Chapter Six

Silence echoes across the hall, feeding the tension that spreads around these walls like vines. All eyes are on me, just yesterday it was for a whole different reason, one that I was glad and proud for.

And now…

Taking a breath, I step into the grand circle, lifting my dress and squaring my shoulders. I’ve kept up a bold front this far, I have to stick to it even if things aren’t going exactly as I planned.

My eyes keep darting to the entrance doors, hopeful that by some miracle Joshua would walk in through one of them at any moment and I’ll be able to find confidence in my voice. But the more time passes, the more my hope wanes.

“Kyra…” Elder Claude’s voice has that stunning effect and it takes a lot of effort to keep me from squirming. I keep my eyes straight, raising my head a bit to meet his cold gaze. “You have been charged with immorality and treason against the alpha of the blue crescent pack, in your attempt at smearing his name without regarding this sacred pack or any of its loyal members,” he lets his words fall into the air, his eyes steady between me and the scroll in his hands, leaving just enough time for the murmurings to rise before he continues. “How do you plead?”

The whole room shifts to me and I feel a low tremble at the base of my spine.

What do I do now? Is there any point doing anything?

My eyes dart around once again. This time I notice Sarah sitting on the upper rows with her arms folded and her head turned away, I look across from her to where Dominic is sitting. Not looking at me either.

Joshua isn’t the only one missing, Sylvia and Laura are also nowhere to be found. As for Laura, I couldn't care less where she was but I had hoped to be able to talk to Sylvia today. She’s the only one I know would listen to me. The only one who would care to hear my part of the story.

But she isn’t even here, if she has already lost faith in me then is there any point in putting up a fight? Wouldn’t it be best if I just plead guilty and saved myself the torture?

As if on cue, the wide doors of the hall open up, rays of unapologetic sunlight spilling into the gloomy space and stealing the attention of everyone in the room, I'm the last to turn.

Standing at the doorway, haloed by blinding light in a long blue regal gown stands Laura, my eyes widen at how glorious she looks, with a victorious smile like she is celebrating something, and next to her standing in royal robes as well is Sylvia, with a proud smile wider than her daughter’s.

I’m still trying to process everything that’s happening when I notice movement across from me, the Court Master with his head up like he’s about to make an announcement. But that can’t be the case since he only announces grand entrances of royals or decorated officials.

Suddenly, his loud treble voice echoes through the halls as the doors shut again. “All rise for the newly bound Luna of our pack, bearer of the Alpha’s mark, guardian of the bloodline. Let the court acknowledge her presence.”

The words hit me like a gong placed above my head. The whole room vibrates with it and it’s like I've forgotten how to breathe. Newly bound Luna? Bearer of the Alpha’s mark?

Those are all titles I have become too familiar with. Names that I've been preparing to hear for years now. Names that belong to me.

Given to her.

And as everyone else rises with smiles on their faces, dipping their heads as Laura makes her entrance, walking past me with a side glance before continuing down the hall where my husband- Dominic sits, I finally understand what's going on.

This is already normal to them. I’ve been left behind.

And even if she's nothing but a thieving, conniving, selfish brat, they’d rather have Laura over me.

Forget Dominic. This pack. These people. They have always been like a family to me so how could they treat me like this?

“Kyra.”

I take a deep breath, leveling my eyes with Elder Claude, I noticed when the room shifted back to me after kissing the devil’s ass, but at this point I don't care. My heart is shattered in unbelievable ways and I would never have believed things could have gotten worse than yesterday in that rotten cell, and now it's the day my step-sister married my husband.

“Yes?” My voice comes out hoarse and not exactly as challenging as I intended.

“What do you plead?”

I swallow. Even if I've lost all reason, I have to keep fighting. I don’t know why. As badly as I want to give up right now, as heavily as the word guilty lies on my tongue, I can't. I won’t.

“Not guilty.”

Here comes the gasps, and the muffled noises as faces turn and lips scowl. I look away from them, turn my eyes to Dominic. I want him to see the betrayal in my eyes. And he sees it, alright. The slight shift on his chair and averted gaze telling me everything I need to know.

He let them push him into doing this, how dare he choose his reputation over me? Over our love?

How dare he let any of this happen?

“Not guilty?” Elder Horn raises her voice above the chatter, her deep red eyes vicious as they hold me in my place, as if she’s diminishing me to my smallest form. “And what makes you say that?”

“Well,” I start, finding my voice. “For starters, I didn't do any of the things that I have been accused of.”

The elders exchange glances for a short moment, and I steal another tormenting look at Dominic.

“So you’re calling your Alpha a liar?”

“I’m calling him misinformed.”

A loud outrage catches the court like wildfire, and everywhere erupts into chaos.