"Marley, what crimes has Head Trainer Jasmine committed?"

Marley sat up straighter, making sure her voice didn't quiver as she spoke. "Most recently, Alpha Joey, she is the one who attacked Gabby, almost killing her, and attacked me."

The crowed was going to interrupt again, but when Alpha Joey raised his hand, they fell silent. Nothing any of them can say would be more interesting than what Marley had said and the next words out of Jasmine's mouth would be.

Alpha Joey glanced towards his Head Trainer. There was no doubt that Marley, Jasmine, and Gabby had been fighting— nobody knew who the teams were. Both stories could easily be true, and nobody knew which won they wanted to be correct.

Jasmine and Gabby. Pack members since birth.

Marley and Gabby. Best friend and mates to Layla.

It would be easier to believe Marley was the traitor, that Marley simple came here to destroy their pack than to even think of Jasmine being evil.

Layla leaned forward, twirling her fingers. Luna Denice moved her hands, clinching the table as she listened to Marley's accusations. She couldn't believe her sister would attack anyone. For the Moon Goddess sake, she's a Head, someone that both the Alpha and Luna could trust.

"I attacked Marley," Jasmine began. "She was at the border," she glanced at Layla, "leaving. Something just had happened. I already knew what Doctor Brian told Alpha Joey and Luna Denice."

She watched Layla's reaction. To her, it was gold. It was the lead she needed. The Head Doctor turned to her mate, staring at her, waiting for Marley to correct Jasmine's claim.

"Gabby was chasing after her," Jasmine continued, "yelling at her to come back. I went to the border and tried to stop her. After all, she has committed crimes to this pack, but most importantly, for Layla. I had a feeling that her wolf wouldn't make it if Marley left."

She sighed, "I let my guard down, and Marley strike. The Patrol must have been held back with another pack coming. From the first time she attacked me, I knew she was trying to kill me."

Marley looked around the room, her jaw dropping at how everyone just nodded their heads.

"I didn't attack her. I only contained her till the patrollers showed up. I had them take Gabby to the hospital." She sighed, "I don't even know what's happening to her. Gabby came to my aide, like any good pack member would."

Right then and there, Marley knew she was over her head. Jasmine knew how to play this game better than she ever could.

Alpha Joey nodded his head, "Marley, why were you running away?"

Marley looked at Layla, "I wasn't running away. I... I just needed a run to get... to blow off some steam. Gabby mentioned something, and I needed space." The young Alpha didn't know if she should admit to her pack being the Moonlight Healer Pack, especially as she watched the court case continue. Would they believe her? Help her?

Or would they lock her up like the rogues did? Like how every pack treated them before they went into hiding?

She hated the outside world more and more everyday.

"How did you end up at the border?" Alpha Joey asked, raising his eyebrow at the eighteen year old woman. As Alpha, he needed to press the rouge. He didn't know Marley as long as he Jasmine. Neither did the pack, and apparently, neither did Layla.

Marley shrugged her shoulder, "I guess I ran far enough to reach it, but I wasn't leaving. I just stood there, staring at the ground." She started to plea at the end, hoping someone would believe her, "While I was staring at the border, I started to think about what Gabby said then that's when Jasmine came."

Jefferson growled, "Head Trainer Jasmine. She is higher ranked than you."

Layla went to growl back, but Luna Denice grabbed her arm, shaking her head. The Head Doctor shook her head before ripping her arm away, but she stayed silent. She knew Denice would kick her out, knowing that wasn't to interfere. They needed Marley to speak, to figure everything out.

Marley narrowed her eyes at the other Head Trainer, wondering if they were in this together, "She attacked me. I was barley able to jump out of the way before her claws came at my throat. If you think that deserves respect, then I'm sorry for what your pack has to be put through."

She knew she shouldn't have said those words, but deep down, she was proud that she was standing up to them, no matter the outcome.

Luke stood up, but he was held back by Beta Roger. "Settle down, Luke," he commanded, pulling the Head Guard back. He nodded towards his Alpha before sitting down.

"Beta Roger," the Alpha asked. The Beta quickly stood up. He glanced at Jasmine before staring at Marley. "It seems you will need to take over. Another pack has arrived." He turned to the group, "No one will get punish while I am gone, no matter what anyone says."

Normally, the case would pause when the Alpha needed to leave, but based on the situation of war they were placed in, they were running out of time. They needed answers, and they needed them fast.

The Alpha glanced at the Luna, and the Luna shook her head, signally she was staying for the court case. The Alpha took his leave, walking away from the court case.

The Beta walked to the podium with grace that no every single pack member was aware of. He took his seat, quickly reading the papers. He recognized Head Trainer Jasmine's handwriting, reading quietly to himself. The only real evidence they had was Marley sneaking around and messing with the phone records.

He was also aware that Jasmine had a group that she needed to train during the time Marley and her fought. The group already knew why Marley and Gabby were out there, but nobody knew why Jasmine was.

"Jasmine, didn't you have a training session? Why weren't you there?" He questioned, but instead of Jasmine answering, Jefferson did.

"Beta Roger, we noticed how behind the patrollers were. Jasmine and I decided she would help and I would continue the lesson."

Layla turned to her Luna, noticing how she didn't stop Head Trainer Jefferson. She grumbled under her breath as Beta Roger continue to speak to Jasmine, "Funny how Jefferson and Luke can help your sister, but I can't help my mate."

Luna hissed back, "Your mate is clearly guilty. Shouldn't you be upset? She tried to kill your best friend, Layla. Don't let the bond blind you to her crimes."

"Her crimes?" The Head Doctor spoke in disbelief, "This case isn't over. Isn't the Luna supposed to be open minded about this? Wait," Layla snapped, "you weren't even destined to be Luna."

"What did you just say?" Luna Denice spoke very lowly, dangerously.

Neither of them noticed how everyone turned to watch them, shocked with the disrespect of Head Doctor Layla. Everyone knew their friendship crashed and burned, but they didn't think it would lead to this.

"You heard me," she hissed back. "You're not even giving Marley a chance. You already set her up as the bad guy."

Denice rubbed her face. She gritted her teeth, "She already admit she was sneaking around the hospital, and she was very close to the previous Alpha and Luna. She looked through papers, luckily Doctor Brian was there to stop her before she got to anything she could use against us. Oh, and I don't know, tried to kill Gabby."

"Why would Marley try to kill Gabby?" Layla asked, tauntingly. "Huh? She hasn't showed anything to lead any of us to believe she would kill Gabby or pick a fight with someone else. In fact, Jasmine has hated her since she came here."

"Jasmine is looking out for the pack," Luna Denice declared. "She has put the pack first, sacrificing herself to save the pack on multiple occasions. She didn't even hurt Marley when she was saving Gabby."

The Head Doctor joked back a laugh, "You literally just told me you believed Marley to be a descendant of the Healing Moon Pack. She could have healed herself."

Marley paled.

The Luna smirked, "Then why didn't she heal herself before? You know, when she first came here."

Layla didn't have anything to say to that. She shook her head, "I.. I don't know, but we can both agree that neither of us are experts of the Healing Moon Pack."

"Even if she was," Luna Denice began, "it doesn't mean she's good."

"Just because she's Head Trainer doesn't mean she's good either."

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 24 ————

I hope you guys are enjoying the story. I really appreciate the support I have. I also enjoy reading your guys' comments.

Sorry for leaving you guys hanging. Life like that sometimes. I'll try to update some more this weekend since I won't be able to upload till then. I'm really behind on everything at the moment, so hopefully I get everything caught up.

Thank you for reading!

QQ (#30): How do you guys feel about Luna Denice?