Chapter 181: Samantha is innocent

The silence that followed Elvira’s accusation was palpable. Every eye in the Conclave snapped toward her, flickering with shock and confusion, before slowly turning to Samantha.

Samantha stood frozen, color draining completely from her face. "What? She’s lying. I didn’t do it."

"Who else could it possibly be?" Elvira spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I heard you with my own ears, saying how much you hated Dorian and couldn’t wait to see him dead..."

"That is a complete lie!" Samantha gasped.

"You blamed him for the death of your family," Elvira pressed relentlessly, her eyes wide and manic. "And you have resented the Luna from day one for taking what you felt belonged to you. Furthermore, you were the only one who conveniently skipped eating the food. Tell me, who else could have pulled this off?"

"I wasn’t even in the house when it happened!" Samantha snapped back, her voice shaking with panic.

"You’re only saying that because..."

"SILENCE!" Dorian’s roar shook the room with a full feral force, and both women snapped their mouths shut instantly.

He stormed forward, his eyes blazing with a terrifying rage. He towered over Elvira, glaring down at her until she flinched, lowered her head, and retreated a step.

"Speak out of turn again, Elvira, and I will have you whipped until you bleed," he growled savagely.

Elvira didn’t dare breathe another word. She had assumed her accusation would redirect everyone’s attention toward Samantha; instead, seeing Dorian’s reaction only spiked her terror.

She needed Samantha gone–and fast–before the woman unraveled and exposed all her secrets to Dorian. And more than anything, she was terrified Martha might blurt out the truth about the powder she had given to her to aid Alyssa’s conception.

"Martha," Dorian commanded, turning his full focus back to the head cook. "Continue."

Martha carefully narrated all she knew, explaining how she had rushed home to check on her children before returning to the estate only to walk straight into the chaos between Elvira and Pandora.

When she finished, Dorian pivoted toward his sister. "Is it true? Did you witness Elvira tampering with the food?"

Pandora let out an exasperated sigh. "I didn’t actually see her do anything to the food," she admitted. "She was sneaking out of the kitchen when I found her, and her behavior looked too suspicious to ignore. I might have been wrong, so I forced her to eat it. She wouldn’t have eaten the food if she had been the one who drugged it, right?"

"I told you I was innocent," Elvira interjected quickly, seizing the opening. "I would never dream of harming Dorian or the Luna. This is entirely Samantha’s doing. From everything I’ve heard about her, she once hired an assassin to eliminate the Luna. She must have planned this whole nightmare with the shapeshifter. You can never trust a scorned woman."

She turned pleading eyes toward Dorian. "I know you have zero reason to trust me, and I know everyone thinks I am out of my mind. But you know me, Dorian. I would never hurt you, nor would I harm someone you love. I am innocent."

"She is lying to you..." Samantha started to protest.

Dorian cut her off with a vicious glare, turning to face her fully as waves of fury rolled off his massive frame.

"All the evidence points directly to you, Samantha," he muttered frostily. "By the laws of Wintercrest, you are sentenced to execution for attempting to assassinate the Luna Queen. Jake, take her away."

"You have no proof!" Samantha screamed as Jake stepped forward and seized her arm. "What happened to innocent until proven guilty?!"

"You are guilty!" Dorian snarled. "The only reason I allowed you to remain breathing within these walls was your timely involvement in the last attack on my Luna. But you have crossed a line this time!"

"I am innocent!" Samantha sobbed, fighting against Jake’s grip. "You are so blinded by your own rage and anger that you refuse to see the real enemy standing right in front of you! Elvira is the enemy!"

"We’re through here!" Dorian said and turned his back on them.

Alec, who had been silently watching the exchange, felt his chest constrict with a sickening sense of injustice. Before his own better judgment could stop him, he stepped forward.

"Alpha, maybe we should investigate this further," he urged. "We might be wrong, and Samantha could be innocent."

"Stay out of this, Alec!" Dorian snapped over his shoulder, his eyes flashing. "You witnessed it all. Every piece of evidence leads straight to her."

"What if we’re wrong?" Alec pressed, refusing to back down. "For all we know, this could be another one of Elvira’s calculated schemes."

"I have no schemes!" Elvira shrieked defensively. "I am telling the truth. The only reason you’re defending her is because you’ve caught feelings for her!"

