Justice Delivered

All eyes turned to me, the hall going silent. Reporters and other important figures from different packs stood present as I walked down the stairs slowly heading to the stage.

I stared at Kendall, watching as she rubbed her hands nervously.

This time, I wasn't going to let her steal my research papers and use it as her own.

“I have something to report to the Medical Board of Werewolves. Those research papers that Ms. Kendall Bennett submitted are mine. ” I said, turning to the audience. “I wrote it."

Kendall’s face went pale for a second before she forced a laugh.

“Are you serious right now?” she snapped. “That's a lie! You're late and now you’re making things up? She just wants to ruin me. She is lying.”

My fists clenched.

Is this how she wanted to play it?

“I’m not making anything up,” I said, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “Those papers describe a therapeutic strategy for Lycanthropic Hemorrhagic Fever. I spent months on it."

The officials exchanged looks.

I prayed they would believe me.

One of them stepped forward. “Very well. Since this is a serious accusation, we’ll verify it. Both of you will explain the research. Ms. Kendall Bennett, you go first."

Kendall swallowed, visibly shaking before she straightened lifting her chin.

“It’s… a cure,” she said slowly. “A compound that helps werewolves survive the plague”

“That’s not enough,” another judge cut in sharply. “Be specific. What exactly does it target?”

Kendall froze. Just for a second.

My heart slammed harder.

Say it. Go on.

She swallowed. “It… strengthens the body during transformation and…”

Her nervous glances made murmurs spread through the hall.

I let out a slow breath and stepped forward.

“Targets internal bleeding during transformation,” I said clearly. “Lycanthropic Hemorrhagic Fever weakens clotting and slows regeneration.”

All eyes turned to me.

“My strategy restores both,” I continued. “A regenerative peptide to repair damaged tissue, combined with a clotting stabilizer that prevents excessive blood loss.”

The room went quiet.

I moved closer to the table, pointing at the papers.

“It’s administered as an injectable serum.” I added. “That way, it prepares the body before the damage starts. The peptide accelerates healing, while the compound stops the internal breakdown.”

One of the judges leaned forward. “And how did you test this?”

“Simulated werewolf tissue models,” I answered immediately. “The results showed restored regeneration and reduced bleeding under stress conditions.”

Kendall’s eyes darted to me.

She knew she had been exposed.

The officials nodded their heads one by one, their faces full of smiles as they stared at me.

“It's been confirmed. This research does belong to Ms. Mara Bennett. As promised, she will be awarded with the scholarship.” the official said.

The words hit me like a shock.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

The scholarship.

Mine.

It was finally mine.

Applause broke out across the hall, loud and overwhelming. Cameras flashed from every direction, reporters pushing forward as my name spread through the crowd.

“Mara Bennett!”

“Over here!”

“How do you feel?”

I barely heard them.

My eyes were locked on the papers in front of me.

My work had not been stolen from me this time.

One of the officials picked up the certificate, holding it out to me with a proud smile.

“Congratulations, Ms. Bennett. Your brilliance and dedication have earned you this.”

I swallowed hard and reached for it.

The moment my fingers touched the paper, something inside me eased.

“I…” My voice came out softer than I expected. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Thank you.”

More applause.

“As for you Ms. Kendall Bennett, you will be hereby disqualified from this competition.”

Kendall’s head snapped up. “What?”

“You submitted stolen work, attempted deception, and disrupted an official academic event,” another judge added, his tone firm. “You are banned from all future competitions under this council.”

“No—no, you can’t do that!” Kendall rushed forward, her heels scraping against the floor. “Please! I worked hard—this is a mistake! She’s lying! I just—”

Her voice cracked as she grabbed the edge of the table.

“Please… don’t ban me. It's not true. You have to believe me.”

The officials didn’t even look at her as they walked away, leaving the stage.

Suddenly, Kendall turned to me. Her face twisted, her eyes locking onto me with pure hatred.

“You…” she hissed before turning back.

Grabbing a hot cup of coffee, she turned and flung at me. My body froze as I watched the hot liquid about to hit me.

I couldn't move.

Everything in me just locked as the cup flew straight toward my face, the dark liquid spilling over the edge. I felt the heat even before it reached me, my heart slamming so hard it hurt.

Just then, I was pulled back.

"Are you okay?" Silas asked as he reached for my hands taking them carefully in his.

For a second, I was frozen again.

"Take her away. Make sure you punish her for trying to hurt my Luna Queen."

Kendall's eyes darkened with rage again. Just as she was about to make her move, two men appeared holding her hands behind her back.

Kendall could not accept defeat.

"You can't do this to me!" she yelled as she struggled. "This is not the end! I will make you pay!"

"If I were you Ms. Kendall Bennett, I would keep my mouth shut. So many people are here and they have all heard your words." Silas said before stepping closer to Kendall. "Touch one hair on her head, I promise it would end well for you or for Jace."

Was he defending me?

"I said take her away."

As they dragged Kendall out of the hall, her voice echoed loudly with more threats but I didn't care.

This was just the beginning.

**************************************************

Few hours later…

I sat in Silas’ car, my hands resting stiffly on my lap.

The silence between us wasn’t normal silence. It was heavy, scary. I glanced around and cleared my throat hoping it would calm me down but it didn't.

My mind wouldn’t stop running.

Marriage.

Luna Queen.

Him.

The promise I made felt like a rope around my neck.

What had I been thinking?

"You're being too loud." Silas said opening his eyes for the first time since we left the hall. "Don't forget we share a mate bond."

My eyes widened.

The mate bond!

"I....I was just—" I stammered, unable to find an explanation.

“It's a good thing your hands are not hurt,” Silas continued, reaching for my hands again. "I would have ended her if your precious hands had been burned."

He leaned down and blew air across the back of my hand.

A shudder ran through me.

“What are you doing?” I asked nervously as I tried to pull my hands from his.

It didn't work.

Instead, he slipped a huge gold ring on my hand and pulled me closer into his arms.

“ Don't forget your promise, dear mate.” he whispered in my ear making me stunned. “From now on, you are my wife.”

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening as panic started to build.

Because the way he said it…

It didn’t sound like a choice.

It sounded final.