Chapter 4 " After a full review of the facts , the defendant , Hazel Woods , was found not guilty of bullying . " Declan was nearly foaming at the mouth with rage . " Alpha King , have you even looked at the Moon Mirror ? How can Hazel's bullying charge not stand ? That wretch is guilty as sin ! " The pack members were stunned , their murmurs rippling through the hall . " What ? The bullying charge didn't stick ? " " Why not ? Hazel clearly hit Helena ! How could she not be guilty ? Is the Moon Mirror broken ? " " Shut up ! The Moon Mirror can't be wrong . It's the Moon Goddess's sacred relic - the final word of truth . There's got to be more to it . Haven't we all seen it flip the whole story before ? " " Yeah , let's wait and see what else it shows . " At that moment , the Moon Mirror flared to life again . It began to play a memory - my memory . After Helena accused me , Dad , Mom , and Declan had all stormed off , leaving me alone with her in the bedroom . Helena , sweet as ever , led me to the bathroom . " Go freshen up , " she said kindly . When I came out , she was already digging through my closet , picking out clothes with a thoughtful smile . " Wear this white one , Hazel , " she said . " You'll look gorgeous in it . " Her kindness made my eyes prickle with tears of gratitude . " Thank you , Helena . I don't know what I would've done without you today . " She waved it off with a generous smile . " No big deal , Hazel . We're family , right ? " Then , out of nowhere , she doubled over , clutching her stomach as laughter spilled out of her . " I can't - I can't keep this up ! " she gasped between giggles . " God , Hazel , you're such an idiot . You actually thanked me ! " I froze , struggling to process her words . Her grin warped into something strange and mocking " You still don't get it , do you , you moron ? That cake I gave you ? I spiked it with a massive dose of laxatives . Wasn't it just delicious ? " My stomach dropped . She was worse than the monsters the nurses at the shelter used to scare us with . I went pale , my voice trembling . "You did this to me ? Aren't you afraid I'll tell Mom and Dad ? " Helena only laughed harder . " Oh , you poor , clueless hick . You really think they'd believe you ? Wanna bet on it ? " Before I could speak , she clawed at her own arms , leaving red welts , and raked her fingers through her hair until it looked like a bird's nest . Then she staggered out the door , tears streaming down her face as she stumbled downstairs , sobbing dramatically . " Mom ! Dad ! I'm so sorry ! " she wailed . " I shouldn't have made that cake for Hazel ... " The memory froze on one damning image : Mom , Dad , and Declan glaring up at me from the bottom of the stairs , their eyes cold with accusation . Helena's performance had united them against me . That was the real family . And I had been foolish enough to think I could ever belong . Watching the scene unfold in the Moon Mirror , Mom , Dad , and Declan stood there , dumbfounded . Chapter 4 TV 40 000 Mom recovered first , her voice awkward as she glanced at me . " Look , Hazel ... your sister was just fooling around . Don't overthink it . I'll ... deal with her later , okay ? " Declan scoffed , folding his arms . " Fine , maybe this time you were framed . But what about everything else ? At school , you've been ganging up on Helena , isolating her , hitting her . Don't try to deny it . " The pack members erupted in heated whispers . " No way . Tell me I'm not the only one creeped out by that foster kid . She's so young , and already that manipulative . And wait - Hazel's the real daughter , isn't she ? The Alpha's own blood ? " " Forget the foster kid - what about this family's twisted priorities ? Their own daughter's been wronged , and they're defending the foster instead of comforting Hazel ? " " Exactly . Seriously , it makes me sick . " " No wonder that foster brat's so bold and vicious . They've enabled her . If I had a family like that , I'd probably give up on life . Poor Hazel . " The crowd's words hit Dad like a slap . His face darkened , and he shot me a venomous look . " Don't get cocky just because people are taking your side . You know what you did to Helena at school . You're not innocent . " He turned to the Alpha King , his voice hard . " Please , continue the trial ! " Chapter 4