“Trial Before the King”

CHAPTER SIX

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Charlotte's POV

I followed the maid quietly and out of nowhere, someone shoved me to the side without a glance. It was Olivia. She didn’t say a word, but the way her shoulder hit mine said it all, she was angry.

The maid helped steady me as I almost lost my balance. I didn’t dwell on what happened—my mind was too clouded with fear. I was terrified, not just for myself, but for what might happen to my pack.

I had ruined a royal wedding, a marriage that was supposed to unite two powerful bloodlines. The maid quietly pushed open a wooden door, and I stepped inside. I held the heavy wedding dress with both hands, lifting it slightly so I could move without stumbling.

Inside the room, there were only two maids and a butler. The butler quietly directed me to a seat. It looked like a meeting room—rows of chairs arranged around long, polished tables. After a few minutes, my parents and the other members of our pack who had attended the wedding walked in. The butler guided them to their seats as well.

My sisters weren’t in the room, and honestly, that gave me a bit of relief. I didn’t want them to see their big sister like this, caught up in something so messy and overwhelming.

I wanted to get up and go to my parents, but I couldn’t move. I just sat there, frozen with shame. I knew the kind of disgrace I had brought on them. I couldn’t even look at them, I kept my head down as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.

The door to the meeting room opened again, and this time Olivia walked in with members of her pack. One man, broad-shouldered and intense, shot me a glare as he headed to his seat.

His expression was filled with so much anger and hatred, it felt like he could tear me apart just by looking. I figured he had to be the Alpha of Olivia’s pack.

I didn’t even know the name of their pack. I quickly looked away as they settled into their seats, their eyes burning into me with pure anger. Honestly, if looks could kill, I’d be long gone by now.

My pack and Olivia’s pack sat across from each other, and the tension in the room was thick, it felt like the air itself was heavy.

Then the king walked in, accompanied by a man who looked so much like him, I was almost certain they were brothers.

The moment I saw the king, my heart started racing. I don’t know why, but deep down, I thought he knew I wasn’t supposed to be the bride… and maybe he let the wedding happen just to protect me.

But I was wrong.

I was a fool.

I let myself get deceived.

Tears slipped down my cheeks. I kept hoping this was all just a bad dream, because I truly had no idea what the king was going to do to me.

Damien walked over to the large table at the center of the room and sat down. The whole room fell silent.

Then, the king’s brother stood up, walked toward me, and asked me to step into the center of the room.

My heart nearly dropped to the floor. The room was completely silent, but the tension felt like it could snap at any moment. Tears streamed down my face, and I didn’t even try to wipe them. I couldn’t lift my head. My knees were weak, barely holding me up.

I felt like a criminal on trial… or worse, a disgrace to everything I was raised to stand for.

Damien leaned back in his chair, his face impossible to read. Then, at last, he spoke.

“I believe it’s only fair to let her speak for herself,” he said, his voice deep and steady. “Let her explain how this… mistake came to be.”

Some of the Redmist Pack members gave small, reluctant nods, but most remained still. A few wouldn’t even look in my direction.

Before I could say a word, my eyes drifted to my pack. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for—maybe a bit of comfort—but none of them met my gaze.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen…” My voice was soft, almost a whisper, but in the heavy silence of the room, it somehow echoed.

I twisted my fingers together, trying to stop them from shaking. All eyes were on me, and it felt like their stares were slicing right through me.

But it was the king’s blank, unreadable expression that cut the deepest.

Olivia sat beside him, completely still, but the fury in her eyes was impossible to ignore.

“I was lost…” I began, my voice shaking. “I couldn’t find my way back to the wedding hall, so I kept wandering, hoping I’d figure it out. Then I saw a room with the door open. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I don’t even know what made me go inside.

I know I shouldn’t have. And I’m truly sorry for that, Your Highness.

I saw the queen’s dress in the room, and I just… I only wanted to try it on for a moment. Just to admire it.”

My voice cracked, and I paused, trying to blink away the tears that were making everything blurry.

“I know it was wrong. I never should’ve entered the queen’s room. But just as I was about to take the dress off, the seamstress and a few maids walked in.

And I panicked. I didn’t know what to do.”

I turned slightly, forcing myself to meet Damien’s eyes again, even though the weight of his stare made it hard to breathe—like my chest was folding in on itself.

“I promise, Your Highness… I never meant to deceive anyone. I didn’t set out to ruin your wedding,” I said, my voice trembling. “It was a terrible mistake. I wanted to speak up at the altar, to tell the truth—but I panicked.”

I lowered my gaze as fresh tears slipped down my cheeks. My whole body trembled.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out as I looked around the room.

Then my knees gave way, and I collapsed to the floor, covering my face with both hands. The sobs came fast, raw and uncontrollable, as a heavy silence fell over the room like a curtain.

A sharp voice sliced through the silence like a knife.

“What a pathetic excuse,” Alpha Kaldros sneered, rising slightly from his seat. His voice was laced with disgust. “She’s from a poor pack—it’s no surprise she’d pull something like this. Her real plan was to steal the dress and ruin my daughter’s day,” he added, his glare burning into me. “Who knows—maybe she’s from a rival pack, sent here on purpose to cause chaos.”

His words hit me like a slap. I could see members of his pack nodding in agreement, feeding off his anger like it was fact.

Before I could even respond, Damien turned to him, calm and steady.

“That decision is not yours to make, Alpha Kaldros,” he said, his voice quiet but commanding.

Alpha Kaldros’s jaw tightened. He sat back down without saying another word.

Then Damien’s cold eyes shifted back to me. I was still on my knees, trying to stay as still as possible, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

“Hmmm…” he exhaled slowly, his voice flat and unreadable. “That’s a weak excuse. Tell me, girl… didn’t your parents ever teach you not to touch what isn’t yours?”

I flinched. His words cut deep, and I couldn’t even lift my eyes to face him.