~JADE~

My body moved on autopilot as I walked into the wide expanse of the council hall. The hall was mostly used for large gatherings in the pack, for pack ceremonies, parties organised by the Alpha family, and sometimes rented at a discount for pack members who needed it for personal ceremonies, like birthday parties, or sometimes parties held after mating was completed.

Only a few select people celebrated their union, and Hunter and I were supposed to celebrate ours officially after his ascension ceremony. 

I was told it was customary, although we already marked each other and were mated by common law, Hunter being of noble blood, even though he might not be a royal, being an Alpha heir made him of noble blood, and it was customary that after his ascension as Alpha, he ought to have an official mating ceremony during which his fated luna or chosen luna would be blessed by a high elder or priestess presiding over the ceremony, and the luna would be officially welcomed by every pack member who would come bearing gifts. 

That was what I was told, and for the past two years, Hunter's mother has emphasized the importance of the mating ceremony in my ears. I had to meet up with her every day for several hours to learn about pack affairs and my expected duties when I became Luna.

 She always said being a Luna was more than just being the pretty thing that hung off the side of an Alpha; there were affairs that only the Luna of the pack saw to. We may not dabble in pack politics, but when it came to being aware of the needs of the pack members, meeting those needs, being a listening ear, sometimes handling finances, being in charge of ceremonies, and hosting meaningful gatherings between other packs for prospective alliances, all those were Luna's duties. A pack's Luna may not have as much authority as the Alpha of the pack, but she has a significant role to play in supporting her Alpha. 

All these things I had to learn because I wanted to be the best Luna for Hunter and this pack. I didn't want to lack knowledge when he finally completed his ascension; I wanted to do my best, and for two years I had learned diligently. While I thought this was my destined role, I had no idea that once upon a time my elder sister was also trained for the same role I thought I was destined for. 

My eyes moved around the large hall, my gaze roaming over the faces of the people seated around the large acacia wood table in the far corner. I've been told that the council hall was occasionally used for important council meetings that couldn't be discussed in the Alpha's office, especially those meetings that included elders and Alphas from other packs. 

Alpha Orion sat in the largest chair at the head of the table, with Luna to his left and Hunter to his right. A few unfamiliar faces sat around each side of the table-some elders I knew and some I didn't. My parents were seated side by side, and Arya stood a few feet behind them. 

As I took in each face, my thoughts wandered to a few questions–Had they all known? Were they ever aware of Hunter and Arya's relationship? Had they been preparing her to take on the role of Luna? Had Hunter been planning to take her as his chosen mate before I arrived? How long were they together, and why did no one think it was necessary to share this piece of information with me? 

My gaze landed on my mom, who immediately averted her eyes like she didn't want to be caught looking at me. I shifted my gaze to my dad, whose face looked stone cold, while his eyes trained to the empty chair on the other side of the table. Pressure built up on my chest, and my guts twisted. They knew about Hunter and Arya's history but never thought to tell me. Why? Their betrayal stung deep, and my stomach twisted in a knot as pain speared my heart. Why had they kept it a secret from me? Didn't I deserve to know that the man who was my mate shared a romantic history with my sister? If I had known, perhaps I could've known to attach that to the reason why Arya hates me, and I would've known to avoid her. 

"Now that all parties are seated," An elder cleared his throat; the sound carried his voice to where I stood, breaking me out of my rigid state, and I withdrew my glance from my parents. 

"Excuse me," I muttered before the elder could continue. "Pardon my manners." I apologised as sharp gazes cut to me like I wasn't expected to speak until they permitted it. But I continued either way; if that was a rule, I had already broken it, so I might as well get on with it. "Please, I would like an audience with my mate before we proceed with this." 

I didn't miss the way all the attention in the room now centered on me: Alpha Orion's left brow quirked in a silent question, Hunter's mom narrowed her eyes, and the elders all shared a confused look amongst each other. 

"I won't take more than a few minutes; I must speak to my mate in private. –  If the elders will permit it, of course." I added the last bit so it would seem like I was making a polite request and not rudely making a demand. 

"You have five minutes." The elder, who sat at the other end of the long table, spoke, and I nodded. "Alpha Hunter, please grant your mate's request." His gaze flicked to Hunter, and my mate rose from his seat, growling in disapproval as he marched towards me, and all I could see in those ocean blue eyes I once fancied was deep-seated loathing, all aimed at me.

~JADE~

"What the fuck is this about?" Hunter all but growled as he shoved me into what I presume must be a small office in the council hall. The sound of the door slamming shut behind us enhanced the threat in his growl in this tiny space.

I couldn't even bear to harbour shame with the way he had dragged me from where I stood before the elders and across the hall into this tiny room. It remains unfathomable to me how easy it was for him to change from a loving and doting mate to this man who cannot even stand the sight of me. Not one iota of respect did he think to grant me, almost as if I was never worth a thing to him.

