The warriors moved forward again, slowly this time, as if unsure whether they should follow through. Panic surged inside me, and I instinctively backed up, my mind racing. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t fight them and put my baby at risk. But I couldn’t let them take me either.
My breath came in short, rapid bursts as I glanced around the room, my eyes searching for someone who could stop this madness. That was when I saw them—the old Alpha and Luna of Night Creek, standing near the back.
A flicker of hope sparked in my chest. Edwin had mentioned before that they were honorable people, and if I could just get them to listen to reason, maybe, just maybe, I could put an end to this nightmare.
I called out, my voice louder this time. “Alpha William, Luna Rowena, please! There’s been a mistake. I’m not who you think I am!”
The old Alpha’s eyes locked onto mine, but instead of the understanding I’d hoped for, I saw only cold disdain. “Don’t bother trying to deceive us any longer,” he said, his voice thick with disappointment. “We warned Tyler not to trust a rogue like you. We told him to be careful. But he wouldn’t listen. And now, look at what you’ve done.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. “No,” I said, shaking my head, the frustration and anger bubbling over. “I’m not a rogue. I’m not Liana. I’m Alicia, the King’s Beta’s mate!” I yelled, desperation coloring my words. “You’ve got the wrong person!”
But they weren’t listening. The Luna, standing beside her mate, shook her head, her lips curled into a sneer. “An ambitious liar is all you are. A whore who thought she could play two sides and come out clean.”
The insult struck hard, a stinging slap to my pride. But I had no time to defend myself because, at that moment, Tyler’s mother, the Luna of the pack, stepped forward. Her hand came down hard across my face, the sharp sting of the slap making my head whip to the side. The room gasped at the impact.
I froze, my cheek burning from the assault. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. I came here with good intentions but what I received were insults and abuse. I couldn’t let them treat me like this anymore.