* * *

The dress Sage wore was tight and not at all what she expected Aurora to present her with for today. But she dressed the part and frowned to see that even the pups were mellow this morning, it irked her wolf that such a pressing matter had to be done this way.

But a trial is what their world considered fair and honest, and everyone needed to know how awful the family is, even those mated into it.

The journey to the designated room was swirling with scents. Guests already sitting in the audience while Hayes was trying to set up the computer and greet all the packs who were checking in.

A forum would be scent at the final verdict, and every Alpha, Luna, Beta, Delta, and Gammas could be able to vote on behalf of the Snyder's fate. To contain their privacy, however, the majority would be claimed a singular vote for each pack.

The only ones that Sage recognized is Kevin, Kelly's father—Kara, the young she-wolf who called her a retarted mutt on her first day of school and no doubt spread her family's lies. And last but not least, Patricia—The one who had started a bit of commotion during the pup ceremony and was removed from the circle.

The motives were all there, but even Sage felt a pang of guilt in seeing Kara sobbing at both the situation and the silver strapped to her wrists.

Sage absolutely despised the treatment of cuffs, but she didn't want to take any chances.

As the last few guests trickled in, a small ping silenced the room. Indicating that the scale was fully charged and ready to judge. And summoned right then and there, Yudan had configured—Shocking the better part of the room.

Snyder's not surprised by Demon...

Sage whispered throughout her fellow friends, and Luke smirked while twisting at his shirt's collar being too tight.

Having been Andrew's first witness of a Demon, he choked on his breath as his nostrils filled up with a sickening charcoal smell. A sure way to deny any foul play here.

"Greetings shifters, as you well know, we are gathered at the mercy of his highness and our lovely goddess above. Today we focus on the determination of guilt or innocence in the case of Crescent Moon versus the Snyder family...But a word of caution, my scale and I do not accept lies. Once you place your hand on our sacred book, I can see the very nature of your intention. It is in the other's interest to replay evidence and secure the information tip the scale and guide it to its seceding mark...Plaintiff, you may proceed with your opening statement." With that, Nicolas had risen to his feet with a folder in hand, for emphasis, Sage heard him say a few dozen times.
But the crowd watched as Julian had taken to his feet as well.

"Alpha Julian, please sit down. You are speaking for the defendant. We are filing against you, meaning I speak first." Embarrassment tipped the lowly Alpha's ears, and sure the computer off in the corner remained on mute—Sage could see her brother cackling into the high heavens on account of Julian already making a fool of himself.

"Good morning all, and I thank you for coming to this once-in-a-lifetime and historical moment. It isn't every day that a pack files a lawsuit, never-the-less on such a well-built and prestige family. But no, my fellow pack members, we all know these faces—Seen them. Yet did we suspect that they were so willing—So ready to put themselves on the front line of Randal's reign that they continue to follow his word? Even long after he is dead..." Nicholas took a breath, offering a smile, knowing that this was monumental to the future as they all well know it.

"...I am not here to remind this pack of the trials Randal Moon has put us through, but I am to tell you everything we thought we knew, may actually be false. As the evidence will prove, these pack members have kept hope alive in the most diabolical and inhumane way—And for what? To placate that they were under Randal's orders? Even after all these years?" The questions lingered for a moment, Nicolas nodding along to see how stiff Julian has already grown.

Perhaps he didn't think all that well about this plan, but Sage couldn't get a proper read on him—Nor was she about to ask the witches for help.
Not when it could be well against the law.

"Today, I ask that we keep the memory of those we lost close by. That the blame is on Randal Moon and solely on his conscious, but the embodiment of his torturous ways was meant to die along with him!" The anger had come forward, causing Remus to squeeze his fist. Knowing that this was going to be difficult was an absolute understatement.

With a final nod, Nicholas returned to his seat and offered a hand up for Julian to follow.

