Chapter 267 - The sin

“I think she’s allowed to know whatever you two are doing secretly, right?” Sebastian suggested with a smirk. “After all, she’s going to be the future Luna. But, if her mother is having an affair with her father-in-law, none of this counts, does it?”

Freya glared at her mom. “The only reason I went ahead with your plan was because you said you would give Anastasia’s position to me and I would be able to get married to Ryan. Why did you break your promise, Mom? Didn’t you say you won’t keep anything personal with him anymore? Why did you go back on your word?”

“Freya, why are you talking this way with your mom?” Ross retorted. “Why are you believing their fabricated evidence? They must’ve tampered with the pictures. Please don’t believe them. Listen to what I’m saying.”

“Listen to what?” she yelled, pointing at him. “The cloth that you are wearing was lying on the floor in the video. Stop fooling me, I’m not stupid!”

Ross refrained himself, feeling embarrassed.

“Honey, please calm down and listen to us,” her mom pleaded, taking her by the hand. “There’s nothing–“

“What did you say about taking Anastasia’s position?” Nikolai remarks, drawing everyone’s attention.

“And what plan did you agree with just so you could marry Ryan?” Sebastian asked.

“You don’t need to know that. Get out of here!” Ross yelled. “Guards, hold them down.”

Sebastian and Nikolai pushed away the two guards coming in their direction.

“Wait right there!” Anastasia yelled, drawing their attention.

Freya, her mom and Ross both hearing the voice became alarmed.

Anastasia came running towards them panting, running out of breath.

“Don’t fight,” she pleaded, catching her breath.

“We weren’t planning to unless they confessed on their own,” Nikolai replied, turning to her Uncle and Mom. “So, will you do the honor and tell us what we came here to know?”

“Know what?” Ross retorted. “And do you think we are obliged to tell you everything in the first place?”

“Yes, you are,” Sebastian replied confidently. “We already have the pictures and the video. Your daughter saw it as well. Unless you want it leaked you have to cooperate with us.”

“What do you want to know?” Freya’s mom asked, out of frustration. “Make it as quick as you can and leave.”

“Why is she here?” Freya yelled, pointing at her. “I thought you two came by yourselves.”

“We wouldn’t have come unless it’s for her,” Sebastian replied confidently, turning to Ross. “All because we want to give justice to someone we love.”

“Justice?” Ross mocked, looking in Anastasia’s direction. “Don’t tell me you are here to prove that murderer innocent? Don’t make me laugh. That is just not possible.”

“It’s possible if anyone can defend me,” Anastasia stated, resolve to show in her eyes very well.

“And who do you think in this Ravens pack is going to defend for you? Who here believes that you weren’t the one who did the deed?” Freya’s mom added with a smirk. “I can’t think of a name, can you Ross?”

Her uncle smiled. “No, I can’t either. She’s quite delusional, isn’t she? If I think about it, she has always been living life under her four walls, detached from the outside world. That might be the reason why she’s always delusional. It’s all our fault she became so much stupid.”

“True, go and take your stupidity somewhere else,” her mom joked. “Don’t waste our time. No one’s going to defend you.”

“There is someone who’ll defend her!” another voice stated from a distance.

Leon arrived at the spot with the Maid whom they met earlier following next to him.

Seeing her face Freya’s mom and Ross became frantic.

“W-why’s Patricia here? I don’t understand!” she yelled, fisting her hands.

Leon came and stood along with the maid next to Anastasia

“Why are you here?” Ross snorted, his eyes glaring in anger. “You’ve stopped working here a long time ago. What’s the meaning of this farce?”

The maid lowered her head, turning to Anastasia.

“The last time I saw her was a few months ago when the Alpha died. She was quite the spoiled princess and I hated her for it. But, the princess I see here is someone I’d admire. That’s why, I don’t think there’s any need for her to carry the burden of a sin that she hasn’t committed.”

“You aren’t allowed to say that Patricia!” Freya retorted. “Didn’t you take a lot of money for it? Why are you turning your back on us suddenly?”

“Yes, I did take a lot of money for it,” the maid replied with a guilty expression. “But, they have opened my eyes now. I don’t want to stain my hands with your money anymore. That’s why, I’ll return everything after confessing the truth, in front of everyone.”

“Everyone?” Ross questioned.

“Yes, everyone,” Leon replied, looking in the direction of the door.

All the people from the pack had gathered at the packhouse suddenly. Seeing them, Ross’s face had gone pale.

“Why are they here? Guards, throw them out!” He instructed. But the guards weren’t listening to him.

“They are here to listen to the story of their Alpha’s murder. There’s no way you can kick them out without listening to everything,” Leon added, looking in the maid’s direction. “Go and tell us what happened on the day of the murder.”

The maid nodded. “On the day the Alpha died, it was the day of Princess Anastasia’s engagement with Prince Ryan. She was busy getting ready, and in the middle of the ceremony, I went to check on the Alpha’s bedroom and saw him lying on the bed with his eyes open. And her earrings were lying on the ground. That’s why she was accused of murder, but no one knows the truth except for me and Master Ross and Mistress, and Princess Freya. Cause we were in this plan together.”

Freya looked at her mom in horror. Her mom and Ross exchanged glances and their faces filled with horror as well.

“What plan?” Anastasia asked.

“The plan of Alpha’s Assassination,” the maid replied with a bruised expression. “Madam mixed a drug into the Alpha’s food and I was told to feed him that. As everyone was busy no one went to check up on him. And he had hit his leg the previous day so he ate in his room alone. The drug took effect, and he slowly died in his bed by the evening. I secretly took Princess’s earrings from her room and dropped them on the ground before I went to announce his death. As there was no further investigation, and no evidence except for the earrings, the verdict fell on her. And she was exiled from the pack, losing her status. I met Master afterward and they gave me the promised money and land I was told not to disclose this information to anybody and then I left my job here to live in peace. But, the sin I had committed was eating me out day by day. I couldn’t sleep in peace, my dreams had become nightmares when I slept on that comfy bed. I wanted to confess, I wanted to find solace. But, I was forbidden to speak about it.”