An uneasy tension twisted inside of my gut as the Elders' Institute loomed before me.

The institute was once a place I welcomed with happiness when I first came to Havenwood, but now it stood as a towering structure that would decide my fate.

I was marched through its long cold, marble corridors. The entire time, Rafael maintained his firm grip on my arm, but reassured me that everything would be fine.

At least I had one friend on my side.

He led me behind Elder Thaddeus, into the heart of the building. The doors opened to reveal a grand hall. The same hall used for the Elders's ball. Now it had become my courtroom.

The room was dimly lit and filled with the quiet murmur of voices. Elder Thaddeus made his way up to the raised platform at the end of the room and seated himself down in the highest seat in the middle.

Flanking either side of him was Elder Helena Crescent to his left, and Elder Sam Argent - representing the Silverman pack.

There was no Elder representing the Black Wood pack, my pack, but there hadn't been a Black Wood elder for sometime now.

Argent was younger than the other two, but still of retirement age. Already, he'd made his mind up about me. His face contorted in disapproval, as if he'd already decided I was guilty.

The Elders watched me carefully, scrutinizing my every move as Rafael escorted me to my seat.

The room was silent, the only sounds coming from the creaking of the doors. Cara Crescent entered the room, and a guard awkwardly escorted her to the public gallery.

The events unfolded fast. In a blink of an eye, I'd found myself being apprehended at my pack house to then being brought before the Elders.

It was clear they'd planned for this moment, likely setting up and arranging the courtroom while I'd been held up at the cabin with Nate. They were just waiting for my return to the pack house. They weren't even going to question me first, or hear my side of the story.

Cara quickly seated herself next to Chase. And on the opposite side of the room, the Alphas from the other packs gathered. Alpha Silas Silverman of the Silver Moon Pack, Alpha Malik Crescent of the Crescent Moon Pack, and Alpha Blake Darkmoon of the Dark Moon Pack.

"Alpha Lucius Nightshade of the Black Wood Pack, you stand before this tribunal for trespassing and aggravated assault against Donavan Silverman." Elder Thaddeus started, his voice deep and full of authority, having commanded the attention of everyone present.

"Your actions have endangered the fragile peace we have maintained between the packs. This council must determine the best course of action for your punishment to prevent war. The proceedings may begin with a statement from the Alphas."

Thaddeus pointed his hand to the stand where the alphas sat. Alpha Silas and Alpha Malik exchanged a glance, and it was Nate's father who spoke first.

"My son was attacked unprovoked in his own territory–"

"Unprovoked my ass," I muttered under my breath.

Silas flashed me a deadly glare for my comment, and I sneered back at him.

I couldn't help but notice how different Nate looked to his father. Silas was a carbon copy of Donavan, with the same silver hair and blue eyes.

The sight of Silas boiled my blood. He was a carbon copy of Donavan, with the same silver hair and blue eyes. I couldn't help but see Donavan, reminding me of what Donavan did to hurt Nate.

Silas ignored my comment and continued.

"It's an insult to the Silver Moon Pack and to all the packs of Havenwood who value the rule of law if Lucius doesn't receive punishment for his actions. Even Alphas are not above the law. There will be no choice but for Silver Moon to retaliate if Alpha Lucius goes unpunished."

"But your son attacked my daughter unprovoked," Alpha Malik was quick to interject. "Alpha Lucius acted in defense of Cara. I admit, she was wrong for crossing into Silver Moon's territory, but she did so by accident. There was no cause for Donavan to suddenly attack her. Cara was in danger, and Lucius did what any alpha would do—he protected his luna. Are we to punish a man for saving his mate's life?"

I couldn't help but gaze my eyes towards Chase and Cara sat in the gallery. Both of them looking sheepish in their part for covering up the truth. They had both been quick to come up with a new narrative and fast at spreading it between the packs.

But their tale would only get me so far. When Donavan and his friends told their side of events, the truth would come out. And then we would all be in trouble. Nate included.

The back and forth continued between Silas and Malik for what felt like an eternity. Each alpha arguing their case with what to do with me. While Alpha Blake sat slumped in his seat, uncaring of the situation as he yawned into his hand. He didn't bother with a statement.

