Dante clenched his fists, glared at Ronan and me, "It's a lie. Just because I had been hunting Elk and had been in the Open Forest sector does not mean I am the one who brought those berries back. Anyone could have gone there and done that." "You can't get out of this with this, Alpha Dante," I coldly stared back at him. "You know you did this." Dante's nostrils flared as he stepped closer to me, "Watch yourself when you accuse me. If you have any witness that witnessed me doing it or involved in any other act then prove it," he demanded. "Alpha Cassius already spilled the beans on your involvement earlier, Alpha Dante. How much proof do you want? You should have chosen better pawns to assist you with your dirty work," I pointed out looking deeply into his furious blue eyes. He could not say a word. His silence wrapped around him like a noose. Cassius looked ready to pass out. Reed's face twisted in silent panic as realization dawned-if Dante fell, they would fall with him. "Stop dragging this hearing out by involving innocent people!" Reed snapped. "Innocent?" I chuckled, my voice low and dangerous. "Yeah, we're fucking innocent! You're the rogue here!" he spat. "You broke Academy rules, so pack your bags and get the hell out. Honestly, what could a malnourished wretch like you possibly do here? Don't tell me you dream of claiming the throne. A pretty bastard with a bewitching, womanly frame like yours? You're only fit to be a male whore, kept to serve the king's needs-" "Alpha Reed!" Alpha Gideon thundered, his voice laced with fury. But before the weight of the warning could land, I heard Ronan's boots shift against the floor. I didn't know what he intended to do, but I moved before he could. I stepped forward, placing myself just inches from him. Phina was snarling in my mind, demanding control, desperate to tear the arrogant Alpha limb from limb for daring to insult us in front of everyone. Reed's jaw clenched as he met my silent stare. "What? Are you angry now?" I smiled. "Yes." His smirk vanished. Every Alpha watching stiffened. "You should've said anything-anything at all-except question my worth for the throne," I whispered. His eyes widened, panic flickering behind them as he instinctively stepped back. "Please come in, Alpha Finn," I called loudly. A moment later, Finn entered the room. He gave Ronan a quick glance, then surveyed the room before walking up to me. In his hands was a small leather-bound journal. "Here's what you asked for," he said, handing it to me. "Thank you." "-That's my diary!" Reed blurted, his voice rising with panic. "Why do you have my-" He lunged, but I sidestepped and placed the journal squarely on the instructors' desk, slapping a folded note down beside it. Alpha Hugo frowned as he picked up the note. "This is…" "Please compare the handwriting in this note and in the diary," I calmly requested. 2/4 P. The instructors leaned in, flipping through the pages and examining the note. Within seconds, their gazes hardened. All eyes turned to Reed, now sweating bullets. "What the hell is going on here?" Alpha Gideon demanded. Finn stepped forward. His voice was firm, but his eyes found mine before he spoke. "I'd like to explain, Alpha." And he did. Finn told them everything-from being bullied, to sneaking off in my place, to me stepping in to protect him. How Reed, Cassius, and the others had abused and manipulated him in a scheme to trap me. How the events that led to this entire confrontation were calculated and cruel. By the time he finished, the room was silent. Dead silent. The instructors stared at us with unreadable expressions. None of them looked the least bit pleased. "You little fools," Alpha Jude growled, his eyes bleeding into red. "You treated this Academy like a joke," Alpha Hugo snarled. "Everyone out!" Alpha Gideon roared. An Alpha assistant appeared, ushering us toward the doors, but I didn't move. I couldn't. If I walked out now, it was over. My fate would be decided without me. So instead, I stood my ground, raised my chin, and met the instructors' gazes. "I fought to defend myself," I began, my voice clear and strong. "But I only became violent when I discovered the truth, when I realized these Alphas tampered with Ronan's cologne to ruin me." Everyone paused at the threshold. "They were just as violent. They came at me as a group. I reacted to the situation I was forced into. And I believe any Alpha- any of you-if your dignity had been threatened the way mine was, if your name was on the verge of being tarnished forever by an act that vile, you would have torn them apart without hesitation." My eyes locked on Reed. Then Cassius. And finally, Dante. "If anyone here thinks this was some petty, avoidable squabble-put yourself in my place," I said, turning back to the instructors. "Now tell me… what would you have done?" Silence. Not a single Alpha answered. I knew why. Their pride ran deeper than any sense of morality. For them, standing naked after a shift was one thing. But losing control during rut-being forced, humiliated, branded forever as someone who'd been tricked into rutting another male-that was a stain they could never outlive. Having finished what I needed to say, I turned and walked out of the room. The door shut behind me with a soft click, and I found myself standing between Ronan and Dante. Their wolves flanked thern, both brimming with tension and dominance. I stood still, fists clenched at my sides, eyes fixed on the closed door where my fate would be sealed.