3| The Trial.

ELARA

My insides twist, and I feel my entire world crumble before me.

“Morgana, please,” I plead desperately, tears pouring down my face. “My children have nothing to do with this. I beg you, please.”

She waves her hands dismissively, poison lacing her voice. “Take her away.”

She turns around and hugs her husband as the guards drag me away. I thrash and twist in their hold, praying for a miracle that might allow me to break free, run to my babies, and escape with them. But these men are far too strong. I don’t stand a chance.

They drag me into the dark dungeon, the strong stench of urine hitting my nose the moment we enter. After dumping me in one of the cells, the guards leave without a word, abandoning me all to myself in the dark, smelly cell.

I cry my balls out, unable to get a second of sleep, my thoughts racing with fear for my children. Where are they? What are they doing to them? If anything happens to them, I’ll never forgive myself for not fleeing with them sooner. But I was only trying to protect them!

Different thoughts collide in my head, pushing me to the brink of insanity. I hit the bars multiple times, hoping they would snap at the impact, but they don’t even bend. I try to climb up to the small window in the cell, but it is too high up and I keep falling miserably.

Morning finally arrives, and the guards come back to take me. I am dragged to the trial room where most of the pack members are already waiting. My kids are standing in the middle of the room, and the moment they sight me, they run toward me with their tiny legs and wrap their hands around my legs.

I crouch down to their level, and before I can hold them in my hands, they are suddenly torn away from me. Their cries fill the room, crushing my heart to pieces.

I try to snatch them away from the guard, but others hold me back, dragging me closer to where Jaxon and Morgana are seated.

“My children.” I bow before them, pleading desperately. “I will accept whatever punishment you want to give me. Those kids are innocent. Please let them go.”

“How dare you tell us what to do?” Morgana hisses, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“I am begging. Please!” I say desperately.

“Let the trial begin,” she mutters and leans back on her seat, a smug smile on her face.

The prosecutor steps forward and starts with a greeting.

“Long live the Alpha, Luna.” He bows before both of them before turning his attention to me.

“Elara,” he calls, looking at me intently. “Do you know why you are here?”

“I have been accused of seducing the Alpha,” I grit through my teeth.

“Well, yes, that’s one reason. But it’s not the only one. As a maid, you were expected to do your duties properly and on time. You were entrusted with the care of the pack. Instead, you’ve proven yourself to be lazy, negligent, and even a thief.”

“What?!” My eyes widen in perplexity and confusion. I shoot a glance at Morgana, knowing at once that this is all her doing.

“And when you realized your incompetence would be exposed, you tried to seduce the Alpha to gain his favor,” the prosecutor continues smoothly.

“I’m not guilty of any of those accusations!” I retort, my voice trembling with frustration and disbelief.

“Are you sure? Because we have witnesses,” Morgana sneers.

“Oh, yes. We have a witness.” The prosecutor gestures to the head maid, Matilda, to step forward.

The moment I see her, dread floods me. Matilda has always vied for Morgana’s favor. This is the perfect opportunity for her to gain it. Morgana planned this all too well, and I’m completely doomed.

“You are the head maid, correct? And in charge of all maid affairs?” he asks, and she nods.

“Okay. I want you to tell the Alpha and Luna, including everyone here to witness the trial, what Elara has been doing,” he continues.

“Well...” She clears her throat and shrugs. “Elara has always been disobedient. I tried to guide her, but she was too stubborn. She often abandoned her duties, and I had to reassign others to cover for her. And on the few days she did work, things went missing.”

“Things went missing when she worked?” He raises an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting Elara stole them?”

“Yes,” she nods firmly. “We always find those missing items in her room.”

“Thank you. You may return to your place,” he tells her.

Matilda nods and glances at Morgana, a small smile curling on her lips before turning away and returning to where she was standing.

“She’s lying!” a familiar voice rises from the crowd.

It’s Isla.

“Elara is not a thief! She’s never stolen or slacked off on her duties. You’re not even giving her a chance to defend herself! How is this a fair trial?!”

“Who are you?” Morgana barks at her.

“My name is—” Isla starts, but...

“I don’t care who you are,” Morgana snaps, cutting her off. “If you ever dare to speak against your Alpha and Luna again, you’ll be thrown into the dungeon too!”

Isla darts her gaze at me and I slowly shake my head, silently begging her not to interfere. We are powerless against these people, and I can’t bear to see her punished because of me.

She swallows hard, then goes quiet afterward.

“The next witness is the Luna,” the prosecutor continues, gesturing toward Morgana.

She stands and walks toward the center. “Last night, I went to check on my husband in his office since he’s been working all day... That’s when I saw this filth, Elara, stripping naked in his office. The Alpha was asleep. She was trying to seduce him, hoping he’d wake up to that.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I’m numb. Their lies, their twisted plot—it’s all so perfectly executed, I don’t even know how to defend myself.

Morgana leans in close to me and whispers coldly, “Because I need to get rid of you, so my husband will stop lusting after you.”

“Fuck you!” I groan from the depth of my heart. “Fuck you, Morgana!”

The next thing I know, a sharp sting explodes across my cheek.

“Fuck you!” I repeat through gritted teeth.

She slaps me again.

Rage vibrates through my body, and before I can stop myself, I lift my hand to slap her back, but she catches my hand mid-air, glaring at me. “What did you just try to do?”

Before I can answer, she pushes me backward, then turns to look at the guards. “Beat her until she can’t lift her arm no more.”

Without asking questions, the men move closer and begin to kick me aimlessly with their feet. I scream in pain and agony, begging for them to stop, but they don’t.

I try to crawl away, but I can’t even stand up as I am too weak. Then I see my children running toward me from the corner of my eyes, crying uncontrollably.

“Oh, you little bastards want a beating too, huh?” Morgana snarls, the frown on her face deepening.

“No. No. No,” I whisper, fear consuming me. “Please. Not my children.”

“Guards!” Morgana barks. “Teach these little fools a lesson. Make sure they can’t walk when you’re done.”

Suddenly, the giant oak doors slam open, and all eyes turn toward the entrance.

Standing there is Alpha Kieran, my former Alpha, my former mate, the man who had rejected and banished me from his pack six years ago. His face is hard, fury etched across his features.

“What is happening here?!” he roars, his voice echoing like thunder through the hall.

I open my mouth to talk, but I’m too weak to speak. I try to crawl toward my children, but my limbs give out. Suddenly, the world around me begins to blur, and everything goes black, darkness consuming me.