Chapter 107: Chapter 107
Every eye in the hall turned to me. I felt the weight of their expectations—some wanted blood for what Tom had done. Others wanted mercy. I didn’t know what I wanted.
Actually, that was a lie. I did know.
I stood up slowly. "Tom deserves to die for what he did to me. For what he tried to do to Christian. I won’t pretend otherwise." I paused, gathering my thoughts. "But I don’t want his death on my conscience. I don’t want to carry that weight for the rest of my life."
"Sophie—" Marcus started.
"Let me finish." I looked at Tom, who glared back with unrepentant hatred. "Tom, you took so much from me. My sense of safety. My peace of mind. Months of my life spent looking over my shoulder. But I won’t let you take my compassion too. I won’t let you turn me into someone who craves revenge."
I turned to address the pack. "I want him banished. Stripped of his pack bonds. Exiled from every werewolf territory. I want him to live the rest of his life knowing he lost everything because of his obsession and violence. Death would be too easy. Too quick."
The hall erupted in murmurs. Christian squeezed my hand through our bond, sending waves of support and pride.
"You’re weak," Tom sneered. "You always were."
"No," I said simply. "I’m strong enough to choose mercy even after everything you did. That’s something you’ll never understand."
Christian stood beside me. "The pack will vote. Those who support execution, move to the left. Those who support banishment, move to the right."
The pack shifted. I watched nervously as wolves made their choices.
When the movement stopped, the right side—banishment—was overwhelmingly larger.
"The pack has spoken," Christian announced. "Tom, you are hereby sentenced to permanent banishment from Shadow Ridge and all werewolf territories. But first, your pack bonds will be stripped."
Tom’s face went white. "No. You can’t—"
"I can, and I will." Christian stepped down from the platform with me beside him. "This is an ancient ritual. It’s going to hurt."
Marcus and Connor forced Tom to his knees. Christian placed his hand on Tom’s chest, and I mirrored the action on the other side. I felt Christian’s Alpha power surge through our connection, and I added my Luna energy to the mix.
Tom screamed.
The pack bonds weren’t visible, but I felt them—threads of connection linking Tom to every wolf he’d ever known. And I felt them snap, one by one, severing completely.
Tom collapsed when we finished, gasping and pale. Without pack bonds, he was utterly alone. No connection to anyone. No sense of belonging. For a werewolf, it was a fate worse than death.
"Tom," Christian’s voice was cold and final. "You are banished from Shadow Ridge territory and all werewolf lands. If you return, you will be executed on sight. You have twenty-four hours to leave. Guards, take him to the border."
They dragged Tom toward the exit. He looked back one last time, his eyes finding mine.
"You’ll regret this," he said, his voice hoarse. "Both of you. Your happiness won’t last—"
"Get him out of here," Marcus ordered, and the guards hauled Tom away.
The hall stayed silent until the doors closed behind them.
Then the pack erupted in conversation. Several wolves approached us, thanking me for showing mercy. Others congratulated Christian on presiding over the trial fairly. Connor appeared with documents to make Tom’s banishment official.
I signed my name next to Christian’s, making it legal and binding. Tom’s name would be erased from Shadow Ridge records. Like he’d never existed.
"It’s done," Connor said, gathering the papers. "All packs have been notified of his exile. He’s got nowhere to go."
Christian nodded, then turned to me. "Let’s get out of here."
We barely made it back to our quarters before I broke down. All the fear, trauma, and pain from months of Tom’s stalking came pouring out in ugly, gasping sobs.
Christian held me on the floor of our entryway, not saying anything, just being there while I cried it out.
"I thought I was stronger than this," I gasped between sobs.
"You are strong," Christian said fiercely. "You just faced down your abuser and showed mercy. That’s the strongest thing I’ve ever seen."
"I wanted him dead," I admitted. "Part of me still does."
"I know. I wanted him dead too." Christian tilted my face up to look at him. "But you chose mercy, and that choice freed you from hatred. You’re not carrying that poison anymore."
I leaned into him, letting his solid presence ground me. "Is it really over?"
"It’s really over. Tom can never hurt you again."
We stayed on the floor for a long time, just holding each other. Eventually, I stopped crying, and my breathing returned to normal.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"For what?"
"For supporting my decision. I know you wanted him executed."
Christian kissed my forehead. "Your mercy doesn’t make you weak, Sophie. It makes you extraordinary. I’m proud of you."
That night, we lay in bed together, both too wired to sleep despite our exhaustion.
"The Tom Chapter of my life is officially closed," I said into the darkness.
"Good. He doesn’t deserve any more of your time or thoughts."
