258–Taking The Blame 
Nora: 
“You think you get to make decisions for us?” Silas grunted under his breath. I had never seen him so vocal in others‘ presence. He just didn’t seem to care anymore. I thought he would want me to get in trouble. since I wrote in my file about them, but that wasn’t the case. He 
surprised me when he came to defend me. 
“This is the only way. She must transition, and you will test her,” Yuki shamelessly repeated his decision, causing my body to tense up. I was terrified of this test. 
“And if you don’t wish to do that, we will have to reconsider your role as the pack’s Alpha King.” That threat made Silas‘ muscles tense up. 
Lord Atwood buried his face in his hands and then slowly started to kneel down. 
“Oh no!” Ford quickly rushed to him and supported his body. Lord Atwood had passed out, which made Silas rush toward him. I watched him take several steps toward him but then retreat to ensure I was staying shielded behind him. 
“Is that why you sent my brothers away?” Silas grimaced, his eyes restlessly watching his father. 

“Because we didn’t want your brothers to embarrass themselves. Now look at your father–it happened because of you. The thought of you being stripped of your crown made him lose consciousness. If you let this happen, we will have to punish you all as well. Your entire family, 
258–Taking The Blame 
and if you wish to show power to us, remember, many innocent people will die going to war against you,” Yuki was cleverly trying to shut every door and every possibility of my escape from this test. 
Silas seemed a little lost now. A guard approached him and gave him a shirt, which Silas wore instantly. 
“Because if it is true that she is a monster, how do you feel knowing 
she hid it from you? Didn’t she conceal the fact that she was the whistler’s daughter?” Yuki continued, and Silas began to step away 
from me. 
I watched him leave my side and walk all the way to his father to help him. He checked his pulse and everything before he lifted his head to make one last request to Yuki. 

“Can’t we do this without so many people around?” he asked. 
“We must not. They want justice,” Yuki disagreed with the idea of giving me privacy or any special treatment. 
“I know for a fact that she didn’t hide anything from us. She is not a monster, I know that. So once the test is done and it is proven, who will take responsibility for the trauma she has been through here?” Hearing Silas have so much belief in me shattered me, “and dare threaten me again.” 
As he said that, I wondered how he would react when he finally found out that I am indeed a monster, and I did hide not only my wolf but so much else from them–my entire identity! 
“I am not threatening you, your highness. It is about this traitor. We don’t need to worry about this girl’s trauma when her father has traumatized our people for years. Now, let’s get started, because I am sure, once she transitions, you will be the one in disbelief.” Yuki 
258–Taking The Blame 
shrugged carelessly, gesturing at Ford to attack me once again. 
However, this time, someone else entered, and his arrival didn’t just mean he would defend me and the same argument would take place as it did with Brody and Silas. 
This person came in with a loud statement that halted everything, even the wind. 
“She is innocent. She didn’t kill Mia.” 
Ryker stepped between them, causing them to scatter and give him space so that he could make his way toward me without any hindrance. I was once again shocked at the arrival of yet another stepbrother who I thought wouldn’t care at all. 
His eyes were staring deep into my soul as he stopped in front of me and then turned around to face Yuki. 
“Do you have any proof that she didn’t do it?” Yuki inquired, not sounding pleased that another one of the Alpha Kings was taking my side. 
“I know she didn’t do it. Because I am the one who did.” 

And with that statement, Ryker shocked everyone.