A lie and the truth

As the tension in the hall subsided slightly, the gamma guards released Cole, who stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. Alpha Ashur nodded toward the gatherer leader, signaling him to continue the examination of the remaining contenders' kills. The air buzzed with anticipation, the alphas and pack members watching intently.


"Next, we shall count Jack's kills," the gatherer leader announced, his voice cutting through the murmurs.


Jack stepped forward, his eyes betraying a flicker of nervousness. He had confidently claimed twelve kills earlier, but as the gatherer leader began to scrutinize the pile, a sense of unease settled over him.


The gatherer leader meticulously counted each carcass, his fingers tracing the notches and marks left by Jack's weapons. With each tally, the tension in the hall grew thicker, and when he finally finished, he straightened up, his expression revealing no hint of bias.


"Jack has nine kills," the gatherer leader declared, his voice unwavering.


A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and whispers of disbelief filled the room. Jack's face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.


"But I... I swear I had twelve!" Jack stammered, his voice rising in desperation.


The gatherer leader remained calm, his eyes fixed on Jack. "The evidence does not lie. Nine kills, no more, no less."


Before Jack could protest further, Alpha Ashur raised his hand, silencing him. "Enough. The count stands as it is. Let us move on to Alexander."


Alexander, who had been watching the proceedings with a confident smirk, stepped forward. He had claimed twenty-one kills and his demeanor suggested he was certain of his count. The gatherer leader approached the pile, his movements deliberate and thorough.


As he counted, the crowd held their breath, the suspense palpable. When the gatherer leader finally turned to face the alphas, his expression was grave.


"Alexander has twenty-four kills," he announced, his voice carrying a note of finality.


Gasps and murmurs of astonishment echoed through the hall once again, but this time, the reactions were mixed with skepticism. Eyes narrowed, and whispers grew louder as suspicions began to surface.


"twenty-four?" someone in the crowd muttered. "How could he have more than what he claimed?"


Another voice joined in, "Something's not right here. He must have cheated."


Mother Luna's gaze flickered with interest, her eyes narrowing as she observed the growing unrest. Alpha Ashur, too, seemed troubled by the discrepancy.


"Alexander," Alpha Ashur's voice cut through the chatter, "how do you explain this?"


Alexander's confident facade wavered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "I must have miscounted earlier. It's an honest mistake."


The crowd's murmurs grew louder, doubt and suspicion spreading like wildfire. "Miscounted? Or did you add someone else's kills to your tally?" someone accused, and others nodded in agreement.


I stepped forward, my voice carrying the weight of conviction. "This needs to be investigated further. If there's any suspicion of dishonesty, we owe it to ourselves to find the truth."


Mother Luna's eyes gleamed with a mix of anger and curiosity. "Do you have any proof, child? Or are you just stirring up trouble?"


I met her gaze head-on, my voice unwavering. "Proof will reveal itself if we look closely enough. I suggest we recount the carcasses again and compare them with the scent of each contender."


Alpha Ashur nodded thoughtfully. "A fair suggestion. Let the recount begin."


The gatherer leader, along with a few trusted members of the pack, began to meticulously recount the carcasses, comparing the notches and unique markings left by each contender. The room was silent, the tension palpable as everyone watched the proceedings.


After what felt like an eternity, the gatherer leader straightened up, his expression grave. "Upon closer examination, some of the kills attributed to Alexander do not match his wolf's scent. Three of the kills added to his pill bear the scent of Jack's wolf."


A collective murmur of astonishment swept through the hall. Alpha Ashur's eyes narrowed as he turned to Alexander, his voice icy. "Do you have an explanation for this, Alexander?"


Alexander's face paled, his confidence crumbling under the weight of the evidence. "I... I don't know how this happened," he stammered, his voice lacking the previous bravado.


As the crowd absorbed the gatherer leader's revelation, a wave of murmurs and whispers surged through the hall. Suspicion and indignation permeated the air, and several pack members began to voice their discontent openly.


"This is outrageous!" a young alpha from the far side of the hall shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. "Cheating in such a sacred competition is unforgivable!"


A female beta added her voice to the uproar, her tone dripping with disdain. "How could you stoop so low, Alexander? Have you no honor?"


Another voice joined the chorus of accusations, "It's a disgrace! You have tainted the integrity of our pack!"


Alexander's face turned a deep shade of red, his eyes darting around as he sought an escape from the damning scrutiny. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat, leaving him momentarily speechless.


"I... I didn't do it intentionally," he stammered, but his words were drowned out by the rising tide of criticism.


"Not intentional?" a gamma scoffed. "You conveniently added Jack's kills to your own! How can that be unintentional?"


A pack elder, his voice steady and authoritative, stepped forward. "Alexander, this is a grave offense. You have not only disrespected the competition but also tarnished your own honor. What do you have to say for yourself?"


The sound of their voices rang in my ear like a sweet melody, I held in the urge to smile, but my lips defied me, and I could feel their corners pulling into a slight smirk.


Just then Cole's eyes locked with mine, and at first, I felt this sense of nervousness, not knowing if he was still playing on betraying me and handing me over to Alexander.



But all of a sudden, Cole smiled, his expression one of quiet approval. It was a subtle gesture, but it spoke volumes. It reassured me, giving me a surge of confidence and a sense of solidarity in this chaotic moment.


The hall buzzed with accusations and outrage, but Cole's smile was a beacon of calm. I straightened up, ready to face whatever came next.

Alpha Ashur's voice cut through the din, commanding immediate silence.


"Enough!" he roared, his authority undeniable. The crowd fell quiet, every eye now on the alpha. He turned to the gatherer leader.