Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Scarlett’s POV

Lucian cleared his throat, wiping his tears. “We’ll have to put you in the seclusion cell and bring you out for trial in the evening,” he said, his tone hollow. “The Elders of the North will demand to know the truth. We can’t overturn their judgment.”

I frowned, confusion breaking through my sadness. “The Elders? Who are they?” I asked, feeling lost in this world that seemed to grow darker by the minute.

Maxwell sighed heavily. “The North has a council of Elders,” he explained. “Even though Valkin alphas rule because of their strength, the Elders judge matters of law, family, and justice. This situation falls under their authority. They reside in Tealberg, and with the witnesses who saw what happened…. they’ve likely been informed already. We have no way of hiding this from them, Scarlett.”

The realization hit me with brutal clarity. My future with them was hanging by a thread, my innocence in question, and nothing seemed certain anymore. The love we’d shared, the life we’d started to build-it all seemed like it might be taken away before it had truly begun.

Numbly, I dressed myself in something warm, knowing the seclusion cell would be cold. Clay and Maxwell insisted on walking me there, their faces expressionless, yet I could feel the turmoil in their hearts. When we reached the pack house door, a few guards stepped forward, eyes cold as they moved to take over from Clay and Maxwell.

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Maxwell raised his chin, his voice steady. “The Alpha of Redcape, where the incident occurred, has already separated himself from her. The least you can

allow us is to walk her to the cell ourselves.”

The guards gave me a look of pure disgust, their eyes hard with anger and judgment. To them, I was guilty already. I understood why they’d think that-

Lucian’s decision to let Gregory leave without punishment practically screamed my guilt. But I also understood why Lucian had done it. War with the West

was a death sentence, and he’d acted to protect his people.

As we walked to the seclusion cell, my heart felt heavier with each step. To save lives, I would have to endure this humiliation, bear the brunt of the people’s scorn, and submit to the judgment of the Elders. But what about my dignity? What about my own life? I was being sacrificed to keep the peace, and the only thing that kept me from breaking completely was the hope that, somehow, I’d find a way to prove the truth and reclaim the life we had begun.

As I walked through the crowd, their whispers pierced me like daggers. The cruel words wrapped around me, sinking in deeper with every step I took. “The Vladislav whore finally showed herself,” someone sneered, loud enough for me to hear. “She wanted greener pastures in the West and betrayed her mates.” Each insult stung, and I felt the weight of their hatred pressing down on me. I noticed objects clutched tightly in their hands, ready to be hurled, and 1, realized the only reason they held back was because Clay and Maxwell flanked me on either side.

When we finally reached the seclusion room, the air was stifling. There was no window, only a single bed, a chair, and a door leading to a small bathroom. I

Γ stood there, feeling utterly trapped and vulnerable.

Clay’s expression softened with worry as he looked at me. “Scarlett, the Elders are brutal in cases like this, we won’t be able to help you once the trial begins. But no matter what happens, remember that we love you. You’re still our mate, and we’ll keep you as ours, no matter what.” His voice trembled with the pain he was holding back. “If you weren’t Luna, pone of this would be happening, but we’re bound by the law,” he explained, leaning in to kiss me.

I clung to him, returning the kiss fiercely, as though it might be the last chance we’d have. I could feel the warmth of his love and strength, and when he pulled away, I turned to Maxwell and kissed him just as passionately. The moment the kisses ended, I broke down, my shoulders shaking as the reality of be situation hit me like a tidal wave. My hands trembled, and I felt an icy fear settle deep within me. Clay and Maxwell held me a little longer, then touch the only thing grounding me in that terrifying moment, before they left me alone in the room. The silence was crushing, filling the space with an unbearable

tension.

I sank onto the chair, my heart racing, my mind too frantic to find any answers. I went over everything in my mind, but the pieces didn’t fit. If someone had orchestrated this, I was in deeper trouble than I’d ever imagined.

10:08 am Pppp.

Chapter 86

Cargory was the only person who could possibly clear my name, and he was long gone. If he never returned, I had little hope of escape from this nightmare.

My mates reached out to me through the mind link, their worry flooding me. Lucian was especially troubled, promising that no matter what, they would find Gregory and make him pay. They wedidn’t violate the treaty, but they swore they’d deal with him once he was off their land. The determination in their voices gave me some hope, but sadness still crept in. I loved them, but this situation was tearing us apart.

Hours passed, and a knock echoed in the room, making me jump. An older woman entered, her face stern, her eyes cold and unyielding. She held silver cuffs, and just seeing them brought tears to my eyes. I knew what was coming, and I couldn’t believe I had to endure this humiliation all over again.

