CHAPTER 65 The Punishment

  Dana POV

  Bathel's gaze bore into Mariel with an intensity that brooked no evasion, his inquiry laced with an underlying urgency to unearth the truth buried beneath layers of deception.

  "Was there someone who coerced you into this deceitful act?" His voice resonated with authority, each word weighted with expectation, demanding a confession that would lay bare the motivations driving her betrayal.

  Mariel met Bathel's unwavering stare head-on, her gaze unflinching, devoid of any hint of remorse. With a resolute shake of her head, she dispelled any notion of external influence, her defiance palpable as she reaffirmed her stance.

  "No one compelled me, Alpha," she asserted, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around her.