THE INCARCERATION

CHAPTER FOUR

Serena's POV

Lying dead at my feet was Leo.

The forest green orbs of the dead body stared back at me blankly, completely drained of life. My mate's son is dead.

His throat was sliced open with blood gushing out of his wound. Right in the middle of his chest was a familiar-looking dagger.

Wait! Was that my father’s ritual dagger? The one that was kept here as a relic? I surveyed the body again. His palms were enclosed in a fist, as though he was clutching something. The poor boy must have struggled to survive.

A sob broke through me as I crawled slowly to lift his cold body, my father’s maps dropping to the floor. I crossed my hand around his throat in an effort to stop the profuse bleeding.

Who could have done this to him? We may not have gotten along before but all of that didn't matter. He was still a kid.

"Help! Please somebody help me!" I cried out, rocking his body with mine.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention. I could barely register the sound as all my mind was focused on the boy lying still in my arms.

"Moon goddess, save me!" The sound of Cameron’s voice broke me out of my daze.

"What atrocity is this?" he exclaimed clearly in shock at what he saw.

"Quick, call the alpha!" he ordered Max.

All I could think of was how much pain the young boy must have gone through before giving up the ghost.

Within a twinkle of an eye, the alpha rushed in, with the rest of the pack behind him.

"Nooo!" he roared in pain. He quickly took the lifeless boy from my arms, hugging him tightly to his chest, as if to transfer some life source into him. He held Leo’s hand tightly, unfolding his enclosed palm.

My bracelet. Leo had been clutching my lost bracelet. How did it end up in his hands?

Trent sniffed around the dead body, probably trying to find the scent of the culprit.

He looked at me with untamed fury.

"What have you done?"

I paused in confusion.

Me? I didn't do anything. Was he trying to accuse me of doing this?

"It wasn't me. I found him lying-"

"You murderer!" he roared, stretching his hands to grip my shirt. “You mean finding you here with your Father's dagger buried deep in my son's heart is a mere coincidence. Your vile scent is all over him.”

I looked around realizing that all evidence pointed to me.

"You will pay for this with your life. This time, there will be no mercy," he declared, raising his voice in a tone of finality.

"Take her to the gallows!"

The guards sprang into action at his command. I struggled against them.

“I didn't do it!” I said, fighting back as hard as I could. “Tyra sent me here. She gave me your note—”

“She’s lying!” Tyra yelled out in her defense. She stepped out pointing at me. “I only visited her in the clinic to warn her against harming the true heir of this pack again. I didn't give her any note.”

My heart thundered against my chest as I looked around frantically, waiting for anyone to come to my rescue.

I spotted Mira in the crowd as I was dragged out. Our eyes met briefly before she diverted her gaze. She didn't even make a sound in my defense.

I sighed in defeat.

The guards dragged me past the pack grounds, straight to the gallows. The air surrounding the gallows was stagnant, and the ground was steep and rocky. You could hear the cries of other prisoners in their respective cells, pleading to be set free.

I was thrown into an empty cell forcefully. The guards didn't spare me a single glance as they secured the lock on the silver-coated bars.

I sat on the cold, greasy floor with my back against the stony wall. I groaned in pain as my back screamed in protest from the results of my recent whipping.

The events that just occurred replayed in my mind. How did I manage to fall into such a trap? I mapped out all the events that occurred leading to my current situation.

The written note.

Tyra gave it to me. I should have found it suspicious that it didn't contain the Alpha’s Seal. Anyone could have forged Trent’s writing.

My Father’s dagger.

Everyone knew that it was preserved in the pack library. The same library that I just happened to be in at the point of Leo’s death.

My bracelet. I still don't know how he came to possess it. I need to find a connection.

Wait. Tyra was there. At the library, with two other people. How did she manage to get in undetected? She must have masked her scent. But the only people capable of doing that were—

“Witches,” I gasped in disbelief. It all made sense now. “They were witches. Tyra killed him.”

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of clapping hands. I turned in the direction of the sound.

A figure stood in front of the cells shrouded in darkness.

“Should I reward you for arriving at this conclusion or laugh at how easily you fell into my trap?”

Tyra.

“Why did you do it?” I asked in genuine confusion. “He was an innocent child. Your ‘true’ heir.”

“His blood was tainted with that of Amelia’s. A bastard, born to a rogue whore,” she spat out, her eyes gleaming in hatred. “I will not tolerate any rogue in this pack. They are pure evil. I needed to clear the chessboard and you were just the perfect victim.”

“Just because your parents died in a rogue attack doesn't mean that all rogues are evil,” I countered. “Trent will find out.”

“Trent will see what I allow him to see,” she smirked in victory, turning to leave. “Enjoy your rest, Serena. It's the last one you will ever have.”

I was dumbstruck as she sauntered out of the gallows, laughing maniacally.

I lay awake for hours, pondering her words in my mind, thinking of how I could rescue myself from this situation.

I could hear another set of footsteps approaching. I sat up, presenting a bold front. I refuse to let them see me weak. The Alpha aura hit me deep in my bones. I already knew who it was before I could make out the figures approaching.

Trent came into view with Amelia clinging to his side. Trent's hands were wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. They looked like the perfect couple.

“You could have come for me. Why did you decide to take my child?” Amelia sobbed, tears rolling down her face. She gripped Trent’s shirt like an emotional anchor. “She killed my Leo. Our son.”

“Easy, my love. She will pay dearly for it.” He murmured, stroking her hair in consolation. I nearly scoffed at the warmth in his voice. Who would have thought that Trent was capable of showing affection? He never showed me this side of him.

“Confess to your crimes, Serena. I will grant you a painless death,” Trent said, his deep voice ringing out in the cold cell.

“I have nothing to confess to. I am not your culprit. It is Tyra and you would rather let her get away with the murder just because you hate me.” I said calmly.

“You were caught red-handed and you still deny your crime,” Trent said. You could detect a hint of frustration in his voice. “You will die a miserable death.”

They turned, walking away. In that moment, I made peace with my fate. If this is how my life would end, then so be it.

****************************************

Dawn came too quickly. The guards stormed my cell. My trial is about to start.

They dragged me to my feet. I didn't resist as they led me out of the gallows.

They led me past the open field. The entire pack stood there jeering at me mockingly. They sent hateful gazes at me but I paid them no mind.

There was nothing I could do at this point to change their minds about me.

I spotted Tyra amongst the crowd, smirking at me with a triumphant look on her face.

She bent down to pick a stone. My eyes widened as she threw it in my direction. I ducked to avoid it.

“Murderer!” she yelled. This seems to incite the crowd.

I wailed in pain as stones of different sizes coming from different directions, hit me in all parts of my body.

I couldn't even shield my head as my hands were bound. I staggered in an attempt to hasten my footsteps. I yelled at them to stop but they didn't relent.

The stones came in their numbers, some hitting the guards holding me, but they didn't flinch.

They continued dragging me until we got to the courthouse.

I looked up at the sky to stare at the clouds. It might be the last time I see it.

My final judgment is here.