Chapter 7: The Moon Goddess' Judgment

I had not slept all night. At dawn I walked into the council hall with a heart that felt heavier than stone, and found the elders already seated beneath the banners of Mooncrest Pack. Kane sat on the Alpha's throne, his expression cold and unreadable, and when I took my seat beside him, neither of us spoke.

The doors opened, and Selena entered slowly, supported by two maids. Her pale face and the protective hand she kept over her stomach drew immediate sympathy from the hall. Murmurs rose around her, soft prayers for the child and the Moon Goddess' protection, and I lowered my eyes because no one offered me the same kindness.

Before the trial began, one of Selena's maids stepped forward and bowed to the elders. "My Alpha, there is something else you should know," she said, and Elder Gareth nodded for her to continue. "Last night, Alpha Kane went to comfort Luna Aria, but she slammed the chamber door in his face."

Gasps spread through the chamber. "The Alpha himself went to her, and she answered him with disrespect?" one elder snapped, and another muttered that my arrogance grew by the day. I rose quickly to correct them, insisting that was not what happened, that I had only wanted to be left alone, but my words were swallowed by the rising tide of whispers. Kane said nothing at all.

The High Priestess stepped forward before the argument could go further and lit the sacred fire, and blue white flames rose into the air as she commanded the hall to silence. It obeyed. Raising both hands toward the moonstone, she prayed for the Moon Goddess to reveal the truth hidden from mortal eyes, and slowly the stone began to glow.

Silver light spread across the altar and drifted first toward Kane, wrapping him in a faint aura, then shifted and curled around Selena instead. The glow grew brighter and brighter, until all at once it vanished, and the chamber fell into stunned silence. The High Priestess stared at the darkened stone with confusion breaking through her composure. "The Moon Goddess has answered," she said slowly, "but I cannot fully understand her will."

The elders erupted at once, arguing over whether the child belonged to the Alpha, whether the sign had been incomplete, or whether the goddess had acknowledged them both, until Kane rose from his throne and silence returned instantly. He looked exhausted, as though the weight of the entire pack had settled onto his shoulders alone.

"I remember drinking too much during the Harvest Festival," he said quietly. "I remember returning to my chamber. After that, everything is blank." My breath caught in my throat as he lowered his head. "I cannot say with certainty that I am innocent."

His words cut deeper than any accusation could have, not because he had confessed, but because he had doubted, and for a moment I could not breathe at all.

Elder Gareth finally rose. "Until the child is born, the young woman shall remain in Alpha Manor under the Alpha's protection. The truth will continue to be investigated." Selena bowed her head obediently, but as she straightened, a faint smile touched her lips, one I alone seemed to notice.

And in that moment, I understood that the trial had not ended. It had only begun.