bChapter /bb31 /b

ra’s POV

b“/bI said her.b” /b

Garron’s bvoice /bbcracked /bthrough bthe /bsilenceb, /bfinger jabbing toward Triss like bshe’d /bpersonally set fire bto /bhis houseb. /b

Every beye /bin the room shifted to herb, /bbut Triss didn’t flinch. Her face, drained of color, stared nkly bat /bthe floor bas /bif none of bus /bbwere /beven there.

“Her?b” /bbCael’s /bvoice brose/bb, /bced with disbelief. “You’re ming this on a soldier now? Really?”

Garron didn’t blink. “I didn’t do thisb. /bShe went behind my back and handed ra the wrong map. I had no idea.”

bLiar/b.

I watched Triss closely. Her hands didn’t twitch, her breath didn’t hitch. But there was somethingb–/bsomething too calm. about her silence.

“Bullshit,” Cael muttered. “We already got a confession from the man who gave me the map. Said it came from you.”

Garron nced around, beads of sweat blooming on his brow. “Maybe he’s confused! Or–maybe he’s trying to frame me. I don’t know what I did to offend him, but Triss was the one who gave the orders. Ask her.”

Thorne leaned toward me. “You want background on her?” he murmured low enough for only me to hear.

“Yesb./bb” /b

“She’s one of our top fighters,” he said. “Should’ve been a general already. But she’s got a criminal mark on her record.”

“What kind?b” /b

“Three months in prison. Theft.”

I blinked. Triss? She didn’t give off criminal energy. But then again, I’ve learned people wear masks better than wolves wear fur.

Garron turned suddenly and kicked Triss in the back. She stumbled forward, catching herself before hitting the ground, still

silent.

“Speak up!” Garron barked. “Say it! You made the switch! You embarrassed us all, you worthless-”

“Enough,” I interrupted sharply, stepping forward. “This isn’t an execution pit. You’re not her judge.”

Garron red at me, flushed and trembling with rage.

“Ask Bobbie,” he snapped. “He saw her whispering with that man before the mission. She nned it.”

Bobbie chimed in too quickly. “Yeah! She acted weird. Definitely sus.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need anyone belse’s /bopinion.”

Turning to Triss, I spoke gently, b“/bDid you do it?b” /b

bShe /bdidn’t look at me.

b“/bI need to bhear /bbyou /bbsay /bit. bWe’ll /bbprotect /byou. If bhe /bforced you—”

“bI /bdid it.”

The words bleft /bher lips without emotion, like bshe /bwas reading a grocery list.

My stomach twisted. Something wasn’t right.

“You’re sure?b” /bI pressed. “No pressure. If this isn’t the truth-b” /b

“I’m sure.”

Garron pped his hands like he’d just won a poker game. “Finally!”

Cael frowned. “But why? Why would Triss sabotage ra? They don’t even know each other.”

“She’s jealous,” Garron scoffed. “Women do crazy things when they’re insecure. Don’t bact /bsurprised.”

Cael’s bjaw /bclenched.

Then Garron grabbed Triss by the hair and mmed her head toward the wall.

“You ruined everything-”

b“/bSTOP!” I snapped.

Thorne’s voice joined mine. “Stand down, Garron! You don’t get to y executioner.” He gestured sharply. “Guards— separate them. Get Triss to a cell.”

“No.”

Everyone turned as I spoke again.

“There’s no need for a cell. I have a punishment in mind.”

I stepped forward until I stood directly in front of Garron. He stiffened.

“What?” he growled, eyes narrowing.

“Thorne,” I said calmly, “you said I could choose the punishment as the victim of this sabotage. That still stands, right?”

“Yes,” Thorne nodded slowly. “As promised.”

b“/bThen I want Garron paraded through the main street. I want his crimes announced through every speaker–every ear in this pack should hear what he’s done.”

Gasps echoed through the room.

Triss looked up, stunned. Garron’s face turned white, then red, then blotchy.

“You’re joking,” he whispered.

I smiled coldly. “No. You once told me that a Gamma should be held ountable for their team’s mistakes. You held me responsible for Jory’s injuries. So now, you get the same treatment.”

Garron’s bvoice /bbcracked /bas bhe /bsnapped, b“/bbIt’s /bnot the same, you bcrazy /bbitchb!/bb” /b

“It’s bexactly /bthe sameb,/bb” /bbI /bsaid. “Now you know what it feels like to be judged by someone belse’s /bcrimeb./bb” /b

He turned desperately to Thorne. “Alpha! You’re not going to let her humiliate me like this, are you?! You’d let outsiders mock your own Gammab?!/bb” /b

Thorne’s eyes didn’t waver. “You’ve embarrassed yourselfb, /bGarron. You dug your own graveb./bb” /bHe nodded at the guards. “Carry out Gamma ra’s judgment.”

“No, bplease /bwait!”

But the guards didn’t wait. They yanked him away, his shouts growing faint behind the mming door.

I turned around, dusted my hands, and pped. “So. Anyone want toe watch the parade?b” /b

A bfew /bawkward chuckles rippled through the room.

Cael beamed. “Front row seats for meb./bb” /b

bChapter /bb32 /b