"Your Honor, and ladies and gentlemen of this mismatch jury. Under the law we are provided by, my clients are presumed innocent until proven guilty. During this trial, you will hear no real evidence against my clients. You will come to that truth: Remus Moon has been continuing to orchestrate and commit to his father's legacy, provided that Snyders follows every order on his command. My clients were at the mercy of his doing, at the mercy of following their Alpha's voice. Making my clients not guilty for reason of following orders." It was full of lies, but considering that it was not being tested by the scale—It couldn't amount to anything, pushing Remus to doubt the higher power of Yudan to undoubtedly gather the truth.

"The prosecution may call upon their first witness." The booming voice had caused Kara to jump, clearly unable to focus on anything more than her own panic—Even when her father was cursing under his breath for her to get it together.

With that, Julian had returned to his seat and Nicolas rose to him offering a hand out to Remus Moon. "Crescent Moon calls Remus Moon to the stands, please." In being the first witness, the summon of the ancient book had taken a few quick segments to shift into. But upon it floating to Remus' small wooden booth, he followed Yudan's command with his hand placed at the center.

"Do you swear upon the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, Goddess?" Remus swallowed, unsure of his trust in the process now that he is standing before an entire audience of so many eyes.

"I do."
"You may proceed." Yudan nodded, and Nicholas stepped forward and waved the book away from his sight. "Remus Moon, I'm sure you've heard the outrageous claims made by the defendant. Tell me, what is your relationship with the Snyders?" Practice, they practiced this.

"I had a relationship with Kelly Snyder."
"And by relationship, what do you mean?"

"I dated Kelly and made her my stand in Luna."

"So, would you say you were close with the Snyder family in that time you were seeing Ms.Snyder?" Remus shook his head. "No, I tried to keep my time strictly business. I didn't have time for pleasantries."

"Did you talk about pups with Ms.Synder?"
"Goddess no, not at all."
"And this relationship, how did it end?"
"When I met my mate, Sage. We broke up."
"Was it on mutual grounds, the break-up?"

"No. Kelly challenged Sage for the position of Luna and then proceeded to get herself thrown in a holding cell after destroying my office. I'd say that's not mutual grounds." It wasn't that much of a movement, but Sage caught a rise in the scale—Meaning that the truth was starting to become clear.

"Did you ever give any special tasks for the Snyders to do?"
"No."
"And how would you say Kelly's reaction to you choosing Sage over her made her feel?"
"Vengeful. She—"
"Objection! Relevancy of a dead woman's actions!" Julian shouted, his chair screeching back causing Yudan to tilt his head, almost in thought.

"Overruled. The relevancy is there because the dead woman is a Snyder, correct?" The demon had turned to Remus and the male nodded. "Continue."

"Thank you, now then...Let me repeat the question—" And on it went, the repeat of the encounters over the years. One by one did Nicholas' witness come up, and thankfully when Sage returned to her seat, she realized it was already halfway done.

"Alpha Julian, you may call up witnesses for questioning." Yudan instated, and without a missed beat, Julian's devilish grin rose tenfold. "Sage Moon, would you please come forward?" Sage had taken a quick glance at the scale, still leading in her pack's favor as she followed along back into the witness chair.

"Mrs. Moon, I realize the Snyder's aren't your favorite subject...Given that Alpha Remus was well-established with Kelly." Sage remained silent, blinking occasionally as there was no question to be had. And Julian had nearly torn his paper to shreds at the thought of not getting the female to crack.

He was running out of options.

"Mrs. Moon, what was your first encounter with Kelly Snyder?"
"Kelly challenges me for Luna, I win."
"And did it ever occur to you what the pack would think if you won against an already established Luna? One that's been beside Remus for years and dedicated to the position?"

"Kelly not dedicated, not really a Luna. She uses Remus to get the title. Not my plan to meet my mate or fight for title, it happened." Julian nodded, along but Nicholas was one second from throwing another overrule in his direction—Having it happen twice already.

"It was mentioned before that you opened the cell for Kelly during a dinner at the Pack House, is that correct?"
"Yes. I don't know why she's there but I don't like cages."
"Understandable, did someone tell you to open the cage?"
"No." Oh, Sage was being the perfect witness. Keeping level-headed and undoubtedly passive that it was getting clearer that Julian wouldn't be able to contain himself for much longer.

