Dante clenched his fists , glared at Ronan and me , " It's a lie . Just because I had been hunting Elk and had been in the Open Forest sector does not mean I am the one who brought those berries back . Anyone could have gone there and done that . " " You can't get out of this with this , Alpha Dante ," I coldly stared back at him . " You know you did this . " Dante's nostrils flared as he stepped closer to me , " Watch yourself when you accuse me . If you have any witness that witnessed me doing it or involved in any other act then prove it ," he demanded . " Alpha Cassius already spilled the beans on your involvement earlier , Alpha Dante . How much proof do you want ? You should have chosen better pawns to assist you with your dirty work , " I pointed out looking deeply into his furious blue eyes . He could not say a word . His silence wrapped around him like a noose . Cassius looked ready to pass out . Reed's face twisted in silent panic as realization dawned - if Dante fell , they would fall with him . " Stop dragging this hearing out by involving innocent people ! " Reed snapped . " Innocent ? " I chuckled , my voice low and dangerous . " Yeah , we're fucking innocent ! You're the rogue here ! " he spat . " You broke Academy rules , so pack your bags and get the hell out . Honestly , what could a malnourished wretch like you possibly do here ? Don't tell me you dream of claiming the throne . A pretty bastard with a bewitching , womanly frame like yours ? You're only fit to be a male whore , kept to serve the king's needs- " " Alpha Reed ! " Alpha Gideon thundered , his voice laced with fury . But before the weight of the warning could land , I heard Ronan's boots shift against the floor . I didn't know what he intended to do , but I moved before he could . I stepped forward , placing myself just inches from him . Phina was snarling in my mind , demanding control , desperate to tear the arrogant Alpha limb from limb for daring to insult us in front of everyone . Reed's jaw clenched as he met my silent stare . " What ? Are you angry now ? " I smiled . " Yes . " His smirk vanished . Every Alpha watching stiffened . " You should've said anything - anything at all - except question my worth for the throne , " I whispered . His eyes widened , panic flickering behind them as he instinctively stepped back . " Please come in , Alpha Finn , " I called loudly . A moment later , Finn entered the room . He gave Ronan a quick glance , then surveyed the room before walking up to me . In his hands was a small leather - bound journal . " Here's what you asked for , " he said , handing it to me . " Thank you . " " -That's my diary ! " Reed blurted , his voice rising with panic . " Why do you have my- " He lunged , but I sidestepped and placed the journal squarely on the instructors ' desk , slapping a folded note down beside it . Alpha Hugo frowned as he picked up the note . " This is … " " Please compare the handwriting in this note and in the diary , " I calmly requested . 2/4 P. The instructors leaned in , flipping through the pages and examining the note . Within seconds , their gazes hardened . All eyes turned to Reed , now sweating bullets . " What the hell is going on here ? " Alpha Gideon demanded . Finn stepped forward . His voice was firm , but his eyes found mine before he spoke . " I'd like to explain , Alpha . " And he did . Finn told them everything - from being bullied , to sneaking off in my place , to me stepping in to protect him . How Reed , Cassius , and the others had abused and manipulated him in a scheme to trap me . How the events that led to this entire confrontation were calculated and cruel . By the time he finished , the room was silent . Dead silent . The instructors stared at us with unreadable expressions . None of them looked the least bit pleased . " You little fools ," Alpha Jude growled , his eyes bleeding into red . " You treated this Academy like a joke ," Alpha Hugo snarled . " Everyone out ! " Alpha Gideon roared . An Alpha assistant appeared , ushering us toward the doors , but I didn't move . I couldn't . If I walked out now , it was over . My fate would be decided without me . So instead , I stood my ground , raised my chin , and met the instructors ' gazes . " I fought to defend myself , " I began , my voice clear and strong . " But I only became violent when I discovered the truth , when I realized these Alphas tampered with Ronan's cologne to ruin me . " Everyone paused at the threshold . " They were just as violent . They came at me as a group . I reacted to the situation I was forced into . And I believe any Alpha- any of you - if your dignity had been threatened the way mine was , if your name was on the verge of being tarnished forever by an act that vile , you would have torn them apart without hesitation . " My eyes locked on Reed . Then Cassius . And finally , Dante . " If anyone here thinks this was some petty , avoidable squabble - put yourself in my place ," I said , turning back to the instructors . " Now tell me … what would you have done ? " Silence . Not a single Alpha answered . I knew why . Their pride ran deeper than any sense of morality . For them , standing naked after a shift was one thing . But losing control during rut - being forced , humiliated , branded forever as someone who'd been tricked into rutting another male - that was a stain they could never outlive . Having finished what I needed to say , I turned and walked out of the room . The door shut behind me with a soft click , and I found myself standing between Ronan and Dante . Their wolves flanked thern , both brimming with tension and dominance . I stood still , fists clenched at my sides , eyes fixed on the closed door where my fate would be sealed .