Chapter 268
AURORA
Alinaâs voice was mocking as she challenged Rowanâs words, her sly smile twisting the tension in the air.
The frustration bubbled in the council meeting as voices crossed over each other, debating where Rowanâs place was and how Alina was involved.
The air was electric, anticipation crackling like the storm about to break.
âIâm tired of the shadow games,â Piper said, her hand slamming down onto the wooden table. âIf Alina doesnât have anything to hide, then why hasnât she been brought here to answer?â
Trajan nodded. âWeâve danced around this too long. She needs to be questioned properly.â
I hunched forward, hands clasped tightly together. âWe donât have concrete evidence,â I said carefully. âWhat if she spins this and comes out with even more people on her side?â
âSheâs already twisting everything,â Warrick said, his voice. cutting. âSheâs dividing us with whispers and lies. Itâs time we corner her.â
Dane placed a soothing hand on my shoulder. âAurora, theyâre
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right. We canât keep ignoring this. She thrives in the dark. Letâs bring her into the light.â
A brief momentâs pause, I finally nodded and rose. âSummon her,â I replied simply and stood, making my speech towards the pack.
âAnd weâve had quite enough of these speeches. So end this. Let the sentence speak it. Call forth Alina
She came proudly head high with unbroken features standing straight into our middle. She holds high her defiance for armor to glaring glares.
âWhy am I here?â she asked coolly, her gaze sweeping the room. âHave you all grown so desperate that youâre accusing me without proof?â
âYouâve been playing games,â Trajan said, his voice even but laced with anger. âWe want answers.â
Alinaâs lips arced into a mocking smile. âGames? Is that what you call it? Iâve only done whatâs necessary to survive here.â
The room boiled into murmurs; the tension rose with every second.
Dane stepped forward, his tone even, firm. âThis isnât about survival, Alina. This is about lics and manipulation. If you have nothing to hide, then explain yourself.â
She laughed lightly, and the sound was hollow. âExplain what,
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exactly? That Iâve worked hard to be part of this pack? That Iâve spoken up when others were too afraid?â
The council filled her with questions but Alina was sharp, twisting every accusation into something she could use.
âWhy would I risk everything?â she returned as Piper mentioned fire. âRowan was the perfect scapegoat, wasnât he? You all chose to believe that.â
As frustration mounted, I looked over at Dane. His jaw tightened, his patience wearing thin.
âWe found this in your quarters.â The noise in the room died as Trajanâs voice cut through it, and he held out a crumpled letter as the room fell silent now.
Alinaâs confidence faltered, her eyes narrowing. âWhat is that?â
A letter detailing every move youâve made to undermine the pack,â Trajan said coldly. âYour handwriting. Your words.â
For the first time, Alinaâs composure cracked, her lips parting to deny it, but no words came.
The silence was deafening, except for Alinaâs sharp intake of breath. âWhere did you get that?â
âThat does not matter,â I said, firm. âWhat matters is the truth, Alina. And this is the truth, right?
She lashed out, her voice rising with anger.
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âYou think this makes you better than me, Aurora? Youâve played favorites from the start! Youâre weak, always hiding behind Dane, always looking for someone else to carry the
burden!â
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The pack gasped, her venomous words slicing through the room.
I stepped forward, my voice calm but cold. âThis isnât about me. This is about you and the damage youâve caused.â
Alina laughed dryly, her arms flying up in a gesture. âOf course itâs not about you. It never is. Youâre untouchable, arenât you? The perfect Luna.
Enough, Dane growled; his voice rumbled like thunder. He stepped between us; his presence compelled silence. Alina, your manipulations have caused division and pain. The evidence is clear. This ends now.
The decision came unanimous in the vote of the council, which was echoed out in the solemn silence of the room. Her face twisted in a fury as the verdict was read.
Alina,â I said, trying to sound as firm as possible despite the seriousness. âYou are exiled. You will leave this pack and never return.â
As she was dragged away, defiance in her eyes turned desperate, the way her gaze darted wildly until they landed on me.
âThis isnât over,â she spat with venom in her tone. âYouâll regret
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this, Aurora. Mark my words.â
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I stood firm, watching her disappear into the night.
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When the guards were forcing Alina to the border of the village, her struggles got much more desperate; the wolf, once so composed and so cunning, now radiated nothing but pure fury and desperation.
Her shrill voice cut through the silent night.
âYou think youâve won, donât you?â she spat, her gaze locking onto mine. Her lips curled into a bitter smile.
âYou all sit there, pretending to be so righteous, so pure. But youâre no different from me. Youâre just better at hiding it.â
âKeep moving,â one of the guards growled, gripping her arm tighter.
Alina tore loose for an instant, her gaze ablaze, raking the assembled pack.
âYouâre all fools if you think Aurora and Dane are invincible. Theyâll fail you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day youâll see them for what they are, just wolves pretending to be gods.â
Enough!â Daneâs voice boomed, silencing the murmurs that could balloon into ripples in the sea of faces. One step forward, the towering figure drew all eyes.
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âYou have been granted mercy, Alina. Do not press your luck.â
Alina laughed in a mockery tone âMercy? You call this mercy? You are blind to the cracks forming, Dane. Trust me, I have planted enough seeds to make them grow.
Her words sent a ripple through the pack, and I could see doubt flicker in a few eyes. I stepped forward, my voice steady, firm.
âAlina, your time here is over. Leave now or face the consequences of defying this council.
She jerked her head, twisting her face into an unnatural calm. âOh, Iâll leave. But do not think for one second this is the end. Watch your back, Aurora. You never know where betrayal might come from.â
As finally the guards dragged her away, her voice seemed to hang in the air like a ghost.
âYouâll regret this. every last one of you.â