Ruby:
Upon hearing those words, my head turned abruptly towards the entrance, where a man I had never seen before stood with an air of authority and confidence.
His eyes were multicoloured, giving his gaze an intense, soul-piercing quality that made me feel as though he could read my very being.
His aura was unlike anything I had ever encountered, yet he felt strangely familiar, as if I had known him all my life. It seemed crazy to even think that.
His clothing was regal, but it was his bearing that truly set him apart. His slow movements exuded confidence and power, leaving no doubt that he held a position of immense influence.
Could he be the chief spirit judge? It seemed unlikely, yet as my gaze swept across the whole room, the fear emanating from everyone confirmed my suspicion.
The elders and everyone else in the room kept their heads bowed, their silence indicating the newcomer’s high status. The guards who held me hesitated briefly before stepping back, releasing me from their harsh grip.
I remained on my knees, unable to take my eyes off the mysterious man in front of me. His imposing figure held my attention, and I furrowed my brow as I tried to understand why he had spoken those words to me.
As he approached me, I could sense his gaze assessing me, scrutinising me with an intensity that made me feel exposed and vulnerable.
Finally, he stopped in front of me, and an inexplicable urge to embrace him washed over me, even though I couldn’t understand why. He was just a stranger.
“You have something new growing inside you,” he said, clasping his arms behind his back.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, taken aback. He threw his head back in laughter, catching me off guard.
“New life… something growing,” he continued, his piercing gaze never leaving mine. His expression was stern but not unkind, and his words left me in shock. My mind raced to make sense of what he had just said.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I whispered, my voice trembling with nervousness as I blinked rapidly. “If you’re referring to a child, you must be mistaken. I’m barren and can’t bear any more children.”
“Did you make love under the full moon?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. A flush crept up my cheeks as I remembered the unexpected full-moon night with Damian. The memory of that night flooded back, and I realised he might be right, but I resisted getting my hopes up. Still, my hand instinctively moved to rest on my stomach as a flicker of hope stirred within me.
“Well, there’s your answer,” he said with a hint of a smile, clearly pleased with his deduction. “Now, let’s get down to business,” he continued, turning his gaze towards the guards. “But first, pick the lady up gently and give her a chair. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The guards nodded and quickly followed his orders, lifting me carefully and setting me down on a comfortable chair. I sank into it, grateful for the brief respite from the tension in the room.
The man I assumed to be the chief spirit judge stepped back, his piercing gaze sweeping across the courtroom.
“Now that we’re settled, everyone, take your seats. The trial is about to begin,” he announced, his voice commanding yet calm.
The elders, who had been standing in respect, quickly took their seats, their faces a mix of fear and curiosity. I noticed Lilith watching the mysterious man with an unreadable expression. Her tightly clenched fists and white-knuckled grip showed her displeasure at the turn of events, which made me smirk.
“Now, let’s begin the real trial,” the chief spirit judge said, but then paused and muttered some ancient, mystical words that I couldn’t comprehend. To my surprise, a large, ornate book appeared in his hands.
He was definitely the spirit judge.
The book had a leather cover, intricately embossed with mysterious symbols that seemed to shimmer in the light.
“This book is called the Book of Life,” the chief spirit judge announced, holding it up for everyone to see. The room fell silent, captivated by the book’s sudden appearance.
“It contains the record of both the good and the evil that each person has done. This book is the ultimate judge of our actions, as it holds the truth of every soul.”
“The Book of Life will guide us in determining the outcome of this trial,” he continued, his gaze piercing as he looked at me. “It will reveal the truth of your actions and help us reach a just verdict.”
With that, the chief judge placed the Book of Life on the high table in front of him. The book glowed softly, as if alive with energy, and I could feel its powerful presence filling the room. My heart raced as I watched, knowing that the fate of my future now rested in the words of this ancient, mystical book.
The chief spirit judge turned his attention back to me, his gaze intense yet oddly comforting. I found it strange that someone I had never met before, who was neither my mate nor a sibling, could offer me such reassurance.
“Ruby, you stand accused of impersonating a nurse named Jane, among other crimes. Now, you have the opportunity to present your case and explain your actions. These accusations are serious, but I believe there may be more to your story. Please start from the beginning,” the judge said calmly. His words set me at ease, and he even gave me a subtle wink that encouraged me to speak.
“Seven years ago, I had my first and only son at the pack hospital. After a painful delivery, the attending doctor, a man named Williams, informed me that my baby had died. Before I could even begin to grieve, my ex-mate stormed into the room. He accused me of infidelity and rejected me in favour of another woman he brought with him. Her name is Lilth, and she is seated right here. My perfect world shattered in an instant.
I spiralled into a deep depression, but one day, while wandering in the woods, I found a baby abandoned and barely alive, bearing an uncanny resemblance to my ex-mate. Instinctively, I knew he was my child. I took him home, and after confirming he was indeed my son, I vowed to seek justice for him. My quest for the truth led me to become a nurse, not only to uncover the mystery but also to help the sick.
Eventually, my journey led me to Mrs. Thompson, Dr. Williams’ grandmother. She revealed that Williams and Jane had been ordered to take my baby and abandon him. I later learned Williams had died, so when I confronted Jane, she refused to reveal who had given her the orders. In my anger and desperation as a mother, I lashed out at her. Just as I was about to end her life, she was rescued by my ex-mate. I don’t regret my actions-I would do it again if it meant uncovering the truth about who tried to harm my son.” I took a deep breath, struggling to hold back tears.
