Chapter 2- The Poisoned Crown

Chapter 2- The Poisoned Crown

AURELIA POV

As my father’s heiress and future leader of our pack, I had stood in this same courtroom my entire life. I knew the outlay of it like I knew my name.

Never once did I imagine I would be standing in it, in this manner.

In the middle. Alone. Shocked. Confused.

“Poison?”

“During the council? That is a death warrant.”

The murmurs poured from all sides of me, condemnation dripping in the air silently. They only fueled my confusion. I stood there unbound, but it felt like I was chained down as every leader murmured behind the palms of their hands, loathsome stares directed at me.

My father, the Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack stood in a crisp black suit ahead, shoulders so broad they could snap the fabric at the seams, and tension radiating through him like an unwanted spell. He didn’t look at me. Not when panic tore through that ballroom as the elder died in my arms. Not when people went to him and whispered into his ear, not even when Mom sobbed by his side.

Heck. She too didn’t even give me a single glance. She just cried softly into the fluffy fur sleeve of her coat while clinging to Selene.

Ronan stood big and ready beside the throne. Eyes scanning, face harder than stone. His expression was enough to cut through glaciers.

I wished for him to look at me. To see me. He had to know how wrong this was. He had to know how awful this felt.

“State your claim.” My father roared in that tone that was enough to send any other werewolf into a coma. That commanding tone he used when he was done bullshitting.

My mind lagged and my brain was screaming an incoherent ‘WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON’. I didn’t even see Selene stepping forward and taking the witness stand until her voice boomed around, enveloping me like a blanket of thorns.

“Princess Aurelia did it.” Was all I registered before my mind exploded.

“I saw her tamper with the elder’s goblet before it was served.” The entire courtroom erupted, blood unfurled inside of me like a raging tornado. My mouth hung open in silent protest.

“No…:” My voice filled the entire space. “That’s not true.” I stepped forward, ready to fight if it came to that.

My father shot me a glance that rooted me to one spot, my wolf whimpering beneath the barrier that separated human and beast.

But I refused to stand. I refused to bend my neck and let them slander me.

“I was at the entrance the entire time receiving guests. I entered the ballroom with Alpha Davon Vale and his Luna. I was overseeing everything from outside the ballroom.” My eyes found Davon’s hard one. Mercy was long gone from those black pools of oblivion, replaced by something ruthless.

“No one is denying that.” Selene turned and looked at me.

“You entered the ballroom with Alpha Vale and his Luna, yes. And then?” She took one step my way. My throat dried up as I looked at my sister. My own flesh and blood with a face stripped of all emotions, leaving only a hard glare.

“You went to Elder Vale. You found him standing with the other elders. You stood there for a moment before excusing yourself. Your last words to him, “Don’t let those flutes dry up.” A panicked chortle escaped my throat. There was nothing funny about this moment.

Yes, I went to Elder Vale. Yes, I said those words. Merely because it was the night of the reception, the night opening the biggest Wolf gathering in our universe. And it was my duty to keep the guests happy.

“And then I went to Commander Blackthorn. I was with him the entire time and shortly after he had left, Elder Vale had an accident.” I defended myself in a loud voice that echoed around the walls of the courtroom.

This really couldn’t be happening.

“Again, no one is disputing that. But you were the last person who touched him. And you, my dear sister, gave him the goblet laced with poison.”

Tears stung the back of my eyes. I stared at Ronan and almost bawled harder.

“Ronan?” It came out as a whisper. “Tell them. You were with me. You were there, remember?”

“Except, I wasn’t Princess Aurelia. I wasn’t with you the entire time.” His words came out sharp like razors, heavier than anything I have ever known, and knocked all the air from my lungs.

My sister’s accusations hurt like hell, but Ronan’s rejection felt like my heart was yanked out through the cage of its bones. The floor felt unsteady beneath me, and the walls rushed in to close on me. All the air got sucked out of that room so fast that I was left gasping.

I turned to my father.

“Father.” My own voice sounded foreign to my ears. It was weaker. It was… lost!

“I didn’t do it.:” I shook my head desperately, my hand clutching my chest to stop my heart from leaping and falling to the floor in front of me. “You know me. I care more about our pack than anything else in this world. I would never-,”

The sound rang through the walls before I saw movement.

A sharp crack. And then pain exploded across my face as an inhuman force sent me flying across the courtroom. I hit the marble floors with a meaty thunk.

My ears rang, my vision blurred as the realization of what had just happened slowly sank into my already murky brain. Father had hit me. In front of all these people. He hit me.

Slowly, I lifted my head. All the attention was on me. But it felt so wrong. So unjust. Why won’t anyone listen to me?

“You are no daughter of mine.” Father’s words cut through the estranged silence like a guillotine slicing through the neck. Everything inside of me crumbled, crushed, fell!

“Take her to the holding cell.” His word was final as he spun around and buttoned his expensive suit jacket.

“Blackthorn, I want a detailed report of the investigation on my desk by nightfall.”

Ronan responded with a bow and a determined “Yes Alpha” before shifting his cold gaze at me.

He nodded to the guards and they moved in sync, hoisting my body like I weighed nothing before carrying me upwards. I wriggled out of their hold, saving the last shred of dignity I had left.

“I can walk,” I said sternly, and they obeyed.

At least there was a modicum of respect left.

“The matter will be handled discreetly. I owe it to you to find out what happened to your father. However, the council has to continue.” My father’s voice echoed around the walls, washing behind me as I dragged myself over my heavy and unsteady feet.

Davon screamed a response but I could not hear exactly what it was he said.

I looked back just in time to catch Selene’s gaze. And a smirk spread across her lips before she threw herself at Ronan.

And then, it dawned on me.

This was not an accident. No.

This was something deeper.

Betrayal. Coldest in its form. Carefully planned and perfectly executed.

And I walked straight into it!