The massive doors at the far end of the courtroom swing open. The Alpha enters. He is tall, broad-shouldered, silver threaded through dark hair pulled back neatly. His presence presses down on the room, commanding without effort. This is Heidi’s first ti seeing him physically and the more she looks at him, the more she sees the resemblance between him and Amias.
The conversations die the instant he cos in. Behind him walk mbers of the Pack Council; n and won with faces composed by ti and power. They take their seats with ritual precision.
The Alpha surveys the room. His gaze passes over the pack, the elders, the heirs... and then lands on Heidi.
She holds his stare, ensuring she implents all the tips given by his sons. Do not be intimidated. You’ve done nothing wrong: she chants to herself.
"Let us begin," the Alpha says, tearing his unreadable gaze away from her. "This hearing concerns Heidi, one of the Moon Blesseds, accused in connection with the assault and subsequent incapacitation of Sierra Castell."
A murmur travels around the audience. Mrs. Castell sobs loudly. Heidi’s spine stiffens. I didn’t assault her; she says to herself:
The Alpha lifts a hand and silence falls again.
"Before testimony begins," he continues, "the accused will be reminded of her right to representation."
Darien steps forward imdiately. "So noted," he says smoothly. "She has it."
Grayson inclines his head and Morgan smirks.
The Alpha’s brow lifts slightly. "All three of you?"
"Four," Morgan corrects lazily. "One’s just running late."
A few elders exchange glances, wondering just how cursed the Alpha must have been to have his four sons publicly stand against him because they are mated to one single girl... Who is a Moon Blessed nonetheless.
The Alpha considers them for a long mont, then nods once. "Very well." He then lifts his hand again, palm outward in a gesture that pauses the room like a spell.
"The floor now passes to the elders," he announces. His voice is impersonal, like that of a man who has learned to separate blood from duty. "They will hear testimony, weigh evidence, and render judgnt."
A low swell of anticipation runs through the courtroom. Heidi feels it in her bones, a subtle vibration beneath the stone floor, like the ground itself is holding its breath.
The elders shift in their seats.
They are an intimidating sight up close. These are not wolves ruled by emotion. These are wolves who have survived by believing they are above it. One of them rises slowly.
Elder Rowen. White hair braided down his back, amber eyes that miss nothing. His voice, when he speaks, cos effortlessly.
"Heidi of the Moon Blessed," he says. "You stand accused of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and the unlawful use of divine force against a pack mber."
Each word makes the whispers rise higher and higher.
He pauses, gaze steady on her. "You will have the opportunity to speak later. For now, we will hear from the alleged victim."
He turns a little. "Bring Sierra Castell forward."
The whispers die down imdiately. Two pack dics move toward Sierra’s wheelchair. Mrs. Castell stiffens, clutching her daughter’s shoulders like a lifeline.
"It’s all right, my love," she whispers frantically. "Just tell them what she did. Tell them everything."
Sierra nods weakly. When the dics wheel her forward, every eye follows. The sound of the wheels against stone echoes far too loudly like a reminder of what she’s lost. The girl might still hold so weight now, but once she resus school, the fate that awaits her has got to be ugly.
Heidi’s chest tightens. She forces herself to stay still. Stable expression. Chin level. Breathe. Sierra is positioned at the center of the court, directly facing the elders. The chair locks into place with a soft click that sounds final in the quiet.
Elder Rowen inclines his head. "Sierra Castell. You may speak."
Sierra’s hands tremble as she folds them in her lap. Her voice, when it cos, is thin and fragile, shaking so much, it undoubtedly sounds convincing.
"I... I went to Heidi’s room that night to make peace."
Gasps ripple through the gallery.
Heidi’s heart stutters. Her wolf snarls quietly inside her chest.
"Liar."
WHAT? The way her ears perk up, the way her eyes bulge—she knows there’s a chance Sierra will co on here with cooked-up lies, but wasn’t expecting ’making peace’ as one.
What she ca to do that night was far from being peaceful.
"I wanted to forgive her," Sierra continues, eyes glossy. "For humiliating . For stripping my friends and in front of everyone." Her voice breaks perfectly on cue. "I didn’t want to carry hate anymore."
The crowd murmurs louder now. Heidi feels heat creep up her neck. She keeps her gaze forward, nails pressing into her thighs.
What a shaless lying bitch! She roars internally. She still can’t believe that despite everything that’s happened, Sierra still hasn’t learned from it.
The girl swallows. "I didn’t know she thought I was a threat. I didn’t know she was afraid of ."
Mrs. Castell sobs loudly behind her.
Sierra lifts her head just enough to look at the elders. "I went in quietly. I thought she was asleep. I only wanted to talk."
Elder Rowen nods slowly. "And what happened next?"
Sierra’s eyes flick just briefly toward Heidi. Fear flashes across her face, exaggerated deliberately to make it seem like she’s been traumatized by the situation.
"One would think she’d be actually. Anyone would be traumatized, but guess ho girl is a crazy one." Heid’s wolf tuts after making that comnt.
She really couldn’t help but to agree. A crazy one indeed.
"She attacked ," Sierra continues. "She panicked. She thought I would expose her."
The room hums. "Expose her how?" another elder asks.
Sierra hesitates, then speaks quickly, like she’s reading it off a note. "She made an adult video. On my phone. She didn’t want anyone to see it, so she thought she’d be safe if she got out of the way. A lot of people know this fact already."
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