It took a moment for me to regain my composure, but once I did, my eyes met those of the chief spirit judge. To my surprise, I saw a glimmer of tears in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away before clearing his throat. His emotional response puzzled me, leaving me to wonder why he reacted that way.
“Your story is complex, and the situation you find yourself in is dire,” he said, his jaw clenched as he spoke. “But I believe you are telling the truth.” His words sent a wave of relief through me, but I knew the situation remained precarious, and I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
“Your fate is not yet sealed, Ruby,” the chief spirit judge continued. “I will take your words into account and consider the circumstances surrounding your case. I must consult with the Book of Life to determine the best course of action.” He looked at the ancient book thoughtfully, then turned his gaze back to me.
“Now what do you have to say about the council president? Did you threaten his life?” He asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice. I could sense he was genuinely interested in my response, and I knew I had to tread carefully.
“I did not threaten his life or engage in any violent action against him,” I said cautiously, choosing my words with care.
“I struck a deal with him. I was aware of his dark secrets, so I used that knowledge to negotiate an agreement: he would make me the next council president in exchange for keeping his secrets safe.” I shrugged nonchalantly as the elders’ eyes widened in shock, their mouths agape with disbelief.
“Impossible! She’s lying!” An elder exclaimed, his tone laced with outrage. “There’s no way our president would stoop so low as to make an ordinary she-wolf like her our leader!” He shot me a look of disgust, but the chief spirit judge silenced him with a piercing glare. The elder immediately fell silent, shrinking back in his seat as the chief spirit judge turned his attention to Mr. Smith.
“Is what the lady said true? Did you make a deal with her because she knew your dark secret? What could it have been for you to agree to make her the next council president?”
Mr. Smith shifted uncomfortably in his seat, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced at Lilth, who met his gaze with a look of anger. Seeing her displeasure, I smirked slightly. He turned back to the chief spirit judge, avoiding eye contact.
“Actually… she never threatened me,” he stammered, and the chief spirit judge pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, clearly frustrated.
“But your accusations state that she did-impersonating a nurse to break into your home,” the judge pressed.
“She didn’t. She came to my home as a nurse out of genuine curiosity about my illness and to help find me a cure,” Mr. Smith lied, knowing full well the Book of Life could expose his secret.
“Then why is she accused of threatening your life?” demanded the elder with white hair, his anger evident as he slammed his hands on the table. Veins throbbed in his neck, and Mr. Smith flinched back in fear, his heartbeat echoing through the room.
“I never wanted to do this. I withdraw my accusations against her,” Mr. Smith said hastily, attempting to leave, but a force held him back in his seat.
“You’re not going anywhere; the judgement is not over,” the chief spirit judge said firmly.
“I accept your withdrawal since you are the council president. I will pardon you for wasting my time, but you must conduct yourself more professionally in the future.” Mr. Smith nodded in agreement, visibly relieved.
Even though Mr. Smith was acting cowardly, I was glad he had withdrawn his accusations against me. This gave me hope for a lighter punishment. The chief spirit judge then turned his attention back to me.
“Now that those accusations have been addressed, Ruby, you are only being charged with impersonating Jane and assaulting her, which amounts to attempted murder. It is time for your judgement,” the chief spirit judge declared gravely as he opened the Book of Life.
Attempted murder? Fuck
“The typical punishment would be confinement in a dark cell for twenty-one days without food or water. However,” the chief spirit judge continued, his gaze softening, “the Book of Life shows that you have led a selfless life-healing sick children, helping people in need-and taking that into account, you are granted a pardon as a first-time offender.”
My heart raced at the judge’s words.
What did this mean? Could I really be free? Just as the judge spoke to the elders, Lilith suddenly rose to her feet, her eyes narrowing as she shot me a cold look.
She then turned her piercing gaze towards the chief spirit judge, pointing a finger at him-a clear sign of disrespect.
I hoped the judge would swiftly put her in her place for such an insult.
“How can you trust this man isn’t an imposter claiming to be the chief spirit judge, just like that ‘bitch’ over there?” She challenged, her eyes flashing with suspicion. “You don’t know him any better than you know her.”
The chief spirit judge’s expression darkened. He licked his lips slowly, as though trying to control his rising anger at Lilith’s interruption. He fixed her with a stern glare, making it clear he wouldn’t tolerate further outbursts.
Meanwhile, the look of uncertainty on the elders’ faces and their exchange of wary glances revealed that Lilith’s words had sown seeds of doubt among them. The room grew tense, and silence settled uncomfortably around us.
“I agree with Lilith,” one of the elders spoke up hesitantly, shifting in his seat. “No one has ever seen the chief spirit judge before. We must be cautious. The judgement against the accused is untrustworthy.” Several other elders nodded in agreement.
“This is a highly unusual situation, but we can’t deny the immense power he possesses,” the elder with white hair added, surprising me with his support. The chief spirit judge watched the exchange calmly, unfazed by the questioning of his authority.
I could only silently pray to the moon goddess that he was not an imposter.