"I have a few questions."

"If this is another plot of yours to gaslight me with your words or to beg, save your breath." Hunter snapped.

"It is neither of the two; I want you to answer my questions honestly. All I need to know is the truth, and once I hear the truth from your mouth, I'll accept your rejection like you wanted before we step back out there, as long as you are honest." I replied, meeting his questioning gaze, and from the look in his eyes, I knew he barely trusted any word that came from my mouth.

This was a man who once treated me like I was made from the finest of gold, a man who told me that my past shouldn't determine who I am or who I ought to be. Yet I look into the eyes of my first love, the eyes of the first person I ever allowed myself to love, and all I see is doubt and his extreme repugnance towards me.

"Ask your questions, and be quick with them." He sneered down at me in such a condescending voice that made me coil into myself.

"A few days ago, you said, 'I should have known better than to trust or love another Dimaano daughter.' What did you mean by that statement?" I asked him, swallowing through the lump that had begun to form in my throat.

"What do you think it means? It is exactly as I said; why do you need an explanation? Whatever it means won't prove your innocence or free your guilty conscience."

"You are right; it may not do anything of the sort, but I need to know because Arya said some words and I..." I paused, an aching slowly building in my chest, crawling up my throat.

'Ask him; we need this. We deserve this closure, at the very least. Don't choke up now.' Levana mumbled in a trembling voice, and I could tell even she felt my pain, just as raw and cold as it felt for me.

"She told me she had been preparing for the role of Luna all her life; she said she worked so hard for it, only for me to come and steal what was hers. At first, I thought to pass it off as just a hurt sister who would say anything to hurt me, but then I remembered the words you said." I took in a few deep breaths as my eyes clenched closed for a moment, and my breathing quickened.

I threw my head back as I fought against the tears welling in my eyes and the pain in my chest that crawled up my throat, wrapping around my lungs in a vice. "Were you in a relationship with Arya before I returned to the pack?" I reeled my head forward as I asked.

Silence stretched between us as Hunter refused to answer my question. "I need the truth, Hunter. It doesn't matter if it will hurt me; I am already in pain. I've been in pain for the past week. Nothing else can hurt me more than I already am." I lied because everything still hurt, and I knew the truth that was about to leave his lips would only hurt me more.

"Yes, we were, but what does it matter now anyway." He finally answered, his voice rigid like a stone wall and his face void of emotion.

I nodded. "Were you in love with her? Did you love her?" I asked. I have no idea why that is important now, but for some reason, I needed to know, maybe to console myself with a lie that Hunter loved me more than her. Perhaps I just craved the pain that came from his truth.

"What does it matter? It was a long time ago." Hunter snapped. He put a little distance between us as he walked away from me.

"Please answer me, Hunter; were you in love with my sister?" I asked in a trembling voice, and Hunter turned to face me. Seconds stretched into minutes as he remained silent, his eyes never leaving mine.

He stared at me, his gaze unflinching, like he was searching for something in my eyes. Whatever it was, I refused to give him the satisfaction of finding it so hardened my expression, yet I couldn't push back the stinging tears in the back of my eyes that threatened to spill.

"At the time, I was." He let out a sigh, breathing heavily.

"She was your first love?" I muttered, and he nodded.

"How long were you two together?"

"From when we were fifteen."

"Did you break up with her because of me? Was it because of my return to the pack and you found out I was your mate? Is that why you left her?"

"No. I broke up with her because she cheated; it wasn't her first time, and I was tired of putting up with all her lies and gaslighting." I closed my eyes briefly to suck in a shaky breath. I wasn't sure if my exhale was out of relief or just the fact that I had already accepted defeat.

"How long were you separated before I came back?" I asked, and despite how much it pained me to know the answers to these questions, I asked them nonetheless.

"A month. Arya and I had been separated for a month."

"And everyone knew of your relationship? My parents, your parents, the entire pack?"

"Yes," Hunter replied, avoiding my gaze.

A laugh erupted out of me at his confession. "Yet no one thought to inform me. No one told me that my sister held the heart of the man I thought was the love of my life." I cackled bitterly at the thought.

How foolish was I to think Hunter was ever mine? How had I been so naive to think I was his one true love?

Foolish, foolish girl, Jade. Your foolishness should be a case study. I mumbled in mockery.

"I can't imagine how much fun it must've been to make a mockery of me for two years." My laughter continued. "I was parading myself as Luna to-be, without knowing I was a clown in a circus, thinking I was yours just as you were mine. Mine alone, but now I know that without the mate bond, you never would have loved me.

