Chapter 128

• "Remember, shoulders straight and chin up, baby..."
• Those were the final words Xavier had imparted to me just before the guards arrived to escort me to my own court trial. As I stepped into the room, those encouraging words echoed in my mind, and I made a conscious effort to follow his directive. The courtroom was brimming with council members and various citizens from the Lemuel pack, most of whom were strangers to me—though I didn't take the time to scrutinize their faces. I squared my shoulders and lifted my gaze, ensuring my chin remained parallel to the floor.
• As I walked through the sea of pack members, I could feel the weight of their scrutinizing stares, as rigid as iron. I reached deep within myself and summoned every ounce of dignity that I could muster, gathering up the last remnants of self-possession I had left. I marshaled every single fraction of my remaining fortitude, hoping desperately that my heart would lend me the strength to continue.