Chapter Ninety Nine - Defend

Valkyrie Behati

“Giovanni has always been abusive,” I said, my voice firm but shaking ever so slightly. “He threatens verbally, physically, in ways no one could manage, but he could. Not just to me, but my previous pack.”

The effect was immediate. The crowd, which had been murmuring softly among themselves, fell into a deep, uneasy silence. Even Laine, who had avoided eye contact with me all this time, looked up.

But her gaze was strange—there was something there, a flicker of recognition or understanding. Could she relate to what I had just said? I couldn’t tell, and I couldn’t bring myself to care at that moment.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I had a mission here, and it was crystal clear: to put Giovanni behind bars, to ensure that we never had to live through the horrors of the past again.

The war, the pain, the destruction—I think it was all tied to him, and I needed to stop it, once and for all.

I wasn’t sure if I could succeed, but I had already made up my mi