Chapter 15: Vera's Final Lie

By afternoon, the council chamber was filled again.

Vera entered between two guards, her face pale and her hand resting protectively over her stomach.

Kane stood near the council table, but this time he didn't move toward her.

Vera noticed immediately.

"Kane?"

He looked at her without answering.

Councilwoman Mara placed the old photograph on the table.

"Do you recognize this?"

Vera's eyes landed on it.

For a brief second, fear flashed across her face.

Then she shook her head.

"No."

The healer stepped forward.

"You were there when the records were changed."

Vera's expression hardened.

"He's lying."

Mara placed the payment ledger beside the photograph.

"Then explain why your name appears beside the Calder family account."

Vera stared at the ledger.

Her breathing became uneven.

"I don't know how my name got there."

Kane finally spoke.

"Vera, tell the truth."

She turned toward him in disbelief.

"You believe them over me?"

"I need to know the truth."

Vera's eyes filled with tears.

"After everything I've done for you?"

Kane's expression didn't change.

"What have you done for me?"

She went silent.

I watched from across the chamber.

For years, I had imagined the day Kane would finally see through her.

Now that it had arrived, I felt strangely empty.

Mara pushed another document forward.

"This is a statement from the former registry keeper."

"He claims Vera was instructed by Alpha Calder to present herself as Elder Elias Wren's daughter."

Vera suddenly screamed.

"He promised me I would be Luna!"

The room fell silent.

Kane stared at her.

Vera realized what she had admitted and covered her mouth.

Mara's voice became cold.

"So you admit the records were forged."

Vera shook her head violently.

"I didn't know what they were doing. I was told Evelyn had abandoned her inheritance."

I finally spoke.

"And you believed that?"

Vera looked at me.

"You had everything."

"The Luna position. Kane. The Pack House. Everyone respected you."

Her voice cracked.

"I only wanted one thing that was supposed to be mine."

I looked at her calmly.

"You didn't want something that was yours."

"You wanted something that belonged to me."

Kane lowered his head.

Vera turned toward him desperately.

"Kane, please. You said you would protect me."

He closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, there was no softness left in them.

"I protected you because I believed you were innocent."

"I was wrong."

Vera's face crumpled.

"And the pup?" she whispered.

"What about my child?"

The healer stepped forward.

"The council will verify the child's bloodline after birth."

Vera immediately grabbed her stomach.

"No!"

Her panic filled the chamber.

Kane instinctively stepped toward her, but stopped himself.

I noticed the hesitation.

For the first time, he understood that protecting someone didn't mean destroying someone else.

Mara turned toward me.

"Evelyn, the council recognizes you as the sole surviving heir of Elder Elias Wren."

"The Wren estate and all associated rights will be returned to you."

I nodded.

But before I could respond, the chamber doors opened.

A council guard rushed inside.

"Councilwoman, we found something in the old Calder vault."

He placed a sealed box on the table.

The seal belonged to Elder Elias Wren.

My heart began to race.

Mara looked at me.

"This was hidden with the original records."

I reached for the box.

Whatever Elias had left inside had survived seventeen years of lies.

And somehow, I knew it contained the final piece of the truth.