Alpha Gideon stared at me, searching my eyes for deceit. His gaze lingered, sharp and penetrating. Then he turned to Ronan, studying him for a long moment. His eyes swept over the eight injured Alphas sprawled across the floor. Finally, his attention landed on Dante. Silence thickened, everyone's eyes on his changing expression. "Fine," he said at last. Ireleased my breath, my wolf relaxing in my mind for a bit. However it did not last long. The next thing I knew, I was standing in the center of the Academy's disciplinary chamber-the Grand Office of Alpha Instructors. Alpha Gideon sat in the central seat of judgment, flanked by two senior Alphas: Alpha Hugo and Alpha Jude. I had only seen these two commanding Alphas from a distance before-handsome, middle-aged, and clearly not men to be trifled with. But now, standing before them in the flesh, I could feel it: their presence radiated a power no less formidable than Alpha Gideon's. Their eyes swept the room-first to Ronan on my right, then Dante on my left, and finally to the limping figures of Cassius and Reed, the latter's left arm wrapped in a fresh plaster cast. Both had just staggered into the disciplinary chamber, their injuries stark reminders of the earlier chaos. "Well, this is what I call a mess," Alpha Hugo muttered, dragging a hand through his silver-streaked hair. Frustration roughened his voice, the kind of irritation that came from long years spent dealing with youthful disasters. In stark contrast, Alpha Jude leaned forward, elbow resting lazily on the desk, chin balanced on his hand. His eyes, cool and unreadable, fixed on me with a stare that felt like a slow dissection. "Alpha Seth Darven," he said, voice calm but laced with sharpness, "give me one good reason why I should sit here and waste my time on this performance of yours. Let me guess the ending, just another reckless boy who made a fucked up mess but doesn't wants to deal with the consequences." The air shifted sharply. There was something almost rogue-like in his bluntness-so casual, so cutting. It didn't match the polished decorum expected in a place like this, Lupine Academy's highest chamber of judgment. But I steadily met his gaze, my voice calm. "Because I am innocent." The atmosphere instantly thickened. Eyes snapped to me-some curious, others skeptical. Alpha Jude chewed on a fingernail, still not looking away. "Got any proof?" "Proof of my innocence?" "You could call it that," he said, voice dry. "Then may I ask," I replied slowly, "is there any proof that I was the one who attacked those Alphas?" Send Gifts