Free Web NovelChapter 85: Chapter 85
"That girl was an idiot who threw away the best friendship she ever had."
"Yeah. She was." I smiled slightly. "But maybe she learned something from it."
Lily laughed through tears. "Maybe."
The morning of the council hearing, the entire pack was on edge.
I helped Lily dress in formal pack attire. Her hands were shaking so badly I had to button her shirt for her.
"I can’t stop trembling," Lily whispered.
"That’s okay. Let them see you’re scared. Let them see what he did to you."
Christian appeared to escort us to the council chamber. "Tom’s already there. With Harold and his supporters."
"Of course he is," I muttered.
The council chamber was packed. Every major pack in the region had sent representatives. Tom sat at the front with Harold beside him, looking smug and confident.
His expression changed when he saw Lily walk in with me and Christian.
"Lily," Tom said immediately. "Get over here. Now."
Lily flinched but didn’t move.
"She’s under my protection," I said loudly. "She stays with me."
Tom’s eyes flashed with rage. "She’s my mate. You have no authority—"
"The council will determine authority," the head councilor interrupted. "Everyone sit."
The hearing began with Tom’s complaint about sanctuary. He presented his case about Luna overreach, about me making Alpha-level decisions without proper authority.
Connor countered every argument with legal precedent. Diana provided testimony about mate bond abuse and sanctuary rights.
Then it was Lily’s turn to testify.
She walked to the center of the chamber, and I saw Tom lean forward, his expression promising violence.
"State your name and pack affiliation," the head councilor said.
"Lily Morrison. Currently under sanctuary with the Shadow Ridge pack." Lily’s voice was stronger than I expected. "I’m here to formally reject my mate bond with Tom Harrison."
The chamber erupted.
Tom shot to his feet. "You can’t—"
"Silence," the head councilor commanded. "Let her speak."
Lily detailed everything. Every incident of abuse. Every time, Tom used the bond to hurt her. Every controlling behavior. Every threat. Her voice shook but never stopped.
Tom’s face went from red to purple. "She’s lying! She’s been manipulated by Sophie—"
"I have medical evidence." Diana stood, presenting documentation.
The council members whispered among themselves.
"Based on pack law," Connor said, "in cases of proven abuse, the victim has the right to one-sided bond rejection. Lily Morrison has met the burden of proof."
The head councilor nodded. "Do you, Lily Morrison, formally reject your mate bond with Tom Harrison?"
Lily looked directly at Tom. "I, Lily Morrison, reject you, Tom Harrison, as my mate. I sever our bond. I reclaim my autonomy. I am no longer yours."
The words hung in the air.
Then Tom screamed.
The bond breaking was visible—a flash of light between them that shattered like glass. Tom collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest. The pain of forced rejection was supposed to be excruciating.
Good.
"The rejection is recognized by this council," the head councilor declared. "Tom Harrison has no further claim to Lily Morrison. Shadow Ridge’s sanctuary is upheld. Luna Sophie’s decision is validated." freewēbnoveℓ.com
Harold’s expression was murderous, but he couldn’t argue with Council law.
Tom was still on the floor, gasping. "You’ll pay for this," he snarled at Lily. "You’ll all pay—"
"Is that a threat?" Christian asked calmly. "Because threatening a Luna under Council witness is grounds for territory banishment."
Tom’s mouth snapped shut.
The hearing concluded with Tom’s complaint dismissed and his supporters quietly backing away from association with him.
Lily walked out of that chamber a free woman.
We made it back to Shadow Ridge territory before Lily finally broke down. I held her while she cried, this time from relief instead of fear.
"It’s over," she kept saying. "It’s really over."
"It’s over," I confirmed.
Christian received a message an hour later.
"Tom’s left the region," Christian said, showing me his phone. "Marcus’s sources say he’s retreating to his home territory. Completely humiliated." frёewebnoѵēl.com
"And Harold?"
"Also gone. For now." Christian’s expression darkened. "But he’ll be back. This isn’t over with him."
That night, Lily came to our quarters with dinner she’d made herself.
"I wanted to say thank you," Lily said. "For saving my life. For giving me a second chance."
"You saved yourself," I said. "You’re the one who testified. You’re the one who rejected him."
"Because you showed me I could." Lily smiled, and it was the first real smile I’d seen from her. "I know I can’t fix what I broke between us. But maybe... maybe someday we can build something new."
I thought about it. About forgiveness. About second chances. About the kind of Luna I wanted to be.
"Maybe," I said. "We’ll see."
After Lily left, Christian pulled me close.
"You did good today," he said.
"We did well."
"Tom’s humiliation won’t be forgotten. He’ll want revenge."
"Let him try." I looked up at Christian. "We handled Harold’s challenge. We handled Tom’s council hearing. We can handle whatever comes next."
Christian kissed me. "Together."
"Together."
