Unrelenting Destiny

21. A Grain of Truth

Orianna Reid-Deveraux

"Guilty."

Jasper's declaration rang in her ears. The mixture of betrayal and anger that stirred in her chest nearly knocked the wind out of her. She had stood frozen as the pack spoke openly about her banishment like she wasn't even there. And she had said nothing as she was escorted back to the basement prison. But the longer she stood in her state of shock, the more the gears in her mind turned. How desperately she wanted to replay the entire trial, to present her argument better, to not let them use her love for Saravie against her.

It made so much sense for Luciana and maybe even Jasper to concoct this whole plan to get themselves into Alpha status. None of this happened until she showed up. None of this would have even remotely happened if they hadn't met. Maybe even Ivan was in on it. He was so willing to admit his wife's infidelity. Maybe he was more upset over the affair than he had let on. Yes, it made more sense to Orianna that way.

It had been hours since then and not a single person had come to check on her except the Omega who brought her meals. The shadow of a Fighter stood outside the door, shifting every couple hours. It was the only way she was able to tell time. Jasper had said her banishment would occur that night, where she would be branded and released into the woods, chased out if she refused to move. Maybe even killed if she was stubborn enough.

Orianna paused with a sigh, looking towards the staircase that led upstairs. How had this even happened? Everything in her life had fallen apart in a single conversation. One moment she was Luna and the next she was a rogue-to-be. She glanced towards her wrist. Jasper's mark was all but faded. She had felt the immense pain that came with her mate rejecting her a few nights prior. It felt worse than heartbreak; it was like someone cleaved out her insides and bled her of every droplet of blood she had. The pain ebbed through her all night as she watched her mark begin to open and bleed, fading dot-by-dot throughout the night and day. It was a kind of pain that prevented her from crying. It balled her up and spat her out until she felt nothing. Her wolf's newfound strength only amplified their pain from the severance. By the time the trial had come and gone, only the faintest of outlines could be seen of where her mark once was.

Crumpling to the floor, the she-wolf exhaled deeply, feeling a hollowness in her chest. Glancing up, she remembered a faint memory that only served to hurt her more.

Just about a year prior, Orianna had been in that very basement cell. Hot skin pressed against the cold concrete wall. The memory of Saravie in front of her was vivid, she could almost smell her scent of spring water. Those tumbling black locks over bare shoulders as Orianna ran her hand through them. Their lips melded together, the plump skin fiercely fighting against each other. Sara's hands gripped the skin of her waist, moving upwards to grasp her bosom with the warmest, most gentle touch. It was always such a stark contrast to how Jasper treated her, like she was just a body for him to claim. No, Saravie saw her. Really saw her. And loved her.

She remembered the conversation they had, sitting in the backyard of the pack house on a picnic blanket as they watched the boys play. Saravie was different that day. Her spring water scent was tinged with something else, the slightest bit of floral notes that Orianna remembered from twice before.

"You're pregnant again, aren't you?"

Saravie looked at her with this expression of pain and faltering hope, clearly conflicted, "Yes..."

"I thought..." Orianna couldn't help her frown, "You said you two hadn't mated since Warren was born."

"We hadn't." The Luna sighed, "But recently, he's changed... He's been more loving, more attentive."