008| The Pack Choose War

Offender without a Redeemer

~Elara~

“She was found where?” I croaked.

“Your basement,” the elder sounded like he was exposing a deep secret with pleasure.

And just like that—my world ended.

The crowd gasped. Someone behind me whispered, “The Luna killed her.”

My tongue clung to the roof of my mouth, the weight of accusation draining the strength from my knees.

Calistra gasped, her hands flying to her lips to hold back the sound.

“Oh my God.” She mumbled, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

I heard similar gasps flow through the crowd behind me.

I looked up from beneath my lashes, and, as expected, their gazes were on me.

The unspoken words in their gazes were enough to unsettle me.

At this point, I couldn’t prove I didn’t kill the maid—but maybe I could prove someone else did.

I clenched my fists. “What nonsense. That’s impossible.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t want to say anything that would make me look guilty.

How can anyone deny such an accusation without appearing as though they were trying to cover their tracks?

I wish I had seen something like this play out to someone before.

Maybe someone who has killed another, so I can learn to say the opposite of whatever the person said.

The judgment in their eyes made my whole-body ache, like it was on fire.

“Luna Elara, do you have anything else to say to this?” Elder Malric’s voice was low, accusing.

I glared at him.

That’s a lie. Or a setup. And I intend to prove it.

“What do you expect me to say?”

His face twisted with rage.

He seemed to be barely holding his rage.

“The maiden was found dead in your basement, Luna, after you sent her to poison Lady Calistra, and you have nothing to say about that?”

My heart pounded fiercely, as though it was trying to break free from my chest.

This was ridiculous. I don’t even know who the lady in question was.

I stared back at him defiantly. “Are you suggesting I’d be dumb enough to hide a body in my own basement? That’s the worst cover-up in pack history.”

My voice shook slightly. I hate that.

I looked at Lucien, but this time his eyes held a blankness that almost made my heart stop.  

He believed them. I could see that clearly.

“Oh my God,” Calistra cried out again. “Luna Elara wouldn’t do that, right? That would be so……. cruel.”

I gritted my teeth. I could feel Ney trying to get out.

“Let me out Elara, this woman is a snake.” She cried out, trying to get me to shift.

But I forced her back in.

If I let her out now, it might be misinterpreted by these folks.

I don’t need an extra charge to be added to these count charges.

I looked at Lucien, my eyes begging him to believe me.

“I don’t even know the maiden you are talking about. How could I have even killed her?”

As much as I wanted to expose that they were lying, the weight of their accusation was too much for me to handle.

Lucien clenched his fists, but that was all he did.

Elder Garrick snorted.

“Luna, how can you not know your own head maiden? Denying it only makes it more obvious.”

My eyes widened. “My head maiden, Esie?”

I wish I could undo what I have just heard. I hope I will wake up and this is just a dream.

“No,” I shook my head quickly. “Esie would never…….”

I didn’t even know how to complete that statement. Anyone could betray me, but not her. Not the very person I took care of like family.

“That’s enough, let’s take this inside.” Lucien’s voice was hard. His jaw was tightly clenched. He sounded angry… disappointed.

Two guards came to my side and lifted me off the ground. I couldn’t even move to stop them.

How can Esie betray me? Did I ever do anything to hurt her?

“Hey, let her go. Show some respect, she is the Luna.”

I knew that voice.

It was only when I turned to look at the person who had spoken, that I realized that Mia had been crying.

She was held up by two guards. One was her husband, Beta Kyle.

I forced a smile onto my face. A small bitter smile.

I wasn’t just losing my crown; I was losing the people I thought would stand by me.

“Let her go.”

I didn’t want to know it was Lucien who said that. The guards let me go, but they still stood close enough.

My heart twisted painfully, and I swallowed the painful lump forming in my throat.

He was only telling them to let me go because Mia had said it.

Why does it hurt so much?

Even though no one touched me, I was made to follow them into the inner court, almost like a lamb led to be slaughtered.

We got to the inner court, the place where the Pack executives held their private meetings.

This was a place I had once sat to adjudicate on matters, with Lucien by my side.

Back then, everything was perfect.

I had that illusion that everything would be fine.

But here I am now, standing to be judged, in a place I have once passed judgement on others.

“Elara, you didn’t have to do that. You can always tell me the truth.”

Lucien’s voice was small, almost shaky, but it sliced through my heart.

“Do that?” I let out a sigh of disbelief. “You really think I killed Esie?”

He didn’t respond, he didn’t need to.

He didn’t fling. Not even once. Like watching me fall apart was part of the plan.

I scoffed, running a finger through my hair. I was losing my mind, slowly.

“Can’t you see what’s going on here? Whoever is doing this, is trying to make sure I get pinned for this.”

No one spoke, no one moved.

“Isn’t this suspicious? Everything seems to be happening at the same time.”

My gaze moved across them.

“From the attempted poisoning in front of the elders, to killing Elie? Do you think I am that dumb?”

Someone scoffed behind me. An elder, a guard. I don’t care who.

Let them think they have won. I will make sure they pay heavily for this.

I turned to Lucien; my gaze sharp.

“Lucien, you know me.”

His eyes flickered for a second.

Regret?

Or just guilt? I couldn’t tell anymore.

A bitter breath left my lips.

“If I wanted her dead, I wouldn’t have missed.”

I let that sink in. “I don’t do sloppy.”

Something flashed across his eyes, but I didn’t get to fully take note of what it was.

Calistra’s voice tore through the silence.

“Luna Elara, I... I don’t know what’s happening anymore. I only wanted peace. Please don’t be angry with me, Luna.”

I turned to her. I wish I could just strangle her and put off that harmless mask she had on right now.

It was obvious she was the one pulling the strings. How could they not see it?

“Is this what you wanted, to put me up for a crime I didn’t commit? Tell me, what do you plan to achieve from this? Do you want my place as Luna?”

Calistra’s lips trembled. But before she could speak, Lucien stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Elara,” he growled. “Elara… until we know the truth, you’re stripped of your Luna title.”

He didn’t look at me.

“Lock her up, she will be tried again in 2 days.”

The room fell silent.

My world shattered.

He turned his back on me again.

With that, my fate was sealed.