I pushed myself from my seat and stood behind the Elder's, in front of a pack who had ostracised me. I had never had an audience with the whole pack since my birth, I was much happier to swim in the background full of people that shunned me and never gave me a chance. The last time anyone noticed me was when my sister was bullying me. Some joined in, other's just laughed, but now as they look at me their faces are filled with sorrow and regret for what they did to their rightful Luna.
"Are you Louise White daughter to Retired Beta John and Margaret White?" Elder Reece asked.
"Yes, however I changed my name and I am now known as Loretta Romano. I would appreciate if Elder's and pack members respect my chosen name." I say with confidence looking forward and avoiding the many eyes that fall on my face.
"Very well Miss Romano, may I ask how you came across changing your name?" Elder Reece questions.
I sigh. Goddess, the Elders are so nosy but I know I can not lie for even I am not strong enough to ignore their orders. "When I left the pack eight years ago, I stumbled across a witch in the forest. She saw me withering on the floor in pain, she helped me get strength and told me stories about her sister who was named Loretta. I decided that when I went to live amongst the humans that I would change my identity and it was my way of honouring her."
"A witch you say?" Elder Robert says with shock and surprise.
"Yes a witch. She helped me through my rejection. She nursed me back to health and helped me in ways that I can't describe. And before you ask me any questions about this witches identity or where she is located I will not share anything about her. She deserves my respect and loyalty so I hope you will understand my decision." I respond.
Elder Robert's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and shock. I can see the surprise on his face that I would not give him details of a lone witch. They would need to understand that she is not a risk to werewolves and in fact she helped save a lost Luna. "Very well Miss Romano the Elder's will respect your decision since no information you have provided does not indicate that she is a risk to our kind."
"Thank you." I nod in reply.
"Miss Romano could you please tell me about your life in the pack when you were a pup please?" Elder Reece begins his questioning.
"Very well. I believe most of what I went through was shared by Mary, Jacob and my parents. I was disliked by my pack members because my sister would instigate rumours or pretend to be me when she did something wrong. It started as small things, such as stealing money from my parents or she would disappear for hours without my parents knowing where she was. Then there was the times where she would use my bed to have sex with pack warriors or rouges that she invited into the pack. She would always use my name rather than admit or take responsibility for what she did." I explained.
"Why did you not tell anyone?" Elder Reece questioned further.
"Would any of them believed me? I too spent hours out of the family home trying to avoid my parents harsh behaviour towards me. I dedicated hours to the pack hospital, orphanage and day care centre. I was never one who enjoyed to be in the spotlight, I thought by allowing Leanne to take credit for my contributions she would have eased up on hating me." I shook my head. "But she never did, if anything it only made it worse. When I eventually tried to protest my innocence, it fell on the death ears of my parents. My sister manipulated them, telling my father that I was jealous and trying to ruin our family name."
"What were your peers like in the pack?" Elder Robert interjects.
"Well at first they were pleasant but as the rumours began to get worse I was outcasted and never included in pack events. I had a lonely childhood so I simply focused on my studies and tried to find things to do that were away from my family. My father or mother never attempted to rectify or stop the rumours, for they both believed what was being shared. My father once came home and screamed in my face about how his warriors were calling me a slut and describing in detail what I was like in bed."
"Did you confront your father or mother at this point?" Elder Robert clarifies.
"No I did not." I explained.
"May I ask you to explain your reasons?" He asks.
"Well like I said they wouldn't have believed me anyway, but equally despite everything my sister done. I loved her and I knew she would not be able to cope with our parents behaviour. By this point I was used to the verbal abuse that was shouted at me, I had built some resilience against this and it didn't bother me because I knew the truth. In my own way I was protecting her from their hate for she was a girl who thrived on her good reputation. I was a naive teenager who loved her family too much." I explained.
"Interesting. You were protective over a sister who was happy to see you in ruins?" Elder Robert asks with disbelief.
"Just because my sister hated me, didn't mean I loved her any less. I always wanted a relationship with her. I knew my mother was close to my sister and she would never believe me over her. My father would believe whatever my mother said, so it was futile either way. At the time, I cared about my family." I said with a shrug of my shoulders.
"What happened with the Rogue that you murdered Miss Romano?"
I huff. "I was going for a run in wolf form, I had some argument with my parents. My mother screamed for me to get out the house and I wanted to let off some steam. I came across a little girl who was being cornered by a Rogue, so I pounced at him and the little girl hid behind the tree. The Rouge lunged at my throat but I dodged him and slid underneath him and clawed his stomach and snapped his neck afterwards. He was dead within minutes." I explained.
"What happened to the little girl?" Elder Reece continued.
"Well I transformed back into my human form, she was scared but I reassured her I was from this pack. I picked her up in my arms and ran her to the pack hospital to be checked over. I left before her parents arrived."
"Why did no one know it was you who saved the little girl?" Elder Reece asked curiously.
"Well I wasn't there so I can only rely what my parents told me. The little girl recognised my sister and I presume she thought my sister was me and she hugged her tightly and thanked her for saving her life. My sister was never one to not take credit for my achievements so she didn't correct her. My parents came home telling me how proud they were of Leanne, saying 'why couldn't I be more like Leanne?" I shook my head. "Before you ask why didn't I tell them it was me that saved the little girl? Well again my parents would never believe me and Leanne would only say that I was lying."
