Chapter 48
Sansa's Pov
I was alone, losing hope, and during the trial, I began to buy some time by keeping Hina close to me to gain access to Vera, but Maya was already ready to tear me down. She was the big fish to avoid.
I had a strange feeling about her ever since I met her, and I had no idea she wanted to get rid of me. She not only wanted to crush Hina, but she also wanted to crush me for daring to challenge her.
Maya didn't like my way of thinking or my habit of asking questions to get answers when I noticed that all of them were blindly following every rule.
Maya was eventually successful, and the majority of them were opposed to my debate on the pronunciation of Wonder.
She could trigger someone to use her tricks to bring that person down.
She was clever, intelligent, and could control others. I was so enraged that I couldn't stop myself from falling off the cliff. I had to remain calm in order not to show them how slowly I was falling.
When it was my turn to speak, I took a confident step forward and addressed the audience. "I recognize the significance of our traditions," I explained. "However, I believe in the power of change. Just because something has been done in a certain way for centuries does not preclude it from being improved."
My statement caused confusion. Their whispers became louder, and I felt a wave of disagreement.
Some of them began to consider things they had never considered before as if they had discovered a new path to take that was unexpected and unpredictable.
I knew that after that trial, nothing would be the same, that everything would be different, that most of them would be against me, and that some might be there for me, as I hoped.
In their opinion, I was the only one who was rebellious. I said what I needed to say: I had been suffering as a result of the law under which Xavier had claimed me as his bride.
Why did he demand me, my parents? What had he done to make me his bride? I knew he wouldn't tell me; he had his reasons for not telling me, but what were they?
"We won't let anyone change our beliefs; we do what we've been taught; this is our justice with the ancestors who created the laws for us, for our benefit," Maya said angrily and loudly.
There was complete silence!
I could hear my heartbeat, my breathing, and the busker within me. It was difficult to remain silent in the stormy sea within yourself when dealing with anxiety, depression, and survival at the same time.
My gaze wandered throughout the crowd; their hatred was palpable, and I went from being a family member to a stranger to them once more. I could see the doubt on the faces of the pack members, who were treating me like their Luna and Queen.
Perhaps I made a mistake by discussing the pronouncement of wonder. I felt I had made a mistake because they were all unprepared for something like that from me.
They had followed that law their entire lives; how many brides had they claimed over the centuries? how they used to live with the bride, who could never love someone who took her against her will.
How many tears must have been shed, and how many stages of abuse must the bride have endured? The pain was ignored to own the bride, who never intended to be with the man who became her master overnight.
Who decided the fate of a bride who knows nothing about the world or the other phase of her life that was claimed by a stranger? How many voices had been drowned here, and how many sacrifices had been made?
I was up against them all. I knew that discussing their law would not provide me with a legal defense, but I would lose everything after the trial, including my freedom of speech.
I had no choice but to protect my boat from further sinking. I needed another angle to keep them on my side. In any case, I needed their help in some way.
"Someone from the Oak pack harmed Hina; will you assist in identifying the culprit?" My words made them swallow their pride.
Most of them thought I was fighting a trial to keep Hina with me when, in fact, I was fighting to find the culprit.
Hina's eyes were wide open; she hadn't expected my betrayal, but now was the time to seek justice.
"What I don't understand is the trial about who would keep Hina, the pronouncement of wonder, or the new topic you just gave us. What exactly do you want?" Maya asked when she was teasing me.
"You don't believe me, do you?" I said
"I wouldn't say you're lying, even though you're not Luna of the pack yet and are still here in the demanded trial; I don't want to offend the pack members by not trusting you, but they all have the authority to decide what's right." Maya made fun of me.
I handed it over to the public and began to explain. "I demanded a trial because I wanted to protect Hina and find the culprit; I couldn't risk endangering her life by revealing without a trial. I want justice for her; I don't need to make up stories to keep some of them entertained; this is the serious and sensitive issue I wanted to address."
Most of them were deliberating, and their whispers were hazy to my ears. I had anticipated the trial extension. My gaze was drawn to Hina, who was nervously hiding her shivering hands. She was keeping secrets to herself.
More than half of those present raised their hands in support of continuing the hunt for the perpetrator.
"Well, this is getting interesting; I'd like to summon Hina here for the statement," Maya declared loudly.
Hina remained motionless as her entire body shivered in fear. I could tell she wouldn't say anything just by looking at her. I'll be in danger if she doesn't tell.
"I request Hina's statement," Maya said aloud at the time.
Hina approached the center slowly, terrified. was not willing to take part in a trial but was coerced into it.
I was hoping for justice for her and for Vera to show me the way out. I was losing hope inside of me.
"You, How long have you been staying here? Maya inquired sharply from Hina.
Hina avoided making eye contact.
Her body was stiff, and she couldn't say anything amid a large crowd with all eyes on her.
She looked at me as if I had betrayed her, but it was the best time for her to speak up about the pain she was experiencing alone.
Hina speaks slowly. "Since we attended the --," Maya interrupted.
"Louder!" "To get you justice, we need to hear clearer and louder," Maya exclaimed.
"I did not return to the mountain with the pack on the day of the unbreakable ritual between Alpha Xavier and Lun—lady Sansa." Hina's voice was trembling.
"Why?" Maya inquired.
Hina remained silent. Why was it so difficult for her to speak up or seek justice? Had she given up hope of getting justice, or was there a reason for her actions?
"Answer me," Maya said sharply.
"I can't tell you," Hina admitted.
"Were you looking for a way out of here?" Maya inquired.
"No, never, this is not the case," Hina said before getting into more trouble.
"Where did you stay?" Maya inquired.
"In the jungle," Hina explained.
"Why is it in the jungle? Were you not with Sansa?" Maya inquired.
"We met at midnight in the jungle," Hina explained.
"When? And why is this so?" Maya inquired.
Hina remained silent.
"Tell us how and when you met Sansa," Maya yelled once more.
When Maya yelled at her, Hina jumped.
"Stop yelling at a little girl; you're scaring her," I advised.
"I have the same question for you," Maya said.
"We met a few days ago in the jungle," I explained.
"What were you doing in the middle of the night? it's forbidden to visit the jungle at night, how did you end up there?" Maya inquired.
I was on the run, desperate to find a way out that night. That was the most difficult question to answer because I didn't know what to say without putting myself in the spotlight of doubt.
"I was feeling suffocated, so I went for a walk to get some fresh air and ended up in the jungle," I explained.
"How? How did you get out of there when the door was locked at 11:00 p.m.?" Maya inquired.
I couldn't say anything because I couldn't reveal that I had claimed the sheet from the balcony to get down.
My silence raised many questions for everyone, and as the seconds passed, their curiosity grew. Their eyes were fixed on me, waiting for my response.
I clenched my fist and cleared my throat. I could feel a drop of sweat falling from the side of my brow. My heart was racing faster than any of the horses in the race.
I couldn't think of a lie that would work in that situation.