Accidentally Mated To Four Alphas-Chapter 272: _ Showdown?

The official clears his throat, reading. "Primary prints recovered from the handle belong to Sierra Castell."

A sound escapes Sierra that is half gasp, half choke. The crowd, however, gasps even louder.

"She had a knife..."

"She attacked her!"

"Moon above..."

The lawyer throws his hands up. "This proves nothing! That knife came from her home. Of course, her prints are on it. That is not evidence of assault."

Darien turns to face him fully. Hands clasped behind him.

"Then let’s talk consistency. Heidi testified that Sierra lunged at her with a blade. That the knife was knocked aside during the struggle. This evidence supports that."

"And what does Sierra offer?" Darien continues, voice rising. "No witnesses. No physical evidence. No corroboration."

He gestures broadly. "Only claims."

The lawyer opens his mouth but Darien doesn’t let him spit whatever nonsense he’s intending.

"So I ask the court," he says, "if every material detail aligns with Heidi’s account; witnesses, timeline, physical evidence... what proof does Sierra Castell have to support hers?"

The silence this time is not hungry. It is stunned. Heidi’s heart is still swelling as she realizes just how much she needed the heirs after all—no matter how much she’s denied it in the past. She would have never been able to pull this off if it wasn’t for their loyalty and dedication.

She’s still busy fighting the emotions threatening to overtake her when Daphne stands without asking for permission.

"This is injustice!" she shouts, voice ringing clear and furious. "You’re twisting this to protect a liar!"

Several heads snap toward her. "Justice!" someone echoes.

Then another. "Justice for Heidi!"

The chant builds, chaotic, unplanned, and raw. It swells from a handful of voices into a full-blown support crystallizing in real time.

Heidi stands frozen.

Daphne. Daphne, who had warned her to stay away from her brother. Daphne, who had done nothing but look down on her, is now standing for her.

Heidi’s chest tightens painfully. Something warm and fragile unfurls inside her ribs. Relief. Disbelief. A fragile, terrifying sense of peace. For the first time since this began, she thinks..:

I might survive this.

The elders exchange looks. It happens fast and Rowen rises.

"The court acknowledges the presented inconsistencies," he says loudly. "However, we must also acknowledge that neither party has provided sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution of Sierra Castell."

Gasps explode.

"But," Rowen continues, ignoring the opposition from the crowd, "Heidi of the Moon Blessed stands accused of killing a wolf."

The temperature drops.

"A wolf is a sacred life," Rowen intones. "That sin not just against pack law but against the Goddess herself."

The crowd that has been stirred towards Heidi by Daphne’s influence starts to shift. Fear creeps back in as no one wants the wrath of the Moon.

"To allow this to go unpunished would invite the Moon’s curse upon us all." Rowen raises his hands like he’s announcing the presence of rain after drought and not the unjust prosecution of an innocent girl.

"No..." Heidi whispers, shaking her head vigorously. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Therefore," Rowen declares, "while Sierra Castell walks free, Heidi must face judgment."

The word echoes and re-echoes in her head. Sierra walks after this?

"Death," Rowen says simply, and Heidi’s knees wobble.

THEY ARE GOING TO KILL HER?!

"This entire hearing was a sham, after all. Right before it even begins, they’ve already decided the results. They just wanted to use the law as a cover-up to get rid of us, Heidi. Let’s teach them all a lesson." Her wolf suggests, but Heidi’s slipping into shock to even consider a rational thought.

The court explodes.

Darien loses it. "This is bullshit!" he roars. "You’re moving the goalposts because you’re losing!"

Morgan moves instantly, placing himself at Heidi’s side and glaring at the elders one after the other. "You don’t get to condemn her to die because your narrative collapsed."

"So help me," Grayson growls, cracking his knuckles, "anyone who touches her loses that hand."

Amias has also walked down and says nothing. That’s worse. He stands behind Heidi, silvery eyes already glowing faintly, ready to forsake all for her.

Morgan’s hand closes around Heidi’s wrist. His thumb presses hers as if to say: I’ve got you. Grayson shifts his stance, feet braced like he’s preparing to fight an army barehanded. Darien is vibrating with rage, chest heaving, eyes locked on Rowen like he might actually pounce on the old man.

The crowd is in chaos now.

"Death?!"

"This is madness!"

"They proved she was attacked!"

"But Elder Rowen said the Moon Curse will be invoked. What if he’s right?"

Fear and fury messily flow into each other.

Elder Rowen lifts his hands again, trying to reclaim control, but the room no longer belongs to him. "Guards," he orders. "Remove the accused."

Not a single one moves. They hesitate—just long enough for everyone to notice. None of them could dare face four Alpha heirs and a girl who killed a wolf without even trying to.

That’s when Alpha rises, deciding it is time he drops the facade. It happens slowly. The scrape of his chair against stone silences the room in a way shouting never could. When he stands, he does not look at Heidi. He looks at his sons.

"All of you... Step away from the girl." He commands, brows knitted together.

"No," Darien snaps immediately.

The Alpha’s gaze hardens. "This is not a request."

Darien steps forward instead. "You’re letting them kill her for optics."

"She killed a wolf," the Alpha replies coldly. "Intent does not matter."

"She was attacked!"

"And now you will stand down," the Alpha interjects, and this time, his power rolls outward in a suffocating wave. Several wolves in the crowd bow their heads instinctively. "Or you will force my hand."

Morgan bares his teeth. "You’ll fight your own sons for power?"

The Alpha’s jaw tightens as he reaches for the hem of his shirt and pulls it off. Gasps ripple through the court.

That’s his answer to Morgan’s question.

Old scars crisscross his torso, Marks of dominance. Survival. Authority earned the hard way. Thick and suffocating power radiates off him, pressing against Heidi’s lungs until breathing feels like work.

"This ends now," the Alpha says. "Let her go."

Heidi’s heart slams violently against her ribs. The heirs will fight their own father for her? No! That’s too... wrong.

"No," she whispers—and then louder, panic cracking her voice. "Stop. Please."

Every head turns to her. She steps forward, even as Morgan tightens his grip, even as Amias growls softly behind her. Her legs feel unreal, like she’s walking through water.

"Don’t," she says, looking at them – all of them. "Don’t do this."

Darien’s eyes flick to her, wild. "Heidi..."

"I can’t be the reason you turn on him. I won’t be."

Her wolf is screaming now, furious and terrified. "No, Heidi! This is it! Let’s fight!"

But Heidi is so tired. "If this is how it ends," she whispers, swallowing hard, "then let it end with me. Not you."

The Alpha takes a step forward. "So be it."

Just then, the doors slam open. The sound cracks through the courtroom like a gunshot. Every conversation dies mid-breath. Two figures stand in the doorway, backlit by harsh daylight spilling in behind them.