Maren stepped forward, but the guards stopped her before she could reach Isla.
"No, Alpha King, please. I only did what I thought was necessary to maintain order in Ashcrest."
She turned toward Isla.
"Isla, please tell him I wasn't the worst one. You know there were others who treated you worse than I did."
"Don't speak to my mate," I warned.
Maren looked at me immediately.
"You had five years to show Isla some kindness," I continued. "Instead, you helped Rodan punish her. You don't get to ask her to defend you now."
Maren began crying again, but I ignored her. She had never cared when Isla cried or begged for the punishment to stop. I wasn't interested in listening to her excuses. The guards moved her back beside Rodan.
I turned toward Derek Thorne.
"Derek Thorne, you are strippe
