Chapter 8: Fake Accusation

(Vera POV)

“Vera! Can I talk to you for a second?” I turned to look at the girl who was looking at me with a pale face and helpless eyes. I wanted to say no to her, but couldn’t. I took a deep breath and nodded my head in yes.

“Sure! What is it?” I answered, and she showed me a tattoo.

“I belong to the Vega tribe of the northern pack, and we specialize in plant toxins and other things.” I furrowed my brow in confusion after hearing her words.

“Can you please come to the point?” I looked towards our building. Something about her felt unsettling to me, so I wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

“I-i… I didn’t know who to tell, but Prince Kael… he tried to m-mis-mistreat me,” She hiccuped, and my eyes widened in shock.

“What? What are you talking about?” My body went rigid after hearing her words, and I wasn’t in the position to ignore her words and her tears.

“Calm down first, please! Wa-water,” She hiccuped, and I turned to fetch water for her when something sharp pricked the side of my neck. My eyes widened with realization, and suddenly a numb feeling started spreading in my whole body like someone poured a numbing potion into my body, which spread with insane speed.

“You are dumber than I had anticipated, but no worries! You will be in a good place after that… probably in heaven,” she laughed, and I tried to call someone for help, but my body went rigid like a statue, and I fell on the ground face first.

“Don’t you even know that a soft heart and sympathy are the most dangerous weaknesses in these kinds of survival games, but don’t worry, I will bury you in a luxurious coffin, okay?” She said, wiping away her tears as if they were nothing, and I cursed myself for having such a kind heart. I tried to call Xela, but she didn’t respond at all.

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“Yes! She is the one… she attacked me, and as you know, it wasn’t the first time she lost count of her wolf. You can check her records for confirmation,” I tried to blink my eyes a few times. All the words were making my head ache, so I tried to shake my head off to regain my senses.

“Vera! Are you denying their claims?” I looked at the person, but only a blurred figure appeared in front of my eyes.

“Where am I?” I mumbled under my breath, and someone cursed loudly.

“Splash some cold water on this she-wolf to make her aware of her situation,” I heard an authoritative female voice, and it felt familiar, but I still couldn't remember her name. It seemed like my brain refused to cooperate with me.

“Ahhhh… I gasped loudly when someone splashed a bucket of icy cold water on my face. I blinked a few times to curse the person, but then I noticed all the surrounding people, and all the words got stuck in my throat.

“What the hell! What is going on?” I panicked a bit when I noticed the chains around my hands and feet. I was kneeling in front of the King and Queen while many lunas of the Luna beauty contest were standing a few feet away from me and looking at me with wary expressions. I tried to think about what had happened, but nothing came to my mind except the face of that girl, who betrayed me in the worst way possible.

“Are you aware of your crimes, Luna Vera Nightshade?” King Edward Dawson asked, and I furrowed my brows in confusion.

“Crimes? What crimes? I didn’t commit any crime at all, King Edward.” I answered in a clear voice, and everyone started whispering around me. I looked around and then spotted the girl who had betrayed me. She lay unconscious on the ground, her body covered in severe injuries, as though a wild animal had attacked her and almost killed her. Although I can’t forgive her for her dirty trick, which she pulled on me, I didn’t want her dead either.

“What happened to her?” I pointed towards her, and everyone looked at me like I suddenly grew two heads. I really wanted someone to explain the situation to me clearly at this point.

“Are you done playing dumb, you murderer?” One Luna stepped out of the crowd and pointed towards me. My mouth hung open, and my eyes widened in shock after hearing her accusation, but no one uttered a single word to stop her from spouting nonsense.

“You tried to kill Liora Danen from Storm Bane Pack and also attacked Tessa Roan from Ashen Vale Pack. And now you're acting like you weren’t behind all this… Do you think you can fool all of us with your stupid act, hmm?” She was looking so angry, like she wanted to scratch my face with her pointed nails, and for a moment my brain stopped processing her words. No! This can’t be true, right? No, no, no!!! This can’t be happening to me again… NOT AGAIN!!! I started screaming in my head, but I couldn’t show any emotion in front of them.

“I didn’t know what you all were talking about. I just remember that the injured girl here met with me and tried to tell me that something terrible had happened to her. She was crying, so I turned to fetch water for her when something pricked the side of my neck. I didn’t get the chance to see the face of the person who did this to me, and I lost consciousness. I didn’t know when the guards captured me and dragged me here either.” My words created an uproar in the court. I deliberately left a few necessary details about the injured girl because everyone was considering her as the victim of my violent attack, so their sympathy was simply with her. I have to handle this situation carefully, or they will not hesitate to k!ll me as punishment. I gritted my teeth in anger and looked towards the King and Queen with teary eyes. They exchanged looks with each other, and then Queen Seraphine sighed.

“Okay! Since you denied all the claims against your violent attack, then we have to check the result of your blood sample first before coming to any conclusion.” King answered, but it seemed like he was repeating Queen Seraphine’s words, and I kept my mouth shut.

“Thank-thank you so much, King. Thank you so much, Queen Seraphine. Please believe me.” A few tears rolled down my cheeks, and they ordered the guards to lock me up in the temporary prison instead of the dungeon.

The guards pulled me up to stand, and I caught a glimpse of Rafael and Kael standing in the crowd, but none of them stepped forward to help me. I clenched my fists in anger and started walking with the guards.

"I will not let anyone kill me like this, no matter what I have to do to get myself out of this dire situation." I thought.