Marissa bit her pen. She hadn't thought about that, and she was at a loss on what to do.
'Why don't you take a risk?' Arya suggested.
'Risk?' Marissa responded with a question of hers.
'Hmm, place a risky bet that Sam hasn't rejected Anna,' Arya explained, leaving Marissa to seriously consider it.
"What's on your mind?" Leah's question brought Marissa out of her thoughts.
"Then we take that risk," Marissa replied firmly.
"Rejection or not, instincts don't lie, especially not in wolf form, if Sam's wolf shows no recognition, then I'll believe Anna's bond was one-sided, but if there's even a display of connection, that tells us all we need to know."
She paused for a breath, her gaze steady, "I won't let someone be thrown out of the pack based on accusations without proof, we'll get the truth from their wolves, not just their mouths."
Marissa completed with a determined look on her face.
Leah's voice turned soft, while her eyes turned misty while looking in a particular direction.
"Your courage reminds me of Bryce's mom, the late Luna, you have her determination, and it is commendable, we will do as you have asked," Leah stated with a soft smile.
She wasn't lying when she said Marissa's courage reminded her of the late Luna. The late Luna fought alongside her husband until her last breath, and it was noteworthy.
___________
The guards were efficient, and within an hour, Sam, Anna and Alyssa made their way into the mansion.
They were led into an open field where Marissa, Leah and a few selected audiences were already waiting. They were handpicked by Leah herself.
She would have preferred it if it were done in secret, but Marissa had said they needed a few people who would act as witnesses. It was only then she agreed with her.
As soon as all three walked in, Marissa could sense the tension between them, and her lips raised into a small smile.
"Greetings Luna," they all greeted with a bow when they arrived at Marissa's presence.
Marissa's eyes held no warmth as she motioned for them to rise.
"Luna, you called for us, are you here to give Sam and I justice?" Alyssa questioned with a small smile, while plastering her body to Sam's.
Marissa felt disgusted by the act, and she turned her head to look at Anna whose eyes were filled with undisguised anguish while watching Sam's and Alyssa's playful interaction.
Marissa narrowed her eyes at the three of them. She seemed to have found her answer, but she needed to confirm if she was right or wrong.
"Hmm, justice will be served to the one who duly deserves it," Marissa responded with a cold smile.
This caused Alyssa and Sam to be at alert while they wondered what Marissa meant with her words. They hated to admit it, but they did feel some sort of threat beneath the smile on her face.
"How do you plan to uphold justice, Luna?" Sam questioned, clenching his palms into fists. For some reason, he felt a sense of foreboding, and he was worried that their secret could actually come to light.
"There are different ways, but firstly, I need to confirm something," Marissa paused, a small smirk at the side of her lips seeing both Sam and Alyssa exchange glances.
Anna, on the other hand, had a confused expression while her eyes were focused on Marissa who rose from the chair she was previously seated on.
"I would like all three of you to transform into your respective wolves, you do not need to worry about clothes when you are about to transform, I only need it to confirm something," Marissa announced with a wide grin.
Sam and Alyssa panicked evident with the way they exchanged glances instantly. While Anna was taken aback, she was prepared to do as Marissa had instructed.
She would do anything to prove that she was right, and they were wrong.
Leah nodded subtly when her eyes met with Marissa's. She had discovered the truth.
Sam and Alyssa's actions were enough to know who was right, and who was wrong.
"Won't you do so?" Marissa urged with a sharp voice.
"Actually Luna, my wolf is hurt, it would be unlikely for you to witness such a gory wolf, how about we do it some other day?" Alyssa chuckled nervously.
It would be a disaster if all three of them shifted, Sam's wolf would expose everything. Sam hadn't rejected the mate bond, so his wolf would definitely run to Anna.
If that happened, it will only show that they had been lying previously. But if they could stall for time, then Sam could reject Anna.
Sam shared the same thoughts with Alyssa, and they hoped Marissa would give in. But sadly, Marissa had seen through their ploy, and she was determined to help Anna get justice.
Marissa chuckled, making her way to them. She finally stopped at Anna who was prepared to transform.
"You know what, don't transform," she clicked her tongue, and the evil-doers let out a sigh of relief, but it was cut short with Marissa's next words.
"There is no need to shift anymore as I have found my truth, Anna was never the liar."
"What?" Alyssa let out a gasp due to shock. She almost fell, but thankfully, Sam held onto her.
"Luna, what are you trying to say? How and why do you think Anna is telling the truth? We have statements from eyewitnesses," Alyssa was determined to push Anna out of the way, and to get that done, she needed Marissa to trust her words.
"I don't trust eyewitnesses' statements, they could have been bribed, who knows?" Marissa replied, staring pointedly at Alyssa who cleared her throat awkwardly.
"The point is, this was a test to fish out who was lying and who was telling the truth, and your moment of hesitation made me realize who the liar was," Marissa explained.
Although the blindfold was tightly wrapped around her eyes, Alyssa could sense the cold stare coming from Marissa, and she shivered instinctively.
Marissa smiled, before turning to Leah.
"Miss Leah, what are the punishments for people who dare to lie in the presence of their Luna or Alpha?" Marissa asked, her smile spreading.
Leah coughed before responding, "there is absolutely no tolerance for lies, and the only punishment is banishment, no wolf, no pack, no mercy."
When Leah finished reciting the punishment, Sam's face turned pale, while Alyssa's mouth parted in disbelief.
Anna, on the other hand, had her eyes widened. She was surprised by the punishments, but she felt relieved knowing that she was not wrong at all.
"Luna, I beg you to please be merciful, all these were planned by Alyssa, she seduced me, and it made me betray my mate," Sam fell to his knees, throwing all the blame on Alyssa who bit her lips due to horror.
Anna looked at Sam who was on his knees, and for the first time in how many days, she could breathe properly. It felt like a burden had been lifted up her chest.