Unrelenting Destiny

20. Trial

Luciana Faith Moore

Walking away from Monica's house, Luci's mind raced. There was so much information, even if they were technically just rumors. But what she chose to do with it was still a mystery. The sound of her phone ringing drew her attention, bringing it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Luci! Were you ever going to call? I was getting worried!" Bianca's voice instantly comforted her.

"B," she sighed in relief, "I'm sorry, it's been crazy here." Luciana filled in her best friend to everything that had been happening, the story taking the entire walk home to complete. She smiled to the wolves she passed, going to her room for privacy. Jasper was still out and about, his scent faded like he hadn't been there since that morning.

"Would you maybe like to come up to visit? I could really use a friend right now." Luci begged, "Maybe you can help me figure this all out."

There was some silence as Bianca hesitated, "I don't know, L. I don't really think I should. It might not look good for a Luna to need an outside pack's help with their internal affairs."

Luci frowned. This was a little unexpected. Bianca was always so ready to be at her side and she couldn't help her disappointment, "Yeah, you're right..."

"I think you need to just let this Orianna girl go. She's obviously crazy and only bad things can come from keeping her around you and your mate any longer." Bianca advised, "I'm still here for you, babe. Just a phone call away, mkay?"

The girls said their goodbyes, Luci throwing her head back in defeat as she sighed. Maybe Bianca was right. Maybe she should just convince Jasper to drop all of this and have Orianna banished. Especially if she was going to turn on the both of them to save her own skin.

Jasper appeared at the doorway, "Everything okay?"

"Why does it feel like that's all we ask each other these days?" Luci groaned jokingly, rolling her head to the side so she could see him. His large frame and handsome face always took her breath away. From his disheveled hair, scarred face, and impossibly taut body, he really was a walking Greek god. Her stare lingered but she wasn't embarrassed. He really was all hers to stare at.

He walked towards her, crouching down to her eye-level and placing a kiss on her forehead, "I promise it won't always be like this. We'll have normal days soon enough. Now tell me, what's eating at you?"

Luciana hesitated, "I don't think we should try to help Orianna anymore."

"Really?" Jasper's eyebrows shot up, "You know, I was expecting you to say so after a few days of trying but I didn't think she'd get to you after a few hours."

She pouted, "I'm just trying to help."

Jasper chuckled, his deep laugh reverberating in his chest, "I know, my love. But I also know Orianna. And she knows just how to get under your skin."

"She definitely did that..." Luci brought her hand up to stroke his face with the back of her knuckle, "She thinks we're the ones who did all of this, orchestrated all of this just to become Alpha."

"That's outrageous." Jasper said in disbelief, "She's got to be kidding. If she knew me at all!"

"I know," his mate quickly calmed him, bringing her palm open to cup his face, "and I think she knows. But she doesn't know me. I think if we try to let her stand trial, she'll turn it around on me. No matter how little proof there may be."

"Unfortunately, news of Orianna's trial has already reached the pack so we'll have to still hold it." Jasper took her hand, "But you said it before. There's too much evidence against her for a jury to deny. Even if she does try to bring something up against us, there's enough to refute it. Your entire pack was with us the night Ivan was poisoned."