Chapter 480
Chapter 480
3rd Person’s POV
Jude stepped into the center of the clearing, every pair of eyes following his movements. The tension in the air thickened as wolves shifted uneasily, their instincts picking up on the shame and determination radiating from him.
“It’s me,” he said at last.
His voice remained steady, but he kept his gaze fixed on the ground. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Lylah. The guilt alone was enough to make his chest feel heavy.
“I’m the proof of what Seraphina has been doing.” His jaw tightened. “I have a recording of her admitting it herself. She confessed that she was the one who took the photographs and spread those lies. She
even admitted to deliberately paying someone to make the rumors more believable p>
A wave of shocked murmurs swept through the crowd.
Several volunteers exchanged stunned glances while the council members looked visibly
disturbed. Disbelief swept through the clearing like a second odor, mingling with the bitter scent of anger.
Jude stood motionless through it all.
Part of him wanted to disappear.
Another part believed he deserved every ounce of judgment coming his way.
But none of that mattered.
Not when Lylah’s name was at stake.
Not when the daughter of the man who had once saved his life had been dragged through the mud because of these lies.
“Seraphina,” he said quietly, finally lifting his head. “Stop pretending. Just admit what you’ve done. You know I can prove it p>
The color immediately drained from Seraphina’s face.
“J-Jude…” Her lips trembled. “You recorded me?” Disbelief flashed through her eyes before it quickly turned into hurt. “Last night when you came to my room, to me, and we did… I thought p>
She stopped herself, but the damage had already been done.
The whispers erupted around them almost instantly.
“Sir Knight went to Seraphina’s room? That’s how he got the confession p>
“Why would she trust him enough to confess otherwise p>
“They slept together p>
Chapter 480
The voices spread through the crowd with alarming speed.
Jude heard every word. His wolf heard them.
A flicker of anger rose inside him, but he quickly crushed it.
The truth was that he had knowingly walked into Seraphina’s cabin. He had allowed her to believe whatever she wanted to believe because he needed answers. Because Ezra had given him little choice.
The memory returned vividly.
The night before, Ezra had sought him out after the camp had gone quiet.
The Alpha had wasted no time. “I know who spread the rumors p>
Jude remembered straightening immediately.
“Who p>
“Seraphina Blackmaw p>
The answer had stunned him.
But what came next had unsettled him even more.
“I can expose her tomorrow,” Ezra had said. “But if this is going to end completely, I need undeniable proof p>
Jude had immediately understood where the conversation was heading.
The Alpha’s eyes had remained fixed on him.
“When you came here chasing after Lylah despite knowing exactly the consequences, shame clearly wasn’t enough to stop you. You have nothing to lose now p>
Ezra pause.
“And Seraphina trusts you. You know she’ll talk p>
Jude had hated every second of it.
He had hated himself even more for realizing Ezra was right.
By dawn, he had obtained the confession.
And shortly afterward, Zyrelle had appeared with a warning directly from the Moonclaw’s Alpha.
‘Stay away from Lylah!
If he didn’t, Ezra would personally destroy everything Jude had spent years building.
His business.
His reputation.
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Chapter 480
His future.
Jude had immediately recognized the trap for what it was.
Ezra had used him.
Yet he couldn’t even bring himself to resent it.
Compared to what Lylah had suffered, this felt like a small price to pay.
The memory vanished as Ezra’s voice echoed through the clearing.
“Bring her p>
Several Moonclaw warriors immediately obeyed.
The crowd parted as another prisoner was dragged forward. She was one of the villagers from Lunera-the same one who had attacked Lylah the previous day. Gasps spread through the gathering.
The woman looked battered and terrified. Bruises darkened her face, and her entire body shook beneath the weight of dozens of hostile stares.
Even Seraphina visibly recoiled at the sight of her.
Ezra regarded both women with cold indifference.
“Aside from spreading rumors about my Luna, there was also an attempt to harm her physically.” His voice remained calm, but the fury lurking beneath it was impossible to miss.
“This woman acted on those lies. But lies do not create themselves p>
His eyes shifted toward Seraphina.
“You will confess about what you said to Lunera villagers,” Ezra said quietly. The calmness in his voice was far more terrifying than shouting could ever be. “Or I will make you p>
Seraphina’s face went white.
“Don’t tell me this was your doing as well,” Maeve said sharply, her expression darkening.
“No
“No p>
The denial came instantly. Seraphina shook her head so violently that her hair came loose around her face.
“This wasn’t me p>
Then, desperate to save herself, she said the name.
“It was Cora p>
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The Betrayed Princess Rising