Josie
I tried to be calm, but I was losing it. My chest felt too tight, my lungs straining as if they couldn’t keep up with the storm inside . My hands trembled at my sides, and no matter how many tis I told myself to breathe, I couldn’t. My heartbeat was so loud it drowned out every whisper in the hall, and yet, every pair of eyes on made it worse.
What was he going to say?
Kiel stood there, so controlled, so untouchable, while I burned from the inside out. The way his gaze cut through made feel both anchored and shattered. I hated that I cared so much about what was about to co out of his mouth. I hated that his words mattered more than anything else in this room.
I forced my voice to work, though it ca out softer than I wanted. "Answer , Kiel. Please."
He looked at , his expression unreadable, but then his voice thundered with sudden force, turning heads and silencing whispers. "Josie, I asked you a question. You claid you asked first. So answer this—why do you believe the words of a killer over mine?"
My breath hitched, and the room seed to tilt.
He turned sharply, pointing at Michelle, who was bound and trembling, her eyes darting wildly as the crowd pressed closer, their murmurs like knives. His voice grew harder, cutting through the air. "Do you trust her over ? Has she ever protected you? Has she ever cared whether you lived or died?" He took a step toward , his chest heaving. "Since the day I found out you were my mate, have I not fought for you? Have I not shielded you at every turn? What else do you want from to prove that I have no eyes for anyone else but you?"
Every word struck like a blow, leaving trembling in my place.
My lips parted, but no sound ca out. My throat was dry, my heart twisting painfully. He was right there in front of , and yet he felt so far away.
"Kiel..." My voice was a whisper, unsteady. "I just—" My legs threatened to give out, so I took one shaky step toward him. The crowd’s gaze burned into my back, but I didn’t care anymore. "I just need you to answer . That one question. Please."
The desperation in my own voice made my eyes sting. I couldn’t breathe unless I knew. Unless I heard it from him.
His chest expanded, his jaw clenched, and then his voice cracked like lightning through the silence. "No!"
The word rang out, harsh and final, echoing through the hall.
My breath caught as my knees buckled, but I forced myself to stand tall.
"No," he repeated, his tone thick with rage and frustration. "I didn’t know Michelle had any hand in this. I didn’t even suspect it." His voice dropped lower, shaking with restrained fury. "I only found out because Marcy told . Marcy, Josie. And even then, what did she say? That you weren’t sure. That you doubted."
His eyes pierced mine, and the weight of his anger and hurt made tremble. "You want the truth? That’s the truth. I had no idea. So tell , Josie—when will you have faith in ? When will you stop doubting every damn thing I do? It isn’t fair, not to , not to us. I deserve so trust. From you, of all people, I deserve it."
His words cut deeper than I thought possible. My lips parted, but no words ca out. I wanted to scream, to defend myself, to say that I only doubted because I had been broken before. But no sound escaped .
Instead, I stood there, watching helplessly as Kiel turned his fury on the elders. His voice rose again, sharp and commanding.
"And you—elders who should have known better," he spat, his gaze sweeping over their stunned faces. "You lent your support to this vile woman against , against your Alpha, against reason itself. You knew nothing, and yet you dared to raise her above the truth? Tell , is this the wisdom you claim to hold? Is this the loyalty you claim to live by?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, so lowering their heads, others shrinking under his wrath.
Kiel turned to Michelle, his glare venomous. "And you—if you are truly pregnant, then rid yourself of the child. I will not let a lie grow inside this pack."
A ripple of shock ran through everyone, the air thick with disbelief.
My throat closed as I glanced at Varen, who stood silently to the side. His eyes softened when they t mine, full of pity, and that look made my chest tighten until I thought I might collapse. I didn’t want pity. I wanted truth. I wanted certainty. I wanted... Kiel.
Michelle’s voice broke the silence, shrill and desperate. "You can’t do this to ! I am carrying the heir to your throne!"
The elders exchanged tense looks, and one of them finally stepped forward, voice cold. "You will remain in the dungeon for seventy-two hours. That is the punishnt you’ve earned."
"No!" Michelle shrieked, her face twisting with fury. "I will not submit to such cruelty! You cannot treat this way. I am carrying his child!"
Another elder’s voice rose, firm and unyielding. "You should be thankful for that pregnancy, girl. If not for it, your punishnt would be far worse."
Chaos broke out as the decision was declared, murmurs and disapproving shouts filling the room. The guards dragged Michelle away, her screams echoing behind her as she fought against them, cursing everyone in sight.
I stood frozen, my body numb, my mind reeling. The weight of everything was crushing , and still, I couldn’t stop staring at Kiel.
His face was unreadable, but his shoulders were tense as steel. He looked like a man carved out of stone, untouchable, unbreakable.
As the elders’ voices faded and Michelle’s shrieks grew distant, Kiel turned and walked out, his Beta trailing after him.
Panic surged in , and I forced my feet to move, hurrying after him. My voice broke as I called, "Kiel—wait."
He didn’t turn at first, his long strides carrying him toward the exit. I pushed harder, catching up with him, my hand clutching my chest. "Please, I need to talk to you."
He stopped abruptly, turning his head just enough to glance at his Beta. "Take her back to the hospital. She needs to be on bed rest."
The words hit like a slap.
"No!" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended, echoing in the nearly empty corridor. I shook my head fiercely, my hands balling into fists. "I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be tucked away like I’m fragile, like I’m so burden you can’t deal with."
For the first ti since the hall, his eyes t mine again. The intensity in them made my breath catch. His jaw tightened as his voice dropped, low and heavy. "Josie. Please. Do as you’re told. Just once."
His plea wasn’t anger—it was exhaustion. And sohow, that hurt more.
I stood there, shaking, my chest aching, my throat raw from holding back everything I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t fragile, that I wasn’t a fool, that I wanted to fight beside him, not be hidden away. But all that ca out was silence, because the weight of his words and the rawness in his tone silenced more than any shout could.
And in that silence, I realised how much it hurt to still love him.
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