Erased by Blood: The Alpha’s Lost Daughter on Trial Chapter 02

Erased by Blood: The Alpha’s Lost Daughter on Trial Chapter 02

Declan had always adored his sister, Helena, as if she were the only one who mattered.

Because of her, he’d despised me for years. So, when his hand closed around my throat, he didn’t hold back.

His grip was iron, crushing the air from my lungs until dizziness swallowed me whole.

My parents stood by, their faces cold as stone, not lifting a finger to stop him.

When I was thrown to the ground, blood spilling from my wounds, my mother’s expression only twisted into deeper disgust.

“Don’t blame your brother,” she snapped. “If you weren’t rotten to the core, he wouldn’t have to do this.”

Her words only stoked Declan’s fury. He jabbed a finger at me, his voice booming with accusation.

“Blame me? What right do you have to blame me? Tell me, Hazel—what have we ever done to wrong you?”

He didn’t wait for an answer.

“The day you came back to the Blackberry Pack, the whole pack welcomed you. Helena baked you a cake. I even gave up the room I’d lived in for years to make space for you. And what did you do? You trashed it like some feral animal—ruined the brand-new rug I’d just hauled back from Dubai.”

“Destroying the room was bad enough,” he snarled, “but why the hell did you lay a hand on Helena? You’re nothing but a rogue from the omega slums, dragging your filth into our pack.”

Declan’s fury burned hotter with every word.

“And that other time—Dad was so drunk he was puking blood. Mom and I weren’t at the pack house, and you couldn’t even be bothered to check on him. Thank the Moon Goddess for Helena. She made him ginger soda, gave him medicine, and stayed up all night nursing him through it. He only pulled through because of her.”

His glare cut into me like knives. “But you? You were passed out in your room, dead to the world, not even glancing his way.”

No.

It wasn’t like that.

I wanted to scream the truth at Declan, to make him hear me.

But just like every other time, he didn’t care to listen.

His grip tightened on my battered face, blood seeping from torn wounds as he pinned me down. Grinding his teeth, he stared into my eyes with pure venom.

“I’ll ask you one last time: do you admit to hurting Helena? If you confess right now, I’ll give you a million dollars, cut ties, and ship you back to that omega shelter you crawled out of. We’ll call it done.”

“Hazel,” he growled, “answer carefully. This is your last chance.”

Send me back?

“No!” I blurted, my voice raw, my body trembling uncontrollably. “I’m not going back!”

The omega shelter was a nightmare I’d clawed my way out of. I’d rather be erased than return to that hell.

Declan’s lips curled into a mocking sneer, as if he’d been waiting for my refusal.

“I knew it. You came back to leech off the Blackberry Pack’s wealth, to steal our Alpha title, our pack. For money and power, you’d even abandon the foster parents who raised you. Scum like you deserve to be wiped out on the spot.”

I shook my head frantically. “No, that’s not why I—”

“Shut up!” Declan roared, cutting me off. “No more excuses.”

“We’re done showing you mercy,” he spat. “Alpha King, let the trial begin.”

I looked at my family, their faces twisted with disgust, and let out a bitter laugh. Then I clamped my mouth shut.

Of course. How could I forget? They’d never once let me get a word in.

The Alpha King’s commanding voice echoed through the pack hall.

“Plaintiffs Alpha Patrick, Luna Juliet, and Alpha Declan, and defendant Hazel Woods, are you prepared for the trial to commence?”

Declan didn’t hesitate. “Ready,” he declared, his voice ringing with confidence.

Maybe pain numbs you when it cuts deep enough. Standing in the trial court, I felt no fear—just a hollow ache.

I closed my eyes, a faint, broken smile tugging at my lips.

“I’m ready too,” I said softly.

What did it matter? No one would believe me anyway. Let the trial deliver whatever justice it could.

“The trial begins,” the Alpha King announced.

“This trial will be based on three statements provided by the plaintiffs. The Moon Mirror will serve as the truth extractor, revealing the full reality to determine whether the defendant, Hazel Woods, truly bullied Helena.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping the room.

“The plaintiffs may now present their first statement.”

As soon as the Alpha King finished, Declan launched into his account, his words sharp and eager.

On the massive screen behind him, images flickered to life, replaying the moments he described.