The Silent Luna's Trial (Maple and Finn) novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The giant screen at the center of the arena flickered to life, showing an image of Finn.

He was sitting in the pack’s chapel, his back turned to me.

It was Hazel’s funeral.

The chapel was covered in white lilies, Hazel’s photo placed right in the center.

The girl in the picture was smiling brightly, but the black–and–white background made the image feel painfully wrong.

A few lilies were laid on top of the coffin, surrounded by a ring of daisies. Those had been Hazel’s

favorite flowers.

In the image, Finn looked thinner, his face hollow, his Alpha presence dulled. He sat motionless, a lifeless figure of grief.

I walked forward and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, but he shoved

me away.

Words formed on my lips, but they stuck in my throat. I didn’t know what to say.

Finn suddenly turned around, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and dragged me toward Hazel’s coffin.

“You’re hurting me, Finn.”

I clutched his wrist, trying to make him let go, my legs kicking weakly.

Finn didn’t loosen his grip. He threw me hard against the coffin. My forehead hit the edge, and blood trickled down my face.

“How dare you come to Hazel’s funeral? How can you even look at her?”

“When your Alpha and the Alpha King questioned you, why didn’t you tell them the truth? They saw your back in the footage! Who are you protecting?”

I trembled all over, staring at him, but said nothing.

The image started to blur, and the crowd grew restless and enraged.

“She’s faking it! Pretending to be abused by the Alpha so we’ll pity her. What a manipulative

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bitch!”

“She deserves to die!”

Amid the shouting, the image changed again.

This time, it showed the marking ceremony between Finn and me.

When our engagement was announced, it shocked the entire werewolf realm.

Those who had been close to Hazel cursed Finn, calling him heartless. They couldn’t believe he would let the woman tied to his sister’s death become the Luna of their pack.

During the wedding procession, the car convoy was attacked.

Some pack members, masked and furious over Hazel’s death, had banded together to destroy the wedding cars. Even facing their own Alpha, they showed no fear.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, and the ceremony went on.

Looking back, I suppose I was happy that day.

I was too naïve back then. I believed every word Finn told me.

There weren’t many guests at our marking ceremony. Only Finn’s beta and a few pack warriors attended, forced by his authority.

Still, I thought I was the luckiest she–wolf alive.

On the screen, a single tear fell onto the bonding ring.

When I looked up, I saw Finn’s gentle smile. There were no pack elders presiding over the wedding, just the two of us exchanging vows.

But at that time, I believed the blessing of the Moon Goddess was all I needed.

The next second, the image shifted again.

I was in the basement of the packhouse, my hands shackled tightly.

Finn sat beside me, his eyes no longer soft but cold and merciless.

“What are you hiding?” he demanded.

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I shut my eyes, and tears rolled silently down my cheeks.

“If you won’t talk, I’ll show you what real pain feels like.” His voice was sharp as ice, stabbing straight into my chest.

He lit a cigarette, waited until it burned halfway down, then pressed the glowing tip into my skin.

My scream tore through the room, mingling with the sickening scent of burnt flesh.

The pain blurred my vision.

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