Acknowledging this bitter truth feels like the devil had his claws deep in my heart. Even though I laughed bitterly, I could feel myself drowning, and as much as I tried hard to swim to the surface, I couldn't. Every attempt I made to breathe in the air only ended up with a lungful of water that constricted my throat and suffocated me.

"Jade..." Hunter called weakly, stepping closer. He reached out for me with shaky hands, and I stepped back. He was never mine, and I was stupid to think we were meant to be. Now I know why it was so easy for him to discard me-not even one iota of trust that I might be telling the truth-that maybe Darren had drugged me.

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." I murmured with a chuckle as I wiped a tear from my cheeks-a lie even I wasn't convinced of.

"Jade, I loved you, but you cheated. How can I...

"I, JADE ALTHEA DIMAANO, daughter of Juan Dimaano," I began saying, cutting Hunter off because even now, he still believes I cheated, and there's nothing I can say that will change his mind. "Accept the rejection of ALPHA HUNTER HENDRIX, son of Orion Hendrix. May the moon uphold this rejection and the goddess ease my pain." I finished, wiping away droplets of tears as I turned, opened the door of the tiny room, and walked out.

Nothing will ever ease my pain, and nothing will ever lessen the anguish in my heart because of his betrayal.

~JADE~

I don't even think I remember when the trial started.

No.

I shook my head mentally; this wasn't a trial because there wasn't even anything to try here. This was some twisted judgement-day shit going on. This ceased to be a trial from the moment my own mate didn't even believe me or try to fight for me.

After accepting Hunter's rejection, I walked out of that tiny office space with my heart in the pit of my stomach.

Could it have been naivety because he was the first man I ever loved that I didn't see things I probably should've noticed? Looking back at everything that has happened throughout the two years of our relationship, I guess I was just too naive to see things for what they really were.

Hunter was always territorial and possessive, and one time when I complained about it to my mother because he was being too restrictive, she told me that was normal for Alpha wolves and their mates. She said wolves were territorial, so it made sense.

I used to get all happy when Hunter would become jealous and throw a fuss if he saw me even smile at another man because I assumed it meant he loved me so much and didn't want anybody else to get too near. Having someone dote on me like that made me feel special. He was always breathing down my neck and always wanted to know where I was, who I was meeting, and how many hours I'd stay out. even had a phone tracking app installed on my phone because he wanted to know where I was at all times.

And I was so stupid to think it was because he loved me. I always giggled when he would call whenever I was in town and ask why I was taking so long. I always blushed like a fool because, oh goddess, my mate loved me so much he didn't want me out of his sight. My mate was so possessive, attentive, and territorial that it always made me melt. However, I had been so foolish to see that it wasn't the case.

No, the hard truth that I failed to see then was that my mate didn't trust me; he didn't trust me to stay faithful and loyal to him. So every time I was out of sight, in his head, I could be with another man, and he needed to make sure that I wasn't. I would always tease him about being insecure, but that was only because I loved how flustered he got when I did and his little show of annoyance whenever he tried to rebuff my claim. Then he would go all Alpha mode on me, trying to prove that he wasn't insecure, and then proceed to proclaim how much he loved me. It was entertaining to watch his pale complexion turn a paler shade of pink, and as he babbled on about how much he loved me, I would take advantage of the chance to bring his face down to my level by kissing him on his ginger hair.

Those moments were one of my many happy memories with him, but all those habits of his that I fancied and nurtured weren't because he loved me so damn much he was scared to lose me; no, it was because he never trusted me. And, dear goddess, that stung like a bitch.

It stung so fucking hard, I could feel it twisting my liver, and it felt like someone had a chainsaw to my spine.

"Jade." The sound of my name being called echoed in the far distance, and for a moment I didn't really pay attention. "JADE!" The growl ricocheted off the walls of the hall and slammed straight into my ribcage, successfully pulling me out of my head.

"Yes?" I asked, snapping my head up with slightly wide eyes to look around the room while I tried to hide how unexpectedly shocked I had gotten because of the sudden growl.

"You were asked a question." One of the elders present for my case responded in a pinched voice.

"My apologies if you could please repeat the question again." I prompted, without feeling the need to explain that I was lost in thought and just couldn't be bothered to listen to them while they contemplated my fate.

"We asked if you had a way to prove your innocence." An elder repeated the question for me.

"My innocence?" I asked, blinking rapidly, because I needed to be sure I heard that right.

"Yes. You claim you are innocent, and if you believe you are right against the better judgment of your sister and mate, then can you prove your innocence?" The head elder explained.

Try hard as I may, I wanted to keep my emotions in check, but I couldn't help the mocking snigger that erupted out of me as I took in his words.

Is this a joke?

Are they being serious right now? Asking me to prove my innocence? Isn't that what they should've tried to do for the past few days? Shouldn't they have tried to search for Darren and have him standing here today?

