Chapter 35

Lucy.

The cold stone floor beneath me bit into my skin, but I barely noticed it anymore. Time passed in shadows here—no windows, no light, just the steady drip of moisture and the slow madness of isolation. I sat with my back pressed against the wall, knees pulled up to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them.

Then I heard it—footsteps.

Slow, deliberate, heels clicking softly against the stone floor. I straightened immediately, heart racing. My eyes strained in the pitch-black, but I couldn’t see a damn thing.

"Who's there?" I croaked, my voice hoarse from disuse.

There was a pause. Then a soft, familiar laugh slithered through the darkness like a serpent.

"Oh my goodness. Look at you. Locked away like a criminal," Ivy's voice came through, sharp and venomous.

"Ivy?" I tried to stand, my muscles screaming in protest. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, a light clatter followed—metal scraping against metal. Then the cell door creaked open just enough for the dim hallway light to spill in and catch her silhouette.

"Goddess, you're an idiot," she sneered, stepping into view. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "Instead of plotting with me to take out that conniving Luna, you chose to play the king’s little breeder. Look where that got you."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Get out," I spat. "Get out of my cell before I break your damn neck."

Ivy arched a brow, smirking. "Touchy. Fine, suit yourself."

Without warning, she hurled a metal tray at me. It clattered across the stone floor, scattering what looked like bread and soup that now soaked into the filth.

"Bon appétit," she said with a cruel wink, before turning and sauntering out like she'd just gifted me gold instead of garbage.

I stood there, shaking with rage. But I didn’t touch the food. this could be her truck to poison me for all I know! 

Minutes—or maybe hours—passed in silence, but I didn’t get the chance to retreat into numbness again. Heavy boots pounded toward me, the door swinging open with a loud clang.

Rough hands grabbed me before I could react.

"Hey! Let go of me!" I shouted, struggling as they dragged me out of the darkness. "What’s going on?"

They didn’t answer.

I was pulled through the dim corridor, light growing stronger with each step. My eyes stung, blinking rapidly as I was shoved into a wide chamber lit by torches and packed with familiar faces—officials, warriors, and…

My stomach dropped.

The Luna Dowager stood in the center, chin high, lips twisted into a self-satisfied smile. Her cold eyes landed on me like I was something stuck to her shoe.

"What the hell is this?" I demanded, finally managing to wrench free. "Why am I here? What did I do?"

An official stepped forward, his gray robes rustling. “You know very well why. We have evidence linking you to the assassination attempt on the King. You orchestrated the ambush. We've investigated thoroughly."

"What?" I blinked, shaking my head violently. "No. That’s not possible—I was with him when it happened!"

He gave a short, cruel laugh. "Exactly. You lured him there. Perfect cover for a traitor."

"You’re lying!" I screamed, voice cracking. "I saved him! I shielded him when the shot rang out!"

“Enough!" another official barked. "Your tears won't save you. The punishment is clear. You will be banished from the pack."

My knees gave out, and I hit the stone floor with a painful thud.

"No… please…" I whispered, choking on the disbelief. "You can’t do this."

Luna Dowager stepped forward, holding a leather bag that I recognized. My bag. Stuffed with my few possessions. She walked up to me and let it fall at my feet like garbage.

"Your presence here has always been a stain on this pack. Now, tradition demands your exile."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some looked away, others stared openly.

“No, please,” I said again, louder this time, tears streaming down my cheeks. I crawled forward, gripping the hem of her gown. “Don’t do this. I’m innocent. You know I am.”

She kicked me off without hesitation.

"As tradition demands," she said coldly, "the youths will escort you out and ensure your departure is permanent."

I looked around at the people I’d grown up with. Friends. Packmates. Their faces were like stone. No one met my eyes.

"You're all really going to do this?" My voice trembled, breaking. "The king is not even here, he should be the one throwing me out and not you !"

No one answered.

They pushed me forward.

The march was silent. No one spoke as they forced me through the pack’s borders, down the wooded trail that led to the outer ridge. My limbs were weak, my spirit even weaker, every step like a nail driven into my soul. I turned once, hoping someone—anyone—would stop this.

But they just kept walking.

We reached the outskirts. The place where the forest turned wild and the bond to the pack would be severed. I stopped, unable to go farther. My chest rose and fell in rapid bursts.

“Don’t do this…” I whispered, staring at the trees ahead. “Please… I have no one out there.”

“You made your choice,” one of the warriors said behind me.

“No,” I said bitterly, voice low and tight. “You made it for me.”

Just then, a deafening roar echoed through the trees.

A horse galloped through the clearing, flanked by warriors on either side. I blinked through the blur of my tears, not believing my eyes.

It was him.

“STOP!” the King shouted, pulling his horse to a skidding halt between me and the crowd. His aura burst forth like wildfire, pushing everyone back a step.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded, his voice like thunder.

No one dared answer.

He slid off his horse and was at my side in an instant. He knelt, cupping my tearstreaked face in his hands. “Lucy… are you hurt?”

My mouth opened, but I couldn’t find the words. I shook my head, barely holding myself together.

He turned to the crowd, his face transforming into something lethal. “Who authorized this?”

“The evidence pointed to her—” one of the officials started, but the King cut him off with a glare that could level mountains.

“There was no such evidence,” he growled. “You forged it. Or you believed the lies fed to you.”

He looked to his guards. “Arrest every official involved. Throw them in the cells. I’ll deal with them personally.”

“What?” The officials stumbled back, stammering. “My king you have to take that back.You can’t lock us up because of a common breeder.”

“Okay. Watch me do it,” the King snapped.

He turned back to me, wrapping his arms around my shaking form.