Chapter 5: Ashes of the Heir

FINNIAN 

“Luna, I understand your pain. This is my cousin and the only heir to the throne who was killed. I promised you I would bring whoever did this to justice,” she nodded as I stretched my hand to clear her tears. She stood frozen, her eyes slightly opened.

That was the best I could do for her to let her know I was on her side, she stood up and dragged her feet back to her seat.

I stood up, ready to leave her room,” Take care, Luna, and eat your food. You need your energy to…bury him.” The words were bitter on my tongue, but that was the truth because we were all going to bid the child farewell this morning.

I walked towards the entrance and hesitated for a while before I finally opened the door, my mind troubled with different thoughts.

Could it be Isolde who kills the heir?

But why? For what?

Why would she do that?

Was it because she couldn't give birth?

Or was it because my brother married his fated mate?

Not to forget, he also married another girl, a witch as his third wife.

No matter the reason, no one had the right to kill the innocent child.

~~~

ISOLDE 

My eyes drifted slowly as I dragged it to adjust to the environment I was in. I stood up from the bed and looked around.

Thank goodness. I was still in the room where I saw Prince Finnian. I quickly touched my left shoulder as I remembered him.

Did he apply the medicine?

Did he take off my dress and see my skin?

How did he do it?

No scar or pain was left. The wound had closed and I in fact felt better. 

I felt well and strong. I grabbed my dress as my head registered the white dress I was now putting on.

Wait…

Did he change my dress himself?

I shook my head continuously and stepped down from the bed,” He will not do that.”

‘Really,’ a doubtful voice asked me in my head, and I didn't even know.

Everywhere looked quiet and weird, I walked out of the room slowly, hoping no one would see me, my mouth slightly opened as I saw no one, even at the entrance.

What was happening?

Where was everyone?

I continued to walk towards the Alpha King Rowan’s Chamber and saw no one, then it down on me.

Today's the burial of the heir. Hot tears slipped through my face as I remembered the lovely boy again.

I walked back towards the room where I was caged by Prince Finnian, trying to prepare myself to join them for the crusade.

I knew no one would want to see me there, but I just wanted to be there, I wanted to see the heir for the last time. To tell him how sorry I was, not being able to cure his sickness early.

I folded my long brown hair in a bun, adjusted my white dress, and started to walk through the palace hallway.

There were no guards and I fell deeply sad. I walked through the palace garden, then to the backyard of the palace where the ritual would possibly have taken place.

There, I saw almost every wolf in white, some witches, and the king as they wrapped the lifeless body of the heir with white clothes and placed him in a long basket of his size.

The tears didn't leave me, I stretched forward my hand as if my hand would reach him and bring him closer to me.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” An angry voice dragged my body and threw me to the ground.

My heart skipped twice not knowing when I reached them on my own. I bowed my face, but Velin didn't stop as she yanked my hair backward.

“Answer me, Witch! You want to collect his body and eat it too?!” She screamed.

Alpha King Rowan walked towards me and gave me a deadly slap across my face,” How dare you show your face in here?” He growled, the wolves and the witches around gasped seeing me on the dirty floor.

Some were pitiful while some looked at me with no pity. I tried to stand up and speak but my voice broke as the hot tears gushed down my face.

“I'm so sorry…my king. I just came to bade him a farewell…”

“After killing him?” Velin cut me off quickly, and I crawled with my knees towards her. She moved backward after hitting my knee hard.

“I didn't…I didn't kill him Velin. Believe me, I can't kill him…my king…please…bel…” Alpha King Rowan grabbed my dress with both hands.

“Don't you ever call me that again! I'm not your king?” He spat in my face before releasing me.

“Guards!!” He called, and three hefty men ran towards me,” Throw her back into the dungeon! Now!”

What?!

No! No! I didn't want to go back there. I preferred to die!

“If You Touch Her!” An angry voice matched itself towards the scene with two hard-looking soldiers, and everyone looked up at the person who dared to go against the Alpha King Rowan's order.

I looked up to face Finnian’s back, who was now talking to the King,” You said you would let me handle it. Why is the King going against his word?”

Velin knelt beside him, holding his legs, sheading tears like water” Prince Finnian…this witch killed my son. There's no need to investigate anything, Prince. She did it, please help me take justice on her.”

Finnian bent to carry her gently on her feet, he never looked at me once. His aura had become dark and cold. He struggled as he tried to adjust his feelings of anger.

“I will take Justice, Luna. Don't bother yourself for anything,” he patted her on her shoulders and Alpha King Rowan dragged her towards his side.

Finnian turned to Alpha King Rowan and said,” Let me handle this, King. I promise you I will be the one to behead her if she is found guilty.” his voice came out like a plea, and he waited for Alpha King Rowan's approval.” Let's do it the right way.”

What?!

Behead?

I touched my head mentally. 

What if he couldn't figure out the killer?

What if they rope me? 

Will he still kill me?

My heart was pounding fast as I looked back at the dirty ground.

Alpha King Rowan nodded and Finnian bowed, Felda ran to me to help me up, and dusted my white dress that had turned brown due to the dirty floor.

I bowed my head in embarrassment, pain, and anger. I was humiliated in the face of almost everyone in the Red Hollow pack, even though not every wolf was here.

“Take her,” Finnian ordered his soldiers, and the two men came towards me, guiding me into the pack house.

“I'm Daze, here is Jared your highness,” the tanned skin among the soldiers introduced them as we entered the room I left earlier.

Your Highness?

I had lost that title a long time ago.

I nodded with my teary eyes.

“The maids will attend to you now. If you need anything, please let us know,” the one with the fair skin informed me. He looked pale and strong, his eyes were dark and shining, and he had dirty brown hair.

Jared.

While Daze was not too tall with light green eyes, his hair was charcoal black, and he rubbed his hair backward as I was lost in thought. He did that earlier also.

“Ok…thanks,” my voice came out more like a whisper.

They bowed and left the room, I staggered backward, my back hitting the cold wall.

How did I get here?

Was this how my life was going to be?

Then came a knock, I cleaned my tears quickly before speaking,” Come in.”

The maids entered, placing a beautiful red dress designed with different shining beads on the bed.

One with a matching pair of shoes. And another one with gold accessories.

What were all these?

Was I going to a ceremony now?

When it wasn't as if I was going to leave this room.

The three maids bowed after securing the items in a safe place. They were the same maids who

came yesterday and I found their faces new.

“I'm Ariana, your highness,” the tallest among them introduced herself. “I'm Eve…” Then the chubby one spoke,” I'm Marie, my queen.”

I nodded as I registered their names in my head. They looked so respectful, not like the ones I had earlier, always looking at me with disgust, like they were forced to serve me.

“Let’s take your bath now, your highness. The king has demanded your presence,” my eyes widened.

What?!

King?!