"Enough!" Elder Thaddeus knocked his gavel, and the room fell silent. "This bickering will get us nowhere. We are here to find the truth and prevent further bloodshed. Elder Argent, you may conduct your investigation into the matter."

Thaddeus nodded to Elder Argent.

Having only recently joined the council, Argent was younger than the other Elders, and like the other members of the Silver Moon pack, (except Nate, who appeared more like his Dark Moon cousins) Argent had short silver blonde hair and blue eyes.

I didn't really know much else about Argent, only that he was ruthless when it came to his interrogations.

"Argent is such a douche," Rafael grumbled in a low whisper. He was sitting next to me at the defendant's table. "He acts superior to the rest of the council and treats us like shit because he's an Elder. The guy's heartless, strong, and highly inquisitive. He's like a more intelligent version of Donavan, so be careful."

I took Rafael's warning to heart and kept my guard up. My gaze locked on Elder Argent's as he prowled across the room from his stand.

His silver hair gleamed under the dim lights, and his sharp blue eyes scanned the gathered pack members before landing on someone in the gallery.

"Miss Crescent," he called, his voice cutting through the murmurs in the chamber.

He didn't want to question me first. What was he planning?

Cara's head lifted in surprise, and like me, she found it odd that Argent wasn't questioning me first, and her eyes briefly met mine. She hesitated for a heartbeat, just enough for me to notice, before she rose from her seat and walked forward.

The room fell silent as she moved to the stand and took a seat.

"Miss Crescent," Argent repeated, as he began. "Do you solemnly swear to provide the full truth and nothing but the truth under the Wolf Law of Havenwood?"

"I do." Cara nodded, clasping her hands in her lap.

"Good," Argent said, his tone cool, but there was a glint in his eyes. "Let's begin."

He clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together.

"Now, I understand you are here to give your testimony about the events that transpired within Silver Moon's borders. You claim to have been attacked by Donavan Silverman?"

"Yes, that would be correct," she said, pressing down her green dress, crinkling the fabric with her fingers.

"And you admit to trespassing on Silver Moon territory, correct?" Argent asked, pacing slowly before her like a wolf circling his prey.

"Yes, that's correct," Cara replied.

Argent paused for a moment, studying her. "And Donavan Silverman, the heir to the Silver Moon pack, attacked you in defense of his territory?"

Cara's jaw tensed. "Yes."

Argent raised an eyebrow.

"Strange." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing as if he had caught the scent of a lie. "You claim to have been attacked by Donavan, but I find it curious, Miss Crescent, that you stand before us now without a single mark. No visible injuries, no sign of a struggle. If Donavan attacked you with such force, why aren't you wounded?"

Cara blinked, the question having caught her off guard. I could see the flicker of tension in her eyes, the momentary stutter in her breath.

"I was injured," she said, her voice still calm, but there was an unfamiliar edge to it. "But only minor injuries. Lucius arrived just in time before Donavan could do any actual damage."

Argent's eyes narrowed further, unconvinced by Cara's argument.

"As a member of the Silver Moon Pack, I've known Donavan since he was a pup. He doesn't start something without finishing it. So, I'll ask you again, Miss Crescent: If you were the one being attacked, why don't you have any injuries to show for it?"

Cara held her ground, her hands tightening around the edge of the stand.

"Because Lucius stopped him before he could hurt me," she said, her voice stronger now, more defiant.

Argent tilted his head slightly, his gaze scrutinizing us, as if he could see through the lie, like he was peeling away the layers of our story to expose the truth underneath.

"And Lucius," Argent continued, finally tearing his gaze away from her and shifting it towards me, "attacked Donavan, despite knowing he was in Silver Moon's territory. Is that right?"

Cara nodded. "Yes, but only to protect me."

Argent took a slow breath, pacing in front of her again, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

"So, you were trespassing. Donavan, the defender of his territory, was merely doing his duty by confronting you. But you claim Lucius—your betrothed—arrived just in time to stop him from harming you further?"

"Yes!" Cara repeated, her voice twinged in annoyance at the constant repetition of questioning.

Argent paused, then turned to face the Elders.

