Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60: The Trial Begins

Irina’s POV

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The old wooden doors creaked shut behind us with a sound that echoed through the room, sealing us inside the Nightfall packhouse. The torches along the walls flickered violently, as if the very air was protesting our presence. My pulse quickened, but not out of fear. No, this was anticipation.

The end of all her lies was finally within reach.

“Bring forth the defendant,” Elder Harden announced, his voice carrying through the hall like a low growl.

My lips twitched, but I stayed silent. I wasn’t the one who should be standing trial.

Aiden didn’t want to let me go, but I slightly bowed my head as soon as the guards approached me. He clenched his fists, but understood I was ready.

The two guards led me toward the center of the room, where a faintly drawn circle marked the floor. They had probably hired a witched for this, the moment I stepped inside I could feel what it was.

A truth-binding spell. Designed to ensure no lies passed within its bounds. How ironic that they planned to use it against me.

Aiden and Derek stood just beyond the circle, their faces unreadable masks of authority. Ethan and Kratos lingered behind them, watchful, silent.

Julie sat with her hands folded neatly on her lap, the very image of innocence and sorrow. She didn’t even glance at me-too busy pretending to pray under her breath.

Elder Harden rose to his feet, his robes sweeping the ground. “Irina of Blue Moon,” he began. “You stand accused of the betrayal of the Alpha’s daughter and the endangerment of your pack’s safety. Julie of Blue Moon, here present, has testified that your actions almost caused her death. You will answer for these charges.”

I lifted my chin. “Then let’s begin.”

Julie’s head finally turned toward me. She blinked, her expression a perfect mask of pained sadness. “Irina,” she said softly, “I never wanted this. I treated you as my sister, even if you took my place…”

Hmm, now that I think about it, where are her supposed parents?

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“You were never at fault for that. You were just a baby, and my parents didn’t understand that. I didn’t want you to suffer the same way I did while I lived with the rogues, that’s why I gave you a chance, b-b-but you b-betrayed me!”

She started weeping.

Kratos’s jaw ticked. She is accusing his people of being cruel when she was the one who helped murder them.

I bit back a laugh. “She’s really good. Almost convincing.”

Theia’s voice was sharp in my head. “Almost.”

Elder Harden nodded approvingly at Julie before focusing on me again. “Do you deny these accusations?”

“I do,” I said calmly. “And I have proof.”

That got their attention. Harden’s brow furrowed, while the other Elders shifted, murmuring among themselves.

“Proof?” he repeated, skeptical.

“Yes,” I spoke up. “I not only have a witness, but I think you’ll love to hear his testimony,” I pointed at Kratos. “But first, I would like to tell you my story.”

I let the silence hang for a moment, letting every eye in the room settle on me. The flickering torchlight made shadows dance across the walls, casting the Elders’ faces in grim, angular lines. I could almost hear their skepticism before they spoke.

“I wasn’t the one who betrayed anyone,” I began, my voice steady, cold even. “I was a baby, exchanged during my birth. I was not the one who decided to take what wasn’t mine, but I’m certain my parents didn’t want that for me either.”

My eyes flicked to Julie, her tears glimmering in the torchlight. “And as for Julie…” I let the word linger. “…she’s not the innocent girl you think she is.”

A sharp gasp echoed through the hall. I let it slide. The murmur of whispers was exactly what I wanted-it meant doubt was creeping in.

Elder Harden’s voice was a low growl of warning. “Explain yourself, Irina.”

I took a slow step into the circle, feeling the heat of the truth-binding spell prickling against my skin. That would force me to speak nothing but the truth-perfect.

“Recently, I discovered an interesting fact about myself.”

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thatat, he fact that you are an omega. “Those hateful words came from the person I had liked

iveve te past.

sene

ng

ring

dar

vy,

‘m

ot your turn to speak,” Aiden growled at him. “Irina is giving her testimony.”

r clenched his jaw; he couldn’t go against an Alpha in the middle of a trial.

tinuing with what I said previously, we recently discovered an interesting fact about

f, and it is that someone has been trying to destroy my life since I was a baby. My birth nts were not the ones who left me in Blue Moon; someone else exchanged me when I a kid.”

ard a few scoffs.

you have anything to support this accusation?” Elder Harden questioned with an arched

brow.

dded. “This man here,” I pointed at Kratos. “I want you to hear his testimony first before I tinue with my own.”

w how Julie’s eyes widened when she looked at Kratos, it seemed she didn’t register who vas before, but now that I made everyone be aware of his presence, she looked scared.

is not part of the witnesses,” Serim suddenly intervened.

d no idea he was here. To be honest, I should have known. There is no way they would e Julie on her own. I’m sure Rosette and Richard are here, somewhere; the question is

didn’t know about his existence, but I’m sure you’ll find what he has to say enlightening,” isted, hoping Serim wouldn’t make this more difficult.

2

was the least he could do.

hatat

ST

is not a good Alpha,” Theia reminded me.

low, but let’s hope, deep inside, he still cares about me. We had some good memories…”

as wishful thinking, I know.

m’s lips pressed into a thin, displeased line. “The council has strict procedures for trials his magnitude,” Serim said coolly. “We cannot simply allow outsiders to intervene. This…

os is a rogue, nor sworn to its laws.”

aw tightened. I could feel the burn of Theia’s anger echoing inside me. She was ready to

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<Chapter 60: The Trial Begins

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I took a deep breath, keeping my voice level. “You speak of laws and order, Alpha Serim, but where were those when Julie committed her crimes?”

“What crimes?” Serim laughed hollowly. “The only one who took resources from our pack that didn’t belong to her was you, Irina. The food, shelter, and care you had could have served someone belonging to that pack. Instead, we gave everything to an outsider who wasn’t even worthy of all the resources she got from us.”

“Because I’m an omega?” I questioned, but Serim didn’t answer. “So, if I were something else, stronger, it would have been fine?”

Again, Serim didn’t have an answer.

Kratos stepped forward, his massive form casting a long shadow over the floor. “With all due respect to your council,” he said, his deep voice rumbling through the hall, “I do not need to be part of a pack to tell you what I saw. Rogues don’t have laws, and some go rabid, but the ones I lived with were good people. We took that woman into our lives, and what she did was betray us and kill my people.

“At that time, she called herself Ana and pretended to be scared and alone. We took her in and gave her everything she could ask for. Perhaps we weren’t rich, but she lacked nothing. Then, one day, everything changed. She brought a man with her, and they destroyed my home.

“LIES!” Julie cried, bawling her eyes out. “I don’t even know you. I’m sure Irina hired you to lie for her!”

Her accusation was ridiculous, but for some reason, some of the Elders started murmuring, and it wasn’t precisely in my favor.

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