"And in the case of finding out your tea is poisoned, you didn't put any blame on the Rogue who made it?"
"Blake is not a Rogue, he is my Charge. And no, I do not blame him."
"Why not? It seemed too obvious to notice a poisonous plant designed to kill a growing pup. Perhaps you didn't want a Moon pup. Perhaps—"
"Objection! Harassing my client." It wasn't much of a win considering Sage's eyes had gone black. "Sustained, rephrase the question, Alpha Julian. And I will not warn you again about asking a question." The male growled at the thought of losing any attempt in pushing Sage to her limits.

But perhaps he needed a different approach.

"I understand it was a difficult time at the thought of losing your pup—Or pups in this case, but how did you pin the blame on Kelly and Tina in the crowd of your pack?" The question was a given, and Sage took in a deep breath. "I hear a voice, it was mama talking to me. She said not to trust demons—Sorry Yunda—She was telling me that Snyders made a deal with a Demon, his name is Bako."
"Yes, but how did you manage to get a death ticket for the two Snyder women?"
"I ask if Kelly poisoned me." Again, blunt as ever. But Remus' smirk grew, he knew exactly what Sage was attempting to do. Play the same game Julian is attempting to do.

"Can you elaborate on that for the Jury?"
"I ask her if she poisoned me, and she said 'I didn't poison your tea,' but nobody said it was tea." It was hard to deny at this point, and it tilted the scale yet again—Showcasing the truth and how Crescent Moon was already proving to be innocent and right pushing for accountability.

But then it was his golden opportunity as another thought appeared.

"It was a very brutal punishment you gave those two females, wasn't it?"
"They almost kill me and my pups. So no, deserved."

"There wasn't a trial? It just seemed a bit odd that we have gathered every Snyder of age to be presented forward here today but Tina and Kelly Snyder couldn't make it because of a past death penalty." Sage thought for a moment wondering if there was a question involved.

"Where was John's trial? Hank's? Georgie or Mason's? They don't have trial either. Council approved death ticket. It's fair." Remus had caught Nicholas' eyes, and he nearly had a heart attack if it weren't for the fact that the lawyer had given a rightful smile.

Meaning Sage was doing just as well.

"And Remus?... It seems he was very quick to pull out one of his father's punishments."
"I ask him too, I learned about Crescent Moon and my wolf took over." Unfortunately, that had earned a small teeter in Julian's favor, and Aurora sucked in a breath at the thought of even remotely losing to this man.

"So Remus has told you about his past?"
"Everything he needs to."
"So you think he's hiding something?" The question had been immediately followed up by an objection of 'being too vague of a question,' which Yudan granted.

"I'll rephrase the question, has the Alpha ever lied to you?" Sage frowned, wondering if Remus even did lie to her about some things here and there. But nothing dangerous at least.

"He's the Alpha, he can't tell me everything."
"Ah, so it isn't far-fetched for Remus to find the means and push—" The sound the Demon made beside Sage caused her head to tilt at the sound as though an amplifier was being scratched apart. "Be wary of your questions, Alpha Julian. Luna Sage doesn't know what she cannot understand." It was a saving grace, sure, but that hadn't stopped Julian from attempting once more.

"Luna Sage, has the Alpha ever lied to you?" The room sat still, and this time Yudan didn't speak up—Meaning that she held an answer.

"Yes." She instated, and the following sound of the scale had tipped to become even.

______

Date: 05/01/23 (um how is it May already?!)

Time: 9:18

Words: 2497

Author's Note:

And the trial begins!
And on a cliffhanger--I'm sorry!

Things are getting heated, and just to do a quick recap,
a Demon named Yudan is acting in place of the judge.
He dictates where each piece of evidence falls on the scale.

Julian might have had a difficult start, but has he gotten somewhere in trying to turn things around in his favor?

 I guess we'll see in the next chapter, which is also the last in this phase!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week and I will see you on Friday!