“Hands,” she ordered, her voice like ice. I extended my shaking hands, and the moment the cuffs snapped shut, the familiar burn of silver bit into my skin,

and tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Do not look into my eyes or speak unless spoken to,” she said harshly. “I am Elder Tasha Until proven innocent, you are mateless and rankless. Sharing your bed and body with a stranger after being claimed is an insult to your mates and to your pack, but I wouldn’t expect a Vladislav to understand loyalty and fidelity.” Her words cut deep, filled with contempt, and she yanked the chain attached to the cuffs, forcing me forward. I stumbled, hunger and

exhaustion making it hard to keep up.

She pulled me through the door, and I saw that night had fallen. The darkness was a small mercy, but Tasha’s voice was sharp and unrelenting. “Consider yourself lucky that Alpha Lucian chose to bring you out at night to lessen the shame. Others would have dragged you out in broad daylight.” Her voice was cold, and as we moved down the path, the crowd began to form again, people hurling insults-and then objects-at me. I ducked my head, trying to shield

myself from their anger.

“Confess, Vladislav, you filthy whore!” someone shouted, and the venom in their voices wrapped around me, thick and suffocating.

Shame burned through me. I hadn’t even been proven guilty, yet here I was, treated like the worst kind of criminal. They’d never accepted me here, not truly. I’d always been an outsider, and this was their chance to turn their disdain into open hatred. I could feel their contempt like a physical force pressing down on me, and a part of me broke under the weight of it.

One thing was becoming clear: if the trial didn’t end in my favor, I couldn’t stay here. As much as I loved my mates, I couldn’t live a life of constant judgment, forever looked upon as a traitor. If I survived this, if the Elders condemned me, I would have no choice but to find a way to escape, even if it meant leaving behind everything I’d fought to build with them.

Comments

Michele Gremillion

1 Comments

poor Scarlett, looks like she’ll be finding an escape and living as a roque for awhile, thru no fault of her own.

7 days ago

3

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10:08 am Pppp

Chapter 86

ty was the only person who could possibly clear my name, and he was long gone. If he never returned, I had little hope of escape from this nightmare.

My mates reached out to me through the mind link, their worry flooding me. Lucian was especially troubled, promising that no matter what, they would find Gregory and make him pay. They wouldn’t violate the treaty, but they swore they’d deal with him once he was off their land. The determination in their voices gave me some hope, but sadness still crept in. I loved them, but this situation was tearing us apart.

Hours passed, and a knock echoed in the room, making me jump. An older woman entered, her face stern, her eyes cold and unyielding. She held silver cuffs, and just seeing them brought tears to my eyes, I knew what was coming, and I couldn’t believe I had to endure this humiliation all over again.

“Hands,” she ordered, her voice like ice. I extended my shaking hands, and the moment the cuffs snapped shut, the familiar burn of silver bit into my skin,

tears rolled down my cheeks.

look into my eyes or speak unless spoken to,” she said harshly. “I am Elder Tasha Until proven indecent, you are mateless and rankless. Sharing

d and body with a stranger after being claimed is an insult to your mates and to your pack, but I wouldn’t expect a Vladislav to understand loyalty elity.” Her words cut deep, filled with contempt, and she yanked the chain attached to the cuffs, forcing me forward. I stumbled, hunger and

stion making it hard to keep up.

pulled me through the door, and I saw that night had fallen. The darkness was a small mercy, but Tasha’s voice was sharp and unrelenting, “Consider ourself lucky that Alpha Lucian chose to bring you out at night to lessen the shame. Others would have dragged you out in broad daylight.” Her voice was cold, and as we moved down the path, the crowd began to form again, people hurling insults-and then objects-at me. I ducked my head, trying to shield

myself from their anger.

“Confess, Vladislav, you filthy whore!” someone shouted, and the venom in their voices wrapped around me, thick and suffocating.

Shame burned through me. I hadn’t even been proven guilty, yet here I was, treated like the worst kind of criminal. They’d never accepted me here, not truly. I’d always been an outsider, and this was their chance to turn their disdain into open hatred. I could feel their contempt like a physical force pressing down on me, and a part of me broke under the weight of it.

One thing was becoming clear: if the trial didn’t end in my favor, I couldn’t stay here. As much as I loved my mates, I couldn’t live a life of constant judgment, forever looked upon as a traitor. If I survived this, if the Elders condemned me, I would have no choice but to find a way to escape, even if it meant leaving behind everything I’d fought to build with them.

Comments

Michele Gremillion

1 Comments

poor Scarlett, looks like she’ll be finding an escape and living as a roque for awhile, thru no fault of her own.

7 days ago

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Scarlett