The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 323: Karma and Consequences

Natalie~

The golden glow of the throne room suddenly felt dull, almost distant, as Gina’s shaky voice broke through the silence. Every word she spoke sounded like it ca from a place of pain, and it cut right through . I sat close to Zane, my crown pressing down on my head like it weighed a thousand pounds—but my heart felt even heavier. Jasmine’s strength stirred inside , urging to keep my composure, but the mories of everything I had endured before now clawed at with every syllable Gina let out.

"Gina," I said, my voice steady but laced with the storm brewing inside , "you said nothing’s working out for you. What do you an? Tell everything."

Gina’s red-rimd eyes t mine, and for a mont, I saw the flicker of the woman who’d once sneered at my pleas for a blanket. Now, she looked small, broken, her gray-streaked hair falling in limp strands around her face. She swallowed hard, her hands twisting together as she began.

"Your Majesty... Natalie," she started, her voice cracking like brittle glass. "Even before Alpha Darius was arrested, the pack was crumbling. The fields... they’re barren. Crops wither before they can grow. The rivers run dry, and our hunts co back empty. There’s no food, no basic anities. People are starving, stealing from each other just to survive. The pack has gone wild—cri runs rampant. Fights break out in the streets, and no one trusts anyone anymore."

Her words painted a vivid picture, and I could almost see the chaos: the once-proud Silverfang Pack, reduced to a lawless wasteland. My throat tightened, but I kept my face composed, my fingers curling into the armrest of my throne. Jasmine’s voice purred in my mind, "Well, isn’t this poetic? They kicked you out, and now their world’s falling apart. Karma’s got a sense of humor."

"And the worst of it..." Gina’s voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes darting to the floor as if she couldn’t bear to et my gaze. "The young girls... they’re suffering the most. We found out—too late—that Alpha Darius was... was raping them. Luna Gabrielle, she... she lured them to him, promised them safety, protection. But now, with Darius and Beta Timothy arrested, there’s no one to lead. No alpha, no beta. And it’s gets worse, Natalie. So much worse. There’s no one hiding the cris anymore. n in the pack... they’re attacking and raping won, young and old, every day. It’s like the pack’s cursed, and we can’t escape it."

A gasp caught in my throat, and I felt Zane’s hand tense beside mine, his growl a low rumble that vibrated through the throne room. The nine Silverfang mbers—Gina, Lila, Mira, and the others—stood frozen, their faces pale, their eyes glistening with tears. My heart twisted painfully. This was my parents’ pack, the one my father had built alongside Darius, the one that had killed them and then turned on , branded worthless, and cast out. And yet, hearing of its ruin, of the suffering of those girls, it broke sothing inside .

Gina fell to her knees, her hands clasped as if in prayer. "Please, Your Majesty, Goddess Natalie, King Zane... have rcy on us. We see it now. You and your family were the victims, not us. We were wrong—horribly wrong—to treat you the way we did. We beg you, save our pack from this... this karma that’s settled over us."

One by one, the others followed, dropping to their knees with a soft thud against the marble floor. Lila and Mira, their auburn braids glinting under the chandelier’s light, bowed their heads, their shoulders shaking. The six n and won behind them mirrored their despair, their whispers of "Please, forgive us" echoing like a haunting chorus. I stared at them, my chest tight, my eyes burning. The sight of them groveling stirred a whirlwind of emotions—anger, pain, but also a flicker of pity I couldn’t suppress.

"They don’t deserve your tears, Nat," Jasmine murmured, her tone sharp but tinged with concern."They hurt you. They let you starve. Don’t go soft now."

But my heart ached for the pack, for the girls suffering as I once had, for the legacy my parents had tried to build. I glanced at Zane, his piercing blue eyes locked on , his jaw tight. Through our mind link, his voice was a low, protective growl. "Natalie, I can feel your heart breaking for them. But they can’t go unpunished. Not after what they did to you, your parents, your friends. They don’t get to walk away from that."

