CHAPTER ONE

~SCARLETT~

I've been locked up in this room for three days straight by my own husband, my own mate for a crime I knew nothing about.

My throat was parched, my voice hoarse from all the screaming and crying I've been doing for the past three days. All my pleas and cries fell on deaf ears and for the past three days, I haven't had any form of human interaction. My food passed underneath the door but I didn't dare eat it. How could I when every now and then I could hear my parents screaming, my people screaming to be heard but their cries, just like mine, fell on deaf ears.

A tear slid down my face as I folded my body and cried silently. How has my life turned out this way?

How did I go from marrying the man of my dreams, from becoming Luna to being branded a traitor?

I didn't understand a thing, why wouldn't anyone explain anything to me?

My ears rose up immediately as the locks on the door were being unlocked. I slowly stood up at the same time three guards walked into the room.

“You’re coming with us. It's in your best interest If you cooperate” The one in front uttered and I frowned. If it was a few days ago, they would have addressed me with more respect but right now, I was reduced to someone lesser than an omega.

I didn't argue or say a word as they dragged me out of the room. I couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief, I was slowly going mad in that room.

Scornful and disgusted Looks were thrown my way as soon as we got out the building. The people that had once adored me, that had once looked up to me now stared at me like I was dirt. Some even had the audacity to throw stones and rotten food at me and the guards did little to protect me from them.

I tried my best to keep my head high. I did nothing so why should I cower?

Soon enough, we got to the judgment ground and my eyes immediately landed on him. He was kind of hard to miss when he stood practically above everyone, his Aura instantly enveloping me.

Alexander Hilton, my fated mate, My husband. The man that had sworn to protect me, had sworn that no one else mattered to him as much as I did now sat on his throne, staring down at me with cold unfamiliar eyes.

“Scarlett!” My head instantly wiped to the side as soon as I heard my mother call out my name. My eyes almost bulged out of my skull when I saw the state she was in, the state they were all in.

“Mother!” I called out and was about to run towards her when I was suddenly made to kneel down by the guards behind me.

“Let me go! Let me go!” I screamed then suddenly bit onto one of the guards hand and immediately, he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face and I stilled.

I turned to Alexander, expecting him to reprimand the guard but the look in his eyes didn't waver. He didn't even look affected.

“If you don't want to be hurt, we'd suggest you refrain from doing anything stupid. I'll be carrying out your questioning” I tore my eyes reluctantly away from Alex and it landed on Isabella, Alex’s childhood best friend.

I narrowed my eyes at her and couldn't help but let out a scoff.

“I am your Luna, you have no power or right to question me” I said with my chin raised as I stared directly into her eyes.

I never liked her. Scratch that, I never liked how close she was with Alex and how much she influenced him. They had known each other since they were kids and in the eyes of Alex and practically everyone in the pack, she could do no wrong but I could see through her act.

Apparently she was supposed to marry Alex before I showed up with my people and since then, she has never liked me and has tried everything to get rid of me because of her stupid obsession with Alex.

“I gave her the power so you're to cooperate! With the crimes on your head, you're no one's Luna especially not mine” Alex uttered and I turned towards him with wide eyes.

“Lex…” I called out softly as I stared at him and I could have sworn I saw a little bit of familiarity in his eyes but if it was gone in a flash, I almost felt like I imagined it.

“We are going to do this quickly. Is this yours, Scarlett?” Isabella questioned and I bit my lower lip as I turned to her.

She was holding one of my medicine containers that has been passed down from generations. I had lost it awhile back. My family, my people, we were healers and that was one of the reasons Alexander’s father had let us, a group of rogues, into his pack.

“Yes” I replied slowly, not knowing where she was headed. A smirk appeared on her face and I realized I had played directly into her trap.

“That means you're well aware of the fact that this container carried the poison that not only killed a couple of wolves in this pack but also the deceased the Last

Alpha and Luna” She announced and everyone gasped while my eyes widened.

“What… what the fuck are you talking about? That's insane…”

“You said this container belonged to you?” She questioned again and I nodded as I briefly glanced at Alexander who had an unexplainable look on his face.

“Yes but I lost it a few months ago. I didn't poison anyone, why would I do anything like that? Alex…”

“You lost it around the time the Alpha and Luna died, didn't you?” She abruptly asked, catching me off guard. My heart began to race and I finally understood.

This was all her fucking idea and she had planned everything out.

“Alex, you can't listen to her. I didn't kill anyone, I…”

“Answer the question Damn it!” Alexander boomed as he stood up from the throne and everyone immediately bowed their heads, submitting to him but I kept my eyes locked on his.

“I did but that doesn't mean anything. I have no reason to kill anyone. Alex please…”

“Oh you have plenty of reasons, Scarlett. As a rogue, there's only one thing your kind desires and that's power. You wanted to become Luna so badly and you couldn't wait so you decided to eliminate the obstacles which happened to be the Alpha and Luna. Not only that but your parents and people were busy feeding secret information to the enemies pack for money. Secret information that you told them” Isabella accused me and I turned to her with wide eyes.

“You have got to be kidding? That's insane…”

“You’re insane, Scarlett, for such a diabolical plan! What did we ever do to you? We accepted you and your people as one of us but that wasn't enough for you! What did Alex do to you? He loved you but you were too greedy! You're a monster!” She yelled and immediately, the crowd began cheering as they agreed with her words.

My eyes stayed glued on Alex, he was the only one that mattered. If he believed me then I didn't care what anyone else thought about me.

“Alex…” I called out softly and tried moving when the guards held me down.

“Leave her. Don't walk, crawl all the way here” He muttered and a gasp escaped my lips. I bit my lip to stop them from quivering as I slowly crawled towards him.

I winced slightly from the pain on my knees but I didn't stop and just kept crawling towards him. He was angry, Isabella had filled his head with lies but I could convince him, I could make him believe me.

“Alex, you believe me right? Look at me and tell me that you believe me” I murmured as tears rolled down my cheeks while I continued slowly crawling towards him.

I tried reaching his wolf but he blocked me out.

“Alex..” I called out his name as my heart ached. He suddenly stood up and walked over to me, grabbing my face as he squatted down so he was staring directly into my eyes.

“Why should I believe you?” He questioned softly and as I stared into his big silver eyes, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

“Because you love me? Because I'm your mate? Because I've never done anything to betray your trust before?” I questioned softly and he frowned.

“I trust Isabella and she's never wrong” He muttered and that felt like a slap to my face.

“Admit your crimes and I'll reduce my sentence. I'll let you go…”

“I didn't do anything” I muttered through clenched teeth.

“Scarlett, do as I say”

“And then what happens to my people? My parents? If I admit to this crime that we didn't do, what happens to them?” I questioned softly and he tilted his head.

“They’ll face the consequences for their actions. The only reason I'll let you go is because you were my Luna and I want to give you one last bit of respect” He uttered and I stared at him for a while then scoffed.

“I don't need your respect! If you're going to punish my people then you might as well punish me” I told him and as we spoke, we never broke eye contact.

“Very well then. Pass my orders!” immediately he said that, the guards stood at attention as they waited for his order.

“Prepare them for execution for tonight!”...