My Execution

Lexi

The ride back to Bay Pack was long and painfully silent. Dean kept stealing glances at me through the rearview mirror, but I pretended not to notice. I hoped he’d be too distracted by his murderous thoughts to focus on the road – maybe he’d hit a tree, and I could escape. Or maybe Max would send a surprise attack. Anything to keep me from going back there.

The further we drove, the tighter my chest grew. Every tree we passed reminded me of that night, four years ago. Every claw mark scarred into the bark pulled me back to that night, and it made my lips quiver, but I stopped myself. I had to be brave. I wasn’t going to let Dean win.

When we crossed the border, I caught a very distinct scent. It was a scent most wolves didn’t have. The scent of a rogue hunter. I’d always hated them. They were Derrick’s soldiers, super wolves trained to kill without mercy

At first, they protected the packs from rogues, then Derrick turned them into his personal assassins, making them kill anyone who opposed his rules.

But of all the rogue hunters, there was no one I hated more than Jax Ferrah. Derrick’s favorite hunter. He was ruthless and heartless – the definition of barbaric when it came to killing. Whenever Jax was there, even women or children weren’t spared. He was a monster.

Dean used to hate Jax, and he hated Derrick too. But when his father grew too weak to lead, Dean became Alpha. I thought things would change, but I was wrong. The fact that I could smell a rogue hunter meant Dean was still using them. Just like his father.

“I’m sorry,” Dean said suddenly.

At first, I ignored him. There was no way he was talking to me. Maybe he was on the phone with someone.

But then he said my name. “Lexi. I’m sorry.”

My head lifted slowly, my eyes meeting his in the mirror. He looked sincere, but why? What happened to the Dean I met at Kloud pack?

“I know I acted like a jerk back there,” he said, “but I was furious that Max kept you from me. He knew I’d been searching for you and never said a word –”

“Because you were going to kill me,” I cut in, my brow furrowing in confusion.

“Kill you? I do not want to have you killed, Lexi.” He said, stopping the car right in front of the entrance to his court.

Before I could respond, I heard the noise I’d dreaded most. Cheers. Shouts. Chanting. Just like the day they demanded my exile.

“Couldn’t you let me enter quietly?” I snapped, my voice shaking. “Do they have to celebrate the return of someone they still want dead?”

“They’re not celebrating your death,” Dean said softly. “They’re celebrating your arrival.”

The cheers grew louder as he drove forward. My breath caught when I heard them yelling, “She’s back! The goddess has shown us mercy!” Flowers littered the path, and banners read Forgive us.

“What the hell is going on?” I whispered.

“They’re happy to have you back,” Dean said.

It felt like some kind of prank. At least that was what I thought until we reached his house, and I saw my mother and brother Cedric. I froze inside the car for what felt like forever before Dean came around to open my door.

He offered his hand, but I ignored it. I wasn’t that dazed.

“Alexis,” my mother gasped, rushing forward to pull me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re back. I almost didn’t believe it.”

“Hey, little sis,” Cedric said quietly.

I could barely look at him. His face only reminded me of the figurine he’d thrown at me when he heard about my so-called betrayal. None of them had believed me. Not my brother. Not even my mother.

“Look how happy everyone is,” she said, beaming. “They’re thrilled to have you back as their Luna.”

“Okay, wait – just give me a second.” I stepped back, glancing between them. “Where’s Vanessa? The actual Luna?”

“Dean, didn’t you tell her?” my mother asked.

“No,” Dean said awkwardly. “I thought we could talk about it during dinner, but Lexi… we found out.”

“Found out what?” I asked flatly.

“That Vanessa was lying about you framing her for infidelity.”

My chest tightened. So that was it. He’d learned the truth. He’d gotten rid of her. And now he wanted to replace her with me. That’s why he wasn’t killing me. That’s why he’d been nice to me.

“I see,” I said, forcing a bitter smile. “So, I guess I’m just supposed to forget everything?”

“Yes, dear,” my mother said softly. “All that’s in the past now.”

“Right. It’s in the past that you believed Vanessa over me. It’s in the past that Cedric nearly hurt me. And it’s in the past that the man who claimed he loved me sent me away a day after promising he never would!”

“Lexi...” Dean began, stepping toward me.

“Don’t touch me!” I shouted. “None of you believed me, and now you want me to pretend none of it happened? Unbelievable.”

I turned and stormed into the nearest room, slamming the door behind me so hard it echoed through the house. For a long moment, I just stood there, breathing hard, my hands trembling with rage.

I paced around the room, wondering why I was so upset. I’d never imagined a day would come when Dean would tell me he wanted me back, that he believed me. Maybe I had dreamed of it once, but something about all this didn’t add up.

Why does he want me now?

Even if he finally discovered Vanessa’s lies, couldn’t he just choose another woman? Hundreds of women would give anything to be his Luna. Why does it have to be me? Could it be that he genuinely feels sorry for how he treated me, and he wants a second chance?

Even if that’s the case, does he really expect me to forget how easily he believed Vanessa over me? Isn’t it cruel to ask me to act like none of it happened, like my exile was just a bad dream we can both wake up from?

But then again… he said he’d been looking for me, but when he found me, he seemed hurt. Was it because finding me meant he’d have to follow the law of the exiled and kill me? And since he doesn’t intend to kill me, what happens next?

Am I really safe here? Or is there someone in this pack who still believes I should die for what they think I did? Because no matter what Dean says, the law is the law, and by all rights, I should already be dead.

The thought sent a chill down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly unsure whether I’d just been welcomed home… or led back into my own execution.

What will become of me?