Ronan's POV
I watched her being pulled out from the corner where I stood. None of Zev's plea to save her would work this time 'She doesn't want us, she needs to learn to trust us…'
'She … likes… me.' Bullshit, Zev had gotten his hopes high, all thanks to her hands in his fur.
"I swear by the moon goddess, I know nothing about it…"
Wolves don't play like that. The only survivor in a murder case— even though they let her breathe without giving her a death sentence— the neighboring packs wouldn't let her go.
"Why are you the only breathing thing in that room? Why did they set you free?"
"It was just a wolf I know nothing about! It had no business with me— why would it come for me?" she yelled into Derek's face, sweat covering her body as she shrank under all the eyes fixed on her. "Mother, Father, tell them I know nothing about this…"
I watched her try to reach the assholes who feigned ignorance, behaving as though she wasn't even speaking to them. My heart burned, watching the last hope in her eyes slip away. This would make her realize that no one here— except me— could help her, treat her like a woman should be treated. Only if she hadn't rejected me.
"What were you doing in that room with him, you whore?!" Finanz's wife stepped forward, fake tears sliding down her cheeks as her ladies-in-waiting held her back from lunging at Elysia. If she dared to lay a thumb on her, she'd live the rest of her life thumb-less. And if it was those ten fingers of hers— well, she could hug being handicapped for the rest of her life.
Like I knew he would, Father denied it. His gaze met hers— hard and daring her to tell the truth. I scoffed.
"Alph… Alpha Jaxon asked me to!"
"Lies!!!" Derek and Father yelled at the same time.
"You have just committed treason against the crown, Elysia. Just tell the truth and stop pulling everyone into your mess…" Elara had come forward. "The Alpha would never tell his wife to go to another man's room; the crime is all on you."
"Are we looking for who killed the Alpha, or for a sacrificial lamb to put the blame on?" My voice suddenly cut through the air filled with lies and deceit. Head snapped in my direction, but the only one I let my gaze linger on as I walked into the crowd was her. "What a shame. Seems Finanz wasn't meant to be Alpha after all if we think a human this small can take him down with five guards."
Gasps filled the room. The bliss of killing three birds with one careless stone— that sentence hit at how weak the Winzo pack and their Alpha were, and at my wolfless mate.
She would see this as the Alpha's son, Ronan, standing up for her. I should be given the title Master of Disguise already…How did I get rid of the tattoo on my neck quickly? Where was the golden eyes? The black clothes and veil?
"You won't use such mockery against the Alpha."
"Alpha of your pack," I said with a smirk. "You can ask for my respect when I am in your territory."
"Ronan, stop this instant," I heard Father say between gritted teeth. All I wanted was to prove how foolish they were. "As the heir to the throne, wouldn't it be nice to save face for our pack?"
"The killer might be her acquaintance. I know Elysia so well, she needs power…" Elara came to me pouting, talking against my chest, throwing her arms around me.
"What do you know about me? You think I would bitch myself around like you just for power?" Elysia yelled unrestrained, maybe this was the part where I needed to bring that hidden tigress out of her. Seems she wasn't soft after all. What more could she lose now?
Elara's fist tightened on my shirt…
"Until we find evidence, she could enlighten us more on what happened…" The Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack— this pack— stepped forward. Father would take this fall, but it wouldn't be from his son. Elysia must feel what it's like to be in a dungeon before I set her free. I just needed to play the card of saving the pack's face.
"The murderer is among us… but for tonight, the party is over. We'll take the corpses for examination; a seer will be brought to read the wounds. There, we can trace the killer's scent. The lady will stay with us for questioning."
Elysia's body tensed further, her head bowed toward the ground in defeat. If only she had said yes to running away with me.
"The lady comes with us. Any questioning will be done in our pack… or would you let your queen be a prisoner in another pack?" I turned to Father, whose eyes were filled with fury. He didn't reply. If he accepted Elysia being taken away, it would be a sign of disrespect. But if he refused, it meant he was protecting a criminal— and that could make him a suspect.
That's why he hadn't said much, other than trying to stop me from talking. No matter what he did tonight, there would be war in the future when the tables turned on him.
"You don't have to worry; she knows better than to run. She will be kept behind bars until the truth is out…" Father's voice came out gritty, the scent of fear around him thick. It was his fault for not telling the truth quickly.
It wouldn't have dragged this long, but his pride wouldn't let him admit that he had let his wife lie with another. The gift I had for him could wait— this little twist was about to bring Elysia into my arms without me even trying.
All I needed now was Amethyst to change Zev's scent and mine on the bodies to Father's and his wolves.
"For peace, you can take her…"
The room burst into murmurs over the judgment they thought unfair. They craved blood, but not my mate's. Father's guard stood behind Elysia already, her steps unsteady as she tripped constantly when they took her out. I suddenly pulled my hand out of Elara's tight grip, not caring if my elbow met her jaw.
My wolf growled in rage. With every bit of restraint left in me, I tore my gaze away from Elysia's back. Only the forest could take away the rage burning inside me.