POV Luella
I felt my stomach clench as I sat frozen in my chair, watching the chaos unfold exactly as the conspiracy had planned. The artificial mate bond hummed between Tobias and me, but he remained completely still beside me.
Everything is happening just like the scroll said it would. Why isn't Tobias doing anything?
My wolf paced restlessly inside me, sensing the tension and deception filling the room. The scents of anger, fear, and lies were overwhelming.
He has to stop this. He intercepted the plan. He knows it's fake.
But Tobias just sat there, his hand still holding mine, his face showing the perfect amount of concern and shock. Nothing more.
Maybe he's waiting for the right moment. Maybe he has a plan.
The doors burst open with such force they slammed against the stone walls. An enraged Alpha Marcus stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. His wolf was so close to the surface that his canines were visible, his muscles trembling with barely controlled rage.
His scent is pure rage. He really believes this happened.
Behind him ran the same woman I'd seen in the library, the one from the corridor with Kyrell. She was sobbing hysterically, her face red and tear-streaked, her hands shaking as she clutched at her torn dress.
She's a good actress. She really looks traumatized.
"Your Majesty," Alpha Marcus growled, his voice rough with barely contained violence. "I demand justice for what this monster did to my mate!"
The woman stumbled forward, falling to her knees before the King. "Please, Your Majesty," she wailed, her voice breaking with sobs. "He... he forced himself on me. I went to get some air during the feast, and Prince Kyrell was drunk and he grabbed me. He took me right there in the hallway!"
This is exactly what they planned in the library. Word for word.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I looked around the table. The King's face was thunderous with rage. The Queen had gone pale, her hand pressed to her throat in horror. Even the guards looked ready to act.
But Kyrell just laughed.
He's laughing. Why is he laughing?
He took a long drink from his wine goblet, his black eyes dancing with amusement. "How fascinating," he drawled. "And when exactly did this alleged assault occur?"
He's not defending himself. He's just making it worse.
"During the second course," the woman sobbed. "I remember because I had just finished the soup."
The hall fell silent. I could hear the crackling of torches on the walls, the heavy breathing of the enraged Alpha, the Queen's sharp intake of breath.
That's when I saw her in the corridor with that man. That's when I went to the garden and saw—
I turned to look at Tobias, waiting for him to speak. He had been with me until I went to the garden. He knew Kyrell had been drinking with the other lords. He could easily provide the alibi that would clear his brother.
He'll speak now. He has to.
But Tobias just sat there, his brown eyes showing nothing but appropriate shock and concern. His hand squeezed mine, but he said nothing.
Why isn't he saying anything? He knows Kyrell didn't do this.
Alpha Marcus took a threatening step toward Kyrell, his claws extending. "I'll kill you myself, you bastard!"
The guards moved to block him, but I could see the rage in their eyes too. They believed the accusation. Everyone believed it.
Tobias has to act now. Now, before this gets worse.
I waited. And waited.
Tobias remained silent.
He's not going to stop this. He's going to let his own brother be destroyed by lies.
The terrible realization crashed over me like ice water. Tobias wasn't going to intervene because he didn't want to. This wasn't him being caught off guard or waiting for the right moment.
This was him letting it happen.
I have to do something. I can't let them destroy him for something he didn't do.
My wolf surged to the surface, filling me with protective rage. Not for Kyrell personally, but for justice itself. For truth.
"I saw him," I said suddenly, my voice cutting through the chaos.
Every head in the room turned toward me. The silence was deafening.
No going back now.
"I saw him drinking with the other lords in the garden," I explained, my voice growing stronger. I caught Kyrell's uncomprehending gaze across the table. His black eyes were wide with surprise.
He can't believe I'm helping him.
"I also went out to get some air during the feast. I was walking through the corridors and I saw..." I paused, heat flooding my cheeks as I remembered what I'd witnessed. "I saw this lady with an unknown man. They were... um..."
How do I say this without being crude?
"They were engaged in intimate activities," I finished, my face burning with embarrassment. "So I immediately went to the garden, where I saw Prince Kyrell with the lords. They were very drunk and I don't think Prince Kyrell could be in two places at once."
Please let them believe me. Please let this work.
The hall erupted in whispers. I could smell the change in the air as people began to doubt the accusation. The woman's sobbing grew louder, more desperate.
"She's lying!" Alpha Marcus roared. "She's protecting him!"
"Why would I lie?" I asked, standing to face him directly. "I have no reason to protect Prince Kyrell. In fact, we've had our disagreements. But I will not stand by and watch someone be falsely accused of such a horrible crime."
My wolf is proud. She likes that I'm standing up for truth.
King Aldwin studied my face with those sharp eyes that had ruled a kingdom for decades. "You swear on your pack's honor that you saw my son in the garden during the time in question?"
"I swear it, Your Majesty. On my father's name and my pack's honor."
I'm betting everything on this. If they find out I'm lying...
But I wasn't lying. I had seen Kyrell in the garden with the other lords. The woman had been in the corridor with another man. The timing matched perfectly.
The King's expression gradually shifted from rage to confusion to something approaching relief. "Then this matter is resolved. Alpha Marcus, you and your mate will deal with your... marital issues... privately. This audience is dismissed."
It worked. They believe me.
As the crowd began to disperse, I felt Tobias's hand tighten on mine almost painfully. When I looked at him, his brown eyes were cold with anger.
He's furious with me. Because I saved his brother.
The woman was led away, still sobbing but now with the sharp scent of fear rather than false grief. Alpha Marcus followed, his shoulders slumped in defeat and confusion.
After the hall cleared, I excused myself and headed toward Celeste's chambers. I needed to talk to someone about what had just happened, needed to process the terrible realization about Tobias.
He was going to let Kyrell be destroyed. His own brother.
But as I walked through the corridors, my path was suddenly blocked by a familiar figure emerging from the shadows.
Kyrell stood before me, his black eyes unreadable. The scent of wine still clung to him, but underneath it was something else. Something I couldn't quite identify.