Chapter 47

Violet

The day of the trial came sooner than I expected. The grand courtroom was cold, its marble walls reflecting the light filtering in through the large stained glass windows. The judgment panel sat in their elevated positions, with Owen at the center, his expression unreadable. Beside him, the alphas of the other noble houses listened intently, their gazes sharp and assessing. I knew most of them from my childhood either because they were my father’s friends or their sons. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

Owen wouldn’t be making the final decision, but he had the right to intercede. I could only hope that we would never get to Capital Court. Judging by the look on Owen’s face, he’d rather eat nails than rule on this case fairly.

Lucas’ legal team presented their case with all the polished confidence of practiced liars. Lucas had the nerve to look smug, and I notice that Nora wasn’t in the courtroom. They probably didn’t want to chance my lawyer calling her to the stand. When they called for witnesses, I was stunned. I had never imagined the day that members of Darkmoon would lie about my efforts, my actions, my integrity, or my dedication for an outsider.

“She’s always been volatile,” the young warrior said. “She attacked the alpha and fled straight to Alpha Nightshade. If anyone should be charged with having ulterior motives in this, it’s her.”

How had I never realized that I had been surrounded by liars and traitors? I had once fought to protect these people, trusted them, shed blood for them, and this was how they repaid me?

I’d kick them out of Darkmoon with Lucas since they had such loyalty toward him. Lucas’ smirk from across the room irritated me. I could see the triumph in his eyes, the pleasure he took in orchestrating this parade of lies.

My lead lawyer stood up to cross-examine.

“I am requesting permission to treat the witness as hostile.”

“Not granted.”

He smiled. “Very well. What is your position in Darkmoon?”

“I’m a member of the left border’s patrol,” the warrior said.

“Have you served along side Alpha Violet?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Yes.”

“How long have you been in service?”

“Seven years.”

“Let the record show that Alpha Violet retired from formal border patrol seven years ago when her father fell ill.” He picked up a document. “Furthermore, she served on the southern border, the most aggressive border of Darkmoon, honorably. Not one of the witnesses the defense has listed or called served on that border, not in any position to observe Alpha Violet in any meaningful capacity.”

Owen set his jaw. The warrior paled.

“I am filing pack treason and perjury against this man and all of the witness called and named by the defense on behalf of my clien on the account of….”

He rattled off a timeline of events. The other male lawyer passed him stacks of proof to be distributed.

Owen worked his jaw. “I’ll need to see the records.”

He held out his hand and the other male lawyer placed it in his hand. He handed the stack to the bailiff.

“One copy for each member of the deciding body.”

Owen didn’t even open it, but one of my father’s closest friends smiled, not looking at it either, but he had been on the border with me as well.Several others of the panel smiled, seemingly amused.

“Acknowledged, filed, and so proven applicable. They will all be sentenced to forcible deportation, applicable within three days. Strike their depositions and testimony from evidence and the record.”

A pair of knight removed the young knight from the witness stand.

“The plaintiff respectfully requests again the use of the truth stone for all future testimonies,” my lead lawyer said smoothly.

“Not granted,” Owen said, his tone clipped.

“Very well.” My lawyer nodded and turned. “In lieu of testimony, we’d like to present the security footage from Midnight Park on the two screens from the night of the party mentioned in the defense’s opening remarks.”

With a nod, footage began to play. I swallowed and braced myself. This had to be Plan B. I didn’t like the idea of it, but I understood the necessity of it.

The courtroom fell silent as the images unfolded. Lucas and Nora hurried down a corridor from the main hall. On the other screen, I was still mingling, talking with various alphas. Soon, Nora and Lucas were in the room we had been sharing.

“For the record, the room they are entering was paid for by Alpha Violet and had been the one they were sharing up until his infidelity.”

They kissed passionately, ripping clothes off. He shoved her against the wall. On the other screen, I found myself walking to the back room and sinking onto a set of chairs. I looked in pain. Light circled around me and turned dark. The lights flickered. I looked terrible, losing all color in my face. The damning moment when I had been marked was more horrifying than I thought it was. Gasps of horror echoed through the chamber as the panel of judges leaned forward, their expressions darkening with each passing frame. It was obvious when Lucas had actually started to fuck Nora. My body sort of jerked, stuttered and the shadows danced around me, sliding around my wrist. I looked at it and fell across the chairs, still bleeding from when I’d broken the glass earlier.

He let it play on. Lucas and Nora were still having sex and not even a minute later, I had sat up on the chairs, bending forward. I didn’t remember getting up. I didn’t remember much of anything before I got to the bar. I pulled the sleeve of my dress down, put a hand on the wall and seemed to be gathering my strength.

“This,” my lawyer said, stepping closer to the screen as I straightened my spine and rolled my shoulders back, walking back toward the party with slow, even steps. I looked proud, prepared. i even smiled. “is the truth Lucas seeks to bury. This is the face of Alpha Violet Donovan.”

He paused, letting the outrage simmer in the courtroom. “Alpha Violet Donovan endured this humiliation yet rose above it, proving her strength as an alpha despite Lucas’ cowardly betrayal. Her character speaks for itself and Lucas’ betrayal of a woman many owe their lives and livelihoods to does not deserve to be rewarded with everything that Violet has built, nor inherited..”

The tension in the room shifted palpably as he picked up the last pieces of evidence: the prenuptial agreement and the official pack registration.

“The former alpha of Darkmoon, entrusted his daughter with the future of Darkmoon and made her alpha of record, in addition to that, he set forth this binding agreement, signed by all parties, clearly states the consequences of infidelity and betrayal,” he said. “Lucas of Twining River violated this contract, violated the covenant mates make at temple and the trust of a great alpha for his own ego and fulfillment. He owes not only compensation for his actions but also a formal rejection of Violet Donovan, allowing her to move forward with her life and her pack. Let him move on with the woman he chose and the alpha he betrayed live and rule as she was meant to.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the courtroom. Owen’s jaw clenched as he banged his gavel.

“The panel will go to recess to deliberate before we proceed,” he announced stiffly.

The left, each of them taking the evidence that they had been given. Owen glared at us as they left. Most of the court left, but I saw no reason to move. I focused on finishing my notes and speaking with the legal team.

The woman pat my shoulder. “You should teach your poker face to the world.”

I smiled at her. “Practice.”

The low murmur of the courtroom faded as Lucas approached. I felt his presence before I saw him, the unwelcome scent of his cologne clogging my senses. He smelled terrible now.

“Violet,” he began smoothly, his voice dripping with feigned charm. “We don’t have to keep dragging this out. You and I both know the truth.”

I didn’t lift my gaze. Didn’t even twitch. My pen continued to glide across the paper, ignoring him entirely.

Lucas’ tone sharpened as he leaned closer. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be. If you—”

Before he could finish, my lead lwayer stepped between us. His tall frame loomed protectively as he placed a hand on Lucas’ chest to block his advance.

“Any and all communication you wish to have with my client, will be through appropriate channels. If you don’t walk away right now, we’ll have grounds to sue you for harassment.”

Lucas’ face twisted into a scowl, but he held up his hands in mock surrender.

“Fine. Be petty,” he sneered, retreating toward his own table.

When the recess ended, the atmosphere in the courtroom was electric. The judges returned to their seats, and Owen looked as if he was going to have a fit.

“After deliberation, the court finds in favor of Alpha Violet Donovan.”