Overwhelmed by Mintaka's words, Lerna felt a sting of tears behind her eyes. She swallowed thickly. She craned her neck to look at Rigel who was beside her and who was smiling. He nodded lightly to encourage her.
Lerna took a deep breath and stepped forward to bow to King Mintaka. As soon as she bowed, she heard a ferocious snarl and when she lifted her head up, she saw Okab with a wild look in his eyes. Like a maniac, he lifted his sword and charged at her to kill her. "I will kill you, bitch!" he yelled at her as he charged.
She shrieked at the impending doom. He was so close that it was impossible to save herself. But all at once she saw another sword landing on his neck, and it sliced through him neatly. Fountain of blood sprouted out of his neck, as his head severed from his body and rolled on the ground. His body took a step forward and then slumped on the ground.
Trembling like a leaf, Lerna's hands flew to her mouth when she saw Eltanin standing with his naked sword that was now covered with Okab's blood. In far distance she heard a scream and moments later a woman came running out. "Okaaabbbb!" she shouted as she rushed for him.
Stunned by this, the entire stadium fell so silent like it was a graveyard. Mintaka stared at the body of the werewolf who was his daughter's betrothed with complete shock, with his breath lodged in his throat.
"Guards!" Mintaka roared. "Seize her and throw her in the dungeons!"
"What?" Meissa whipped her head to look at him. "Father, what are you doing? My betrothed was killed just now. I am not at fault. You should capture them!" she pointed at Rigel and Lerna.
"Enough!" Mintaka hissed at her. "You have created enough mess! Your greed misguided me."
Guards came and grabbed her by her arms. They lifted her and dragged her away as she screamed and yelled curses at them.
Lerna had grabbed Rigel's tunic as she buried her face in his chest. She was ready for the drama that would unfold when she revealed herself, but wasn't expecting this unexpected turn of events.
"Come," Mintaka's soft voice reached her ears.
She loosed a tight breath as she looked at Rigel. He nodded and whispered, "Come, love. Now no one can stop you." With one last look at Okab, he walked after his father along with his friend and his mate--the two most important people in his life. He could feel the eyes of his people following them. Good, he said to himself. This show of power would instill fear in them.
And as they walked with the king of Orion, every person present over there could feel a strange surge of power. It was as if Rigel's strength and aura was doubled with the presence of his mate. They all got up and bowed in unison to their future king and queen.