She Faked Luna, I’ll Expose Her

Chapter 3

"Kneel, and put Selena's shoes on her feet." Caleb's voice cut through the fitting room.

Every female student arranging gowns for the ball turned to look.

I was holding the pair of silver-inlaid heels in my hands.

Hidden along the inner lining was a row of tiny thorns.

If Selena truly had a high-ranking bloodline, her skin would reject pure silver the moment it touched her.

But when she tried them on just now, she had no reaction at all. She only complained that the heels did not make her legs look long enough.

I looked up at Caleb and said, "She isn't worthy of wearing these."

Selena sat in the cushioned chair, swinging one foot.

She had worn a stronger perfume today.

The sickly sweetness pressed down over the rot, like sugar sprinkled over a corpse.

She said, "Elara, are you misunderstanding something again? These ceremonial shoes came from the royal workshop. Caleb said only the future Luna deserves to wear them."

I set the shoes down on the table. "The silver from the royal workshop won't recognize a bloodline faked by black magic."

The fitting room went silent.

Selena's smile faded for a split second, but she quickly regained her composure. "What are you talking about?"

"The silver wolf scent on you is fake."

I turned to Caleb. "Her blood smells like mercury grass ash. It's written clearly in the ancient records in the archives. Anyone using black magic to disguise themselves as high-ranking blood must take that potion regularly."

Caleb's eyes turned cold. "Enough."

I insisted, "You can have a Healer test her blood or make her walk barefoot through pure silver dust."

Selena shot to her feet, tears filling her eyes instantly. "Caleb, I won't accept this kind of humiliation.

"If the entire Pack needs silver dust to prove who I am, then I would rather leave."

The people around us immediately panicked.

"Selena can't leave."

"The Luna ceremony is tomorrow. Silver Moon can't afford to lose her."

"Elara, are you insane?"

Caleb stared at me. "Where did you read that text?"

I replied, "The restricted cabinet in the archive room."

He snapped, "Who gave you permission to touch the restricted cabinet?"

I froze. That was what mattered to him?

I replied, "I was looking for the truth."

He shot back, "No. You were jealous."

He stepped closer, his pressure rolling over me inch by inch.

"Elara, I gave you a chance. If you had behaved, I would have let you stay in the Pack.

"But you keep provoking Selena. Now, you're even making up nonsense about black magic."

I gripped the edge of the table. "You don't have to believe me. The proof is in her blood."

Suddenly, Selena grabbed one of the silver shoes and smashed it hard against the floor beside her own foot.

The heel snapped. A cut opened across the top of her foot.

Pain drained the color from her face, but she immediately threw herself into Caleb's arms. "Don't blame her. She just wants to be your mate too badly.

"If stepping on silver dust will prove my innocence, I'll do it.

"But the ball is tomorrow. With my foot injured like this, how am I supposed to lead the first dance?"

Those words worked better than tears.

Caleb's face darkened completely.

He snapped at me, "Elara. Kneel."

I didn't move.

He released the full force of his Alpha aura.

It felt as if an invisible hand was twisting my bones.

Someone in the fitting room sucked in a sharp breath.

"How is she still standing?"

"A regular orphan resisting an Alpha Command? Does she have a death wish?"

My knees began to shake.

I bit down on my tongue until blood filled my mouth.

The scent of it spread through the air, and the collar around my neck heated again.

Deep inside me, the trapped wolf slammed against the seal, so furious that she nearly tore through my mind.

Caleb sensed it too.

For one brief second, his pupils contracted.

But Selena immediately clutched her chest and cried, "Caleb, it hurts."

He snapped out of it and swept her into his arms.

He then said to me, "Until tomorrow, you are not allowed to leave the Pack House. And you are not allowed anywhere near the archive room again."

I held on to the table, my knuckles white.

I sneered, "Are you afraid I'll find more evidence?"

Caleb stopped at the door. "I don't want you to keep embarrassing yourself."

Selena peeked over his shoulder.

My mother's silver moon pendant rested against her throat.

She mouthed one silent word at me. "Trash."

I looked at the pendant and suddenly had no strength left to argue.

The others left the fitting room one by one.

A girl who used to take night watch with me whispered, "Elara, just apologize. The Alpha is already being merciful.

"The Rogue territories have been rioting lately. If he really throws you out, you'll die."

I bent down and picked up the broken heel stained by Selena's blood.

The stench of rot was even stronger now.

I slipped it into my sleeve. "If staying alive means living on my knees, I'd rather die."

Her face went pale. She didn't dare say another word.

That night, Caleb sent someone to lock my door from the outside.

The Omega who brought dinner spoke through the door, "The Alpha ordered that you must attend tomorrow in a gray servant's dress.

"He said since you like making a scene, you can stand in the most visible spot and watch clearly."

I touched the c***k in my collar.

It was deeper than last night.

I stood in front of the mirror. My face was pale, but my eyes were cold in a way I barely recognized.

Footsteps stopped outside my door.

Caleb's voice came through. "If you dare ruin Selena's ceremony tomorrow, I will reject you in front of everyone."

I raised my head and looked at myself in the mirror.

Then I asked softly, "Will you dare let me speak my acceptance?"