THE TRIAL

CHAPTER FIVE

Serena's POV

I stepped into the courthouse. My fingers trembled, betraying the nonchalant persona I was trying to embody.

The pack elders council sat at the elevated podium as they looked down on everyone.

The council consists of wolves as old as this pack. They were particularly chosen as the wise ones of this pack to enforce pack laws. They formed a semi-circle around the stump that the defaulter was made to stand. Every pack member was present, both young and old, ready to witness the downfall of the rejected luna.

I spotted Amelia my former mate, his strong arms wrapped around her in a silent declaration that she was his. I drew my eyes away from them as I walked towards the center, counting my foot steps. I had seen the end of many lives after mounting the stump, I just didn't realise that a day would come when it would be my turn.

I stood on the stump, squaring my shoulders as I directed my eyes to the podium.

"You all are welcome to the plea hearing of Serena Vale, the pack's luna and former mate to the Alpha," Elder Walters said, his eyes scanning the crowd to ascertain if everyone was in attendance.

"Selena Vale, you have been accused of treason against this honorable pack", He said, his voice echoing across the pack.

"Do you swear before this council, in the presence of the moon goddess, that you will tell the truth and nothing but the truth?" He asked sternly.

I raised my head to meet his piercing gaze, and his cloudy grey eyes, filled with hatred, sent a shiver down my spine. The muscles around my mouth tightened as I struggled to resist biting my lips.

"I swear"

My reply was loud and confident despite the fact that my insides were trembling.

"Are you guilty or not guilty?"

I paused, scanning the crowd. They knew my response, they just didn't believe me.

"Not guilty"

Whispers rose among the pack but I paid them no mind. I was innocent, I just had to prove it.

"Very well," the elder replied, carrying on.

"You were found at the scene of the murder, right?"

"Yes."

"The boy was found dead in your arms, correct?"

"Correct."

"The dagger buried in his chest belonged to your Father, and the bracelet he was clutching belonged to you, right?

“Yes, but the dagger was not kept in my possession. It was preserved in the Library" I replied instantly. "I discovered the body on my way out of the Library and my bracelet went missing during the time of my whipping"

“To my knowledge, you were banned from the pack house. How did you get into the pack house and what were you doing in the Library?” He asked.

I swallowed in fear. How do I explain to them that I planned on running away from the pack after stealing my Father's Maps?

“Tyra gave me a note from the Alpha, instructing me to take my things from the pack house before the end of the day,” I said shakily. “The guards let me in. I saw Tyra rushing out from the Library on my phone way inside and I decided to see who she must have been meeting inside the library.”

“Tyra is also banned from entering the pack house. How could she have possibly gone to the pack Library without anyone noticing?” Elder Walters asked.

“She is working with the witches,” I exclaimed. Murmurs rose again among the crowd at my accusations.

“Child, I would refrain from spilling false information if I were you. There has been no sight of witches in this pack for more than a century” He warned sternly. “Tyra, step forward.”

Tyra moved to stand in the center with me.

“Serena has laid accusations against you. Are they true?”

“No, they are not,” She defended immediately. “I didn't give her any note and I have never set my eyes on any witch. I could only enter the pack house after the body had been discovered because of the whole chaos. I am innocent.”

“Serena is trying to mislead everyone with false information. She was the only one found with the body and her Father's maps were in her possession,” She accused, pointing her dainty fingers at me. “She was planning to run away after killing the heir.”

“Is that true Serena?” Elder Walters asked.

I paused for a while, contemplating. Should I lie?

“Yes, I was planning to leave the pack. There is nothing for me here, so there’s no reason why I should stay.” I uttered. “But I didn't kill him. The moon goddess is my witness.”

"Well, if you say so," he muttered. “ Do you have anyone who can confirm your claims?”

“Mira is my only witness. She knows that I misplaced my bracelet.”

Mira stepped forward to give her own testimony. I looked at her with hope knowing that she was the only one in the pack who could help me prove my innocence.

“Y-Yes, she misplaced her bracelet,” Mira said with a trembling voice. I let out a sigh in relief. “But she also told me that she would go out to look for it. I didn’t see any written note and I had no idea that she was going to the pack house. She left before I woke up.

My blood froze in my veins. My jaw dropped in disbelief. What was I expecting? I turned to look at Tyra as what she said to me in the gallows echoed in my brain. She smiled at me.

“Checkmate,” She mouthed.

Mira scrambled back into the crowd, throwing one last look of pity my way.

I closed my eyes in fear, my palms clamming up with sweat. Other witnesses were called to give their own testimony.

The pack guards who arrived at the scene after hearing my cries came forth first. They gave an account of how they discovered the body with me. They affirmed that I gave them a note which they later found out was forged.

"No other person was present in sight and from the state of the body, it seems that he had been dead for not more than two minutes when the body was discovered," Cameron said concluding his testimony.

The crowd threw glances of pity her way as they sympathized with her.

"Justice would definitely be served." Trent echoed, emerging from the crowd to face me.

"You would face the maximum punishment for your crimes, but before then, I, Trent Backwoods, Alpha of the Backwoods pack, reject you as my mate and Luna, before all wolves and the moon goddess."

My knees buckled as I was hit by severe pain. I crouched down as a reflex as the pain spread around my body. I gasped in an effort to alleviate it but to no avail. I fell to the ground in despair as tears poured out of my eyes.

The rejection that I was so sure I avoided, has finally come to me and it happened right in front of everyone.

How could the world be this cruel to me? What exactly was my offense?

I had barely gotten over my pain, when Elder Walters gave out my sentence.

"You have been found guilty, Serena, and have been sentenced to death by drowning. All in agreement, please raise your hands."

Every member of the pack did so in unison, sealing my fate, and just like that my world came to an end.

The pack guards raised me to my feet, dragging me towards the edge of the pack.

The entire pack followed behind to witness my death.

The journey was long but at this point, I was numb and weak.

We got to the edge of the cliff and I was handed to my former mate. A guard bent down to tie my feet together. Trent held my two arms tightly, turning my body to face his.

"Apologize to my son with your miserable death."

I could hear the waves of the ocean crashing loudly against the rocks below.

I looked at him squarely, boring my eyes into his.

“I refuse to give you the satisfaction of a push, Trent,” I said coldly. “I get to decide my own fate and my ghost will haunt you for a lifetime.”

Before Trent could react, I threw myself backwards.

I let out a shriek as the pull of gravity claimed me. I could feel the invisible air exert pressure on my skin as I plummeted to my death.

The cold embrace of the ocean welcomed me first, sending a deep chill down my bones.

I struggled against the force dragging me down and the ropes tying my feet. All my efforts seemed futile as my lungs filled up with water.

I let out an air of surrender at my defeat. If this is to be my end, I accept it wholeheartedly. Maybe I will find peace on the other side.

I could feel myself gradually losing consciousness and I closed my eyes to welcome it.

Finally, some peace.

But why does it feel like something is trying to claw its way out of my bones?