CHAPTER FOUR: PUBLIC SHAME
729 Words
The hallway outside Adrian’s room filled within minutes.
Word traveled quickly in a wolf pack—especially when it involved betrayal.
Lyra stood frozen in the doorway as more pack members crowded into the corridor. Warriors, hunters, elders, even younger wolves who had no business being there. Their whispers bounced off the wooden walls like arrows aimed straight at her.
“Did you hear what Adrian said?”
“She met another Alpha?”
“After everything he did for her?”
Lyra’s chest tightened painfully.
None of them were asking if it was true.
They had already decided.
Adrian stepped forward, his tall figure commanding the room. Selene stood beside him, her expression composed, almost sympathetic—but the faint curl of her lips told a different story.
This was exactly what she wanted.
Lyra’s pulse pounded in her ears.
“You’re all misunderstanding this,” she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “I didn’t betray the pack.”
A few wolves exchanged skeptical glances.
One of the elders frowned.
“But the necklace was found outside another Alpha’s territory,” he said slowly.
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Lyra replied quickly. “I lost it weeks ago. Someone could have taken it.”
Selene tilted her head, pretending to consider that.
“How convenient,” she said softly.
Lyra’s hands clenched into fists.
“I’m telling the truth.”
Adrian watched her with cold, distant eyes.
“You’re only making things worse for yourself.”
Lyra stared at him.
Worse?
How could this possibly get worse?
“I’ve fought for this pack for years,” she said, her voice growing stronger. “I’ve risked my life protecting these borders. You all know me.”
Her gaze moved across the crowd.
Familiar faces stared back at her.
Wolves she had trained beside.
Wolves she had protected.
Wolves she had called family.
But now their eyes were filled with doubt.
Or worse.
Disappointment.
A whisper rose from the back of the hallway.
“I always thought she was too ambitious.”
Another voice answered.
“Maybe she wanted more power.”
Lyra’s heart sank.
“No,” she said firmly. “That’s not true.”
Her eyes searched the crowd desperately.
Then she saw them.
Mara.
Jonas.
Her closest friends.
The people who had stood beside her through countless battles and long nights of patrol.
If anyone would defend her…
It would be them.
Lyra took a step toward them.
“Mara,” she said quietly.
Mara looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Lyra saw hesitation flicker across her friend’s face.
“Tell them,” Lyra pleaded. “You know I wouldn’t do something like this.”
The hallway grew silent.
Everyone waited.
Mara swallowed.
Then she looked away.
Lyra felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
Jonas avoided her gaze as well, staring at the floor like it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
Not one word.
Not one defense.
Nothing.
The silence from them hurt more than any accusation.
Her throat tightened painfully.
“So that’s it?” Lyra whispered. “You’re just going to stand there?”
Neither of them moved.
Behind her, Selene let out a quiet sigh.
“It’s hard for everyone,” she said gently, though her voice carried a faint trace of satisfaction. “But sometimes the truth is difficult to accept.”
Lyra spun toward her.
“You set this up.”
Selene raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“You stole my necklace.”
Selene smiled faintly.
“Do you have proof?”
Lyra opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Because Selene was right.
She had none.
The pack began whispering again, louder this time.
“She’s trying to blame someone else now.”
“That’s what guilty wolves do.”
Lyra felt like the walls were closing in.
Her wolf growled inside her mind, furious and restless.
This was wrong.
All of it was wrong.
But the more she spoke, the less anyone believed her.
Adrian raised his hand.
Instant silence fell over the hallway.
His voice was calm.
Authoritative.
“The elders will decide what happens next.”
Lyra’s stomach twisted.
Because deep down…
She already knew how this would end.
And judging by the cold looks surrounding her—
So did everyone else.
- Writer
