I swallowed hard and tried to make the most of what love I believed he had for me.
At least had.
I looked around at everyone.
He hadn’t even questioned me in private.
But right in front of everyone.
Not given me the opportunity to explain in private.
Everyone watched me while I was humiliated.
I considered denying everything.
But the stare he bestowed on me made me think twice about it.
It was at that moment that Uther hurriedly went up to Xaden and began whispering.
Uther was my bloodline.
He wasn’t like Xaden, who was an Alpha.
I could understand and hear whenever he whispered.
No one else would.
But because I was his niece, I was able to.
"Xaden, if you would please," Uther said to his ears, and then his eyes wandered to stare at everyone in the room.
Perhaps he assumed they would respect him and turn away.
But they all remained staring at him.
He leaned back to Xaden. "Uhmmm.... Er... Xaden. I was hoping you would.....If you could perhaps spare her the embarrassment and discuss this in private."
My heart skipped a beat.
Uther was trying to speak to Xaden on my behalf.
Was it out of care or fear that I’ll expose him?
I didn’t care.
I just wanted him to help me get out of this situation.
Being in public made it difficult for me even to attempt to manipulate Xaden again
"People shouldn’t know about the things going on between your family," Uther whispered. "You need to hide our stains. Until we can figure something out and-
"No!" Xaden said it so loudly that I jumped.
Uther himself seemed to jump.
"I will not do that," Xaden said, glaring at Uther. Then Xaden looked back at the crowd. "My dear uncle wants me to hide my family’s stain. He wants me to protect our honor."
Uther’s face went red in disbelief.
He seemed shocked that Xaden had ousted him so abruptly.
Uther reasonably took a step back and hid in the shadows.
"Everything about you has been exposed ." He said. "You must be wondering why everyone is here, why I didn’t confront you in private, why my uncle here is telling me to keep it private. As my sister, you are an example to all the she-wolves in this pack. The same way our mother was."
I swallowed hard.
The sweat was no longer hanging on my forehead but was now dripping down my neck.
I tried to breathe hard.
I tried to use our sibling connection to beg him.
So he could pity me and cover my shame.
But Xaden ignored my wolf so much that she whimpered in pain at the rejection.
He looked around the pack. "Who am I to be your Alpha if I hide the sins of my own family from my pack?"
The room went chill.
"What makes me worthy of being an Alpha if I hide the sins my own blood has committed when I would openly persecute a pack member who commits a crime?" He asked in a loud and territorial voice.
He turned to look at Uther, and his voice went chilly. "My father, when I grew up, never hesitated to punish anyone who did wrong. Whether it was a friend or foe, my uncle here, out of anyone in this pack, should know this."
Uther remained hidden in his corner.
"What was the reason why you lied?" He asked me. "Why didn’t you just tell me you were raised like a princess? Why?"
I looked down at his feet.
I was going to admit to one lie and deny the others.
"Yes, brother." I lay down at his feet. "I lied. I should never have lied to you. I was raised privileged my entire life. Just when I found out what they did to me, to you, to our parents, all I wanted to do was hate them."
"But that I set Jasmine up? I would never."
I began to weep profusely.
"Was that why you would frequently order Jasmine to be caned?" He asked me.
My eyes went red.
Just when I thought it wouldn’t get any worse.
It did.
"Everyone told me what you did." He said. "I know everything. You’ve been so sadistic. My own sister. Being happy seeing people get hurt? They all hate you back there."
"And here?" He raised a brow. "I knew that if you could do something like this there, then there must have been evidence of you doing the same thing. And it was true."
He continued. "You’ve been horrible to the servants. Controlling. Abusive! How could you do such a thing?!"
So those stupid servants had betrayed me.
Told him everything.
I gritted my teeth in anger.
"You also collaborated with my enemies. Collaborated with the men who almost killed me!" He spat.
My eyes went red.
"No! I never did that." I said. "I have no hand in that."
I knew there had been no hard proof to show I had committed such.
"You’re sure you didn’t?" He asked me.
"I lied about my background!" I nodded. "Yes, I admit it. I have been terrible to my servants. But these claims that I lied about Jasmine and collaborated with your own enemy? It’s all false. I would never do such a thing! You’re my brother!"
"I see." Xaden nodded.
"Lisa," Xaden called out.
My ears went dull, and my vision became unstable.
Had I heard well?
"Come up here."
To my greatest horror and disbelief.
There was a murmur amongst the crowd.
I turned back around to see the crowd open up.
None other than Lisa slowly stepped out from their midst.
My heart began to race, and I wanted to faint
I watched her progress to the front of the Alpha’s throne.
In her simple servant dress and her blonde hair plaited to her back, she walked magnetically to him.
As she stood beside me, I could barely think.
"Lisa tells everyone what you told me," Xaden said.
This fucking bitch!