#Chapter 118: The Calm Before Storm

Aurora's POV The night before our departure for the Alpha Council meeting, Kane and I camped out in the stronghold's library like students cramming for finals. Ancient books surrounded us. They seemed to judge us silently as we prepared for what might be the most important presentation of our lives. "We need to tackle his accusations head-on," Kane said. He spread Raymond's fabricated report across the table for what felt like the hundredth time. "Ignoring the scandal won't make it vanish into thin air." I rubbed my tired eyes. The exhaustion went bone-deep. Way beyond just needing sleep. "But defending ourselves gives his lies credibility. Every minute we spend explaining our relationship is a minute not spent presenting evidence about the real conspiracy." It was the perfect trap. Raymond's doctored evidence demanded a response, but responding would validate his narrative that our investigation was secondary to personal drama. We were stuck in a political maze with no clea