the courtroom.
Almost everyone in the room turns in the direction the voice came from. All of them who recognize that voice clearly look bewildered. I'm sure they're thinking... 'It couldn't be his voice! That's impossible! He's dead!'
They're all looking towards the back in disbelief then gasp out with shock when my dad removes his disguise as he stands up, walking to the front of the courtroom with Eric behind him.
"Elder Knox!?..."
"He's not dead!?..."
"What's happening? Didn't the Beta say he was killed!?..." I hear them murmur in disbelief
The old wolf chuckles as he talks to Justin and his friends like he's taking a stroll with no care in the world.
"You three have been friends and plotted together for too long not to know Justin wouldn't wish to send his elder brother off with good wishes. Isn't that right, Justin?"
Justin who has turned pale, looks like he's about to keel over
"Dad?... You're– you're alive?"
"Yes, I am actually! Oh, I'm sorry– SURPRISE!..." He shouts, laughing as he looks around the courtroom. "Pardon me, people, I should have shouted that first to you all before pointing out my second son's stupidity...
I'm glad to see you too Justin," He says with a voice laced with sarcasm. "And that also goes for all of you, even when I know not all of you are happy to see me." The last statement was made with his eyes on Evelyn whose tan skin has turned white.
I laugh then. I realize the courtroom has returned to pin-drop silence when my laughter rings out loud in the room. As he approaches where we're sitting, I stand up, and so do my men. Alpha Nate also stands with his arms outstretched when my dad arrives beside the defendant's table where we're sitting
"Knox. Glad to finally see you again, my friend." He says and they embrace each other tightly.
"Me too Nate. Me too. Thank you so much, my friend. Thank you for everything." My dad says as they heartily slap each other on the back.
"Pops..." I greet with a slight bow after they let each other go. I'm surprised when he moves closer and embraces me too.
"You did well, son. You did well." He says, slapping me on the back. His voice, loud enough for everyone around to hear his words. "Thank you for being patient with me and with this bullshit excuse for a trial."
Except for my men and Alpha Nate who had always known my dad was alive and the relationship between us, everyone else in the courtroom is astonished. Even the judge appeared to have lost some of his ruddy color out of shock.
They clearly can't believe it when they see my dad, whom I was on trial for murdering, hugging me. His show of affection toward me is contrary to whatever it was they might have heard about the relationship between us. I'm sure they're dying to know what happened. How come he isn't dead when his Beta gave an eyewitness testimony about how I ambushed and murdered him in cold blood?
Owen the traitor quickly regains himself and hurries out of the witness box towards us, making me wonder how he intends to talk himself out of this mess.
"Oh my god, Alpha! What a surprise! This is shocking indeed. I didn't..." He didn't get to finish what he was saying. My dad shuts him up with a fist to his mouth.
The people gasped yet again. Victoria and her mother look panic-stricken as they both rush to kneel beside Owen who has fallen to the floor with blood coming out of his busted lips.
"Oh, goddess! Owen!" Carol cries
"Daddy, are you okay?" Victoria cries
"Damn, Uncle Knox still got it in him." Eric who is now standing close to me whispers.
"Didn't I tell you he isn't that old, he's just pretending to garner pity?"
"Yeah, I see that now." He replies and chuckles
"Alpha!?... What's going on?... " Carol pleadingly calls my dad. She looks confused with eyes brimming with unshed tears. She turns back to her mate when my dad doesn't immediately respond to her question.
"Owen, what's happening... Will somebody please tell me what all this is all about, I'm going crazy here!?" She asks her last question while looking at me.
"Alpha?..." Victoria also calls with trepidation, looking from the old Alpha's face to her dad's but Pops only looks at them with disgust before walking towards the judge's bench. I'm sure he thought the whole family was in on the whole plan.
"Hello, Ricky! Or should I say, your honor?" He sarcastically says to the judge who is still loss for words.
"I see you already sentenced my son to death for killing me. Well, now that you know I'm alive, I hope it's not too late for me to give my testimony, or are you going to insist that he be killed anyway?"
"Uhm, no– of course not, why would I do that? Since you're alive then the sentence can't be carried out. We'll have to..."
"Of course, I'll tell my side of the story..." My dad interrupts with a bright smile, walking to the witness box. He enters and sits in the witness chair.
"Henrik please check if those are real cameras..." He says, pointing to the reporters.
"With the level of professional misconduct going down in this courtroom today, I won't be surprised if the reporters are staged." He grins towards the judge like he didn't just accuse him of professional misconduct right in his presence.
The judge wince and busy himself shuffling through some papers on his desk like he didn't hear what my dad just said
"You're good to go" Henrik confirms from the back of the court with a thumbs up.
"Great!" My dad replies, making a show of clearing his throat before he starts.
"I know you all are surprised to see I'm alive. You're also confused about a lot of things but not to worry, I'm going to make everything clear to you today... Contrary to what y'all were told. I would like you all to know that my eldest son, Thor, never wanted to return to California. He also never wished to be the Alpha of Silver Moon pack. I forced him to return home.
Being the eldest, I could have just made him the Alpha of the pack since I know he's the most capable to lead. But I didn't, because I wanted to be fair between both of them. I wanted Justin who is still getting monthly allowances from his father at his age to have the opportunity of proving himself worthy.
According to the law, when an Alpha of a pack has two sons on the same day, a duel will be held, and the winner of the fight becomes the next Alpha. So I arranged for them to fight. Every one of you that watched them duel knew the best man won of course.
Now, that is not why I'm sitting here. I'm sitting here to let you all know why I'm alive when you all thought I was dead. You see, the truth is I was attacked and left for dead by someone I trusted with my life. Not by Thor and his team like you were all led to believe. My son found my unconscious body where I was left and saved my life. I would have been dead if he hadn't arrived on time.
So guess who attacked me? Guess who shot me in the chest twice before injecting a syringe full of vampire venom and wolf's bane into my bloodstream?
"Him!..." He says, pointing to Owen. "My Beta"