They knew all about Gareth’s mate bond with her, and all that did was serve to make me look like a jealous murderer. None of it was working in my favor.
But finally, when everything seemed so bleak and I wasstarting to lose hope, Bastian directed everyone to look at the screen at the front of the room.
He went on to explain that a team of forensic investigators concluded that whoever was responsible for killing Savannah had actually glamored themselves to look like me, knowing that there were cameras in the alleyway.
At first, the jurors didn’t look convinced until Bastian pulled out the big guns. I was allowed to return to my seat as he called several witnesses. There were forensic experts, a couple of officers, and even a darkling medical doctor who all backed up his claims with evidence.
He spoke eloquently and got right to the point with each of them. After that, the trial went smoothly. The tide started to turn, and I felt like I could breathe a little easier.
The court took a brief recess while the jurors made their decision. I sat out in the lobby, sipping on a bottle of water, while Thane gently rubbed my back and Gareth brooded.
It wastwo full hours before we were ushered back into the room. I sat stoically, staring ahead, seeing my entire life flash before my eyes.
As we waited for the verdict, Bastian tried to assure me that everything would be alright. “I’m sorry it had to come to this.”
“It’s not your fault,” I interrupted him. “None of this was your fault. It was mine. I never should have gone to that fight. I should have stayed at the consulate like August asked me to. But I never fucking listen and look where it got me.”
The judge cleared his throat and looked over at Bastian, who stood, pulling me up with him. I was shaking like a leaf, unable to catch my breath.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” he began gravely. “Have you reached a decision?”
I felt my heart pounding erratically against my ribcage like an animal trying to escape its cage.
“We have,” came their reply.
This was it.
I was going to prison for sure.
Goodbye, freedom…
16
I staredat the road ahead in a daze as we drove back up the steep, snowy mountain.
Innocent.
Innocent.
Innocent.
The words played on repeat in my head over and over and over again. The ride was silent. Thane didn’t even bother turning on the music, and Gareth chose to ride in the back seat this time, keeping one hand on my shoulder for the entire ride.
It took us another two hours to get back. I could barely gather my thoughts, but all I really felt was intense relief. I nearly threw up when the verdict was read.
After it was over, the guys whisked me out of there in record time, shoving me into the car before hightailing it out of Sol. I was never more grateful to be thrown around than right then.
We reached the cabin, and I didn’t waste a single secondbefore throwing open my door and taking off in a dead sprint. I passed the cabin, hearing the guys shouting behind me, but I didn’t care to stop.
I shifted in seconds, my clothes ripping off of me and falling to the snowy ground in tatters.
My paws slammed on the forest floor, and my breaths puffed out of my maw, hot air hitting the icy wind as I ran harder than I ever had.
Free… I was free.
I kept running until I was exhausted and collapsed on the damp ground, content to just lay there in my wolf form for the rest of eternity if it meant I could stay this way.
My heart swelled with joy as I tilted my face up to look at the night sky, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt optimistic.
