Chapter 47: That’s Not True
Iris’s POV
"What?" I stuttered, my voice catching in my throat as I took a hesitant step toward Amelia. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat heavy with disbelief.
"Lucas has been locked up in the dungeon cell," she said, her voice breaking as fresh tears spilled over. "For beating up Zane... after you reported Zane to him."
Reported Zane to him?
The accusation only made my heart feel hurt. Why would she believe that? My mind reeled, struggling to piece together her words. "Amelia!" I called out softly as I took another step closer. "That’s not true. I didn’t do that."
She shook her head, her lips quivering as she fought to speak through her sobs. "On my way here, Liora said so," Her hands dropped, curling into fists at her sides as she looked at me. "She said you told Lucas that Zane was harassing you, and he... he went after him."
"That’s not true." I paused.
Of course, Liora. Her name alone was enough to make my blood boil at her audacity. That conniving she-wolf, always spinning webs of lies against me to twist situations to her advantage. I could picture her now, her sly smile and eyes as she fed Amelia this poison about me. My hands clenched as I fought to keep my voice steady. "Liora, that bastard! Amelia, please," I said, taking another step toward her, close enough now. "You know how manipulative Liora is. You can’t believe her. Trust me, I didn’t do this... If Lucas was tagged a bully for defending me, it is only right that he stood for what is right... right?"
Amelia’s eyes searched mine. Her lips parted to speak but no words came. She looked so fragile, so unlike the fierce girl I knew. The sight of her like this, broken, only made me feel like a bad person. I reached out, my hands hovering near her arms, unsure if she’d pull away. "Listen to me," I said, my voice softer and pleading. "Let me tell you what really happened."
She swallowed hard as she nodded faintly. "When Alpha Lucas asked me to walk him around the pack house, I was just doing so, showing him and explaining things. Then Liora and Zane showed up." The memory of their sneering faces flashing in my mind.
"They started their usual nonsense, throwing insults, trying to make me feel small. But Lucas... he didn’t stand for it. He stepped in, told them to back off. I swear. Lucas was just protecting me and the injury on Zane? He had hit his hand on the tree after missing Lucas, his Target for the punch. That’s all that happened."
Amelia’s eyes lifted to meet mine again, her brows knitting together as she processed my words. A tear slipped down her cheek as she swiped at it with the back of her hand.
"I swear on the Moon Goddess," I said. "I would never do that. I wouldn’t put Lucas in that position, and I would never hurt you like that."