Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 482

Chapter 482: 482-Time For My Trial
Helanie:

“Keep your calm and make sure you answer every question after giving it some thought. Watch your word choice too,” Norman said to me as we stood together, watching Alpha Diaz come in with his warriors. He was going to be questioning me, and I’d have to defend myself—with Norman’s help.

Maximus, Emmet, and Kaye were sitting in the front row, and behind them were my friends. Rudy and Sage had also shown up for support.

I knew they were going to be shocked when they found out the whole truth about me.

“Shall we begin?” Mr. Vonston asked, gesturing for me to sit behind the witness stand. My heart was pounding so hard. I had never been to a werewolf court before. I didn’t know what kind of questions would be asked.

My character might be torn apart even more. And what was worse—my so-called family was sitting in the row with the people who hated me. Right behind Alpha Diaz, supporting his decision to punish me.

“This girl here was caught in an immoral act with several alphas. And then she turned around and claimed she had been gang-raped,” Alpha Diaz stated, loud and clear.

“And if my father had done a simple test, he would have confirmed—” I was in the middle of speaking when Alpha Diaz cut in.

“That you had sex with alphas? Consensual, rough sex?” Alpha Diaz yelled, making my fists clench.

“Say it even louder and then see my fist up your ass,” Maximus shouted, causing Mr. Vonston to shoot him a sharp look.

“Please, keep your rogue behavior out of my court. As for you, please remain calm,” he said, clearly being much gentler when speaking to Vonston. But Maximus wasn’t looking for support either. He knew Vonston would side with an alpha from a pack.

“I wasn’t having fun with anyone or trying to trap someone. I was gang-raped, and the people who did it tried to kill me. I survived—and returned home to a father who never had an ounce of sympathy in his heart for me. They took one look at me and decided I was the problem. No one asked me what I had been through. I had to force the words out, and even that didn’t help. I was thrown into the pantry, and later I had no choice but to run away to save my life,” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Everyone went quiet for a moment.

I noticed Emmet closing his eyes, his jaw clenched tightly.

“Why did you fake your death and run away if you were honest? You should’ve stayed and let the truth come out,” Alpha Diaz smirked, trying to earn a round of applause from his supporters, who nodded proudly at him.

“I didn’t fake my death,” I hissed at Alpha Diaz, who looked at me like speaking out loud was some huge inconvenience for him.

“Then? What was it? You went on vacation while telling everyone you were dead?” He looked like a fool, making all those gestures.

“You think I told everyone I was dead?” I asked, my arms casually resting over the table before me. I was on the witness stand with Alpha Diaz questioning me. That’s how it worked in a werewolf court.

He looked lost and even glanced around at the people who laughed at his stupidity before quickly pulling a straight face.

“Miss Helanie, do you mind telling us why it was perceived that you died?” the council head, Mr. Vonston, asked.

“I ran away, but it was my father who faked my death.” I tilted my head toward my father, who timidly squeezed behind his wife when eyes fell on him.

“And why did you run away from your punishment?” Alpha Diaz asked, a smirk on his lips like he had just won something.

“Because I was going to be murdered by my father. He was paid a heavy price to kill me,” I spoke loudly, causing the audience to gasp and the jury—a group of new councilors—to exchange a glance.

The brothers were intensely watching everything, my friends sharing the same look as them.

“Who would pay your father to kill you and why?” Lord Vonston asked.

“It doesn’t matter. She has no proof, she’s making outrageous claims. That’s what she does,” Alpha Diaz scoffed, shaking his head at me.

“He is the one who paid my father, and one might ask him why,” I knew my words wouldn’t be believed, but I had to speak my truth.

“See, this is what I’m talking about,” Alpha Diaz pointed at me, and the rest of the people in the room stared at me with disgust on their faces.

“Why were you running away from your punishment?” Lord Vonston asked again.

“What punishment? Can you please ask them what crime I’ve committed?” It was crazy how they were going around in circles without telling me what I had supposedly done wrong.

“You—committed adultery with six alphas and then accused the alphas of rape and even dragged my son’s name through the mud,” Alpha Diaz said.

I closed my eyes when he mentioned his son. However, he had already made a deal with the council that his son must never be called for questioning, since his involvement couldn’t be proven. Just because he had spoken to me once or twice didn’t link him to the crime.

He was a witness that night, but of course, that wouldn’t be used in my favor.

I watched Emmet and Norman speak in whispers before Norman walked over and said, “You want to punish Helanie for having—intimate relations with many alphas. But where are the alphas? Which alphas are you talking about?” Norman said, and everyone’s heads turned to Alpha Diaz.

“You’re saying a crime was committed, but why is Helanie asked to provide proof while you get to make accusations without any? Bring us those six alphas, and then you can justify your demand for punishment.”

The look on Diaz’s face was priceless. Norman knew he had him.