Chapter 8
Two weeks later, I stood before the mirror in my father's palace, barely recognizing myself.
The wolfsbane damage had healed completely. My Royal bloodline had burned through every trace of poison, leaving me stronger than before. My wolf, once suppressed and silent, now purred beneath my skin with a power I'd never felt.
I was dressed in black — a fitted dress that cost more than Damien's entire family estate. Diamond earrings that caught the light like frozen stars. My hair swept back to reveal the golden mark behind my ear.
The Royal Mark. The sign of the Blood Moon Alpha's direct bloodline.
I'd hidden it my entire life. Not anymore.
"You ready?" My father appeared behind me, dressed in his formal Alpha King regalia.
"More than ready."
The trial was held at the Grand Council Hall — the largest judicial building in werewolf territory. Every Alpha, Beta, and Council member in the region had been summoned to attend.
When I walked in on my father's arm, the hall went dead silent.
Five hundred of the most powerful wolves in the territory stared as the Alpha King's secret daughter made her public debut.
Whispers erupted like wildfire:
"That's her — the hidden princess—"
"She's real? I thought it was a rumor—"
"Look at the Royal Mark—"
"She's stunning—"
I kept my chin high and my gaze forward as I took my seat in the front row — the royal family section, empty for twenty-three years until today.
Damien was brought in first.
He looked terrible. Two weeks in maximum security had stripped him of his arrogance. His hair was unwashed, his designer clothes replaced with grey prison garb, his eyes hollow.
When he saw me — healthy, glowing, dressed in diamonds and power — his knees buckled.
The warriors had to hold him up.
"Aria," he breathed.
I didn't acknowledge him.
Serena was brought in next. She looked worse. Silver isolation had prevented her wolf from healing anything, so the dark circles under her eyes were permanent, her skin sallow, her body thin.
She saw me and something ugly twisted her face — hatred, jealousy, and above all, bitter recognition of how thoroughly she'd destroyed herself.
The Head Councilwoman stood. "This tribunal will now hear the case of Alpha King Dominic Cross versus Damien Ashford and Serena Vale."
"Charges against Damien Ashford: accessory to attempted murder, aggravated assault, criminal negligence, and unlawful imprisonment of a Royal bloodline. How does the accused plead?"
Damien's lawyer stood shakily. "Not guilty, Councilwoman. My client was unaware of the victim's identity and—"
"The victim's identity," the Councilwoman interrupted coldly, "is irrelevant to the charges. Attempted murder is attempted murder regardless of who the victim is."
The lawyer sat down.
"How does the accused plead?" she repeated.
Damien looked at me one last time.
"Guilty," he whispered.
The courtroom erupted. His lawyer grabbed his arm, hissing protests. Damien shook him off.
"I'm guilty," he said louder. "I knew she was in danger and I did nothing. I let it happen. I'm guilty."
The Councilwoman nodded. "Noted. Sentencing will follow full proceedings."
"Charges against Serena Vale: attempted murder of a Royal bloodline — two counts. Assault with a prohibited substance. Unlawful human experimentation. Attempted assassination. Conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. How does the accused plead?"
Serena's lawyer stood. "Not guilty on all—"
"GUILTY!" Serena suddenly screamed, lunging at the barrier. "But so is SHE!"
She pointed a shaking finger at me.
"She STOLE my fiancé! She — she came into my family and took EVERYTHING! My mother loved her more — Damien was supposed to be MINE—"
"Control your client," the Councilwoman said calmly.
Warriors wrestled Serena back into her seat.
But Serena was laughing now — that unhinged, broken sound of someone who'd lost everything and no longer cared.
"You think you've won, Aria? You think Daddy's money and power makes you better than me?"
She leaned forward, eyes wild.
"I know something about your precious father that'll destroy EVERYTHING. Something about the night your mother REALLY died."
The courtroom went silent.
My father's hand closed on the armrest so hard the wood cracked.
The wolfsbane damage had healed completely. My Royal bloodline had burned through every trace of poison, leaving me stronger than before. My wolf, once suppressed and silent, now purred beneath my skin with a power I'd never felt.
I was dressed in black — a fitted dress that cost more than Damien's entire family estate. Diamond earrings that caught the light like frozen stars. My hair swept back to reveal the golden mark behind my ear.
The Royal Mark. The sign of the Blood Moon Alpha's direct bloodline.
I'd hidden it my entire life. Not anymore.
"You ready?" My father appeared behind me, dressed in his formal Alpha King regalia.
"More than ready."
The trial was held at the Grand Council Hall — the largest judicial building in werewolf territory. Every Alpha, Beta, and Council member in the region had been summoned to attend.
When I walked in on my father's arm, the hall went dead silent.
Five hundred of the most powerful wolves in the territory stared as the Alpha King's secret daughter made her public debut.
Whispers erupted like wildfire:
"That's her — the hidden princess—"
"She's real? I thought it was a rumor—"
"Look at the Royal Mark—"
"She's stunning—"
I kept my chin high and my gaze forward as I took my seat in the front row — the royal family section, empty for twenty-three years until today.
Damien was brought in first.
He looked terrible. Two weeks in maximum security had stripped him of his arrogance. His hair was unwashed, his designer clothes replaced with grey prison garb, his eyes hollow.
When he saw me — healthy, glowing, dressed in diamonds and power — his knees buckled.
The warriors had to hold him up.
"Aria," he breathed.
I didn't acknowledge him.
Serena was brought in next. She looked worse. Silver isolation had prevented her wolf from healing anything, so the dark circles under her eyes were permanent, her skin sallow, her body thin.
She saw me and something ugly twisted her face — hatred, jealousy, and above all, bitter recognition of how thoroughly she'd destroyed herself.
The Head Councilwoman stood. "This tribunal will now hear the case of Alpha King Dominic Cross versus Damien Ashford and Serena Vale."
"Charges against Damien Ashford: accessory to attempted murder, aggravated assault, criminal negligence, and unlawful imprisonment of a Royal bloodline. How does the accused plead?"
Damien's lawyer stood shakily. "Not guilty, Councilwoman. My client was unaware of the victim's identity and—"
"The victim's identity," the Councilwoman interrupted coldly, "is irrelevant to the charges. Attempted murder is attempted murder regardless of who the victim is."
The lawyer sat down.
"How does the accused plead?" she repeated.
Damien looked at me one last time.
"Guilty," he whispered.
The courtroom erupted. His lawyer grabbed his arm, hissing protests. Damien shook him off.
"I'm guilty," he said louder. "I knew she was in danger and I did nothing. I let it happen. I'm guilty."
The Councilwoman nodded. "Noted. Sentencing will follow full proceedings."
"Charges against Serena Vale: attempted murder of a Royal bloodline — two counts. Assault with a prohibited substance. Unlawful human experimentation. Attempted assassination. Conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. How does the accused plead?"
Serena's lawyer stood. "Not guilty on all—"
"GUILTY!" Serena suddenly screamed, lunging at the barrier. "But so is SHE!"
She pointed a shaking finger at me.
"She STOLE my fiancé! She — she came into my family and took EVERYTHING! My mother loved her more — Damien was supposed to be MINE—"
"Control your client," the Councilwoman said calmly.
Warriors wrestled Serena back into her seat.
But Serena was laughing now — that unhinged, broken sound of someone who'd lost everything and no longer cared.
"You think you've won, Aria? You think Daddy's money and power makes you better than me?"
She leaned forward, eyes wild.
"I know something about your precious father that'll destroy EVERYTHING. Something about the night your mother REALLY died."
The courtroom went silent.
My father's hand closed on the armrest so hard the wood cracked.