Chapter 486: The Question Before the Pack

The square was already full when the guards brought Holly out.

Every path that led into the open space was crowded with pack members.

They stood shoulder to shoulder, all of them silent and waiting as the guards led Holly.

The raised platform at the center of the square loomed just high enough for everyone to see what would happen on it.

Holly was led to the middle.

Her wrists were locked in iron restraints.

So were her ankles.

Short chains linked the cuffs together, limiting every step she took.

She looked smaller than usual. The wolfsbane still lingered in her system. It showed in the way her legs trembled when she stopped moving.

Orion stood on the platform already, snow coating his cloak and hair. He stood straight and unmoving, with his hands clasped behind his back.

Brynhild and Daniel stood below the platform, directly in front of it at different ends.

There was not even the faintest hint of a smile. The older elders stood around the platform below, just like Daniel and Brynhild were standing.

The guards positioned Holly where she would be seen clearly by everyone.

Another guard took position behind her.

Two more stood at the sides.

The square remained unnaturally quiet, and Orion stepped forward.

His voice carried easily.

"Everyone here knows why this is happening, I’m sure. Especially given how much gossip spreads in the pack."

No one spoke or moved.

"But before we begin," Orion said, "I will state it clearly, just as a formality."

He turned slightly, angling his body toward Holly.

"We are gathered because Holly attempted to murder a member of the Nightshade Pack."

A ripple of shock ran through the gathered members, but it was only from a few, since most already knew what was happening.

Orion did not raise his voice.

"She is to be judged publicly."

Holly’s shoulders shook at that, her head lowered too.

"And just in case you are not aware, Holly has been expelled from the pack. She is no longer a member."

Another low stir spread through the square.

"However," Orion continued, "she has not yet been judged for the crimes she committed while she was a member of the pack."

His eyes hardened.

"And given the nature of this case, both the accused and the victim will be questioned before you."

He paused.

"Openly."

Orion turned toward the edge of the platform.

"Sophia."

A murmur passed through the crowd.

Cat appeared from between two rows of pack members.

Sophia was beside her.

Cat held her arm gently but firmly, assisting Sophia as she walked.

The guards shifted to give them space, and Cat helped her up carefully.

Orion frowned the moment she came into view. She stood alone then, as Cat went down the platform.

He took one step toward her. Her ankle was still in pain, and he knew she should not be exerting too much weight on it. He was about to speak when he met her gaze and she shook her head discreetly.

Orion did not like what she was doing. He did not like that she was pushing herself like this, especially given the fact that she had only just recovered, but he also knew to respect her decision. His fists clenched and unclenched, and he released a sigh.

Orion turned to the guards then.

"Remove the gag," he told them, gesturing toward Holly.

The guard behind Holly obeyed immediately. The cloth was pulled from her mouth. Holly sucked in a sharp breath immediately and began speaking.

"I didn’t do it!"

Her voice cracked as it tore through the silence.

"I didn’t do anything!"

Her words rushed out in a sobbing mess.

"This is all wrong, I swear it is! I didn’t touch her! I didn’t try to kill anyone!"

Tears streamed down her face. Her body shook violently in the restraints.

Orion winced at her words. Even Noctis was annoyed, and Orion was doing everything possible to hold Noctis back from killing Holly right there in the square.

"You will not speak unless I ask you to," he said through gritted teeth.

Holly froze.

Orion took one slow step toward her.

"And you will not lie," he told her. "One more lie from you, Holly, and I can’t promise what will happen to you."

Holly stared at him. Her breathing came out uneven, and she swallowed, but she did not reply to him. There was nothing, not a shake of her head or even a word uttered.

Orion’s gaze held her in place.

"Did you try to kill Sophia?"

Holly’s lips parted, but nothing came out. Instead, her eyes filled with tears again.

Orion did not move, neither did he feel anything at seeing her cry.

"Answer me."

Holly’s hands trembled inside the restraints.

She looked down.

Then up again.

"There... there’s a reason it happened," she said to Orion.

A murmur rose instantly from the crowd.

Orion raised one hand, and then silence returned.

Holly rushed on at that moment.

"She’s twisting everything. Sophia is trying to blame everything on me. She’s lying about what really happened."

Orion did not interrupt her, even as that uncomfortable feeling that came when a person lied enveloped his senses.

Holly’s eyes flicked nervously to the crowd.

Then to Sophia.

Then back to Orion, and she swallowed.

"After the test," she said shakily, "I saw her. She was holding two swords and—"

Orion groaned loudly from irritation and thinly veiled anger.

He lifted one hand to his neck and twisted it slowly, as if trying to push out what he was feeling. He was nauseous from the lie too.

Holly stopped mid-sentence immediately. Even she knew she had crossed a line.

Orion exhaled slowly through his nose.

"Holly," he said quietly. "You are lying, and one of the rules we put in place before we started was that you shouldn’t lie."

Holly shook her head rapidly.

"N—"

Orion raised his hand again, cutting her off instantly. "Let’s end the lies there. You are not honest and are unwilling to work with me."

Then he turned to Sophia. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Did Holly try to kill you?" he asked her.

"Yes," Sophia said steadily.

Sophia then recounted everything that happened during the test between her and Holly. Holly tried to intervene, but Orion instructed that the guards gag Holly and that Holly had had her chance to speak but chose to lie.

The square was silent after Sophia recounted what happened.

Orion turned slowly back to Holly.

"Did Sophia lie at all?" he asked her calmly.

Holly stared at him.

Her face had gone pale. Instead of answering, she sobbed loudly.

Orion scoffed at that. Holly just kept on crying, and even some pack members wondered why she was crying and not just answering the questions, especially if Sophia was lying.

Orion turned to Sophia. "You may step down."

Sophia nodded and immediately began walking down the steps. Cat showed up once she was almost at the last step, and she helped Sophia as they moved to stand beside Laia.

Orion then turned to face the pack members.