The Perfect Lie, The Perfect Victim

~Elara~

There was no threat in my voice, but the emptiness in it made him even more nervous and unsettled.

He swallowed nervously and took two steps back.

I looked in between them, my hands shaking from restrained rage.

“I did not send anyone to poison her. What is wrong with all of you?”

The Elders exchanged glances with each other, the judgment in their eyes quite evident, and enough to burn through my already fragile heart.

My eyes welled up with tears. I don’t want to shade even a single tear here; they don’t deserve to see my tears.

“Lucien, was suspending me not enough for you? Now you are going to embarrass me in front of the entire pack for what I didn’t do?”

My voice broke slightly.

I looked away, swallowing hard as I did.

Lucien’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say a word, but it was Elder Malric who spoke up.

“You must have something wrong, Luna. The Alpha isn’t the one who ordered your capture, we did. We value justice over every other thing. Whoever dares hurt the future heir of this Pack must face the law itself, no matter who that person is.”

My fingers balled into fists.

“What?”

Since when did the elders hold more power than the Alpha himself? I had a bad feeling about this.

I laughed bitterly. “Do you also fabricate evidence for justice?”

Garrick sneered. “Your poison was found. The woman confessed.”

I looked at Lucien again.

“Are you really going to stand there and watch them treat me like this without real evidence?”

For a moment, I thought he would say something.

I silently prayed he would.

Lucien stepped forward then, my heart leaped.

But then he hesitated and stepped back.

I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me. This time, a tear rushed down my face.

Elder Garrick let out a short snort.

“Oh Luna, we have evidence: we saw the woman you sent with our eyes. Your scent is all over the portion you gave her, and we found some of them in your room. What more evidence do we need?”

My eyes widened. This must be a bad dream, a terrible one.

My breathing became heavy.

“I didn’t do anything; someone is trying to set me up, and you are letting it happen.”

I could hear whispers going on from some pack members who had gathered to watch me get humiliated.

I still can’t believe this is happening to me.

These past few days, everything seemed to be working against me.

Just then, Calistra walked in, so gently, looking as though she couldn’t even hurt a fly.

The elders bowed to her, so respectfully that my heart twisted with pain.

I haven’t even been fully disposed yet as Luna, and they are already throwing all their loyalty at her, and yet treating me as though I was worthless.

Her eyes held an innocence in them that could make anyone want to protect her.

She stepped forward to Lucien, holding onto his arm.

“What is happening, why is Luna Elara kneeling there?” She sounded so innocent and kind.

I scoffed, the bitter taste of anger rushing to my mouth.

I felt the heated gaze thrown at me, and when I looked up, I saw that the elders were practically glaring at me.

“I asked a question, why is the Luna being treated like that?” Calistra’s voice rang out again, sounding almost pained.

If I hadn’t known any better, I would have wondered if she actually cared about me.

“Lady Calistra, the Luna tried to kill you and the future heir of this pack. It is only right that she faces the law and be punished according to the provisions of our law,” one of the elders said.

I clenched my fists tightly, biting down hard on my lower lip.

“I did not try to kill her; can you stop saying that?”

I can barely contain my rage now; I am almost on the verge of launching an attack on these idiots.

Calistra’s eyes widened slightly, and then she began waving her hands and shaking her head.

“No, you don’t have to do that for me. She is the Luna; she shouldn’t be treated this way. I understand what she did….”

Her voice trailed off lightly. “Any woman would do that; she has every right to be angry with me.”

Her eyes wailed with tears, as though she was the one who was getting bullied.

No, I am the one who is getting bullied by them, not the other way around.

My jaw dropped. I wanted to say something, anything at all, but words failed me.

Elder Garrick stepped forward immediately.

“Lady Calistra, we know you are a very kind and good person, but this is not just about you, it's about the future heir of this pack.”

Calistra looked like she was going to cry. She turned to Lucien, shaking him slightly.

“Lucien, please, I feel so bad that she is being treated like that. Do something, please.”

Lucien’s hands tightened by his side. His throat bobbed like he was swallowing guilt.

My jaw tightened.

What is she trying to do, what games is she playing now?

Lucien’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. But then, he opened his mouth to speak.

“Let’s take this inside.” His voice sounded so weak, almost like he wasn’t the alpha of the Pack.

My heart tightened. Was that all he was going to say?

“NO.” The word came out before I could stop myself. Everyone turned back to look at me.

They have already disgraced me out here. Everyone has seen me get dragged to the ground and treated so worthlessly.

The trial should be held in their presence. I need everyone to see this injustice play out with their own eyes.

Calistra spoke up first. “Luna, what are you saying? Lucien is doing this for her own good.”

That innocent look again. I wish I could slap that out of her face.

“No,” I clenched my teeth.

“You are all going to prove that I tried to kill her. I want to see the person you said I sent. Let her come here and say it in front of this pack that I sent her, with evidence.”

God, I want to tear them apart, all of them, for making me like this.

The elders exchanged glances, and then they nodded at some guards who bowed and left.

I noticed the sly smile on Calistra’s face, but it was gone almost immediately.

I couldn’t help but feel as though something was wrong.

Lucien’s eyes twitched, his hands balling into fists.

I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they can’t prove their cause.

I wouldn’t spare them, any of them. I will prove my innocence and let the Pack be the judge.

They brought this on themselves. They were corrupt.

Just then, the guards sent out returned.

I saw the expression on their faces first, before I heard their words. My stomach tightened.

“We tried to look for her…….”

God, No.

“But we found her dead in the basement of the Luna’s house.”

The ground tilted beneath me.

She is dead. The only person who can prove my innocence is gone.

Now, I have no one…. Except my rage.