Chapter 5

ELARA'S POV 

(Day of Trial)

"Out." The guard said as he opened the cell, with a shaky breath I stood up and walked out of the cell. The cold air made all the hairs on my skin prickled up.

"Let's go." He said, leading me out of the cell, alongside with two other guards behind.

The air in the throne room felt thick like a room trapped of air. I stood in the middle of the throne room, swallowing hard as all eyes stared on me.

On the throne sat The Alpha. Alpha Ronan of the Mountain Dew Pack, His mistress sat opposite him.

"Bring her foward," Alpha Ronan's voice cut through the silence. Just as instructed, the guards pushed me forward further towards him. My stomach knotted, Was I about to get my head chopped off before even given a chance to speak or defend myself?

As I stepped forward, the air that circled around him seemed even more suffocating than the air in the throne. His presence felt like a force of nature - dark, tall. It was overwhelming.

The moment we made eye contact, I instinctively stumbled back, feeling my wolf tremble deep inside me. A pull strange, one that I have felt before... A pull that felt primal.

That strange, electric pull- like an invisible thread slowly pulling me towards him. It was so sudden, I blinked, confused and frustrated.

The Mate Bond.

No- it couldn't be. My eyes widened in realization.

There was no way in hell this man would be my second chance mate!

I look at the Alpha, Alpha Ronan. The moment our eyes met, everything else blurred, I could hear the voices of other people, but it sounded nothing less than background noises. The pull was so strong, I could barely breathe.

His gaze, however, was still unreadable. It felt more like a cold physical touch.

Was this dome sick trick? Really? After Kael, I'm mated to someone else who would never care?

He stood up, walking towards me before starting to walk in circles, as if measuring me up. Could he feel it too?

Suddenly he stopped, standing few feets in front of me.

"State your name."

"Elara,", I blurted out almost immediately.

"Why are you here?"

I sucked in a deep breath, swallowing hard. "I was running... From bad people. I don't have a home, I'm an orphan. With no family or no place to run to, I got lost," I lowered my head, my bottom lips quivering terribly, "I swear I never meant to trespass. I didn't know this was your territory."

"Elana," Ronan's voice boomed through the room, a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "Accessed of trespassing on Mountain Dew Pack, a violation against us. Do you deny it?"

"No, Alpha," my voice trembled, "I don't deny it. I just got lost.... I was running.... Trying to get away from someone,"

I could his feel gaze hardened on me, "Running? From what? Fear? Or something more sinister?"

A huge figure stepped forward, one of the guards that captured me, "Sire, We got her when she was almost attacked by some rogues. It was near the border, far from any established path. I'd say she was simply lost, but actually fleeing."

Ronan turned towards the guard, a questionable look in his dark eyes, as if doubting. "Was there anyone else with her?"

"Nothing of any kind, Alpha."

The whispers rippled through the assembled pack members, I could feel their fear and suspicion, it was evident on their features and the death stares they threw at me. I felt like an enemy.

After a moment of silence, Ronan's spike up as he walked back to his throne, "Trespassing is a grave offense."

"I beg of you," the tears began to blur my vision, to be honest. I didn't want to die, neither did I want to go back... "I didn't know."

"Alistair," Ronan spoke up, gesturing across the room, his gaze landed on an elder, whose face was etched with a deep frown as his brows furrowed, "Alistair, What's the customary sentence for trespassing?"

Alistair cleared his throat, "Alpha, for a simple trespass, a whipping and banishment would suffice. However," he paused, glaring at me, "These aren't simple times. A stronger sentence might be necessary.... In order to send a warning to others."

"Perhaps a display of force," Roman's mistress finally spoke up, her voice smooth like silk, yet her eyes held no emotion as it stared at me, her glare reminded me of Seraphine. "An execution would send a better clear message."

I gasped, unable to believe the words that just came out of her lips, do people really just hate me at first sight? I immediately dropped to my knees, the tears now falling to the ground. I only had one option left, to beg for my life. "I BEG OF YOU! I swear I no nothing and I didn't mean to trespass!"

She simply scoffed, "It's your words against our law? Surely you don't think you'd be that lucky? The moon goddess tore her grace from you the moment you set foot here!"

Obviously she wouldn't think an helpless girl like me would be of any harm right?

Well- you are fated to her man. My subconscious kicked in, but I chose to ignore, just the same way I'll ignore the fact that I and Ronan are second chance mates.

"Absolutely fantastic idea!" I heard another voice erupt from the crowd. An elder perhaps. Their voices began to increase almost as if agreeing to seal my fate.

"Maid." A deep voice cut through the room, silencing everyone. I looked up, it was Ronan. "You'll stay here as a maid. And that's final,"

"But-" His mistress tried to speak, but he placed a firm hand on her thigh, he then continued, "However. If you're caught suspicious. I wouldn't hesitate in ordering your death immediately."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding hard against my rib cage, it pounded so hard I feared it would explode.

"Thank you." I simply said with a bow. I had no other choice, I was trapped. From one chaos to the other.

"The trial is over."