Chapter 481
Chapter 481
3rd Person’s POV
“What those Lunera villagers did to Lylah wasn’t because of me!” Seraphina’s voice cracked as she lurched forward against the silver restraints. “I’m not taking the blame for her sins p>
The metal immediately hissed against her skin, releasing the faint scent of burned flesh, but she barely seemed to notice. Her eyes blazed with a mixture of fury and desperation.
“Cora? Really p>
The clearing erupted into confused murmurs.
“She was here p>
“How could she possibly make an entire village turn against Luna Lylah p>
The questions flew from every direction.
Seraphina laughed bitterly.
“You don’t know her the way I do.” Her gaze swept across the crowd. “I was her close friend. I know exactly what she’s capable of p>
A strange expression crossed her face, one that looked almost haunted.
“Cora knows how to find someone’s weaknesses and sink her claws into them. She knows exactly what to say, exactly how to look at someone, exactly how to make them believe she’s on their side.” Her voice trembled. “Give her one chance and she’ll make you think her lies are your own thoughts p>
Seraphina turned toward the villager.
“She knew Lunera was vulnerable. She knew many of them were isolated and frightened. All she had to do was present herself as someone who cared.” A bitter laugh escaped her throat. “Speaks like a saint blessed by the Moon Goddess herself, and wolves fall at her feet p>
Her breathing grew ragged. “That’s what happened here p>
Silence followed.
The tension hanging over the clearing felt almost tangible.
Then Ezra spoke.
“Is what she said true p>
The villager flinched. Swallowed hard.
“Y-Yes, Alpha p>
The clearing seemed to hold its breath.
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The Alpha continued. “Someone came to your village and spread twisted words about my Luna Was if her’
The frightened villager turned toward Seraphina.
For several long seconds, she stared.
Then she shook her head.
“No.” The single word crashed through the gathering. “I still remember her face clearly… it wasn’t this lady
Several volunteers exchanged stunned looks while the elders whispered among themselves.
Besides Lylah, Jude’s entire body went rigid.
His hands curled into fists until his knuckles turned white. Sharp nails bit into his palms, but the pain did nothing to calm the storm raging inside him.
Cora.
The name alone was enough to awaken his anger. Images flashed through Jude’s mind.
Someone they had protected. Someone they had pitied. The one he and his brothers fought to defend. And all the while, she had been poisoning everything she touched.
“We created this monster ourselves.” The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them.
Every eye turned toward him.
Jude’s jaw tightened. “Everything we did for Coraline. Every sacrifice. Every excuse. Every privilege we gave her. His gaze drifted toward Lylah before quickly looking away again. “And she repays by trying to destroy Jax’s daughter every chance she gets p>
None of the senior healers argued.
None of the volunteers defended Cora.
Because they remembered the plagiarism. And incidents that somehow always traced back to her after that.
One by one, the pieces were beginning to fit together.
Professor Hilal looked visibly shaken. “So it was her…” he murmured.
Several senior healers exchanged troubled glances. The realization was becoming impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Seraphina’s anger finally gave way to bitterness.
“It wouldn’t be fair.” Her voice was quieter now.
“If you’re all going to punish me, then what about her? Why should I be the only one standing here in chains? What about Cora p>
For the first time since her arrest, genuine pain flashed across her face.
Betrayal.
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“She’s the one who is responsible p>
Professor Hilal released a weary sigh.
“Coraline is no longer merely a Lunar Grace student,” he said quietly. “She is now the Luna of Blackfang Pack p>
Several faces darkened immediately as everyone knew what that meant. This situation had just become far more complicated. Because any action against Cora would inevitably involve Rowan.
Seraphina lowered her head.
At last, the full weight of reality settled upon her shoulders.
Cora had escaped. Protected by one of the most powerful packs on the continent as their Luna.
Surrounded by walls Seraphina could never reach.
While she stood here alone.
Bound.
Exposed.
Abandoned.
For the first time, she found herself wondering whether any of it had been worth it.
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