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When truth starts tearing down masks, lies come clawing back twice as vicious.
That night, the tribe’s platform buzzed with a new live broadcast-
“Nightshade Assembly: The Real Story Behind the Fire”
The voice was unmistakable. Beta Derrick.
Wearing a half–mask and standing before blazing torchlight, he spoke like a priest delivering damnation.
“She used seduction to control Alpha Alpha Emery.”
“She plotted to become Luna. The fire was staged to frame Beta Sasha.”
“She nearly killed two innocent pups, just to rise higher.”
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Comments flooded the screen.
[She’s a temptress!]
[She’s always looked fake!]
[Let her burn for what she’s done!]
I stared at the flickering light of the broadcast, my blood icy.
They were afraid.
Afraid I was still alive.
Afraid the pack was starting to believe me.
At dawn, I stepped into the council hall with a torn cloak and a trembling hand.
Behind me, dozens of Omega women followed in silence. They had nothing–but still walked beside me.
“We’re not afraid anymore” one of them
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“We’re not afraid anymore,” one of them whispered.
I nodded. “Then stand witness for me.”
The hall was tense. Alpha Emery sat high above, flanked by elders. His face was unreadable.
I walked toward the center and revealed what I’d hidden under cloth-
A silver stone etched with moonlight: the Ring of Luna.
“This is madness,” one elder said. “You want to invoke a Curse Trial?”
I answered by drawing my dagger and slicing open my palm.
Blood hit the stone, and the ring lit up in shimmering silver.
“I swear on my blood,” I said clearly, “to
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aemana aivine Juagment for the Tire. I ask the Moon to uncover the truth–who poisoned the pups, who tried to frame me, and who planned to kill.”
The crowd gasped.
“She’s invoking the Moon’s wrath?”
“She’ll draw in the High Council!”
“She could die for this!”
The ring’s light expanded, flooding the entire chamber with glowing mist.
Then a voice descended–deep, controlled, and terrifying.
“I accept the call.”
A figure emerged from the light. Silver hair. Moon–patterned robes.
His presence silenced the room instantly.
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Lucian.
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High Priest of the Moon. Ruler of the Sacred Bloodline.
His gaze swept across the room like a blade.
“From this moment,” he said, “Alpha Alpha Emery is suspended from leadership. A full Bloodprint Investigation begins.”
“No!” Beta Sasha cried, stepping forward. “You can’t do that! You don’t have the right!”
Lucian didn’t even look at her. “I have the Moon’s right.”
As I stepped down from the altar, Lucian approached me.
“You were brave today,” he murmured. His eyes–steel–blue and ancient–held no mockery.
For the first time, I felt I wasn’t fighting scalone.
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But peace never stays long.
That night, as cold wind slithered through my window, the door burst open.
“You played it well.”
Alpha Emery.
Before I could stand, his hand wrapped around my throat, slamming me into the wall.
“You think the Moon will save you?”
I couldn’t breathe. His grip was tight, eyes crazed.
“You smell like me,” he hissed. “You bear my mark. Do you think anyone will ever really trust you?”
“Omega Caroline,” he growled, “you belong to me.”
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His words seared more than his hands.
The man who once kissed my wounds now wanted to crush my throat.
“You’re scared,” I managed to choke out.
His grip faltered.
“You’re not angry I fought back,” I whispered. “You’re terrified you’ve lost control.”
He froze, then released me with a sharp breath and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
I collapsed to the floor, coughing, my palms still bleeding.
But for the first time, I felt something break-
Not inside me,
but inside him.
I wasn’t his Oathmate anymore.
I was his threat.