"Did the elder say something funny? Or do you think we're all here for your amusement?" One of the elders barked at me, and I shook my head as I brought my hands to cover my mouth, a failed attempt to stop the sounds coming out of me.

"I'm sorry." I spluttered another round of mocking giggles. "I really am sorry; that was just... I couldn't stop myself." I struggled in between laughs as I replied.

"You want me to prove my innocence?" The scowl on their faces deepened at my question. I sighed, shaking my head. "How? How do you expect me to prove anything at all when I told you some minutes or perhaps hours ago that I do not remember anything that happened after drinking the water my dearest sister offered me? How do I prove something I don't know?"

My gaze travelled among the elders, and if the judgement in their eyes wasn't clear enough, the annoyance on their faces was more than enough evidence of how irritated they were with my presence.

"Are you suggesting that I drugged you?" Arya yelled, springing to her feet. The elders had given her permission to sit down while she was giving her testimony of what happened and what she saw, and the entire ordeal was done with snot and tears all over her face.

Hunter had also given his own statement, and weirdly enough, Arya was the one who raced to our home to call Hunter after she saw me sleeping in bed with her boyfriend. According to my dear ol' sister, she had been too shocked, hurt and scared that her boyfriend would hit her or try to hurt her if she confronted us alone, so she ran to my mate instead.

"Did you?" The bitter smile on my face stretched thin as my gaze bounced back to Arya, who wore a scowl on her face and I wondered if looks could kill.

"You..." Arya began, already sniffing. "How could you?" And then the waterworks followed. "You betrayed my trust, and now you accuse me of doing something so vile." She hiccuped, sobbing hysterically as she blabbed incoherent words that made no sense.

My mom reached out from her seat, patting Arya's back, while the majority of the people at the table turned to her with a look of pity on their faces. Even Hunter couldn't keep the passive expression on his face as he turned briefly in her direction but immediately looked away.

Nice. Once again, I am the bad guy.

How nice.

I sighed, raising my head up to stare at the ceiling while I fought back the stinging tears in my eyes.

"It is a customary rite for anyone being tried to be given a chance to prove their innocence; are you saying you can't prove yours and there is no point extending this rite to you?" The head elder asked, and I dropped my head with a heavy sigh.

"Like I said, I don't know or remember what happened; how do you suppose I prove my innocence? Why is her boyfriend not here if you really wanted to give me a chance?" I asked while pointing at Arya. "Shouldn't he be questioned as well?"

"The delta fled the pack, and all attempts to find him have been futile; however, he isn't the accused, you are. And if you cannot prove your innocence, we are within our rights to proceed with the trial as we deem fit and make a decision based on all the evidence brought here against you today." The head elder responded, and I gave a curt nod.

A few days ago, I was still foolish enough to hope that this trial would prove my innocence, but I had resigned myself to my fate the minute I accepted Hunter's rejection and walked out of that tiny room. I was never a part of this pack, and even if my innocence is proven, they will never see me as one of theirs. I was an outsider when I came back two years ago, and I am still an outsider. Being with Hunter for the past two years gave me a false sense of security, and I was so deluded to think I belonged here.

I watched with a shattering heart as the elders huddled together and whispered amongst themselves. The head elder whispered something to the elder next to him, who in turn whispered in the ears of the next elder, and it continued like that until it got to Alpha Orion, who shifted his attention to Hunter for a few minutes, and it became quite clear that they were having a conversation through the mind link.

My gaze trailed back to the people I thought were my family. Arya was still sniffling and crying, and my parents were fussing over her, patting her back as they tried to console her. She said I was the self-absorbed one who always took everything from her, but for as long as I can remember, it has always been this way.

My parents only agreed that Aunt Diwa take me with her because they believed she would teach me discipline. To my parents, I was the troublesome child, the one who never listened, and that was how I got myself into the mess of becoming Aunt Diwa's ward. It wasn't because I was eager to visit the Philippines, nor was it because I manipulated Aunt Diwa to take me; it was because my parents didn't want me here. They didn't want to deal with my troubles and would rather have their perfect daughter, Arya, who always obeyed and never questioned them.

"It has come to our knowledge that you are pregnant with your mate's pup. Is this true?" My gaze returned to the elders for a moment.

"Jade, are you pregnant and are we to believe that the pup you are carrying belongs to your mate?" The elder repeated his question, and my gaze shifted to Hunter.

Our eyes met, and I stared pointedly at him as I flipped the question over and over again in my mind. Is it true? Is it his pup? Am I really pregnant?

"No," I replied without breaking eye contact with Hunter. "I lied." I declared in one breath, and for some reason, Hunter flinched.

If this is his only chance to ever father a pup, then I will gladly deprive him of the opportunity and joys of being a father.