"If that's the case, why did Lucius continue to attack Donavan even after you were no longer in danger?"

Cara's fingers gripped the wooden arms of the chair tightly, and I could see her fighting to stay calm.

"Donavan wouldn't have stopped," she said, her voice rising slightly. "He would've killed me if Lucius hadn't intervened."

"How do you know he wouldn't have stopped if someone hadn't given him the chance to stop?" Argent raised an eyebrow at me, his voice softening into something almost patronizing.

I growled deeply and pushed back in my chair. Rafael grabbed my arm and hissed at me to sit back down.

Cara didn't seem fazed. "Lucius was protecting me," she said again, sharper this time. "That's the only reason he was there."

"I'm curious," he mused, "Lucius didn't even show his face when your engagement was announced during the Moon Festival. So why would he attack Donavan so violently, when he clearly has no interest in you?"

Cara's face shadowed with embarrassment, but she held her gaze on Argent. "Regardless of Lucius's interest in me, I'm still his fiancée and therefore, he had every right to step in and attack Donavan."

Argent tilted his head, watching her closely, but he didn't push further. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the other Elders, as if allowing his earlier accusations to linger in their minds.

"I find it hard to believe there isn't more to this story," Argent said slowly. "But I've finished questioning Miss Crescent."

"Very well. Miss Crescent, you may take your seat back in the gallery," Thaddeus said.

With that, he waved his hand at Cara to leave the stand.

Cara had defended and lied for me when she didn't have to. Still, I could feel the fragile threads of our lie beginning to fray. And I couldn't help but feel that this case was far from over.

"Elder Argent, you may proceed with your next witness."

Argent's eyes flicked between me and Cara, and his nose wrinkled.

I concealed my trembling nerves by clenching my fists beneath the table, anticipating my turn as Elder Argent's icy stare fixed upon me.

The faint tapping of his fingers on the witness stand served as a silent sign. It was now my time to speak.

"Alpha Lucius of Black Wood," Argent called. "Please take the witness stand."

Slowly, I stood up. Every muscle in my body was taut as I pushed my chair back. I looked down at my best friend, and Rafael offered me a reassuring, yet sad, smile of encouragement as I walked toward the stand.

All eyes were on me, and every member of the courtroom waited to see if I'd crack under Argent's scrutiny. The Elders watched from their elevated seats, and the Alphas gazed on from their stands.

I settled into the chair; the wood creaking slightly beneath my weight.

Argent wasted no time. He began pacing in front of me, his pale blue eyes shining with suspicion.

"Mr. Nightshade," he started as he shoveled through some paperwork in his hands. "You're not originally from Havenwood, are you?"

"No." I ground through my teeth, as the silence in the room filled with murmurs. "Though I don't know why my past has anything to do with what happened."

"It's just unusual for an outsider to not only make it past the town's threshold, but then become an Alpha."

"Relevance!" Rafael stood up abruptly. "What has this got anything to do with the case?"

"I'm just building a picture of Alpha Lucius's past. He is an enigma in our society. A threat who attacked one of our own."

They both looked at Thaddeus, waiting for his verdict.

"This isn't a law show, Councilman Diaz, and you are not a lawyer." Thaddeus said a moment later and waved his hand at Argent to continue.

Rafael grumbled as he seated himself back down.

"If you must know," I stated with annoyance. "I left my old pack because of family issues and came to Havenwood."

That was partly a lie. I left the Novak Pack because of my brother becoming the Novak Heir, but that was a long time ago. The only reason I came to Havenwood was to find Nate and make sure he was okay after everything he went through with Sebastian. But I couldn't say that.

"And which pack did you belong to beforehand?"

"I do not wish to clarify."

Argent smirked as more murmurs circled the courtroom.

"There are two methods an outsider can use to enter Havenwood." Argent then turned to face the gallery and lifted two fingers. "The first is to be invited. The second is to have a heart with pure intensions. So, how did you pass through the threshold, Mr. Nightshade?"

Argent turned back to me with a wicked smile.

I tensed up when I suddenly understood his intentions. He was attempting to portray me in a negative light, suggesting that there was another motive behind my actions towards Donavan, aside from protecting Cara.

