Truths Collide (WolfGirl 2)

Chapter 23: The Trial

(Scarlet James)

The air around Caius and me is tense, sad, and dark. The only light is shining off of Caius, like the moon in a starless night. I see my reflection in his eyes. He looks beautiful and gorgeous as ever, but something in the silence seems...innocent. Like what we did--no, are going to do--is wrong but innocent. And we do it anyways.

We make love.

And then I'm running, trying to escape all the piercing looks and judgments of the town. I turn one last time to see Tristan, standing among them, watching me go with a cruel look in his cold, pitiless, eyes.

When I come to, the Warriors' guards are dragging me down to my knees. My hands are tied to my back as I'm at their mercy with my Pack watching behind me. Even they're too afraid to stand up to the Warriors. I watch as the guards make way for a gorgeous woman dressed in all black, with her layered black hair flying with every step she takes as she walks over to me. Her perfectly arched black eyebrows are knitted closely as her gray eyes, one of the obvious Warrior symbols, are narrowed and zeroed in on me as if I'm her prey.

"Scarlet James!" She speaks with such authority it immediately makes me want to go crawl under a rock. Her voice is strong with confidence yet there's a slight hint of sympathy laced in it.

I don't understand what's going on right now. Why am I here? Why is no one stopping this? Last thing I remember doing is sleeping. Why do they have me tied up? Again.

Caius is watching this unfold, frowning. Is it because of me? Or because his dad is standing in front of him, blocking him from doing anything uncalled for. Mom is sobbing and fighting Dad's grip, while Dad looks torn. He wants to fight for me but he knows better than to interfere with the Warriors.

My gaze returns to the woman before more. Her calculating eyes fixed on me, "You have been found guilty for the murder of Warrior Daniel Claws and therefore you shall be executed!"

I hear a growl that I know belongs to Caius, along with a struggle happening behind me but I don't dare look away from the woman. The guards at my side, pick me up and start tying me to a pole.

The murder of Warrior Daniel Claws? I never even met him, let alone want to murder him...and suddenly it all rushes back to me as bile rises up my throat. I didn't do it. It's the thing inside me...fuck no one's going to believe me.

"Stop!" A voice I'd recognize anywhere demands. The female Warrior's gaze shift from me to land on someone behind me. I manage to glance back and see Tristan pushing his way through the crowd of shifters but Damon and Xavier hold him back, not wanting him to make this messier. I understand that, but I'm about to die. I'll take anyone interfering to prolong this.

"Tristan?" the woman questions, surprised to see someone she knows here. Tristan knows her? How is it that Tristan knows every woman we encounter?

"Rose, listen to me. Scarlet didn't do it. You can't sentence her to death," Tristan defends me. I saw him that night, when the thing killed Daniel. He was there.

I really hope he'd just shut up so he won't be next, but the Warriors wouldn't kill Tristan and from what I hear, Rose Hunter considers him a brother.

"What Scarlet has done is unforgivable!" Rose exclaims, snapping at Tristan, "How are you going to stand there and defend her?"

"I know. But listen to what Drake has to say. You can't kill her!" Tristan insists. He almost sounds desperate as he still continues to fight Damon and Xavier.

"Are you telling me what I can or can't do?" Rose raises an eyebrow at Tristan.

He shakes his head, "I wouldn't dare, but she's not who you think she is."