Because of Them

Chapter 25

Lex placed Winnie's shaky hands on his chest. "Deep breaths. Match me," he encouraged. "Chris and Wild are right inside. Focus on us and not him, okay?"

"It's not just Tom," she said breathlessly. "It's Isabel, and the others, and-"

"Easy," Lex soothed, desperately wishing Christian or Wilder would come to the rescue. They always knew how to fix this. "Easy, Win. We practiced, remember? And this was something you wanted to do. Why did you want to do this?"

She focused a bit on the question. "I'm representing all of the girls who couldn't be here because they are still healing."

"That's right," he confirmed.

"I want everyone to know what he did so he can't do it again."

"See? Focus on that. When you walk into that courtroom, you are the highest power there. You're the one who has two of the most powerful wolves in the pack as your mates."

"Three," Christian added behind him. "You are equally as important and powerful, Lex."

Winnie smiled a bit, reaching for a hug. She rubbed Christian's back, feeling him relax.

"Tom is going to want to get to you," Christian said. "He can't speak to you, but he will be looking. I know you've got this. Are you ready to go in?"

She gave a shaky nod and Christian gave her a soft kiss that soothed her nerves briefly.

"You do look damn pretty in that dress," Christian sighed. "I wish it was for me instead."

She giggled. His lips turned up in response.

Christian went in first. Lex took her hand, and they entered the massive courtroom. Her steps faltered, but Lex encouraged her to keep moving.

Her eyes fluttered over the room, looking for Wilder. She found him almost immediately, and even though his stoic features didn't change, she could tell he was proud of her. He brought his hand up in a motion for her to straighten, and she did so, trying to feign the confidence she definitely didn't feel. She was probably going to puke.

There was a row of four judges, and a seat for Christian. She tried not to look at Tom but he was front and center, and everything she had worked so hard to overcome was coming to the surface.

Winnie felt like she was back in that awful cell. She could still smell and taste it. She rubbed her wrists like the weight of the shackles were still there.

Lex placed his hand flat on her back and she centered again. He helped her to her seat on the witness stand. There wasn't a part of her that wasn't shaking.

"I'll be right here," he told her, lips skimming her cheek as he spoke. He moved to his own seat so far from her own. She shivered. Now, she really was all alone.

"Please state your full name to the court," one of the judges spoke.

"Luna Winnie," she said, hoping her voice wasn't as shaky as it felt.

"Is that your full name?"

"I-I don't have any memory of the rest," she admitted.

Christian was the one who spoke next, and she relaxed at hearing his voice. "We found records for the other girls and were able to track down where they came from, but we haven't been able to find anything for Winnie."

"What do you remember before this happened?" one of them asked her.

"I know my aunt sold me," she said. "I was only twelve, so I don't have any other recollection."