Arielle’s Defense

Richard’s POV:

It’s going to be alright, I wanted to tell my mate as she brushed past me to walk forward, stepping up to the podium. She looked calm, for someone who was being summoned to come to her own defense.

Or at least, that was what an outsider with no trained eyes would say.

I could tell by the way that she was taking slow steps forward that she was trembling, and her knees looked like they were about to buckle under her any moment. And the way that she clenched her hands into fists stiffly by her side, made me want to end all of this and take her back to our home.

But I had faith that Arielle wasn’t my mate for nothing. She was stronger, way stronger, than anyone would ever know. She was even stronger than she herself knew.

I would need to remember that, as the inquisition began.

“Arielle Grey, your witnesses have told us the story. However, it would be better if we could hear it from you directly. What exactly happened between you and the Rogue, Leon Walker?”

And so it began