Chapter 2

Lilith's POV

"Father! Mother!" I cried out as they began to drag my parents to the dungeon. "Father! Father! Please! Please. My family would never betray the Greenforest park ! He could never do such a thing!" I pleaded with the Alpha, who only glanced at me with a cold, condescending gaze before barking out another command.

"Take her to the abandoned building on the outskirts of the pack. Assign a chore to her and make sure she completes the chore before she is given anything in the pack," he ordered, and the warriors immediately got into action, picking me up roughly.

Without any more strength to fight, I could only continue to cry and plead, hoping he would listen to me and release my parents.

We would accept anything. Extra chores, demotion, or even banishment—but anything other than death.

"Please! For the sake of the friendship you shared with my family, please give us a chance to prove our innocence," I pleaded, and the alpha growled.

"The only reason I am keeping you alive is for the sake of our past relationship, Lilith. If not, you would have died with your parents!" He declared, and I shook my head.

"You should know better! My father would never betray the pack! He was plotted against because he had caught on to their plans." I confessed, and the alpha's face softened a bit. Seeing it as a way to continue. "He had overheard them talking about how to take over the pack while he was on patrol, and he came to tell you, but you had visitors, and he was waiting! You have to believe me; my father would never betray you in the pack!" I cried out. 

The Gamma stepped forward and slapped me across the face; his face pulled into a deep frown as he pulled my ears. "If you are going to make baseless accusations, at least provide evidence! You don't expect us to believe that just because you said it?" 

"Drop it, Lilith," my father mind-linked me without looking my way. "You will never get through to them," he added, and I sniffled. "But father..."

"What do I always tell you about a warrior's death?" He asked, and I sniffled even harder, knowing he was trying to be strong for my mother and me.

"It's an honor for a warrior to die for their pack at any time," I replied, and he nodded. "Then consider our deaths as those of the warriors who sacrifice their lives for the safety of the people." 

"But father... Your death will only bring about the destruction of the pack. They took you out of the way because they know you are a threat to their schemes; shouldn't staying alive be the right thing to do in this situation?" 

"The right thing to do is know when to give up," he said, cutting off the mind-link as they dragged them away. I lost my strength and fell on my knees, crying my heart out and praying to the moon goddess for salvation.

Please, if you are up there! If you are listening to my prayers, save my parents. They are innocent and loyal! They would never harm your other creation!

Please! Please! Please!

As I continued to pray to the goddess while being dragged away, I felt my wolf let out a howl in my head, her heart squeezing together in pain and the next moment I passed out.

It was late in the afternoon when I opened my eyes again. I looked around, feeling confused about the new and unfamiliar environment I was in. Just as I tried standing up from the cold, hard floor I had slept on overnight, I felt a splitting headache, and the memories of the previous day came crashing in.

My parents!

Then was the execution day!

No, I can't allow them to die! I have to do anything! 

I scrambled to my feet and hurried out of the abandoned house I had been placed in. While thinking of a way to get the Alpha to change his punishment.

'Let's talk to Raider; he should be able to help us talk to his father; after all, he is our mate' my wolf, Lexi suggested, and I nodded.

"Yes, Raider should be able to help! Of course, why had I not thought about it before?" I muttered to myself as I ran in the direction of Raider's home.

A new hope was brewing in me with every distance I covered. Considering the mate bond we share, I am sure Raider would listen to me and help my father out of the predicament he was in. I suppressed my anticipation as I neared his home, not wanting to get my hope too high only for it to be shattered.

My face brightened up as I noticed Raider was about to enter his apartment. "Raider! Raider! Please wait!" I called out and increased my pace. A look of surprise flashed through his eyes as he noticed my presence, and then within the next few seconds, his brows pulled together into a frown.

"Lilith? Why are you here?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. It was as if he was scared someone would hear him calling my name.

"I came to see you. Please, Raider, for the sake of our friendship and mate bond, please help me plead with the alpha to reduce the punishment on my parents at least until we are either proven guilty or innocent." I pleaded, and his frown deepened.

"I can't do that, Lilith," he replied with a shake of his head and my heart into my stomach. "Why not?" I choked out. "You don't seriously believe my father did what he was accused of, did you?" I asked, and he turned away, unable to maintain eye contact with me.

"~Ah~" I cried out as my hand flew to my face in frustration. "We are up together; my house was your second home, and vice versa. My father trained you and taught you almost all you know, and you could not even give him the benefit of the doubt. A stranger's words weigh more than his." I demanded, and he remained silent.

My body tensed up as I noticed a female figure walking out of his home, half naked with hickies decorating her neck. My body trembled, and my wolf howled in pain, seeing the smug look on her face. "What do you mean by a stranger's word?" The lady demanded it with a sneer.

She walked up to Raider and wrapped her hands around his arm in a seductive manner. "Baby, don't tell me you haven't told her about us. Why would she refer to my father as a stranger when our wedding is just a few days away?" She asked with a coy tone, and I saw Raider tense as my eyes met him.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, and then it turned to full-blown sobbing. "You were having an affair with another woman despite me being your mate?" I asked coldly, my tone devoid of any emotions.

"You were even about to get married to her while promising me a future! I'm your mate, Raider! I'm the one who is supposed to get married to you!" I screamed 

"Not anymore!" He yelled back at me, "I could never be with the daughter of the man who had tried to betray my pack! It's over between us! he declared.

With every tiny bit of strength left within me, I fought the urge to crumble in front of these two as I maintained my cold gaze. "You were planning to marry her; all these were planned even before my father was accused. I'm not even sure if you all are not on it just to take me out of the way." 

"Stop it!" He demanded.

"Make me shut up! You fucking asshole! Make me shut up!" I screamed. "My family sacrificed everything for the pack! Did you forget my brother died trying to protect your weak ass?! We pledged loyalty to you and the pack even though you were the one who pushed him to his death, and this is what we get?!" I screamed.

"Why?! Why?!"

"I have no use for you any longer, and when I become useful, it's normal that it is discarded." Raider sneered, and the lady snickered.

"I, Raider Smith, the next Alpha of the Greenforest park , reject you, Lilith Arthur, as my mate!" He declared, and I screamed as the bond snapped.

With gutted teeth and hatred, I looked into his eyes. "I, Lilith Arthur, accept your rejection," I sneered.

"And from this day on, I curse you to never know peace! I curse you to never know happiness! I curse you to die at the hands of your most beloved without leaving a seed behind! I curse you!" I screamed and heard thunder rumble in the clear afternoon sky as I stomped back to the cottage that had been given to me.