CHAPTER 31: THE HEARING 2

HAZEL

I walked forward slowly. Let my steps be small and hesitant. Like I was afraid. Like being in this room with Milo terrified me.

"Of course," I said softly.

"Please." Elder Moira gestured to an empty chair. "Sit. This must be difficult for you."

I sat. Folded my hands in my lap exactly like my mother. Kept my eyes down.

"We have heard accounts from multiple witnesses," Elder Cormac continued. "They say they found you in Sentinel Milo’s quarters. Half dressed. Covered in..." He paused delicately. "Evidence of assault. Is this true?"

"Yes," I whispered.

"And you were there against your will?"

I looked up. Let tears gather in my eyes. "I don’t want to talk about this."

"You must, child." Elder Moira’s voice was gentle. "We need to understand what happened."

I took a shuddering breath. "He invited me to talk. He said he needed to discuss. I thought it would be safe. He’s a sentinel. I trusted him. I also wanted to thank him for saving me and protecting me from Fia."

"And then?"

"He..." I let my voice break. "He forced himself on me. I tried to fight him. Tried to get away. But he was too strong."

Milo made a sound. A broken, desperate noise. "That’s not true! Hazel, tell them the truth!"

"Silence!" Elder Cormac’s voice cracked through the room like a whip. "You will speak when spoken to."

"But she’s lying!" Milo struggled against his bonds. Blood dripped down his chin. "We were together! She came to me! This is all because I was going to tell Alpha Cian the truth about Fia and..."

The guard hit him again. This time in the face. Milo’s head snapped back and he went down hard.

"The truth?" Elder Cormac looked at me. "What is he talking about?"

I shook my head. Let more tears fall. "I don’t know. He keeps saying strange things. I did not realize it because of the good deed he performed when he saved me from Fia’s attempt on my life while she stole my place as Alpha Cian’s Luna, but, he’s been obsessed with me for months. Following me. Watching me. I thought it was just simple admiration, I thought it was innocent. But then tonight..."

"She’s manipulating you!" Milo shouted from the floor. His words were slurred. Hard to understand through his swollen mouth. "She and I planned everything with Fia! We tricked her into taking Hazel’s place at the wedding! We’re both guilty! Even Luna Isobel!"

The elders looked at each other. Then at my father and then my mother.

My father’s expression didn’t change. "My daughter and my wife would never do such a thing."

"Exactly what I was thinking," Elder Moira said. "The boy is clearly desperate. Making wild accusations to deflect from his crime."

"No!" Milo tried to get to his feet but the guards held him down. "I have proof! I have messages! Check my phone!"

"We did check your phone," Elder Cormac said coldly. "There are messages between you and Miss Hazel. But they appear to be her politely declining your advances. Asking you to stop contacting her."

I watched Milo’s face crumble. He didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand. I’d been so careful. Every message I’d sent had been worded perfectly. Every conversation had been crafted to look like he was pursuing me and I was trying to be kind about rejecting him.

"That’s not..." Milo’s voice was barely a whisper now. "Those aren’t real. She must have deleted the others. Changed them somehow."

"Are you accusing Luna Hazel of falsifying evidence?" Elder Cormac’s voice was ice.

"Yes! No! I mean..." Milo was falling apart. I could see it happening. "Please. Please just listen to me. I was going to tell Alpha Cian the truth. That’s why she did this. She’s trying to silence me."

"Enough." My father’s voice cut through everything else. "This hearing is to address one matter. Did Sentinel Milo assault my daughter? The evidence is clear. The witnesses are clear. His own admission that he was involved with her in some capacity confirms he violated his position of trust."

"But I didn’t rape her!" Milo screamed. "I swear on the Moon Goddess, I didn’t rape her!"

Elder Moira looked at me. Her eyes were sharp despite her age. "Luna Hazel. Look at me."

I raised my eyes to meet hers.

"Did Sentinel Milo force himself on you without your consent?"

I let one more tear slide down my cheek. "Yes."

Milo made a sound like something dying.

Elder Cormac stood. The other elders followed his lead. "Then the verdict is clear. Sentinel Milo is guilty of assaulting a member of the Alpha’s family. The punishment for such a crime is death."

"No," Milo whispered. "No, please. Please don’t do this."

"The sentence will be carried out at dawn," Elder Cormac continued. "So that all may witness what happens to those who betray their pack and their Alpha."

The guards dragged Milo to his feet. He was still trying to talk. Still trying to explain. But his words were lost in the sound of his own sobbing.

As they pulled him toward the door, he looked back at me one last time.

"I loved you," he said. The words were clear despite everything. "I really loved you. But at the end of the day, you are just a fucking bitch!"

I said nothing. I just watched him go.

The doors slammed shut.

The chamber fell silent.

My mother stood and came to me. She put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. "You did well," she murmured so quietly only I could hear.

I stood. Let her guide me from the room. Let my father and the elders watch me leave looking broken and traumatized and every inch the victim they wanted me to be.

And inside my chest, where no one could see, I felt nothing but cold satisfaction.

Milo would be dead by morning.

And his truth, whatever the fuck that meant, would die with him.