Chapter 1 Nicole , the sister of our new Alpha and my good friend , pulled out all the stops for my trial . The entire pack filled the pack arena , with not a single inch of space left . Pack correspondents from different packs across the werewolf realm had their cameras set up , broadcasting the live trial straight to their own pack halls . 7 . With my organs failing , I was barely hanging on , kept alive by medication and IVs , yet they still dragged me to the pack arena like a criminal . One pack member lunged at me , his fingers digging into my throat so tightly I could barely breathe . " Mira ! Why are you shielding the murderer ? " he roared , his voice full of fury . " You disgusting monster ! You ruined my family ! Why don't you just die ? " The air was squeezed from my lungs , and my vision darkened at the edges , the world tilting into blackness . The crowd erupted in fury . ' Heartless bitch ! Her friend was raped and she knew who did it , but she stayed silent ! " " Her friend jumped into a lake and killed herself , her mother cried until her eyes bled , and she still wouldn't open the door ! " " And worse , she set a bear on someone ! She just makes me sick ! " The wave of curses drowned me . Nicole stood beside her brother , Alpha Blake , her brows drawn tightly together . Of everyone in the world, aside from Amber's family , no one hated me more than she did . Ten years ago , Amber , Nicole , and I had been inseparable . We grew up together in the pack , attended mate gatherings side by side , and endured those painful shift nights together . Under the glow of the bonfire , we once swore that even after we found our mates , we would remain best friends for life , friends before mates . But my relationship with Nicole fell apart after Amber was violated and took her own life in the woods near my house . I became an accomplice to a rapist just because Amber mentioned in her suicide note that I had seen the man who attacked her . And the truth was , I really shielded the murderer . Nicole stepped forward , her face hardening and her voice devoid of warmth . " Mira , I'm giving you one last chance , " she said flatly . " Tell us who did it . Confess to the Alpha , before it's too late . " She paused , her tone sharpening " Otherwise , once the Memory Plate is activated , the power of it will crush every bone in your body like it's been through 999 rounds of torture . Your wolf will become weak beyond measure . Your won't get another chance to clear your name . " At her words , my face went pale . I struggled , screaming out , " Nicole , you can't ! " " You can't extract my memories ! " Nicole gripped my hand tightly , her teeth clenched . Chapter 1 BALJONAIRE CLOS D Dreame - Read Romance Stories 44 FREE Book Title My Mate and Brothers Betrayal Installed Open 0.90 % " Are you scared now ? " " This isn't up to you. " " I have to get justice for Amber . " I begged , tears streaming down my cheeks . " Nicole , please , listen to me . You can't reveal my memories . You'll regret it ! " Nicole sneered , her eyes blazing with fury as she leaned in closer . " Regret it ? " " The only thing I ever regretted was being your friend . " Two warriors immediately forced me down , making me kneel on the rough , uneven sand of the arena . Cold silver threads emerged from the ground , binding my wrists and ankles . Ignoring my violent resistance , they held me in place as a swamp witch in a red robe slowly ascended the stage . She raised her hand , and with a flick of her fingers , the cold Memory Plate clamped onto my head . In an instant , countless needles pierced through my scalp , drilling into my brain . The pain struck me like a violent storm . My body spasmed , and I screamed in agony , feeling like my soul was being torn apart . Even then , the pack members in the crowd were still in a frenzy . They threw rotten eggs and rocks onto the stage , cursing me without mercy . " Backstabbing bitch ! Monster ! You worthless piece of shit , go to hell ! " " Alpha , give us justice for our pack members ! " On the large screen , my memories began to rewind . The first memory appeared before everyone's eyes . Chapter 1