Harlow left for GoldenBlood without guards, not Kai. She intended to solve the emergency all by herself, to prove to everyone that she was the Queen she was always meant to be.
When she got to GoldenBlood, she didn’t take a rest or eat despite how exhausted she was; she went beeline to her office and demanded to see Ian.
And the moment he arrived, she asked him to fill her in on what he had briefly revealed to her on the phone call.
Ian started by explaining, “The Chief Accountant of Gold’s Enterprise had been complaining to me that the ledgers were not balancing. I investigated and found out that things were not balanced as well.”
He placed some files on the table and asked Harlow to check his deductions. Harlow beckoned him to sit while he continued the narration.
“I called for the Heads of all Departments to send me everything they’ve remitted so far on both import and export sections. It was only Nolan, the Head Auditor, who hadn’t,” he continued.
Harlow digested everything he said with vigor and paid maximum attention to the file he provided. After a few minutes, she let out a fierce cackle before staring back at Ian.
“This has been going on even before my father died. Investors are also withdrawing from the company,” the words flew from her mouth, ready to pierce Ian in every part of his body.
“Y-yes,” he admitted.
“And why did you not tell me about it?” she asked, a red tint flickering in her eyeballs.
Instantly, Ian objected, “I didn’t know about it until recently. And it was immediately when I confirmed Nolan was committing treachery I contacted you.”
Harlow chilled and continued to flip through the pages of the files. Nolan had forged the signatures and audited the accounts. Those accounts did not correlate with the products purchased and sold.
“And where is Nolan?” she asked, an eye narrowed at Ian. “Don’t tell me he is not rotting in jail already.”
Ian bobbed his head, but she told him not to. “I would have. But I was waiting for your judgement.”
This got Harlow clearing her throat. “Beta Ian,” she called, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I appointed you to look after the pack after me because I trust your judgement on anything whatsoever arises.”
“I...” She cut him off in a polite manner before he could finish his sentence.
“You led the pack more than expected when my father went on trips. So I know how well you do things,” she appraised him, and he let out a soft smile.
“Thank you so much, Harlow. I really appreciate your kind words. If you want me to act up on Nolan, I will gladly do that instantly,” he uttered.
Once Harlow approved him, they left the office and headed toward the estate Nolan and his family were living in. When she got to his apartment, his wife claimed he wasn’t at home.
She didn’t know the crime her husband had committed.
“Your husband stole taxes from people. Cleared the company’s profit into his pocket, and if we find out you are aiding him from being arrested…” Harlow quickened closer to her.
Then she continued, “You will suffer a worse fate than your husband and make your children orphans!”
“No… no… no,” the wife whimpered.
“So, where is Nolan?” Harlow questioned, her voice brewing with authority and annoyance.
“He is hiding in the basement under the storeroom,” she stuttered, clutching her hair as tears cascaded down her face.
She’d rather sacrifice her husband than let her children become homeless. It is better to have a parent than none.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” Harlow insisted, and before one could say Jack Robinson, Ian and the guards stormed toward the basement.
They pulled the rug that covered the entrance and pulled him out of the dark place. Not without violence, of course.
Nolan protected himself with the guns in the shelves, and he shot a guard in his arm. But Ian captured him like an ant roaming the wall.
Harlow landed a resounding slap on his cheeks and spat in his face. “You, whom my father trusted with all his soul, had the audacity to betray us?"
Nolan groaned and spilled blood from his mouth. He tried to deny the accusations that Ian had forged the documents. That he was guilty and had just hidden himself because no one would believe he hadn't done anything.
But when every evidence brought forth to them pointed all fingers at him, his defensive expression morphed into a pleading one.
“Please, Queen Harlow. I meant no harm. Please have mercy upon me,” he apologized, plunging to his knees weakly.
All his pleas fell on Harlow’s deaf ears as she turned to the guards. “Take this traitor to the market square.”
Then his wife begged, dropped to Harlow’s feet, pleading that she let mercy on her husband. But no matter the sentiments Harlow was feeling for the wife, she wouldn’t let that cloud her judgment.
“Magdalene, you and Nolan know the laws of this pack better than anyone else. And I assure you he will face the consequences of his actions,” the Queen concluded in a fierce tone that got the wife shedding more tears.
“Please give my husband one last chance,” she begged in a croaky tone.
Harlow crouched on her toes and cupped Magdalene’s teary face in a gentle motion. She truly felt so bad that a beautiful soul like her had chosen a wrong husband.
Magdalene used to be her father’s secretary. And until she resigned because she wished to focus on her family rather than her career, Hayes had always praised her commitment to his company.
It wasn’t hearsay. Harlow knew the kind of woman she was, too. And seeing how in this condition broke her like shattered glass.
“I’m sorry, Mag,” Harlow uttered in a soft, caring tone. “But justice has to be served. The best I can offer is for your kids to be put somewhere so they don’t witness what happens to their father.”
With that being sad, Harlow composed her face, rose to her feet and directed her instructions to the guards.
“Take him to the pack’s square and let the members watch what happens to a traitor. We haven’t had one in decades.”
~~~~
The media outlets sent a message to all adult pack members to meet at the square. And in less than five minutes, everyone filled the square in an orderly manner, waiting to see what judgment would be passed onto the trait.
But while others waited, it surprised some that Harlow, who hadn’t been around, was still doing the pack’s affair dutifully. Most of them had believed she’d care less since she was in Athens.
That, exactly, was what Nolan thought also before stealing a huge amount of money from the remits that he used to.
Just then, Harlow and Ian arrived. Ian was putting on his warrior regalia, while she was wearing a simple black shirt and black pants that reeked of fear and justice.
And everyone admired her steps as she magnificently eased into the throne and crossed her legs over each other, her arms resting on the throne arm.
“Bring him!” Harlow instructed the guards, and as soon as they brought Nolan in and threw him into the middle of the square, she grabbed the microphone and began without standing up from the throne.
“Most of you might think I’m not responsible for the pack because of my marriage to Lycan King Kai. But believe what you want, I do my duties and obligations like I had never left.”
The crowd cheered, and those who had never fancied the idea of a female leading them just had to see her in a new light.
Like who wouldn’t be fascinated by how a young Queen cared for her pack from many miles away?
She won hearts.
“Now today, this man you see here has been confirmed to be a traitor. And as you all know, a traitor will face the wrath of the law,” she affirmed.
Her voice reverberated through the sky. The ground shook beneath people’s feet and sent chilling waves through everyone’s spines.
Everywhere went mute, their minds rippling with questions.
They had no idea what Harlow was going to do. Her next move was so unclear. Because the former Alpha always tampered with justice with mercy. But it seems this evening, Harlow was not going to be a fan of that.
“This is a reminder for you who still want to betray the pack and the crown in any kind of way. I would not advise you not to change. Just do not let me catch you!”
After that, some guards brought the guillotine, and the shock that replaced everyone’s anticipation was second to none.
“Hope his children are safe and not here?” Harlow mind-linked Ian, and he nodded in approval.
With strict instructions from Harlow, the guards placed Nolan on the guillotine and decapitated him at once.
A head was down. Blood spilled across those people’s faces. And that was the trigger everyone needed.
Either they messed with Harlow or met her wrath. One definitely was certain to happen.