Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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31
5 vouchers
The cell block smelled wrong before I even reached the door. Bitter. Sharp. Not blood this time. I slowed, fingers curling around Damien’s sleeve. The guard outside the cell looked sick. “Alpha, we found him like this before dawn.” Damien stepped past him. “Open it.” The guard unlocked the door with stiff fingers. The rogue lay on the floor, lips dark. I pressed my palm over my mouth.
“He was alive last night,” I said. Damien crouched beside the body, jaw tight. “Poison.”
Pack members gathered behind us, whispering already. Of course they were. Give them one dead rogue and suddenly everyone became detectives. Alice appeared near the stairs, hair brushed too neatly. “What happened?” I turned to look at her. “You tell us.”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?” Damien stood. “The rogue is dead.” Alice pressed one hand to her chest. “That is awful.”
I stared at her hand. “You do that a lot.” She frowned. “Do what?” “Touch your chest when you want people to think you’re shocked.”
Alice gave a small laugh, but it sounded fake. “Sienna, maybe now is not the time for your little attitude.”
“My little attitude?” I stepped closer, but Damien’s hand touched my lower back. Alice softened her voice. “I’m just saying, we should consider everything. The rogue knew something. He reacted to me, yes, but he also saw Sienna shift. What if he knew something about her transformation?”
My head snapped back. “Are you serious?” She lifted both hands. “I’m not accusing you.” I stared at her. “You literally are.”
“I’m asking questions,” she said. “The rogue died before he could speak. That benefits someone.” I laughed once, but there was nothing funny in it. “You are actually insane.”
A warrior near the wall muttered, “She did attack the elders yesterday.” Another said, “She changed without warning.” I turned slowly, looking at all their faces. “Wow. Yesterday I saved your kids and suddenly I was Luna. Today one rogue dies and I’m dangerous again?”
Nobody answered. I raked my fingers through my hair and stepped away from Damien’s touch. “You people switch so fast it is embarrassing.”
Alice tilted her head. “People are scared.” I pointed at her. “No, Alice. You are feeding them fear and acting like you’re being helpful.”
Damien’s voice cut through the hallway. “Enough.” Everyone went quiet. He looked at Alice first. “You will not accuse my mate without proof.”
Alice blinked. “I only said we should consider possibilities.” “You suggested she killed a prisoner under my guards while she was with me all night.”
Her mouth tightened. Damien looked around at everyone else. “Anyone else who wants to blame Sienna can bring evidence or keep their mouth shut.”
My chest squeezed, but I hated how everyone went quiet only because he said it. I wanted them to believe me
11:48 Thu, May 21
Chapter 97
5 vouchers
because they had eyes. Because I was standing right there, exhausted, not some villain in a bedtime story.
Damien took my hand. “Come with me.” I let him lead me away, but the second we turned into a quiet hallway, I pulled my hand back. He stopped. “Sienna.”
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “I don’t want you fighting every battle for me.” His brows pulled together. “I’m not letting them attack you.”
“I know.” I looked down at my shoes. “And I love that. I do. But every time you shut them up, they just think I’m safe because you protect me. Not because I’m innocent. Not because I matter.”
His face softened. “You do matter.” I looked up at him. “To you. But to them? I’m a headline. Human Luna. Wolf girl. Curse. Savior. Killer. They pick one depending on the weather.”
Damien stepped closer, but he did not touch me yet. “Then make them look at you.” I swallowed. “How?” “By not running from the room when they lie.”
I breathed out slowly. “That sounds very exhausting.” He nodded. “It is. Being Alpha is mostly listening to idiots speak confidently.” I snorted. “That explains your face most days.”
He smiled, just a little, then brushed his thumb over my wrist. “I trust you.” My throat tightened. “I know.” “Good. Now trust yourself.”
Before I could answer, the bitter smell came back. I turned toward the cell block, nostrils flaring. Under the poison, there was something soft and sweet. Perfume. Alice.
I followed the scent to the stones right beside the door outside the cell. I crouched and touched the floor. My fingers came away with pale powder and that same perfume. Damien crouched beside me. “What is it?” I looked up. “Alice was here.”
His face went cold.
Later, I found Alice alone near the side corridor, adjusting the pin in her hair. I stepped in front of her. “We need to talk.”
She smiled. “Do we?” I crossed my arms. “You were outside the cell.”
Her smile stayed, but her eyes sharpened. “Careful. You keep accusing people, and they might start wondering why you need someone else to blame.”
I stepped closer. “Why does your perfume smell like poison and dead rogue?” She laughed quietly. “You really think being a wolf makes you untouchable now.”
“No. I think it makes your lies louder.”
Alice leaned in. “They only praised you because you bled for them. That is it. You got hurt, saved a child, and now they feel guilty. The moment you make one mistake, they will turn again.”
I clenched my jaw. She smiled wider. “See? You know I’m right.” I forced my shoulders back. “You don’t know anything about me.”
11:48 Thu, May 21
Chapter 97
31
5 vouchers
“I know you want them to love you.” Her voice dropped. “And that is pathetic.” I shoved past her before I did something stupid. “Stay away from me.”
I ended up in the bathroom, scrubbing my hands under hot water. Blood was gone, but I kept rubbing anyway until my skin turned red. Damien found me there. He took the cloth from my hand. “Stop,” he said softly.
I stared at the sink. “I can still feel it.” He turned off the tap and wrapped the cloth around my hand instead. “You don’t have to scrub off what you did to survive.”
My eyes burned. “Alice said they’ll turn on me again.” Damien lifted my chin. “Then they will answer to me.” I shook my head. “No. They’ll answer to me.”
His eyes searched mine, then he nodded. At the doorway, Alice stood watching. She smiled like she had planted something rotten in my chest.
“He will fear you when he sees what you really are.”
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11:48 Thu, May 21 ♫
