Chapter 9. The Weight of Accusation

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Black Ridge Pack. The entire pack was abuzz with the shocking accusation against Samantha. Whispers spread like wildfire, fueling suspicion and fear.

At Erynn’s home, the air was heavy with tension. She sat rigidly on a wooden chair, her hands clenched into fists, her heart pounding. The moment Ronan burst through the door, she could see the distress in his eyes.

“Mother,” Ronan gasped, barely able to catch his breath. “You won’t believe what they’re saying about Samantha.”

Erynn already knew. The moment Serene had come home, fake tears in her eyes, voice shaking with forced sorrow, she had spun a twisted tale.

“She… she broke the pack law, Mother,” Serene had whispered. “I never wanted to believe it, but I saw it with my own eyes. Samantha betrayed us.”

Erynn had stared at her daughter, searching for a crack in the lie. She knew Samantha. She had raised her, protected her, loved her as much as she loved Ronan and—despite her growing darkness—Serene.

“She wouldn’t do that,” Erynn had said firmly.

“She did,” Serene had insisted, her voice sharp. “And the Council knows. She’ll be judged tomorrow.”

Now, as Ronan stood in front of her, his desperation mirroring her own, Erynn felt the weight of helplessness settle onto her shoulders.

“I don’t know what to do,” Ronan admitted, his voice shaking. “Serene is lying, but she’s convinced everyone. And Father… he’s already accepted Samantha’s guilt.”

Erynn’s breath hitched. She had promised to protect Samantha. She had sworn to the gods themselves that she would keep her safe.

And now, she was about to fail.

“No,” Erynn whispered, her voice steely. “I will not let them do this.”

“But how?” Ronan asked. “Serene’s story has already poisoned the Council’s judgment.”

Before Erynn could respond, the door creaked open.

Their father entered. Riven, a respected warrior and a member of the Council. His face was hard, his stance unyielding.

“It’s over,” he said grimly. “The evidence is stacked against Samantha. She will stand before the Council tomorrow.”

“No!” Ronan snapped, stepping forward. “You know she’s innocent!”

Riven’s expression darkened. “Watch your tone, boy.”

“She’s your daughter!”

“She is an outcast,” Riven corrected, his voice cold. “And an outcast has no place breaking the laws of this pack.”

Erynn stood, fire blazing in her eyes. “She didn’t do it.”

Jared clenched his jaw. “The Council has spoken. There’s nothing more to be done.”

Ronan wanted to scream, to tear through the lies, but his father had already turned away.

Derek’s Plea

At the Alpha’s home, Derek stood before his father, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

“This is wrong,” he said, his voice tense. “You’re condemning an innocent girl.”

Alpha Tobias sat on his grand wooden chair, his expression unreadable.

“You are speaking out of turn, Derek,” he said calmly. “She is an outsider. She broke the law.”

“She didn’t do anything!” Derek protested. “I know her. Samantha would never betray the pack.”

“You know nothing,” Tobias snapped, his eyes flashing. “You are my son, the future Alpha, and yet you speak in defense of a girl who is nothing but trouble.”

Derek’s chest tightened. “If you go through with this, you will be punishing an innocent person.”

Tobias leaned forward. “You will say nothing more about this. If you defy me again, you will regret it.”

Derek froze. His father had never threatened him before.

But for Samantha, he would not back down.

Ronan Confronts Serene

Ronan stormed into Serene’s room, slamming the door behind him. She sat calmly on her bed, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

“Take it back,” Ronan hissed. “You know Samantha didn’t do this.”

Serene tilted her head. “Why are you so worked up, brother? Do you care about her that much?”

“You ruined her life!”

“I told the truth.”

“No, you told a lie,” Ronan shot back. “And now she might be banished. Or worse.”

Serene’s smirk faltered for just a second before she rolled her eyes. “She deserves it.”

Ronan’s fists shook at his sides. “Why?”

Serene stood, her eyes burning with something darker than hatred. “Because she has taken everything from me. She took our mother’s love. She took my best friend. And now, she is trying to take Derek.”

Ronan’s heart dropped. “This is about Derek?”

“She needs to disappear,” Serene said coldly.

Ronan stared at his sister, horror creeping up his spine. “You’re a monster.”

Serene merely smiled.