Both Elder's nod their head in understanding. "Can you tell us about your mate, Alpha Jacob Warner?" Elder Reece began to question.
"Jacob was in the same year as me and Leanne's year at school. We never had much interaction. He was popular and I was a nerd. After the incident with the child who was attacked by a rouge. I noticed that he was rather infatuation with my sister. He would follow her around like a lost puppy." I smiled sadly. "He turned 17 a couple of months before me and Leanne. On our birthday he recognised me as his mate but chose to acknowledge my sister as his true mate." I gestured sarcastically with my two fingers.
"Did Jacob reject you after this?" Elder Reece asked further.
"No he didn't but equally he didn't give me a chance and ignored my presence. He didn't even reject me at his engagement ceremony with my sister. It wasn't until a family dinner that Jacob attended where they shared the news of Leanne's pregnancy. I had to excuse myself and shortly after Jacob followed me into a clearing. He told me that he didn't trust me not to harm my sister and simply rejected me then. I returned the rejection and later that night packed my bag and left the pack." I sadly said.
"How did your wolf cope with the loss?" Elder Robert asks with disbelief.
"She struggled and she abandoned me. I was basically human once I left the pack. There was no way for me to transform, there was no way to protect myself. It was then that I laid on the forest floor wishing for death. The witch found me and nursed me back to health. I was basically human and it took my body months to recuperate. After that I lived a human life in New York City." I explain.
"Has your wolf returned?" Elder Reece voice was filled with worry and concern.
"Not in the eight years that I was away from my pack and mate. Jacob had sought a meeting with my company after I had helped Alpha Jared. That was the first time that my wolf had appeared. She explained that she left me so that I could move on as she the pain of losing our mate and pack was too much. She didn't want me to feel that same pain."
"What happened when Alpha Jacob found you in New York City? From our records we have gathered from other packs, Jacob tried finding you? Why did Alpha Jackson not tell him your location?" Elder Roberts said.
"Simply put, Alpha Jackson did not know who I was, he was aware that I knew about werewolves but did not know to what extent. As for Alpha Jacob he was unable to find me due to an enchanted ring that the witch had gifted me. It allowed me to hide my scent and keep me safe from my mate and pack." I explained.
"Where is this magic ring?" Elder Roberts queried.
"That I do not know. I was drunk one night after my wolf resurfaced and the ring was no longer on my finger. It was then that Alpha Jacob had found me and requested I return to the pack. Which is why I am here now." I say in a clipped tone as I fold my arms.
"When you returned could you explain what happened with your sister Leanne?" Elder Robert asked.
"Simply put she saw I had returned and tried to strangle me. I was in hospital for about a week and could barely speak. I believe she was unhappy that my life turned out pretty good despite her stealing my mate." I let out a dark chuckle.
"Do you admit that you are this packs rightful Luna then?" He questioned further.
I pause as I am hesitant in answering his question. My wolf howls in the back of my mind telling me not to deny the truth for they will sense a lie. I exhale deeply and pinch the bridge of my nose. "I admit that I am this pack's rightful Luna, but I have never been the Luna to the Redbridge pack to this day."
Both Elders look at me, there is a mixture of pity, sympathy and shock at my words, for I knew it was unknown for an Alpha to reject a Luna. It was a taboo, it was blasphemous to do so, you were basically spitting in the Moon Goddess' face to reject your moon given gift. I knew that I had not provided them any information that was different to what they heard. I knew I was the victim in this situation.
"Is there anything you would like to add to your statement before we close?" Elder Reece said with a nod to his partner, Elder Robert.
"With me being transparent with the pack and with the Elder's, the only thing I would like to add in front of the Elders is that I have met with Leanne's mate Xavier in the last few days." Murmurs through the pack ring out and Jacob lets out a small growl at my words. "He has reformed the pack which his brother owned and they are trying to live a peaceful life. I would ask the Elder's to intervene and ensure the safety of all wolves who are involved in a war that was started by my sister and Alpha Jacob. I do not have the authority to do so but I do believe it is worth you reaching an olive branch to speak with him in relation to his pack." I say with a small bow with the head.
"Interesting. May I ask how you came across Xavier?" Elder Robert asks with a tone of disbelief.
"He thought I was my sister and when he realised I was not her we spoke. He told me about the child they had conceived and that he killed the she-wolf who was responsible for his pups death. He also explained that his pack have only been attacking in self-defence as the Redbridge had started a war with them. He understood why they would start a war with Kieron because of his actions that put both wolves and humans at harm but he has rectified this and punished those who tried to continue to commit crimes. My wolf nor I recognised any lie from him, but I am not as adept at these things like the Elders. My only request would be for you to investigate this matter." I state nonchalantly.
"Very well Miss Romano, thank you for your statement and we will take into consideration what you have said." Elder Reece says with a small bow with his head, it was a sign of respect which shocked me to my core. There had not been many wolves that Elder's showed their respect to. My mouth hangs open as I look around the room at the widened eyes of pack members, all of those who were equally surprised by Elder Reece's actions.
I gave him a nod of the head and returned to my seat next to Benji who held nothing but pride in his eyes at my unwavering statement. I sat down and grasped his hand and for the first time in eight years, my chest felt light, my shoulders held no weight and my heard felt at ease at my confession.
Elder Reece coughed into his hand. "We will now have a short recess as we deliberate the charges. Could Beta Lewis and Gamma Tyler continue to watch the prisoner and could all pack members return within the hour."