Chapter 4

LIZABELLA

The world had collapsed before me, and I had no idea where to begin, so I did the first thing that came to mind and fell to my knees. 

Tears blurred my sight as I clasped my hands together. “I swear.” My voice cracked, echoing faintly through the hall, “On my late parents’ graves, I did not betray the Realm. I stumbled into that forest by accident, I wasn’t meeting anyone. Please, believe me.”

The elders stood still, like their faces were carved from stone, but Jerry’s voice pierced the silence.

“Lies,” he spat. “You expect us to believe that the future Luna of this Pack would wander into the border forest without security? That same forest that divides the Werewolf Realm from the Lycan Realm?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “You arranged that meeting, Lizabella. You were going to betray us.”

My stomach twisted. “Jerry, please…”

An elder’s hand struck the table. “Enough! The matter stands before the council. You have brought disgrace upon the name of your parents and your Pack. You will be taken before the Council of Kings.”

My heart stopped. “No,” I whispered, shaking my head frantically. “Please, no. If I’m taken before the Kings, they’ll execute me without a hearing. Please, please, just one chance.”

“Lizabella…”

I dropped fully to the floor. “For the sake of my late parents,” I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Give me one chance to prove myself. I’ll bring you evidence to prove that it was all a mistake and that I was ambushed, not conspiring.”

A heavy silence filled the room and some of the elders shifted, eyes flickering between me and Jerry. One of them, an older man with gray streaks through his beard, sighed.

“Her father was a great leader,” Elder Maverick murmured. “Perhaps… we should grant her one chance.”

“She’s manipulating you!” Jerry snapped.

But Elder Maverick raised his hand. “She has until the next full moon to prove her innocence.”

My voice trembled. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you, I’ll prove my innocence, I swear it.”

When I stood, my legs nearly gave out, but I forced myself to walk out of the council chamber and I could feel Jerry’s smirk even before I heard his footsteps behind me.

“Well,” he drawled, voice dripping with mockery. “Looks like I finally got the Pack in my hands.”

I didn’t respond.

He stepped closer. “There’s no way to prove your innocence, Lizabella. You might as well take that ‘chance’ and run before they decide you’re not worth it.”

His words felt distant, muffled by the rush of my pulse in my ears. 

There has to be a way, there has to be something I can do.

If I only I could find the Lycan triplets and get them to confirm that the encounter was accidental, maybe… just maybe, I could clear my name.

I turned on my heel, ignoring Jerry entirely, and walked away. As I turned down the corridor, I almost collided with Josie.

She looked me up and down with that sickly sweet smile that once meant friendship but now felt venomous. “You always thought you had everything, didn’t you?” She said lightly. “Well, I guess now I do.”

“Josie, not now,” I muttered, brushing past her.

But she tilted her head toward Jerry, who had caught up to us, and said. “I believe everything worked as planned, didn’t it, Jerry? That’s why she looks so shocked.”

My steps faltered and I turned slowly to look at her. “You… what did you just say?”

“Oh, don’t look so surprised.” She folded her arms. “You think you’re the only one who can play the victim? You’ve had it all your life, the attention, the respect, and the Pack. But it’s my turn now.”

I had taken her in after her parents died, she was supposed to be my sister she had grown jealous of me instead.

Tears welled in my eyes again, and Josie smirked. “Oh, don’t start crying now. It doesn’t suit you.”

I shoved her aside and walked past, brushing away my tears.

“Lizabella!” Jerry barked after me. “What the hell is wrong with you? Just because you lost your child, are you trying to kill Josie now too?”

I stopped, but only for a second. Then I kept walking because I didn’t owe either of them another word.

When I reached my room, I slammed the door shut, grabbed a handbag and threw in my phone from the nightstand, some cash and a stack of essential documents just in case. Then I opened the shelf, pressed my palm against the hidden panel, and watched as the wall slid aside, revealing the vault behind it.

Inside were the most valuable things my parents had left me from land deeds, to inheritance records, and letters from the High Council. I added another important document to the list and locked the vault back, sealing it with my family’s sigil.

After one last look, I took my bag, squared my shoulders, and walked out. The maids looked at me as I descended the stairs, their eyes full of questions, but I didn’t stop. 

At the gate, the guards stiffened. “Luna Lizabella.” One of them said carefully. “Is everything alright? Should we send an escort?”

“No,” I replied. “I’m fine.”

And with that, I walked out.

I crossed the road and entered the forest path, the same one I had wandered into yesterday. And I had no idea how long I walked, I just kept walking.

Then, out of nowhere, a figure stepped into my path. A man clad in dark armor, with a sword glinting at his side. “Halt, “ he said sharply. “Where are you coming from?”

The insignia on his chest was not of the Council of Kings, so he must be a Lycan guard.

“I need to see the Lycan Alphas,” I said quickly. “Please, it’s urgent.”

He frowned. “No one meets them without summons.”

“Please,” I pleaded. “Tell them… tell them their mate from yesterday, the woman who saved their little girl, is here to find them.”

The man’s brows shot up. Then, without another word, he slid his sword back into its sheath and whistled sharply. Another guard appeared from the shadows to take his post.

“Follow me,” he said simply.

He led me through winding forest paths until we reached an outpost where a Black car was waiting. The driver opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

The drive to the palace was silent. When we arrived, I stepped out, clutching my bag, nerves pickling beneath my skin. The guards led me up a grand staircase, through a hall lined with portraits and chandeliers, until we reached a massive door who revealed the three men from yesterday.

I had heard about them, Damon, Damian, and Donald. But I had no idea which was which.

The one sitting in the center looked up, smirking faintly. “Well, well. If it isn’t the future Luna who rejected us so harshly yesterday. What brings you crawling back?”

“Please, I don’t know how, but a picture of me with the three of you yesterday is circulating through the Werewolf Realm.” I dropped to my knees again, voice trembling. “They think I was meeting with you to betray my Pack. Please, help me clear my name.”

“Let me guess.” One of them leaned forward, a knowing smirk on his lips. “That picture was sent to your ex-fiance. Jerry, wasn’t it?”

I froze. “Yes. How did you…?”

“Because we sent it.” he said casually.

I blinked. “What?”

Another, the more serious one with steely eyes, spoke then. “Our daughter, Pearl, has refused every nanny we’ve ever hired, but yesterday, she said she wanted only you. So, we did what we had to do to bring you back here and we knew you’d come for help because we’re the only ones who can prove that the picture isn’t what they think it is.”

I stared at them in disbelief. “You ruined my reputation and risked my life because your daughter wanted a nanny?”

They didn’t even flinch.

I shot to my feet. “You’re insane.”

The oldest of the three leaned back in his chair. “If you want this insane man’s help, there’s only one way. Marry us, in name only and serve as Pearl’s nanny. We’ll clear your name and keep your Pack from falling apart. If not…” He gestured toward the door. “…you can leave now and face your execution.”

I swallowed hard, heart racing. The offer was insane but losing the Pack, and my parents’ legacy was worse. Jerry and Josie would destroy everything they’d built. I couldn’t let that happen.

I crossed my arms, forcing my voice to steady. “Fine. I’ll marry you in name and take care of your daughter. But on one condition.”

The three men exchanged glances. “And what is that?”

“Not only will you help me clear my name.” I said, holding their gazes. “But you'll help me get back on my feet, financially, politically. When I take my Pack back, I intend to make sure Jerry and Josie never rule a single day.”

A smile spread across the oldest brother’s face. “Now that’s the spirit of a Luna.”