Chapter 8: The Debt They Could Never Repay

The words [Phase Three: Determine the debt owed to the deceased.] appeared above the altar.

No one moved.

Everyone had just witnessed how I died. Now they were about to discover what my life had truly been worth.

The Settlement Stone began to glow again.

[Calculating: Time Given.]

A column of numbers appeared in the air.

Then another.

And another.

The elder read them aloud, his voice growing heavier with every line.

"Medical assistance provided to injured pack members: 1,842 hours."

"Border supply deliveries: 327 missions."

"Training provided to orphaned pups: 614 hours."

"Emergency healing performed outside official clinic records: 289 cases."

The crowd stared in disbelief.

Someone whispered, "Diana did all that?"

Maria wiped her tears away.

"She did it without asking anyone for praise."

My father looked toward the Settlement Stone as though he couldn't understand what he was seeing.

"That's impossible."

The elder's eyes hardened.

"The Karma Settlement does not lie."

The stone flashed again.

[Total Contribution to Pack: +4,870,000.]

A wave of shock swept through the crowd.

Theodore's face turned ashen.

For years, he'd called me selfish.

For years, he'd told me that I contributed nothing.

Now the Moon Goddess herself had placed the truth above his head.

Then the next calculation began.

[Family Resources Received by Subject.]

The number appeared.

[-2,000,000.]

My father's eyes widened.

"There! I told you! We spent two million on her!"

But the elder shook his head.

"That is not the final calculation."

The number began changing.

The system separated every expense into categories.

Food.

Clothing.

Education.

Medical care.

Household expenses.

Then it deducted the resources I had personally earned and contributed.

The final figure appeared.

[Net Family Contribution: -83,000.]

The crowd went silent.

My father stared at the number.

"Eighty-three thousand?"

The elder nodded.

"According to the ledger, Diana Mitchell owed her family nothing."

My mother covered her face.

Then another line appeared.

[Fraudulent Expense Assigned to Diana Mitchell: 50,000 dollars.]

My father slowly turned toward Elara.

Elara took a step backward.

"No..."

The Settlement Stone displayed the transaction record.

The money had been used to purchase luxury bags.

The account had been filed under my name.

The crowd erupted.

"She blamed Diana for that too?"

"All this time, they called Diana a parasite!"

"She was being used as a scapegoat!"

Elara's tears began pouring down her face.

"I can explain!"

My father snapped, "Then explain it!"

For the first time, he wasn't defending her.

He was demanding answers.

Elara's lips trembled.

"I only borrowed it. I was going to pay it back."

Adrian stared at her in disbelief.

"You told us Diana stole fifty thousand."

"I was scared!" Elara cried.

Theodore closed his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

Then the Settlement Stone shifted to the final calculation.

[Mate Contribution Assessment.]

Theodore's name appeared.

A small figure glowed beside it.

[Emotional Support Provided: 3%.]

[Protection Provided: 0%.]

[Emergency Assistance: 0%.]

[Betrayal Penalty: Applied.]

Theodore stared at the stone.

"No..."

The final amount appeared.

[-1,200,000.]

A stunned silence spread through the altar.

The elder spoke quietly.

"Alpha Theodore owes Diana Mitchell one million two hundred thousand in karmic debt."

Theodore's shoulders dropped.

He looked toward the empty chair.

"Diana..."

His voice broke.

"I thought I was protecting the wrong person."

Maria laughed bitterly.

"You weren't protecting anyone. You were choosing whoever made you feel needed."

Theodore didn't answer.

The Moon Goddess's voice echoed again.

"A debt of money may be repaid. A debt of life cannot."

The entire altar fell silent.

Then another message appeared.

[Final Restitution Available.]

[The deceased may choose: Forgiveness, Compensation, or Severance.]

Everyone looked toward the empty seat.

They waited for my choice.

For the first time in my life, nobody was deciding for me.

My soul slowly turned toward the glowing Settlement Stone.

I had spent eighteen years trying to earn their love.

I had spent eighteen years shrinking myself so Elara could shine.

I had died believing nobody would ever realize I had mattered.

But I didn't want their love anymore.

I wanted freedom.

The stone began waiting for my answer.