Chapter 395: Insinuation
Violet appeared at the back door and didn’t say a word at first. She waited until the pack members would catch sight of her. She had been hiding before—she didn’t want to be seen after everything that happened to her, but now she felt called to speak her truth in an attempt to keep this pack from being taken under control by the female that she was now sure was a false Luna to her people.
There were several steps down from the door onto the lawn that allowed Violet to be above head level and easier to catch sight of. A few people close to the door saw her and the injured condition she was apparently in and started whispering to each other about her appearance.
"Violet? Are you okay?" one of the males approached her, recognizing that something did not appear to be right.
"No," she shook her head. "I am not okay." Her voice shook, catching the attention of others, and soon the whole crowd was shifting their attention from the alyko, elders, and their Alpha to the back door of the pack house and this female of theirs that looked traumatized and seemed poised to say something.
Finally, Graeme noticed her as well, and his gold eyes darkened. She was about to stir up trouble. He could sense it immediately. The question was what?
He couldn’t silence an injured female in front of the whole pack—it would look as if he were covering up something. He needed the pack to feel the unity and protection that he had promised rather than suspecting more lies and cover-ups after the revelations of the elders’ treachery. But Graeme glared at her, holding her gaze from across the crowd with the subtle threat that she should be careful what she says now.
"I have something to say," Violet said, projecting her voice from where she stood and breaking eye contact with the male that she felt was more hers than anyone else’s.
Once she felt that enough eyes had turned to her, she moved her hair from off of her neck to reveal the gruesome bite mark that she had endured and that was not healing. A muscle feathered in Graeme’s jaw as he realized what she was about to do. And there was no way he could stop her.
"I was attacked," she said in response to the gasps of those who caught sight of the wound. "Against my will, I was marked when I was off pack land, but I feel the Goddess has allowed me to endure this because she wants me to serve as a messenger to this pack, so please listen to what I have to say."
Greta and Sylvia both looked to Graeme, concerned over what Violet had suddenly gathered up determination to share with the whole pack who was now gathered in rapt attention, but he didn’t notice their gazes. He was focused on the female who stood looking frail and weak—the perfect victim to gain his people’s sympathy and concern and use that to whatever end she had in mind.
And it was working. Before Violet even relayed the details of what had happened to her, the crowed was already pressing in closer to offer support for their sister lycan and to hear what it was she had to say. What was happening in their pack? What more revelations were coming forth now after everything they had just heard this morning? The gasps and outrage at one of their own being attacked in such a horrific way spread through those gathered like a wave.
"We are being deceived," Violet said, her gaze flitting up to meet Graeme’s before they fluttered back down to her hands that were clasped together, wringing themselves for support. She had to be strong. She had to be brave in this. It was her duty.
"The one who attacked me," her voice broke, and then it turned fierce. "The one who stole my wolf!" she exclaimed, a sudden fury igniting from deep inside where there was a hollow space now instead of her curled, wild beast that was so crucial and sacred to her identity. With these words of hers, another spike of gasps erupted through the crowd of those gathered.
"The one who took those sacred parts of me looked just like the female who claims to be our Luna! He had the same golden eyes as hers and the same unnatural appearance that our Alpha now has with his glowing golden eyes that you can now observe so clearly. Those are not the eyes of a lycan! Those are not the eyes of a Goddess appointed leader," she growled, her gaze turning accusatory as she turned it back on the male who had claimed her heart long ago. She was going to save him, even if it meant he would hate her in the process.
"It is a conspiracy—all of this! To defame our elders and mark a new, elusive enemy to distract us while our pack is stolen. A vampire? Really?" she laughed, the edge of hysteria threatening to spill over.
"A vampire did not do this to me! A vampire is not who has infiltrated our pack and laid claim to the sacred leadership of our people. A mutant witch has done that, and she is conveniently absent right now, isn’t she? Where is your mate, Graeme? Where is she really? You were not mourning her absence or speaking of the threat of an ancient creature when you were sharing my bed last night!"
Heads turned to find Graeme, shocked.
The air was gone.
Violet had taken the air.
Not in the defensive way August had—not literally—but it was as if the air had been sucked out of this space where the pack was gathered. And no one could breathe. Had they just heard her correctly? Had Violet just suggested that their Alpha had been untrue... had violated his mate bond?
The collective heart of the pack sank like gravity had suddenly laid claim to it, and it bottomed out—causing them all to stumble in the wake of its drop.
Those faces that were not frozen in shock were either enraged—Violet’s accusation a confirmation of their own prejudice and suspicion regarding anyone not expressly lycan, especially the alyko—or cleaved in anguish, Greta’s included. She couldn’t bear to look at her brother. He had brought this on himself. He was not guilty of what Violet was insinuating, but he had allowed this possibility to be brought forth, and now they were all going to pay for it.
