Chapter 3

Gideon’s eyes fell on the bloody shawl in my trembling hand. He sneered.

"Cora, get rid of that filthy thing."

With Gideon and Chloe on her side, the pack elites were quick to voice their support.

"Looks like the future Luna wants revenge for her poor relative!"

"An Omega that worthless deserved it!"

"Brenda removed a parasite from the pack. She should be rewarded!"

A man in an expensive suit shouted, "I support Brenda! Omegas trying to climb the social ladder are a disgrace!"

"Exactly!" a bejeweled she-wolf added. "They just want to use the future Luna's position for their own gain!"

"Miss Brenda did the right thing! She protected the purity of our pack's bloodline!"

The praise was a rising chorus, a standing ovation for a killer.

Brenda soaked in the compliments, the "pity" on her face melting into a smug smile. But she quickly put her mask back on, clinging to Gideon's arm.

"Gideon, I'm scared Cora will retaliate," she whimpered, looking utterly helpless. "I was only trying to protect the estate. I didn't mean to make her so angry."

Gideon pulled her closer, his eyes soft.

"Don't be afraid, Brenda. I'll protect you."

Then he turned to me, his expression hardening into something regal and cruel.

"Cora, your behavior is a disappointment. As Luna, you should understand Brenda's position, not throw a tantrum over one dead Omega."

Chloe smirked. "My brother's right! Cora, you should apologize to Brenda right now!"

"Apologize?" Gideon shook his head. "An apology isn't enough."

He clapped his hands. A servant immediately approached with a velvet tray. On it rested a silver dagger, engraved with the symbol of the Moon Goddess.

I knew that knife.

It was the sacred dagger used for the most humiliating ritual in our pack: the Plea for Forgiveness.

“Cora, I command you to perform the Plea for Forgiveness for Brenda’s ‘mistake,’” Gideon's voice boomed across the garden. “Admit your family’s trespass. You will take responsibility for Brenda’s justifiable actions.”

The air went still. Everyone stared, their eyes glinting with amusement.

It meant I would have to slice open my palm with that dagger and let my blood drip onto the sacred Moonstone.

I would have to publicly admit my "family" was at fault and swear to clear the name of Eleonora's murderer, taking all the blame myself.

A murmur of approval went through the crowd:

"The Alpha Heir is so merciful!"

"Cora should be grateful for this chance!"

"The Plea for Forgiveness is perfect!"

"Hurry up, Cora," Chloe urged impatiently. "Everyone's waiting! It's time you learned your place!"

"Yes! The future Luna must take responsibility for the pack's harmony!"

"Apologize, Cora!"

"Don't keep us waiting!"

The voices grew louder, a wall of pressure demanding I submit.

Gideon watched me with a cold smirk, his eyes full of threat. "Cora, this is your last chance. If you refuse, I will declare you unworthy of being this pack's future Luna."

In his arms, Brenda shot me a triumphant look, as if to say: What can you do about it?

I looked at their demonic faces, rage finally boiling over.

The servant held the tray out to me, the silver dagger gleaming in the moonlight.

All eyes were on me, waiting for me to break.

I reached out.

And pushed the sacred dagger away. "This plea is for you," I said calmly. "Not for me."