Chapter 6

VIOLET

My heart thumped hard in my chest as I slowly raised my head to see Alpha Ansel, the man I was supposed to be getting married to, sitting on his throne with a murderous glare plastered on his face.

“I…” The word lingered on my tongue as I watched my best friend—no, the person I had assumed was my best friend—walk in and move closer to the Alpha. Kira whispered something into Alpha Ansel’s ear before stepping away from him. Our eyes met for a brief second, and I didn't miss the devilish smirk on her face.

Whatever was going on had to do with the mark, and it was all Kira’s doing. She wanted so badly to see me go down, even though I had never done anything to earn her hatred.

“You'd better be right about your accusations,” Alpha Ansel grunted before shifting his gaze from Kira to me. “Strip her and show me that you're right.”

It felt as though my world was crumbling at my feet. Kira took a long stride toward me, her lips curved into a sly smirk.

My father hastily turned to me. He gripped my shoulders, and I felt his hands trembling. His eyes softened as he whispered in a shaky voice, “Violet, for the love of the Goddess, tell me what you did.”

A tear slid down my face as I saw the look on my father's face. For the first time since I was born, I saw my father looking scared. I wanted to believe he was worried about me, but no, he wasn't. My father couldn't possibly be worried about the daughter he had always wanted dead in place of his wife.

“I'm sorry,” I cried out as I felt something pierce my side, cutting through my dress before a hand yanked the fabric off my body.

I stood there in just my panties and bra, hot tears streaming down my face as I burst into tears.

“I would rather die than lie to you, Alpha. Your mate is carrying another man's mark!” Kira yelled, pushing me to the floor.

“Violet!” my father yelled out my name in a tone I could only describe as panic and fear.

The hall erupted in murmurs as everyone present seemed to have something to say at the same time.

“Now...” Kira stepped in front of my father, cupping his cheek. “You now know what happened. What are you going to do to get yourself out of the mess your dear daughter made?” she whispered in his face.

Bile rose in the back of my throat as I watched my friend have fun with my situation.

She looked happy. She looked far too happy for someone who had claimed to be my friend. Someone who had vowed to stand by me through thick and thin.

“Now that you know of your crime, I shall pass my judgment,” Alpha Ansel announced.

I felt my chest tighten in fear.

What could my punishment be? What punishment could my foolish act of revenge bring upon me?

“Alpha...” My father dropped to his knees. The ground seemed to shake beneath me, and I clenched my fists at my sides.

I felt ashamed of myself. I wished it were all a dream. I wished the past twenty-four hours had been nothing but a dream.

“My daughter—no, I have sinned against you, Alpha. Please, give me a chance to correct my mistake,” my father pleaded.

My breath hitched as I heard those words from him. He seemed terrified of the judgment the beast would pass on me—on us.

“For failing as a father, and for plotting a scheme against your Alpha...” He paused midway through his sentence, and I felt beads of sweat roll down my face.

I wanted to yell that he had made me do what I did. If he hadn't been a manwhore, I wouldn't have had the nerve to share a bed with a stranger. If he hadn't cheated on me with my best friend, I probably wouldn't have thought of seeking such shameful revenge.

But I couldn't say any of that. It would only make my punishment more severe for exposing the Alpha's personal affairs in public.

“I shall behead you in front of everyone, and your company will be taken over by the council. Your daughter will be stripped naked in front of the pack members and stoned to death. Anyone who tries to help you will be considered a traitor, and they will face the same judgment...”

My father burst into tears, his muffled sobs reaching my ears.

I wanted to crawl over to my father and apologize for what I had done, but I couldn't move. I felt glued to the floor, my body trembling with shock and fear.

“Guards! Take them away!” Alpha Ansel barked.

I could hear heavy footsteps marching toward us. Fear gripped my entire body as I felt a pair of hands grab my arms and try to pull me to my feet.

“What's going on here?!” a male voice asked from near the exit.

His voice sounded like the growl of a mighty beast, fierce and uncompromising.

The room fell deathly silent. I could no longer hear my father's muffled cries. Alpha Ansel's eyes burned with fury at the interruption.

“I'll ask again, Ansel, and you will answer me. What's going on here?!” the man asked again.

His voice was cold, sending an eerie chill down my spine.

For some strange reason, the voice sounded familiar. Beads of sweat rolled down my face at the thought that the stranger from the previous night might be the same person.

My heart hammered hard against my chest, and I shook my head, my vision blurring as I whispered to myself, “It can't be him. It must not be him.”