At the taunt, Alec snapped. He lunged forward with a snarl, his long claws extending to strike her. Jake instantly released Samantha, diving to intercept his twin, while Anthony and Dorian moved quickly to block the violent escalation.

In the midst of the whole commotion, Alyssa’s voice cut through the air.

"STOP!"

It wasn’t loud, but it carried enough authority to put an end to the chaos.

Jake wrenched Alec backward, holding him in a chokehold to stop him from lunging at Elvira again.

Alyssa stepped into the center of the room, her arms crossed over her chest. She studied Samantha’s tear-streaked face, then shifted her gaze to Elvira, catching the fleeting unnatural glint of triumph in the woman’s eyes.

Finally, she looked back at Samantha, seeing only raw pain and frantic panic.

"Samantha is innocent," she declared.

Dorian immediately broke away from the others, crossing the room to stand beside her. He reached out, gently taking her hand, his handsome face carved in lines of deep confusion.

"How do you know that, my love?"

"I just do," Alyssa answered calmly. "I can’t put it into words, but I know she didn’t do this. Besides, the timeline of when the food was drugged doesn’t match up with Samantha’s absence."

Elvira stepped forward, her expression turning defensive. "Luna, I understand you want to show mercy, but..."

"I didn’t give you permission to speak," Alyssa interrupted, her voice dropping into a frosty, commanding tone.

She turned back to Dorian, placing a hand against his chest. "Samantha is innocent, Dorian. I feel it, and I need you to trust me on this."

"I do trust you," Dorian murmured softly. "It’s her I don’t trust."

"But I trust her."

Dorian recoiled slightly, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "How can you say that? This is the same woman who once tried to have you assassinated."

"And she is also the person whose timely intervention saved me from the archer," Alyssa countered evenly. "We cannot judge a person solely by their worst moments, Dorian. We have to look at the whole picture."

She scanned the quiet room, locking eyes with every person. "I know how it looks. But I trust Samantha. She had nothing to do with the drugging."

"Then who did?" Pandora demanded, crossing her arms. "It had to be someone who lives here."

"Whoever did it, we will find them," Alyssa vowed. "Until then, the kitchen will be under strict observation. No one is permitted inside aside from Martha and her selected cooks."

She turned her gaze back to Dorian. "I know this changes your initial verdict, Dorian, but I am asking you to trust my judgment."

Dorian stared at her for a long moment before a helpless sigh escaped his lips. "You have my full trust. And as the Luna of Wintercrest, you have every right to alter or overturn any judgment handed down in this house, even my own."

A faint smile touched Alyssa’s lips as she reached up to stroke his jaw. "Thank you."

When she turned back toward the room, her expression hardened. "Henceforth, every single person in this household will be closely watched until the real culprit is caught. Jake, please see to it."

Jake bowed sharply. "As you wish, Luna."

"You are all dismissed," Alyssa concluded. "Except you, Samantha. Stay."

Elvira’s heart slammed against her ribs. With panic flaring in her chest, she hurried forward, shaking her head frantically. "I strongly advise against this, Luna. You can’t be here alone with her..."

"Shut your mouth, Elvira!" Dorian bellowed, his voice rattling the chandelier. "Jake, throw her out of here!"

"With pleasure, Alpha," Jake muttered. He seized Elvira’s arm and dragged her out, totally ignoring her loud protests while everyone else followed behind.

"I’ll be waiting for you," Dorian murmured to Alyssa. He shot a venomous glare at Samantha before exiting the Conclave.

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Alyssa turned her full attention back to Samantha, who stood trembling under the weight of the scrutiny.

"I don’t have a logical explanation for why I believe you," she began, stepping closer with her hands clasped before her. "Whether it’s intuition or something else entirely, I don’t know. But I am sticking my neck out to help you, Samantha. Do not give me a reason to regret it."

She stopped mere inches away, lifting her chin to meet the other woman’s tearful gaze.

"Now, tell me the truth. Did you have any hand in drugging that food? I swear to you, if you tell me the truth, I will keep it between us and protect you from Dorian."

Samantha stared at her, tears spilling over her lashes as her whole frame shook. "I didn’t touch the food," she choked out, her voice raw and desperate. "I swear on the lives of my late family, I had nothing to do with it. I am not your enemy, Alyssa. Elvira is. And I think it’s time I tell you everything I know."