6.

—

My heart betrayed me immediately, beating faster at the thought of seeing him. I hated that.

Even after everything, my body still responded to him as though nothing had changed between us. How could it not? He was my mate.

The door opened, and he stepped inside. He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His dark hair was slightly dishevelled, and exhaustion lingered beneath his eyes. A pang of worry hit my chest, despite my own discomfort.

His gaze travelled over me, lingering on the bandages wrapped around my arms before moving to my injured ankle.

He exhaled softly, his gaze melting into the same look he had given Cora as she wailed.

But it didn't get to me as much as it should, because when I had needed him to look at me most, he had fixed his attention on her.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"How are you feeling?" He finally asked.

I almost asked whether he genuinely wanted to know.

Instead, I answered, "I'm alive."

Something flickered across his face before he turned to my handmaiden.

"Leave us."

As soon as the door clicked shut, he turned to me.

"Selene..."

My heart twisted at the sound of my name. "Is there something you need, Alpha?"

His brows drew together at the formal address.

I had never called him Alpha when we were alone. Not once since becoming his mate.

I had always called him Theon, even when we argued or when I was angry with him.

But today, I couldn't bring myself to say his name.

He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.

"I came to ask you some questions about what happened at the cliff. Warren said it was okay."

Of course, he wasn't here to see how I was feeling. Nor to apologise for confining me. He was here to question me.

I swallowed. "Go ahead."

He seemed momentarily thrown by my response.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened at the cliff?"

I looked at him. "You've already heard my account."

"I want to hear it again."

"Why? Do you think I'll change my story?"

His expression hardened.

"That isn't what I said—

"No, but that's what it looks like."

He exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw.

"Selene, a child has died. Cora is accusing you of pushing her off that cliff, and the rumours are wild. I need to understand what happened before I can make a decision. I need to hear the truth from you."

"You already heard the truth from me, Theon."

His jaw tightened. "Please, Selene. Don't make this more difficult than it already is."

For several seconds, I stared at him. Was he serious?

I was the one lying in bed covered in bandages. I was the one who had been accused of murdering the pack's future Alpha. I was the one whose future had suddenly become uncertain, and the one confined to a holding chamber.

Yet somehow, I was the one making things difficult.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.

"Fine," I said quietly. "I'll tell you again."

I drew a careful breath.

"Cora and I were arguing near the cliff. She accused me of trying to turn you against her. I told her I was tired of her interference in our marriage. Then she grabbed my wrist."

Theon listened without interrupting.

"I tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let go. She pulled me toward the edge, and before I could free myself, we fell."

He was silent for a moment.

"You're certain she grabbed you first?"

"Yes."

"But why would she do that?"

"I don't know."

"Why would she risk her own life? Her child's life?"

I stared at him, wondering the same thing. Was Cora's brutal actions simply to frame me?

"You went to her chamber first, didn't you? I'm sure she told you something." I couldn't hide the distaste in my voice.

Theon lowered her head, looking defeated. "This is hard, Selene."

The fact that he had gone to her first stung, but his defeated expression told me enough. Cora must have doubled down on her accusations.

"Then perhaps you should start by asking yourself why she would accuse me of something I didn't do."

"Selene, she lost her child. The only thing she had left of Eren."

"And I nearly lost my life!" My voice cracked, and for the first time since he had entered the room, I stopped trying to contain my anger.

"I fell from that cliff too. I was injured too. I could have died, Theon. Did you even think about that before ordering my confinement?"

His expression changed.

"I didn't know the extent of your injuries when I made that decision."

"But you knew I had fallen."

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

I laughed bitterly.

"Of course you did. I called you..."

"Selene, I was trying to prevent the situation from escalating. The council wanted you taken into custody. I made sure that didn't happen."

"So, I should be grateful?"

His brows furrowed. "I beg your pardon?"

"Should I thank you for allowing me to remain in a room instead of a prison cell for a crime I did not commit?"

His jaw tightened. "Selene, I know you're upset, but this isn't fair."

"Neither is being accused of murder when I haven't done anything wrong."

Silence settled between us.

I searched his face, looking for something familiar— reassurance, trust... Anything, but all I found was uncertainty.

I had trusted this man with everything. I had stood beside him when the council questioned his decisions and defended him when members of the pack doubted his ability to lead.

At a time in my life when I had no reason to trust anyone, after being trampled upon consistently, he made me open my heart to him.

Now, when I needed him to stand beside me, a part of him believed I could be a monster.

If our positions had been reversed, I wouldn't have hesitated to believe him.

"Look at me, Theon."

He slowly lifted his gaze to mine.

"Do you believe I'm guilty?" I asked with the last bit of hope in me.

His expression tightened.

"I believe you wouldn't deliberately hurt anyone."

"So, you believe I didn't do this?"

"I..." He hesitated. "I don't know what to believe. This isn't easy for me too, Selene."

I swallowed hard, fighting the tears burning behind my eyes.

"Then investigate. Forget the rumours and accusations. Go back to the very beginning and look at the facts."

I paused, drawing a shaky breath.

"Maybe I did push her. Maybe I was desperate to hold on to my position as Luna. Or maybe this entire thing started with a lie. Perhaps there's something about Cora's condition that none of us knows."

Theon stared at me, his brows furrowing as he considered my words.

"Selene, w-what are you implying?"

"I'm asking you to follow the facts, Theon. That's all I'm implying."

His lips parted, but he said nothing. Eventually, he pushed his chair back and stood.

"I'll make sure the incident is thoroughly investigated."

I lifted my eyes to him. For the first time since waking up, I allowed myself a small measure of hope.

"Thank you." The words came out quietly, almost unwillingly.

He hesitated before turning towards the door.

"The physician will return later to check your injuries. If you need anything, inform the guards."

I lowered my gaze. "Of course, Alpha."

"Selene." He stopped. "Please don't call me that."

Then I heard his footsteps retreat toward the door.

And just like that, he was gone.

I stared at the empty space where he had been sitting.

For years, I had believed that being Theon's mate meant I would never have to face the world alone again. That an omega like me, who had suffered all her life, had finally found her ray of sunshine.

How foolish I had been.

The mate bond connected our wolves, but it couldn't change my origin. I would always be a threat as an Omega.

And love, no matter how deeply I felt it, couldn't make him see the truth if he wasn't willing to look for it.

I turned toward the window and watched the evening shadows stretch across the courtyard.

I didn't know what the council would decide, or whether Theon's investigation would reveal anything that could clear my name.

All I knew was that I was frightened.

Frightened of losing my position as Luna, of losing Theon. Frightened of being condemned for something I hadn't done.

And, perhaps most of all, frightened of discovering that the man I loved might never truly believe in me.

That I might return to who I used to be, or worse— because aside from that horrible past, I would also be a murderer who had killed the Future Alpha of IronClaw.

And that scared me to my bones. But I was innocent, and if Theon investigated, he would know.

Perhaps he would question those who had been present that day, as well as the guards who had patrolled the surrounding territory.

Until the truth came to light, I had no way of knowing who would stand beside me and who would turn against me. At this point, I could only trust and hope in Theon even though he didn't trust me.

I leaned back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the fading light beyond the window.

All I could do now was wait and hope that the last shred of trust that Theon had in me would work in my favour.