Chapter 3

The crowd drew nearer, their voices growing louder and sharper.

"It really is you. Didn't you run off after committing a crime? The victim's Alpha mate is searching for you everywhere. How dare you show your face here?"

I frowned.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I haven't committed any crime. Why would anyone be searching for me?"

Before I could figure out what was happening, someone grabbed my arm and yanked me up.

"Aliya, stop playing dumb. Come to the tribunal right now and confess."

I recognized the voice instantly. It was Connor.

I violently snatched my arm back. "Connor, have you lost your mind? Why would I confess to something I didn't do?"

Mandy's voice rang out from behind him, dripping with fake concern. "Aliya, please stop making things worse. That Luna passing through the royal hunting grounds and her unborn pup… are dead because of you. You owe everyone an explanation."

She gripped my hand tightly, as if terrified I might run away. "If you admit your mistake and show remorse, Connor and I can plead with the tribunal for leniency."

I almost laughed out loud.

Leniency.

Coming from her, of all people.

I tilted my head. "An explanation? I have nothing to explain. I never set foot in the royal hunting grounds. Whatever happened there has nothing to do with me."

Just then, a male werewolf shoved his way through the crowd and charged toward me. He grabbed the collar of my hospital gown in a vice grip.

"You! You're the one who shot that arrow at my Luna, aren't you?"

His voice broke with heavy sobs. "She was carrying our first pup! We were supposed to celebrate after the Hunt Festival, but your arrow took everything away! You destroyed my family. I want your life for theirs!"

Before I could react, he slammed me hard onto the ground.

Agony shot through my entire body instantly.

I forced myself into a sitting position and tried to explain. "You have the wrong person. I've been at the medical center all day. I was nowhere near the hunting grounds. My Crescent Bow was stolen, and I already reported the theft."

Seeing my pale face, the bandages over my eyes, and my hospital gown, the Alpha hesitated.

That was when Mandy chimed in again, "Aliya, I know you have powerful connections in Elyndor and can get healers and guards to fake records for you. But a life was lost. How can you refuse to take responsibility for what you did?"

Connor stepped forward. His voice was filled with disgust as he said, "I can testify that Aliya was the one who killed the pregnant Luna. She told me she wanted to show off with the Crescent Bow at the Hunt Festival.

"She said since her father is the Alpha King, no one would dare hold her accountable even if something went wrong. I tried to reason with her back then. I never imagined she would actually go through with killing someone!"

The crowd instantly erupted into chaos.

"She murdered a pregnant Luna and still acts innocent?"

"Does she think being the Alpha King's daughter makes her above the law?"

"Lock her up! Throw her in the dungeon!"

The grieving Alpha suddenly clamped his hand around my throat. His grief had curdled into venomous hatred.

"You think your family's power can get you off the hook? You took my mate and my pup. I'm taking your life in return!"

My breathing grew weaker and weaker. I clawed desperately at his hands, trying to shove him off.

But someone pinned my shoulders down, and others pinned my arms to the floor.

They had zero interest in finding the truth. They just wanted a scapegoat to appease the Alpha's rage.

A second before I lost consciousness, a loud shout shattered the chaos. "Let her go! No one uses violence in front of the enforcers!"

The Alpha refused to loosen his grip. "I just want justice! She killed my Luna! Why should she walk away unscathed when my mate and pup are gone?"

The enforcers grabbed his arms and dragged him away by force. "We understand your grief. But the tribunal will handle this."

The commotion jerked my body around.

The bandages that had barely been covering my eyes finally slipped and fell off completely.