Chapter 8 · The Fallen Luna

Chapter 8

Elena.“All rise.”I stood beside Audrey at the petitioner’s table, my hands clasped tight enough to keep them from trembling in front of a room full of strangers.Ronan sat across the aisle in a suit I’d picked out for him two anniversaries ago, shoulders curved forward, eyes lowered like he was sad. I knew he was pretending. Audrey had told me to make an effort to win the judges heart, I guess his lawyers told him the same thing.“Mr. Ashford.” The judge peered over her glasses. “Do you consent to this divorce petition?”“No, Your Honor.” Ronan’s voice cracked. People whispered around us. Why couldn’t he just let me go? Why was he pretending? My eyes found Vivian in the audience and she had a smirk on her face. They wanted me to go down, instead of the other way around.“I love my mate.” He went on, voice sad enough that the humans on the jury bench leaned forward slightly. “I don’t understand what I did to deserve this. I thought we were happy. I gave her everything.”“He’s lying.” I whispered to Audrey, who pressed a hand briefly against my arm, a warning to stay composed.“Ms. Hart alleges infidelity as grounds,” the judge said, glancing down at the file. “Miss Cole, you were present at the event in question. Can you speak to what happened at the Alpha’s Ball?”Vivian rose from the gallery, poised in a way that made my skin crawl, her voice smooth. “Alpha Ashford and I were discussing alliance logistics that evening, Your Honor. The photograph was taken out of context. I coordinate several of the pack’s diplomatic events. There was nothing improper about our proximity.”“That isn’t the whole truth.” I said, louder this time.“Ms. Hart, please.” the judge said without looking up.Audrey stood. “Your Honor, the photo alone doesn’t capture months of emotional neglect that my client has experienced.”“Objection, Your Honor, speculation.” Ronan’s attorney was already on his feet. “There’s no documentation of neglect in this filing, only Ms. Hart’s personal account.”“Sustained.” The judge folded her hands. “Ms. Hart, without corroborating evidence beyond a single photograph and your own testimony, I don’t see sufficient grounds to grant this petition today.”The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. My heart hammered against my chest loudly.“Your Honor, if I could just…”“The petition is denied.” The judge said, already reaching for the next file on her desk. “You may refile in six months, provided you bring stronger documentation. Court is adjourned.”I sat frozen in my chair as the room emptied around me, Audrey’s hand on my shoulder, Nora already halfway out of her seat beside me with fury written across her whole face. No, no. This can’t be happening.“We’ll appeal.” Audrey said quietly. “This isn’t over, Elena.”“I know.” My voice came out low, as I struggled to breathe. “I need air.” I knew leaving Ronan would be hard, but I didn’t expect it to be this hard. I just wanted peace. Why is it so hard to get that?Outside the courthouse, the afternoon sun felt too bright for how the last hour had gone, and I hadn’t even made it down the front steps before Margot appeared at my side like she’d been waiting there.“Well.” She tilted her head, satisfaction dripping from every word. “That went about as well as I expected.”“Get away from me, Margot.”“You really thought a human judge would side with you over an Alpha? Over a man who stood up there and told the truth about how much he loves you?” She laughed coldly. “You’ve embarrassed yourself, and worse, you’ve embarrassed him.”“He embarrassed himself the night he posted that photo.”Ronan stepped out of the courthouse behind her, straightening his jacket, his cold eyes finding mine across the steps.“Elena.” He came closer, lowering his voice. “This didn’t have to happen this way. We could have settled this quietly, at home, like a real mated pair.”“There’s nothing to talk about.” I said, meeting his eyes. “I’ll see you in court in six months. And after that, I’ll see you in front of the Beta council.”Anger flickered across his face.“You don’t understand what you’re threatening to unravel.” he said quietly, closer now than I wanted him.“I understand exactly what I’m unraveling.” I stepped back, putting distance between us on the courthouse steps. “That’s the whole point.”Nora appeared at my elbow before either of them could say another word, steering me toward the parking lot.“You did great in there,” Nora said once we were out of earshot. “You didn’t back down once.”“It didn’t matter. We still lost.”“You lost the first round. That’s not the same as losing the fight. I believe we’ll win next time. We just need more evidence and that shouldn’t be hard to get…”My phone buzzed against my hip, distracting me. It was an alert from the pack network rather than a text. I hadn’t bothered checking it since I left, but something didn’t feel right.I opened it despite myself, some old instinct warning me before I’d even read a single word.It was a post that was already spreading fast, tagged with my name and Ronan’s, the caption asking a question I never expected anyone in Hollowmere to ask about me in public.I stopped walking in the middle of the lot, Nora’s hand tightening around my arm as she leaned in to read it over my shoulder.“Elena…” She said slowly. “What in the name of the Moon Goddess. Who would post something like this?”I didn’t answer her. I was already scrolling through the comments, watching my own name get torn apart by strangers who had never once met me.“Elena!” Nora called. “Stop reading that shit. We have to call Audrey. She can do something about this. Don’t take what people are saying to heart, they don’t fucking know you. Do you understand?”“Yeah.” I lied.

Chapter 8