I swallowed, my fingers brushing against his, seeking the warmth of his touch. "I know, Zane. But they’re suffering. The girls... they don’t deserve this. Can’t we help them, even if we punish the guilty?"

His gaze softened, but his resolve didn’t waver. "We’ll help them. I’ll make sure from now on the pack has food, protection. But they need to face consequences. They need to learn what it ans to wrong a queen, my queen."

I nodded, my heart swelling at his fierce protectiveness, the way he claid with every word. "Okay. But... go easy on them, Zane. Please."

His lips twitched, a hint of a smirk breaking through his stern expression. "Easy? I’ll give them a fraction of what they deserve. That’s as gentle as I get, love."

I stifled a smile, my heart fluttering at the endearnt, and turned back to the kneeling pack mbers. Their tear-streaked faces looked up at us, hopeful yet terrified. Zane’s voice bood through the throne room, commanding and unyielding, cutting through the heavy silence like a lightning.

"Silverfang Pack," he began, rising from his throne, his presence filling the room with an almost tangible force. "You co here begging for rcy, and we hear you. In two weeks, a new alpha will be chosen for your pack—one with integrity, one who will lead you out of this darkness. My guards will protect your borders, and food will be sent to your tables in the anti."

A ripple of relief passed through the group, and they murmured their thanks, still kneeling, their voices trembling with gratitude. Gina’s hands clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you."

But Zane lifted his hand, and the room fell silent. There was a sharp edge in his eyes, sothing cold and dangerous that made even the bravest shrink back. "I’m not finished," he said, his voice dropping low, carrying a weight that pressed on everyone present. The air felt heavy, charged. "You think a few tears are enough to wipe away what you did to Natalie? To her parents? To her friends? You treated the Celestial princess like she was garbage—and there will be consequences for that."

Gina’s head bowed lower, her shoulders trembling, but she nodded, resigned. "We understand, Your Majesty. Whatever punishnt you deem fit... we accept it."

The others echoed her, their voices soft but resolute. "We accept it," Lila whispered, her eyes fixed on the floor. Mira nodded beside her, her hands clenched into fists.

Zane’s gaze flickered to , and I felt his question through our bond. "You sure about this, Nat?" I gave a small nod, my heart pounding but certain. He turned back to the pack, his voice steady and commanding.

"For your cris against the Celestial princess, now Queen, the Silverfang Pack will face the following: First, you will lose your rank and privileges. For five years, your pack will be reduced to oga status in the Lycan hierarchy. Other packs will see you disgraced, and you will carry that sha."

Gasps echoed through the group, and one of the n let out a choked sob. Zane continued, undeterred. "Second, you are exiled from court gatherings. For five years, you are banned from royal ceremonies, feasts, or councils. You will have no voice in our world until you prove yourselves worthy."

His words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and I watched their shoulders sink, their faces draining of color as the reality set in—this was the end of their social standing, their pride. But I wasn’t about to let them walk away so easily. My voice slipped into the silence, gentle but unyielding. "And one more thing."

I rose to my feet, the fabric of my golden gown catching the light, glimring like fire as Jasmine’s strength burned inside . "To make sure you never forget what you’ve done, I will mark your pack with a spell—a brand of sha. It won’t last forever, but it will remain until your actions prove your loyalty, not just your apologies."

Gina’s eyes widened, but she nodded, her face etched with acceptance. "We understand, Your Majesty. We will bear it."

The throne room fell silent, the air heavy with the gravity of our decree. Zane’s hand found mine, his touch a quiet promise, and I felt Jasmine’s approval humming in my chest. "That’s my girl," she whispered. "Make them rember who you are."

The Silverfang Pack remained on their knees, their heads bowed, their tears glistening on the marble floor. My heart ached for the pack my parents had loved, but it burned with the fire of justice, too. They would rebuild, but they would do so with the weight of their past etched into their very souls.