"I was invited into Havenwood." My lip flared.

Argent's smirked grew in size again, as did the victory shining behind his eyes. "Because you don't have a heart with pure intentions to pass through the threshold, correct?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm a bad–"

"If even the town's protection spell does not see you fit to enter, then who knows what intensions you truly have for our town–"

"It's not like that!" I shouted.

"Your attack on Donavan shows your true intensions."

"I would like to see you pass through the threshold without being invited, and see if you have a pure heart!" I snapped back. "With a sniveling smile like yours, I highly doubt it!"

The room fell silent, and Elder Argent's smile fell as his face turned beat red with anger.

"How dare you?" Argent stormed towards me. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Enough!" Thaddeus bellowed, slamming his gavel. "Elder Argent, your point has lost its relevance, and you have digressed too far from the case."

"I apologize," Argent said, though he sneered at me while I smirked in return.

He swiftly picked up his glass of water from the stand and took a hasty sip to regain his composure before proceeding.

"Alpha Lucius, you've heard the testimony of your fiancé. Miss Crescent claims you intervened to protect her from Donavan."

"That's correct."

I kept my face neutral, though the insinuation in his words was clear. He wasn't just probing for details—he was hunting for cracks in our story.

"Tell me," Argent said, coming to a halt right in front of me. "What did you see when you entered Silver Moon's territory?"

I took a moment to compose myself. The narrative had to be convincing. Cara had set the foundation, and now it was my responsibility to strengthen it. I couldn't afford to reveal my emotions.

"This was Cara's first time running in my territory and she'd accidentally crossed the boundary where the borders meet," I said.

I took a deep breath, as I described that next part, which had some truth to it. Except switching out Nate's name for Cara's.

"I heard Cara howling in pain. When I arrived at the borders, I saw Donavan attacking her. She was defenseless. He wasn't going to stop until he killed her."

My fists curled tightly as I recalled Nate being shredded by Donavan. And my heart thudded with anger as my knuckles turned white.

"And you immediately intervened?" Argent asked, his tone neutral, though I could feel the trap he was setting.

"Yes," I replied. "I did what any alpha would do to protect their luna. I had no choice. "

Argent's lips curled slightly into a sinister smile.

"No choice," he echoed. "But you had a choice, and you chose to fight with Donavan. When you could have easily intervened without attacking him."

I clenched my jaw but kept my voice calm.

"It's Donavan we're talking about here!" My voice rose in anger. "He wouldn't have stopped. If I hadn't stepped in, N... Cara would've died."

I held my tongue, almost slipping up. I'd almost said Nate's name.

"Would've died?" Argent repeated slowly, and his eyes narrowed. "And yet, as I pointed out earlier, Cara has no injuries. Not a single scratch. You claim to have seen her under attack, but she stands before us unscathed. How do you explain that?"

The room felt like it was closing in, every eye on me waiting for my response. My mind raced, trying to figure out what to say, which was convincing.

"I arrived just in time before Donavan could land a killing blow."

"And yet after intervening 'just in time,' you kept attacking Donavan long after he asked you to stop, almost as if you were in a frenzy. Is that correct?"

I could feel the tension coiling in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Donavan was still a threat."

"Answer the question, Alpha Lucius, did you, or did you not continue attacking Donavan even after he pleaded with you to stop?"

"I did." My throat felt tight as Argent's sniveling smile returned.

Argent paced the room, his voice dropping into a silky tone.

"So in your words, even after he pleaded with you to stop, Donavan was still a threat. A threat so dangerous that you attacked him with such force, he almost died. It's sounds rather personal. Vengeful even. That doesn't sound like the actions of a man simply protecting his 'fiancé.' It's sounds like the actions of a werewolf protecting his mate. Yet Cara isn't your mate, is she?"

My heart slammed against my chest. Did he know the truth? Did he know Nate was my mate?

My face twitched, and I could feel my blood boiling. The anger burned beneath the surface of my skin and blurred my vision red.

Argent wasn't pulling his punches. He wanted me to slip, to give him a reason to tear my defense apart. But I wouldn't give it to him.

This trial was far from over!