Chapter 479
Chapter 479
Lylah’s POV
I woke with my cheek pressed against Ezra’s chest and immediately realized I had slept better than I had in days. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed beneath my ear, soothing something inside me that had been restless for far too long. For once, there was no worry, fear, or uncertainty.
Just him.
Neither of us seemed eager to move.
We remained tangled together long after waking, sharing lazy conversations while the morning sunligh gradually spilled through the cabin windows. Only when the golden rays climbed higher did we finally drag ourselves from bed. We bathed together before dressing for the day.
By then, every trace of Ezra’s injuries had vanished. His Alpha healing had done its work, leaving no evidence of the wounds that had terrified me yesterday. A part of me wanted to ask him to stay in Lunera longer.
After everything that had happened, the thought of being separated from him again felt unbearable.
Before I could voice any of those thoughts, Ezra spoke,
“Ready? We have an important spectacle to witness. The person responsible for spreading those rumors will face judgment today p>
I blinked. “They’ve already been caught p>
Ezra stepped closer, his fingers sliding through my hair in a gentle caress that stood in contrast to the dangerous gleam in his eyes. “She was never difficult to find, my love p>
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“Unfortunately, she’s been here all along p>
A chill ran down my spine.
Without another word, Ezra took my hand and guided me outside. The moment we stepped from the cabin, I realized something significant was happening. The entire volunteer camp had gathered.
Council members stood in small groups throughout the clearing. Volunteers filled the open space between the cabins. Even some of Lunera’s elders had appeared.
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Like a pack preparing to witness a sentencing.
Then I spotted Jude.
He stood near the front of the crowd, his shoulders rigid and his expression unusually troubled.
Concern immediately stirred inside me.
1/4
Chapter 479
Before I could ask what was wrong, movement at the edge of the gathering caught my eye.
The crowd parted.
Zyrelle emerged first. Beside her walked one of Moonclaw’s guards. And between them-
My eyes widened.
Seraphina.
Her wrists were bound with silver restraints that glimmered beneath the morning sun. Angry red marks stained her skin where the metal burned against her wrist. One side of her face was swollen. The imprint of a hand lingered vividly across her cheek.
“P-please…” Her voice cracked. “I wasn’t p>
“Silence.” Zyrelle shoved Seraphina forward.
She stumbled and crashed onto her knees.
Gasps erupted from the gathered crowd.
Then, Zyrelle stepped forward, her voice carrying effortlessly across the camp.
“Seraphina Blackmaw. Niece of the High Dean Peter Blackmaw. Undergraduate healer of Lunar Grace Academy’s Modern Healing Division p>
Her eyes hardened. “And the individual responsible for spreading false accusations against Luna Lylah of Moonclaw p>
The clearing exploded.
Outraged voices rose from every direction.
The wolves surrounding us were already reacting.
Growls rippled through the crowd. The air itself seemed to vibrate with hostility. Seraphina’s face immediately sharpened with panic.
Then her eyes found mine.
“Lylah!” She scrambled upright only to lose her footing when the silver restraints interfered with her balance. “Lylah, please p>
Her voice broke.
“You know that isn’t true! We worked together! We were on the same team!” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I didn’t do any of this. Please tell them p>
The sight left me frozen.
Not because I believed her. But because I still hadn’t fully processed what was happening.
2/4
15:58 Sat, Jun 13 M
Chapter 470
Less than twenty-four hours ago, everyone had been searching for answers. Now the culprit was standing before me in chains.
Caught.
Exposed.
And apparently with enough evidence to justify a public trial.
Before I could gather my thoughts, another voice cut through the chaos.
“This is cruel.” Senior Healer Maeve stepped forward from the crowd. Her gaze settled on me.
“Lylah, of all people, you should understand this.
You know what it feels like to be falsely accused. So how can you stand here and allow someone else to suffer the same treatment p>
The words hung heavily in the air.
For a brief moment, uncertainty rippled through parts of the crowd.
I opened my mouth. Then, it closed it again.
Because the truth was,
I still didn’t know what evidence had been discovered.
I was just as confused as everyone else.
A soft click of a tongue sounded beside me.
Maeve’s face lost color.
Even Seraphina shrank backward.
I could feel Ezra’s wolf rising beneath his skin.
The pressure of his Alpha aura swept across the clearing like a storm front.
“Do not ever compare my Luna to her p>
A shudder ran through the gathering.
“Alpha Ezra…” Maeve whispered. “I-i only meant that making judgments without evidence was p>
“Never been Moonclaw’s way.” Ezra finished. “And that is precisely why I brought an evidence p>
His fingers lifted slightly.
Then someone stepped forward.
My breath caught.
214
15:59 Sat, Jun 13 TAM
The Betrayed Princess Rising