Chapter 65

The hall erupted with whispers. We were all asking the same questions. Some were loud while others kept their questions to themselves. However, the biggest obstacle was finding out who was telling the truth and who was lying?

Both Silvia and Essie were liars in my eyes, but one of them was using the other in this situation. The problem was, I couldn't defend any of them. Essie had caused me enough pain, while Silvia had been open about her displeasure. But I wondered if it went so far as to harm me.

Humans and wolves are capable of the worst if given an opportunity.

The light flickered overhead, casting erratic shadows that danced across the faces of those present. The room was a boiling pot of suspicion and unease. I scanned the crowd, trying to read the expressions etched on their faces. Some were stern, others doubtful, and a few were outright hostile.

Rome's voice cut through the din, sharp and commanding. "Silence!"

The whispers ceased instantly, replaced by an oppressive stillness. Rome's eyes, dark and intense, swept over the assembly. "We are here to find the truth. Not to cast blame without evidence."

Silvia looked pale and nervous. Her eyes darted around, avoiding direct contact. Essie, on the other hand, stood defiantly, her chin raised, but I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"Silvia," Rome addressed her first, his voice cold and precise. "Do you have anything to say?"

Silvia took a hesitant step forward. "I've been honest from the start," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I have nothing to hide."

Essie scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Honest? That's a joke."

I felt a pang of frustration. How were we to discern the truth when both sides were so adamant? I glanced at my mother, her face a mask of calm determination, but I knew her well enough to sense the storm brewing beneath.

Rome turned to Essie. "And you? Do you stand by your claims?"

Essie met his gaze head-on. "Yes. Every word."

My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of information. The photograph, the threats, the history of lies and deceit. It was a tangled web, and I was caught in the middle.

"We need to approach this logically," Mrs. Cole interjected, her voice cutting through the tension. "Examine the evidence, cross-check their stories."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. I felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, with a methodical approach, we could unravel the truth.

But as I looked at Silvia and Essie, I couldn't shake the nagging doubt. Both had their secrets, their motives. And in this game of shadows, the truth was the hardest thing to grasp.

Rome nodded. "We will proceed as Mrs. Cole suggests. We will find the truth, no matter how deeply it's buried."

"We have someone who can check the authenticity of the photograph," Alpha Derick interjected.

I didn't know if he wanted to help, or if he simply wanted to protect his sister.

"Bring them forward," Mrs. Cole ordered.

Somehow Rome and Mrs. Cole had taken over the meeting. You would think the rest of the pack members were guests in their own Pack.

A young guy came forward holding a laptop. He was assigned a place to sit and perform his magic. Essie's phone was given to him.

We waited patiently, none of us spoke. It felt like everyone was holding their breath. This would prove if Essie was lying. And if she was telling the truth, that meant Silvia was lying.

I wanted to find the culprit, but I didn't know it would cause such a conflict. Before I came to the Silver Pack, I thought I had one enemy. Turns out I was surrounded by enemies. No one was to be trusted.

The young technician's fingers flew over the keyboard, the soft clattering of keys the only sound in the room. The seconds stretched into minutes, each one laden with tension. I glanced around, seeing the unease mirrored on every face. Even Rome, usually so composed, seemed on edge.

Finally, the technician looked up, his expression serious. "I've analyzed the photo," he said, his voice breaking the silence like a thunderclap. "The metadata shows that it hasn't been altered. The timestamp and location data match Essie's account."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. My heart sank as I processed his words. Essie was telling the truth. Which meant Silvia...

"Silvia," Mrs. Cole's voice was stern, "do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Silvia's face twisted with a mix of defiance and fear. "This is a setup," she spat. "They're framing me!"

But her words rang hollow. The evidence was too damning, and the pack could sense the truth. Murmurs of disbelief and anger began to rise from the crowd.

Rome stepped forward, his presence commanding as ever. "Silvia, you have been given a chance to come clean. Instead, you chose to deceive us. This will not be tolerated."

Silvia's eyes darted around, searching for an ally, but found none. She was alone, her lies unraveling around her.

I wasn't about to let Silvia off the hook. I knew what would happen next. Her brother would seize her under the pretense of punishment, wait for us to leave, and then the punishment would disappear.

The urge to punish her filled me with anger. I rushed forward and grabbed her by the throat. I could feel my wolf come to the surface. I heard that when the wolf takes over, the human side steps back.

Strangely, it didn't happen. It felt like we combined to form one soul instead of two. We were in agreement that Silvia had to be punished.

I felt my hands get stronger.

"Let's show them what happens to those who mess with us," Sami said.

"We can't kill her," I warned her.

"I know. I know. Sadly, she will wish she had died," Sami's tone shifted to that of pure evil.

"Let's do this," I added.

I half-shifted for the first time in that nasty house. And this would be my second time. My fingernails turned to claws. They kept digging into her throat until blood started dripping.

"I'll give you one last chance," I announced.

Her eyes filled with fear. Fear was an emotion I was starting to appreciate in others. I was done being afraid. It was my turn to instill fear in others.

Her chest started moving quickly, her eyes wide with terror. Her head shook as if she was begging.

"One," I started counting.

"Two."

Fear filled the room, and I could almost taste it.

"Three... Four..."

"I'm sorry," she started. "I didn't know they would rape you. I'm so sorry..."

Tears filled her eyes, and for the first time that night, she let them fall freely. She was beyond terrified. But I didn't pity her.

Her confession hung in the air, the room silent except for her sobbing. The faces around us were a mix of shock, horror, and grim satisfaction. My grip tightened, claws digging deeper, drawing more blood. She gasped, choking on her own fear.

"Too late for apologies," I hissed, my voice a low growl. "You will pay for what you've done."

I felt the power surging through me, the primal strength of my wolf merging with my own rage. Silvia's struggles weakened as the blood flowed, her terror palpable.

"Enough," Rome's voice cut through the haze of my anger. He stepped forward, his eyes hard but controlled. "We don't need to stoop to their level."