Emily's POV
Christmas morning was turning out to be worse than I had anticipated. Around us, the murmurs grew louder.
"The demon wolf?"
"Her?!"
"But she's so sweet!"
"She tricked us all!"
Alice shook her head frantically as the guards grabbed her arms. "No! No, please! You've got it wrong! I'm not the demon wolf!"
One of the maids let out a shriek, dropping her dish to the floor. The clattering sound seemed to break the spell over the room, and suddenly everyone was staring at Alice with a mix of fear and hatred.
Elder Rowan's voice boomed again. "This is the creature responsible for the bloodshed, for the terror that has plagued our pack. She's been hiding in plain sight, deceiving us all!"
Alice struggled against the guards, her robust frame trembling as she pleaded. "Please! I'
