Chapter 4

I forced myself to maintain a composed exterior even as my heart fractured.

At last, a single sentence escaped my lips:"Then I'll see you at the Elder Council."

Without another word, I arranged for the pack's urgent affairs to be handled and then focused all my energy on preparing for this trial that would decide my fate.

Our conflict spread like wildfire through the entire North American werewolf community via the mind-link. The situation was far more serious than I had imagined.

I became the treacherous Luna despised by all werewolves, while Ryder successfully crafted the perfect image of a victimized Alpha.

One rumor claimed I had undergone multiple abortions to destroy the Alpha's bloodline for the sake of a rogue lover, even embezzling pack resources to fund my betrayal.

Others claimed I had suffered brain damage during the fight against the invading rogues, and my inner wolf had lost control, leading to my insane actions.

Waves of malicious mental energy swept over me like a blizzard. Even my parents, who were pack elders, couldn't bear the shame.

"You are a stain on this family! We raised Lyra with love, and she's shown us nothing but respect and gratitude. You, our own blood, have brought us nothing but shame!"

"From this day forward, I will no longer acknowledge you as my daughter! Lyra is more worthy of being our daughter than you!"

"The crimes you've committed have brought shame upon our family name. I wish I had never given birth to you!"

Faced with the overwhelming accusations, I chose silence, quietly waiting for the Elder Council's judgment in three days.

On the morning of the trial, hundreds of werewolves had already gathered outside the council hall, all waiting to see me, the "evil Luna," stripped of my sacred Luna mark and cast out as a pathetic lone wolf.

I had just reached the entrance to the hall when Ryder blocked my path.

He looked at me with a deeply affectionate expression. "Ember, it's not too late to withdraw your application."

"For our child, for the stability of the pack, don't let this escalate to a point of no return."

"I can swear, in the name of the Moon Goddess, that from now on I will devote myself only to you."

The onlookers nodded in agreement, voices of support for Ryder echoing over the mind-link.

"The Alpha is so devoted. The Luna should give him a chance."

"For the child in her womb, the Luna should forgive the Alpha."

"He was just helping her adopted sister. Family should support each other."

Lyra stood by, holding the pup, a mocking glint in her eyes that only I could see.

Even my own Elder parents looked as if they wished I would be exiled, disgusted that I had tarnished the family's honor while their precious adopted daughter remained perfect.

But I was determined to leave this suffocating place and, at the same time, clear my name.

My expression remained unchanged as I waited for the Great Elder to declare the start of the trial.

"This emergency meeting of the Elder Council is now in session to review the application for the dissolution of the mate bond between Alpha Ryder and Luna Ember."

"First, Alpha Ryder will present his case."

Ryder stood, his voice loud and sorrowful. "Esteemed Elders, my Luna has misunderstood me because I was caring for an orphan pup."

"She believes my concern for Lyra and her pup has been inappropriate, but Lyra is her own adopted sister, and caring for family is merely the duty of an Alpha."

"I love my Luna deeply. I do not wish to see her suffer from jealousy, and that is why I have agreed to this hearing."

A wave of agreement rippled through the audience, the mind-link filled with sympathy for Ryder.

"The Alpha is so tolerant and magnanimous!"

"To be so patient in the face of an unreasonable Luna."

The Beta, Marcus, stood up to testify. "Elders, the Luna has been behaving erratically and contacting werewolves from outside the pack."

"I suspect she has been bewitched by an outside witch, which is why she has made such a treacherous decision."

Another witness stepped forward. "The Luna has been emotionally volatile while handling pack affairs, even shoving the Alpha and her innocent sister."

"Such behavior makes her completely unfit for the position of Luna."

Witness after witness came forward, each accusing me of various "crimes."

After hearing all the testimony, the Great Elder looked at me. "Luna Ember, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"If you have no new evidence, the Council will find you at fault, forcibly dissolve the bond, and strip you of your Luna title."

Whispers broke out in the audience. Everyone was waiting to see me made a fool of.

Ryder and Lyra exchanged a glance, a triumphant gleam in their eyes.

They thought they had already won.

I slowly rose to my feet, my gaze sweeping across the entire hall.

"Esteemed Elders, I do, in fact, have new evidence."

Ryder's face changed. "Ember, stop this nonsense. What evidence could you possibly have?"

I calmly produced a box, my voice devoid of any inflection as I spoke.

"Inside," I stated, "are my three pieces of evidence: two crystals and one document. Within them lie the memories of every torment I was forced to endure, the truth of where Ryder vanishes each night, and the reason I now stand before you."

The moment the words left my mouth, the color drained from Ryder and Lyra's faces. They turned deathly pale.