***DURING THIS REFLECTION CHAPTER, SOME OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS ARE BROUGHT UP, THIS IS MORE OF A FLASHBACK CHAPTER DURING TRINITY'S REFLECTION***

~~

Trinity

~~

"Now, Trinity, do you remember this scene here? This event that led to so much eventual destruction?

" The other me was smirking at me as the images changed before us once again.

"My Queen, what is it you have summoned me for?

" Gabriel asked as soon as we were seated in the room I used at the Sentinelle.

"Frankly, Gabriel, I want to know if today is going to have any long-lasting repercussions.

" I guess even back then I had fears that my actions were going to cause problems like this. Was I just being paranoid? Or was this something that needed to be thought of more carefully?

"What kind of repercussions are you speaking of, your grace?

" Perkins was the one to ask this question while Gabriel seemed a little taken aback by my words.

"Will the rest of the Sentinelle view us as enemies now? Will they be too afraid or angry to serve us in any capacity? What will become of our status here? Will we even be able to accomplish our objectives?

" I loaded him with question after question, my worries leaking out even though I did my best to remain calm.

"My Queen, I think all will be just fine.

" Ghirald was the first to answer.

"I agree.

" Perkins nodded.

"They are indeed correct, Queen Trinity. It was necessary for the King to put those behaving impudently into their place. The King and you both need to be firm in situations like these. There are none that truly believe in our ways that will be disheartened or unsettled by your actions.

" Gabriel confirmed for me.

"So, you have no problem with the outcome from today?

" Reece asked him.

"No, quite the opposite, King Reece. Today showed the others what I already knew to be true. You two are very much Goddess-blessed. King Reece has been granted the only Lycan form in over two thousand years. And our Queen has had so many blessings, not just from the Goddess Nehalennia, but also from the God Thoth. Who could rightfully deny someone so proven worthy by the Gods?

" Gabriel was as reverent as always when he spoke about me.

"Gabriel, if I may?

" Dietrich interrupted.

"Yes, Lord Dietrich?

"

"What will become of those two? How will they be punished?

" Dietrich was more concerned with the more immediate aspects of the day's events.

"They will most definitely need to be punished. The method for that can be decided by our leaders. Or as the acting Watcher and highest authority in the organization, I can decide the punishment myself.

"

"What type of punishment would be normal for something like this?

" Dietrich wondered.

"We have never had something like this happen before, so I must admit that there is no precedent for the punishment. If there is something that our esteemed rulers would like to suggest, then we will most certainly accept that as the intended punishment.

" Gabriel seemed a little uncertain as he spoke, clearly thinking through everything he had ever learned before.

"Is execution an option?

" Reece smirked.

"Yeah, I like that idea.

" Vincent chimed in.

"Vincent?!

" I yelled his name in shock.

"Why are you only yelling at me?

"

"Him I expect that sort of childish response from. But you? You're supposed to be better than that.

" I shot him a disappointed look causing his face to fall with guilt.

"I'm sorry Trinity. It's just I will not accept someone mistreating my Luna in such a way. They need to be punished.

"

"And they will be. But their wrong doings do not warrant such a harsh punishment.

" My voice rang with a note of authority and finality.

"I agree with Trinity, it is not that serious of an issue. They must be punished, and made an example out of, but death is not the option here.

" Dietrich added his support for me.

"Why do we need to make an example out of them?

" Shane asked, confusion written all over his young-looking face.

"Because, dear brother, Trinity and Reece will not be able to command respect if they do not use this opportunity to show everyone that they are willing to retaliate. The only way to rule is through loyalty. And sometimes, you need to show people what it means to be disloyal. Everyone else in this abbey and village are loyal to the King and Queen, but what if they show weakness to their enemies? Will they still have their respect and loyalty then? No, they need to cement themselves as strong rulers now so that they never lose the loyalty of their followers in the future.

" Dietrich spoke as if he knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Do you really think it will come to something like that?

" Shawn asked him with a note of worry in his voice.

"Ja meine Geliebte, I do. It is exactly what I had to do.

" There was a faraway look on Dietrich's face, like he was remembering something from a long time ago. Something that wasn't exactly pleasant but gave a wistful feeling of fondness, nonetheless.

"You did?

" Shawn looked worried for his mate.

"Worry not, Liebling, there is nothing to worry about now.

"

"Will banishment and stripping them of their status in the Sentinelle be efficient for this matter?

" I asked Gabriel and Dietrich.

"Stripping them of their ranks will make them normal citizens. They will not be given the same advantages that we of the Sentinelle are privy to.

"

"Such as?

" David asked, speaking up for the first time in this situation.

"We were frozen in time while we waited for the new Queen to be named. Once she accepted her role we would begin our lives again, however, at a much slower rate. We can again find mates and will age, but we will not age at the same rate that everyone else does. Those in the order will age as slowly as the Queen and King, allowing us to better serve her during her entire reign.

"

"So, what, they will be forced to age at a normal rate?

" Reece asked, not satisfied with that as a punishment.

"That, or possibly even faster to make up for their unnaturally long lives.

"

"So, their lives will be shortened?

" Reece smirked.

"Possibly. I am not certain.

" Gabriel was answering all the questions while the other two men just stared on in awe.

"Is there anything else that we can do to punish them? They don't even deserve to call themselves wolves anymore.

" Reece ground out.

"What if I were to seal away their wolves? They would never again be able to shift, hear their wolf's thoughts or emotions. They would most likely lose the extra senses that we have as shifters. In a sense, it would be like I made them human.

" This was when I got my sudden idea of sealing away the wolves for the two men.

"That is quite the fate.

" Perkins looked shocked, but not against the idea.

"It is the life that I thought I was going to live, until I finally shifted for the first time. I thought I would never be a shifter. If it can be granted by a Goddess, then it can be taken away by one as well. This will help serve as a reminder not to just the Sentinelle, but the world. If I can sever the link someone has with their animal form, then they will think twice about crossing us. Likewise, we can also spread the knowledge that I have unlocked new shifting forms. Whether I can do that for other people I don't know, but I am guessing it will help people to remain loyal if they think they might be granted something extra.

"

"That is actually a very good idea.

" Dietrich smirked and looked at me with a proud glint in his eyes.

"And I like that they will no longer be wolves. They don't deserve it.

" Vincent added.

"And, they will probably have to listen to us still, won't they?

" Reece grinned with a wicked light in his eyes.

"I must concur with them, your grace, it seems to be the best punishment available, and a fitting one as well.

" Ghirald smiled happily.

"So, the punishment for their crimes will be the sealing of their wolf and banishment.

"

"With the banishment will come a blacklisting to all packs worldwide. They will be forced to live life without any aid from the shifters ever again.

"

"That sounds much more appealing to me.

" Reece's voice held a slight growling edge as he gleefully spoke those last words.

"Will you be able to pass judgment tomorrow, Queen Trinity? Or would you prefer to wait a little longer?

" Perkins looked at me with expectant eyes, but I didn't know which answer he was hoping for.

"I think I will let them stew in the dungeons a little longer.

" I smirked.

"No need to rush things.

" At that, everyone in the room smiled like they were quite pleased with my answer.

"All that I did during that time was decide to seal away their wolves, how did that cause destruction? I don't understand any of this? What is going on? Why would you bring this up again? Why would you make me remember this now?

"

"There are things that came from this later on, Trinity, this that you don't yet know of.. Let me continue, please, and I will be able to share them with you.

"