Chapter 108

Chapter 108

ARIA

Brilliant, really. Cruel and manipulative, but brilliant.

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A knock on the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Not the guards-this knock was softer, more tentative.

“Come in,” I called, not bothering to move from the window.

Nina entered, her expression carefully neutral. She closed the door behind her and stood there for a moment, seeming to gather herself.

“How is she really?” I asked before Nina could speak. “Not the official report. The truth p>

“Scared,” Nina admitted. “The poison was serious. If Eliza hadn’t been so quick with the antidote, if Ivory’s own knowledge of toxins hadn’t helped guide the treatment… it could have been fatal p>

“But she’ll recover p>

“Physically, yes. Emotionally…” Nina trailed off. “She’s convinced you attacked her, Aria. And right now, I’m not sure anyone can convince her otherwise p>

“Not even evidence? Not even finding the real attacker p>

“Maybe,” Nina said. “If the evidence is overwhelming. But memories formed under trauma are powerful. She felt you grab her. Felt the pain Her mind connected those two events. Undoing that connection will be difficult even with proof p>

“So I’m guilty regardless of what the truth actually is,” I said flatly.

“That’s not what I’m saying p>

“Isn’t it?” I turned to face her. “Nina, be honest. Do you believe me p>

Nina met my eyes, and I saw the conflict there. The same conflict I’d seen in Kael’s face in the clinic.

“I want to believe you,” she said carefully. “Your story makes logical sense. We know Sera has been threatening Ivory. We know she has the resources to hire skilled attackers. An ambush in the forest with a poisoned dart fits her methods perfectly p>

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“But p>

“But you were the only other person there. And Ivory’s account contradicts yours. And the circumstances-you two arguing, you grabbing her from behind, the convenient disappearance of this alleged attacker-it all looks very suspicious p>

“So you think I did it,” I said, my voice hollow.

“I think we need evidence,” Nina said. “One way or another. I think we need to search that forest thoroughly and either find proof of your attacker or…” She didn’t finish.

“Or conclude I’m lying and attempted murder should be added to my list of inadequacies as

Luna p>

Nina winced. “That’s not fair p>

“None of this is fair,” I said, moving away from the window to pace the room. “I’ve spent weeks trying to prove myself to this pack. Trying to find my place, earn respect, be worthy of the position I fell into. And in one morning, all of that is destroyed. Not because of anything I actually did, but because of what it looks like I did p>

“I heard you dismissed Margo,” Nina said, changing the subject slightly.

“You heard correctly. She was inappropriate, unprofessional, and actively hoping for my downfall. I won’t

have someone like that in service to me p>

“She’s telling everyone you fired her out of spite. That you’re abusing your power as Luna to punish anyone who questions you p>

“Of course she is,” I said tiredly. “Because that fits the narrative perfectly, doesn’t it? The

can’t handle criticism or comparison. Who lashes out at anyone

insecure, jealous Luna who

who doesn’t worship her p>

“That’s not how I see it,” Nina said quietly.

“Then how do you see it?” I challenged. “Because from where I’m standing, everyone in this pack has already made up their minds about me. I’m the obstacle. The mistake. The political convenience who should have never become Luna. And now I’m also potentially a murderer. What’s next, Nina? What other crime will I be accused of p>

Nina was silent for a long moment. Then she said, “Marcus found something p>

My head snapped up. “What? Where? What did he find p>

“In the trees where you said the attacker was positioned. Scuff marks on bark, like someone climbed up for a better vantage point. And on the ground beneath, a partial boot print that doesn’t match any standard pack issue p>

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Hope flared in my chest, bright and desperate. “That proves I was telling the truth. That proves there was someone else there p>

“It proves someone was in that tree recently,” Nina corrected carefully. “It doesn’t definitively prove they were there this morning, or that they were the ones who shot Ivory. The evidence is suggestive but not conclusive p>

“But it’s something,” I insisted. “It’s more than nothing. It means my story is possible, at least p>

“Yes,” Nina agreed. “It means your story is possible. Kael is reviewing the findings now with the elders. They’ll make a decision about whether this is enough to change your status p>

“And if it’s not enough p>

Nina’s expression was troubled. “Then you remain under house arrest until more definitive

evidence can be found p>

“And if that evidence never materializes? If Sera people were too professional to leave more traces? If all we have is my word against Ivory’s memory p>

“Then it becomes a question of who the pack chooses to believe,” Nina said simply. “And Aria, I’m not sure that vote would go in your favor right now p>

The honest answer was somehow both better and worse than a comforting lie. At least Nina was being truthful with me about where I stood.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For telling me the truth instead of trying to make me feel better p>

“You deserve honesty,” Nina said. “Even when it’s uncomfortable. Maybe especially then p>

She moved toward the door, then paused. “For what it’s worth, I hope the evidence clears you. I hope we find proof that removes all doubt about what happened. Because Aria, if you didn’t do this-if you really were trying to save Ivory and ended up being blamed for it- that’s a tragedy on top of everything else you’ve been dealing with p>

“And if I did do it?” I asked. “If somehow, despite my conscious memory, I actually attacked her p>

“Then we deal with that too,” Nina said. “But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that p>

She left, closing the door quietly behind her. I heard her speak to the guards, confirming they should remain at their posts.

And then I was alone again. Still imprisoned. Still suspected. Still trapped in a nightmare situation where the truth didn’t seem to matter as much as perception.

I looked at the dinner tray Celine and Margo had brought. The food was probably cold by

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but I forced myself to eat anyway. I needed strength. Needed to be ready for whatever

came next.

Because this wasn’t over. Whether the boot print and scuff marks were enough to clear me or not, Sera’s game was still in play. Her attack had accomplished exactly what she wanted- turning the pack against me, creating division, making Ivory even more sympathetic while painting me as the villain.

And somewhere out there, she was probably planning her next move. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

I just had to survive long enough to figure out how to stop her.

And to somehow prove my innocence to a pack hat had already decided I was guilty.

Small goals, really.

Impossible goals, maybe.

But they were all I had.

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