Chapter 5 5

LYRA's Pov

He stared at me with shock, his jaw clenched tightly before he moved to his throne and sat.

"What's the issue here?" he asked, his voice low but commanding, eyes never leaving mine.

I couldn't read his facial expression.

But I was sure of one thing...I wasn't the mate he expected.

And he...

He wasn't the mate I imagined either.

Not Alpha Donovan.

Not the most feared, most brutal, most authoritative man in the pack.

My heart clenched so hard I thought it would break.

"She's a witch," the elder he addressed replied without hesitation.

"How?" the Alpha finally turned to him, voice colder now.

"She showed extravagant, demonic powers on the training ground...the sacred ground," the elder hissed, glaring at me like I was filth.

If looks could kill, I'd already be buried six feet under.

"The people," he pointed toward the courtroom entrance, "they saw it. They are the witnesses."

My breath hitched. I closed my eyes, heart racing, trying to understand how everything turned around so quickly.

Yesterday, I was just Lyra. The girl who couldn't shift. The girl who was used to insults.

Today, I'm a witch.

And my mate? The one fated to love me, protect me?

He's the man who might kill me today.

"Witness, come in!" the elder barked.

Tasha walked in like she was on a runway, her hands folded like she was some saint.

I gasped. "I swear, I don't know what they're talking about! Tasha started it...she hurt my sister!"

"She's lying!" Tasha snapped, but the smirk on her lips betrayed her.

"Shut up, you witch!" another elder roared, slamming his hand on the bench.

I flinched, tears filling my eyes.

Tasha turned to the Alpha, voice suddenly soft, sweet. "She raised the winds. The birds obeyed her. Her hair floated. It was evil, Alpha. I was scared for my life, she tried to kill me too."

Lies. All lies.

She started it, I didn't know where the birds came from, I didn't control them..

I was only angry, I didn't try to kill her...I only wanted to teach her a lesson.

I didn't know where all these powers come from.

These are all lies.

The courtroom buzzed with murmurs, everyone whispering, judging.

I opened my mouth to scream the truth, but..

The courtroom doors slammed open with a loud bang.

Everyone turned.

It was my mother.

She stumbled in, barefooted, her healer's gown stained with herbs and dirt. Her eyes were wide with fear, lips trembling.

She dropped to her knees in front of the court, palms pressed together.

"Please... please don't hurt her. She's innocent. I beg you!" she cried.

Silence.

The air became still.

Then the priest stepped forward slowly, robes brushing against the floor, his face unreadable.

He stopped in front of my mother.

"Woman," he said, voice echoing through the court, "is this your daughter?"

My mother blinked, confused. "W-What?" her voice cracked. "Yes."

The priest's eyes darkened. "If you lie one more time, the gods will strike you dead where you kneel."

Gasps filled the courtroom.

I stared at my mother, body suddenly cold. "Mother... what does he mean?" I whispered, voice shaking.

But she didn't look at me.

She looked down. Shame and guilt covered her face like a second skin.

"Mother," my voice cracked louder now. "Please. Tell me it's a lie."

It's a lie, another lie.

Her lips trembled.

"It's not," she said finally.

She broke down.

"She's not my daughter."

What??

The courtroom erupted.

Gasps. Shouts. Horror.

"She was misplaced during the first blood moon attack," my mother sobbed. "It happened sixteen years ago. She was just a child. Barely four."

"No..." My voice broke.

It felt like someone was stabbing my chest over and over with cold scissors.

I stumbled forward. "No. No! Mother!"

I rushed to her, shook her by the shoulders.

"Tell me it's a lie! Please!"

"I'm sorry," she wept, "I'm so sorry..."

I turned my head toward my father.

He stood at the entrance of the courtroom, his eyes red, face stiff.

We locked eyes.

He nodded slowly.

A nod that shattered the last hope I had.

My knees gave out.

"No!" I screamed, grabbing my chest. "No! Please, please no! My whole life... it's not real? You're not...?"

The pain was unbearable. Like my whole world had caved in.

Like I was dying from the inside out.

Alpha Donovan stood from his throne.

His eyes were on me, but he didn't speak.

"Throw her into the dungeon," he ordered flatly, then turned away and walked out of the courtroom.

He didn't look back.

He didn't care.

My mate.

My life.

Everything was a lie.

I didn't fight the guards when they came.

I didn't scream when they dragged me.

I let them take me away... because honestly, what was left to fight for?