Inside her, her wolf whimpered, low and wounded. The pain in her chest, unbearable.
“You will be judged…” Marcus said, his tone cold. “And sentenced.”
Lena took a step back, disbelief washing over her like a wave of ice.
Judged. Sentenced. As if she were already guilty. As if none of them cared what was true.
“Please,” Dante interjected, stepping forward, tension in his voice. “Let her explain. Let her tell us what happened.”
Lena turned to him, grateful, even if her heart was still cracking apart. “Dante,” she began, her voice shaking. “I swear, I didn’t—”
But before she could finish, another voice broke through the clearing.
“I saw her.”
Carly stepped forward from the group, her arms crossed, her stance rigid and righteous. Her eyes were locked on Lena, filled with suspicion an
