1#01

1

LYRA

"Lyra, you stand accused of attempted murder. What is your plea?"

The courtroom atmosphere grew tense as I met the cold, steel-blue gaze of my mate, filled with nothing but disdain.

How on earth did I end up in this situation?

For so long, Alpha Richardson and I had been blissfully in love, our future seeming full of promise. Then I discovered my inability to bear him children, and as Alpha, he chose a breeder to continue his bloodline... without informing me.

That's when our lives began to unravel.

The breeder he selected, Jeanette Gibson, somehow managed to turn my mate against me, and by the time she became pregnant, he held me in utter contempt. He began criticizing everything I did and even turned abusive. I tried my utmost to salvage our relationship and be the ideal Luna, but he remained unmoved, completely infatuated with Jeanette and her unborn child.

If only he knew the real story.

"Well, answer us," my mate demanded. "What is your plea?"

"Not guilty," I declared firmly, causing the room to erupt in self-righteous whispers and gossip.

"Quiet!" my mate commanded, and silence fell once more. He then turned his hateful glare on me. "You attempted to murder my unborn child."

I shook my head vigorously. "No, Darling. Tha-"

"You will address me as Alpha Ragnuff Richardson!" he bellowed, making me flinch.

Has his hatred for me grown so intense that I can no longer use terms of endearment?

I inhaled deeply and exhaled. "Alpha Richardson," I began, "I did not try to harm your child. I could never hurt anything that belongs to you!"

"That's not Jeanette's account," Ragnuff retorted. "She's in the hospital because she claims you shoved her."

I wanted to refute his argument, but he wasn't entirely wrong. I had indeed pushed Jeanette, but only because she had attacked me first, and I was merely trying to defend myself.

How can I explain this to Ragnuff and still prove my innocence?

"Alpha Ragnuff, I beg you to hear me out," I pleaded. "The child Jeanette carries isn't yours."

A chorus of gasps echoed through the hall. My mate's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in anger. "How dare you utter such slanderous words against my Jeanette?"

His Jeanette?

"Hone- I mean Alpha Richardson, I swear I'm telling the absolute truth. I uncovered this and confronted her about it. That's why she's falsely accusing me of trying to kill her baby. It's not yours!"

"SILENCE!" my mate roared at me. "Jeanette told me you were envious of her, but I didn't believe it. I can't fathom that you'd stoop so low as to lie about that poor girl just because you're infertile."

Before I could respond, the doors burst open and Jeanette stormed in, her eyes blazing with fury.

The moment she reached me, her hand lashed out, striking me across the face.

"You worthless wretch!" She sniffled and wiped away a non-existent tear. "You've gotten your way!"

I cradled my cheek, confused by her words. How had I won when I was on trial for attempted murder?

Jeanette suddenly erupted into tears.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" My mate pulled her close, sending a sharp pain through both my heart and my wolf. Jeanette feigned reluctance, shying away from his embrace.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, "but I've lost our baby."

The courtroom exploded into chaos at her words. I stared at her in disbelief, wondering if I had truly pushed her that hard. My mate turned to me, his face contorted with rage.

"By my decree, I, Alpha Ragnulf Richardson, reject you as my mate and sentence you to death!"

The force of his rejection brought me to my knees before I could even process his fatal judgment. Like a flame consuming a rope, I felt our connection sear and vanish, leaving me barely any time to mourn our loss before two strong hands grabbed my arms, forcing me to stand.

Then the gravity of my situation hit me.

"Ragnulf, please!" I cried, struggling against the men who held me firmly. "I swear on everything holy, I didn't do it! I didn't kill her baby."

I wept, knowing I hadn't pushed her with such force.

My mate cradled Jeanette against himself, and when his face turned away, I caught a malicious smirk on Jeanette's face.

She was lying after all!

"Ragnulf, please! She's not telling the truth!" I fought against their grip, and when I saw one of Ragnulf's officers produce a large silver dagger, I began to sob. "Please, Ragnulf," I begged, but he had turned away, holding Jeanette close to his heart.

I faced the impending attack with tears and a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess.

"Please, grant me another chance," I whispered just before the silver dagger pierced my heart.