*~Gabrielle's POV~*
Fear is an understatement to what I'm feeling right now. My body is practically shaking as the guard returns with the lantern in his hands—and I'm stunned. It's huge. He's holding it with both arms like it weighs the entire world.
How am I supposed to turn that on?
He places it on the table right in front of everyone.
"Lady Gabrielle, please step out and turn on this lantern," he announces.
I immediately turn to my mother for help. Her hand tightens on mine, and then she turns to the Alpha.
"Your Majesty, I don't think this is necessary," she says, smiling but we can all tell it's fake. Her voice trembles behind the calm.
"Gabrielle is my true daughter. We can do a blood test or something more accurate"
"I apologize, Lady Arielle," the Alpha cuts in, "but the lantern is what the council agreed on, isn't it?"
The entire council nods in unison.
"No, please, Your Majesty, this is unnecessary! She is my daughter, the resemblance is very clear," Mother insists, her grip still tight. She knows we both know, I will fail miserably if I try to light that lantern.
"Are you scared, Lady Arielle? You seem… shaken," one of the elders taunts, and the rest laugh loudly.
"Bringing a fake daughter and thinking we wouldn't notice, you must take us for fools, Lady Arielle," Elder Grayson barks.
"You'd better shut it, or this time your tongue will fall off I promise you," Mother snaps back at him.
A slow, creepy smile spreads across his lips.
"Lady Gabrielle," the Alpha says, voice cool and commanding. "Kindly step forward. Or we will jump to a conclusion."
Mother turns to me.
"Step out, dear," she whispers.
And I do. Hands trembling, still clutching the hem of my gown, I slowly make my way toward the center of the room. My feet feel heavier with each step. The room goes silent.
I stop right in front of the lantern. The Alpha faces me directly.
"Please turn it on, Lady Gabrielle."
I look at the lantern. It sits there cold, unmoving, and somehow mocking. I glance toward my mother, and then I hear her voice.
"Gabrielle… turn it on like you used to when you were a child," she says, smiling, her face filled with hope and desperation.
I swallow hard and place my palm gently on the lantern.
I close my eyes.
Please turn on… please turn on… I whisper in my mind, begging the lantern to hear me. To do it on its own.
But the lantern remains dark. Disappointment crashes over me like a tidal wave. My heart sinks. I blink several times, hoping it's my eyes that are failing, not the lantern.
But nothing changes.
"AH! She is a fake!" one of the elders screams, and laughter erupts in the hall.
"Lady Arielle," Elder August says, rising, "you should be jailed. You have committed an unforgivable crime, bringing a fake to deceive not only the Alpha and the council, but the entire pack. You should be punished."
"Are you accusing me of deceit?" Mother questioned sharply.
"Enough. Let Lady Gabrielle give it another try," the Alpha said, and Mother turned to me again.
"You can do it, Gabrielle. Stay focused," she said, hope etched all over her face. I turned to my sisters, and they both gave me that encouraging nod again.
I squeezed my eyes shut and placed my hands on the lantern, holding it tighter this time, wishing on it with all of my energy. But when I opened my eyes again, nothing happened. The lantern stayed dim.
Gasps of disappointment swept through the crowd again even the Alpha sat back, tight-lipped.
"Lady Arielle, how dare you present a beautiful lady in pretense as your daughter? This is highly offensive!" the Alpha's voice thundered across the hall, causing everyone to shiver a little.
"Your Majesty, I'm very sorry, but you are mistaken. This is my daughter. She lost all of her powers alongside her memories when we found her. I assure you, this is Gabrielle," Mother pleaded.
But the elders erupted, firing insults and accusations at her.
My mind replayed her words… She lost all her powers alongside her memories… So instead of hoping, maybe I should try to remember. That might work.
I placed my hand back on the lantern. This time, I began digging through my mind, searching for any memory that truly stood out. Nothing came… until..
Our noses brushing… his large palm over my mouth… inches between us… his hunter eyes locked on mine… his soft breath warming my skin…
Then his voice echoed in my head:
Azazel…?
Suddenly, a gust of wind swirled around me. I immediately covered my eyes to block the dust, holding my gown down with my other hand so the wind wouldn't lift it.
As soon as the wind calmed, a soft glow caught everyone's attention.
It was… the lantern.
I stared in disbelief. It was faintly glowing, I did it. I really did it.
Isabelle screamed, "Oh my! Sister, you did it!"
I turned to her with tears in my eyes, overwhelmed.
"ALL HAIL LADY GABRIELLE, OUR WHITE WOLF!" someone shouted from the crowd, and then:
"ALL HAIL!"
"ALL HAIL!"
I turned to Mother. She smirked at me, her face full of pride, then gracefully took her seat. Her eyes turned to the elders, who now stared at the lantern in stunned silence, their faces buried in shame.
Mother, of course, didn't let it slide.
"What is it you were saying again, Elder Grayson?" she asked, and he didn't reply pretending not to hear her.
That was when my head suddenly felt dizzy, a pressure pounding like a thousand bricks had dropped on it. Voices echoed in my skull, voices I couldn't recognize.
"Mummy, I want to make my hair into a bun!"
"All right, dear. Come here."
The voices were loud, but the faces behind them were blurry. The more I tried to see, the more my head throbbed.
What… is that? Was that a memory from my childhood? Was I hearing myself… and Mother?
But that voice didn't sound like hers at all. It was soft and gentle, while Mother's voice was always stern and laced with discipline.
Confusion ached in my bones. I staggered, dizzy, and my sisters rushed to my side, guiding me back to my seat.
"Are you okay, dear?" Mother asked as I sat down. I nodded slowly. But that voice… it wasn't hers.
"Your Majesty, I demand an apology from you and the entire council for embarrassing the Forbes name and accusing me of deceit," Mother declared, turning toward the Alpha.
The Alpha and the elders all stood.
"We apologize for every inconvenience we caused you and your family tonight," he said, bowing slightly. The council followed.
Mother waved her hand in satisfaction.
"Shall we begin the ball?" she asked, turning to the crowd.
"Let the ball begin!"