Charis
Three days earlier...
In the end, I was found guilty, and the person who hamred the last nail into my coffin was Kael, making learn what it feels like to be buried while still breathing.
I’m on the floor now, my knees to my chest with my cheeks against the damp wall. The holding cell slled like sothing had died and wasn’t taken out. The Sentinels had swilled the corridor several tis with bleach, yet the sll wouldn’t go out.
I was staring at a piece of stale bread that looked exactly like the first thing I ate when I first arrived at Ravenshore. I’d been so hopeful then, so sure that my life was finally going to get better.
What a stupid fool I’d been.
It’s been three days now, but it felt like a decade of no sunlight and no visitors.
The only thing that kept replaying in my head was the verdict, the votes and the way Kael’s hand had shot up when he raised it against .
I closed my eyes and let myself relive the mory again because if I try to stop it, it only cos back stronger.
~~~
The hall felt suddenly crowded and hushed as the Investigation Council and the student jury filed in after the one-hour recess.
My palms were slick, and I could feel Rhett and Slater sowhere behind . I wished I could turn to look at them, but sohow, I was ashad. I was their mate, but I’ve managed to bring nothing but sha repeatedly.
Not to ntion, Rhy, my wolf, was mourning, leaving more depressed than I should have been.
The lead investigator cleared his throat. "We will first hear from the student jury."
The head of the student jury—a senior student from Ebonvale rose first with a sheet in her hand.
"After listening to the accused, Eamon Riggs, deliberating on the findings and the docunts provided as part of the investigation, the student jury finds that the presented evidence shows Eamon Riggs was present in restricted areas at the ti of the breach. While the motive is not fully established, access is. Our verdict, therefore, is inconclusive."
She sat down.
Gasps and murmurs filled the halls, but all I could hear was the rushing of blood in my ears.
The lead investigator nodded and then turned to .
"Mr Riggs," he said sternly. "The council has made a decision as parents first before council mbers. The leak has caused a lot of damage to your fellow students, and it would only be fair if we could give the affected student the justice they’re hoping for."
He paused and turned to look at the other mbers, who nodded.
"This is our verdict. Eamon Riggs, we find you guilty..."
Scattered clapping rippled across the hall, and the lead investigator had to wait for it to die down before continuing.
"And you’re hereby expelled from Ravenshore Academy effective imdiately. Furthermore, you will be handed over to the Justice Departnt and charged as an adult since this incident happened within the month you turned 18. You’ll be charged for cybercri, theft of personal data and breach of institutional security."
My legs nearly gave out. Charged as an adult. That ans prison ti, a permanent criminal record, and my life would be destroyed before it even begins.
But then he continued speaking, and for a mont, I felt hope flicker in my chest.
"However," he continued, consulting his notes, "taking into account your status as a student and your identity as a child born out of wedlock and not to make it seem like we have a personal vendetta against Alpha children born out of wedlock, you have the right to petition for this matter to remain within the jurisdiction of the Academy rather than being transferred to external authorities."
He paused, as if I needed ti to process what that ant.
"If you can secure six votes, that is half of the total panel that heard your case, you will be given a fair chance to prove your innocence through the Academy procedures, plus the expulsion would be revoked imdiately. Should you fail to secure these votes, you will be imdiately transferred to the Justice Departnt custody."
Six votes. Out of twelve panel mbers. It was a slim chance, but it was sothing.
"We will now begin to vote," the lead investigator announced. "Councillor Arend?" he turned to the man at the far end of his right.
"Remand to Justice."
"Councillor Dava?"
"Remand."
"Councillor Pierce?"
"Retain at the Academy." He t my stare, giving a strange expression.
"Councillor Selene?"
"Retain."
"Councillor Garrin?"
"Remand."
My heart thudded as it was now the turn of the lead investigator. He lifted his hand and said. "Retain."
A shaky breath escaped from . Three council for . Three against. I turned to the student jury, wondering if all the unfamiliar faces would choose . Kael’s vote was sure, so I wasn’t bothered.
I just need two more votes from them.
The head juror was the first person to speak.
"I recomnd the case be remanded to the Justice Departnt."
A prickle shot down my arms as she sat. The next juror rose.
"Remand."
Two more quickly followed with the exact words. My throat was burning with unshed tears now. A girl with dark hair stood up, biting her lips before speaking.
"I believe the Academy should handle this. The footage proves presence but not guilt, and our verdict is inconclusive because the confession from Eamon Riggs and what we have on the footage don’t tally."
I sucked in a deep breath, swiping at the tears that had rolled to my cheeks. Four votes in. Two more to go.
"Retain at the Academy," the boy next to her also stated.
Five votes, I just needed one more.
The lead investigator turned to the far end of the student bench where Kael sat, with hands folded on his lap. He didn’t look unbothered. He was the only one who hadn’t voted.
"Alpha Winters. Your vote."
Surely, my mate would not vote against .
This was the boy who’d marked just days before. Who’d sworn to protect , who’d promised to stand by no matter what storms we faced. Every eye in the hall had turned to him, and I felt Rhy perking up with hope.
He stood slowly, wearing a blank look that was how I knew him before I fell helplessly in love with him. When he spoke, his voice carried through the silent hall.
"Remand to Justice."
I felt every part of my soul shatter as he said those words. Not just my hope for avoiding the Justice Departnt, but my faith in the bond we shared, in the love I thought was real and unbreakable.
I stared at him in shock, searching his face for so sign that this was a mistake. Maybe he wanted to say ’Retain at the Academy.’ Perhaps his dyslexia made it difficult for him to comprehend the words, and he required soone to explain them to him.
"Are you sure?" the lead investigator looked confused.
"Yes," Kael nodded, returning to his seat. "I vote against allowing this matter to remain within Academy jurisdiction."
I felt the lead investigator’s gaze dart from to Kael and back before he banged his gravel.
"By majority vote, the petition for internal jurisdiction is denied. The Investigation Council finds Eamon Riggs guilty of willful violation of security protocol, resulting in the exposure of student data. I will now reiterate his sentencing."
He paused for a second to turn a page in his notes.
"Imdiate expulsion from Ravenshore Academy and transfer to the Justice Departnt after 72 hours for formal charging under the country’s statutes pertaining to information theft and child endangernt. As the accused was found to have acted with preditation—"
"I didn’t—" I muttered as a big, fat tear rolled down my cheek.
"—the accused shall be charged as an adult under the laws of Ravenspire Pack."
A sound left my body that didn’t feel like it ca from my throat. A thousand things happened in a heartbeat. I heard Rhett’s voice in my semi-unconscious state, but two sentinels caught him as he tried to rush towards .
Slater just sat there, and so did Kael. He wasn’t looking at . He refused to.
As the darkness closed over , I wished for the first ti that it would close forever. I hope I never wake from this.
***
Present day:
I’d woken up on the filthy floor of a holding cell. And for three days, I’ve been here. Tomorrow, I’ll finally be transferred to a maximum holding facility at Stormrock, the Pack Capital of the country, and I’ll be tried.
Practically, I’ll finally reunite with my forr father-in-law and his family.
The corners of my lips lifted in a mocking smile. I have the best luck in the world.
I pulled my knees tighter, trying to pretend that my head wasn’t filled with Rhy’s low, agitated pacing.
I pushed aside the plate that held the stale bread, joining it with the other bread from three days ago. The sentinels bring water twice a day in dented cups that have a rusty sll.
The first day, I’d drunk greedily. The second day was less eventful. But today, I tried to sip as little as I could. There was no need to try to nourish the body; I was going to go to prison anyway.
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