Chapter 5

Tessa

*Fifteen Days later*

It took an extra fifteen days for me to heal up my wounds and I didn't entirely heal on the hospital bed.

My father came and signed the AMA Form to be able to take me despite my inability to heal faster. But he never took me home.

Instead, he threw me to Alpha Reynolds, George's father to uphold justice regarding the death of his heir’s fated mate, my sister.

They tore my clothes and tied my hands to the ceiling in the grand hall. Everyone came around, throwing stones and mud at me. Except for my father and step-mother. Maybe they can’t bear to watch or maybe it’s because they don’t believe I killed Jasmine.

Today is the third day of being tied up here. Today, the alpha will give his final verdict. It's not like anyone spoke on my behalf, they all believe I killed my sister.

Freya has been skeptical about everything, so I told her not to involve herself, I even pleaded with her. I wasn't ready to lose another person dear to me.

“I didn't do it!” I plead, crying and staring at all their faces.

The disgust wrapped on the faces of those here is terrifying. Jasmine and I had a good relationship, it should be common knowledge that I would never think of killing her. And yet, here I am, being punished for her death.

Rose stands at a corner, her gaze is focused on me like she is proud of her fake testimony. I stare at her for a few seconds and let tears drip down from my eyes. My sister really cared for her, I still can't believe Rose will stand against upholding real justice. She knows I didn't do this but she keeps quiet.

I turn away, and my gaze meets Alfred’s; George’s younger brother, likely in his mid-twenties. He quickly looks away.

Alpha Reynolds raises his hands and three abled men begin whipping me. Each stroke lands harder than the last. I groan in pain, whimpering.

Alfred looks at me, shakes his head and steps out in a hurry.

My gaze drifts to George, who is at the corner watching. I focus my gaze on him and begin imagining all the awful things I would do to him.

I will give him a very slow death. I would start by cutting off his disgusting balls and feeding them to him, making sure he eats every part of it. Then, I will stab every part of his body until he begs me to kill him. He will heal, and we will start over again.

With my thoughts focusing on George, the flogging feels less painful.

“Stop!!!” Freya screams, storming in.

They all look at her.

My breath hitches. What has come over her? She is supposed to stay out of it. Alpha Reynolds and his family are all dangerous people.

“She didn't do it and I have proof!” she says pulling out a camera from her bag.

I widen my cheeks. She must have found the paired device of the spy camera I implanted in George's room.

They begin to murmur. I stare at George and watch as fear creeps out of his eyes. He looks around, feeling disorganised already. He swallows his breath, his fingers shaking.

“Come forward.” The Alpha commands.

Freya walks to him and hands the device to him. He plays the video, we hear no sound but from his sudden change of expression, I can tell that the truth is right before him.

He looks at me and looks at George. He then looks at me again.

At that instant, a guard rushes in and hurries to him. The guard whispers something to his ear, he nods and the guard departs.

He takes a deep breath.

My father walks in immediately with bouncers behind him. The room falls silent as every one gazes at him.

I take a breath of relief, he is finally going to see that I didn't kill Jasmine. He walks forward, without glancing at me. He gets closer to the Alpha and bows to him.

“I'm here to take the murderer home… as you know, it was my daughter who was killed.” He says, lifting up his head.

The air leaves my lungs all at once. Tears burn at the back of my eyes and spill before I can stop them, sliding down my cheeks.

He may never acknowledge me as his, that I am aware of. But believing I killed Jasmine hurts deeper than I thought.

“My condolences… but your daughter was also my son's fated mate.”

“My condolences to you as well..then.”

There's a moment of silence.

“What about the proof before you?” Freya yells out.

Alpha Reynolds winks at a guard who rushes at Freya and begins to drag her away.

“No!! Let my friend go!” I scream.

But no one listens to me. Freya struggles to extract herself from the guards grip while I struggle to free myself from shackles holding me still.

“She is innocent!” Freya screams as she is dragged away.

“Release the girl! She is free to go!” The Alpha declares.

I should be happy but my friend was just taken away right before me. Besides, the coldness in my father's eyes is terrifying. He glances at me and my heart begins beating faster.

Surprisingly, no one dares to ask further questions. They exchange glances with each other as the guards untie me, and I stagger to the floor, my whole body aching in pain.

My father winks at one of his bouncers. He rushes to me, holding me tight. I groan in pain and he quickly lets go.

I raise my head and see everyone walking out. The show is over and a smile now on George's face.

He drags me out but as soon I get close to my father, I reach for his hands. He glares at me.

“Ask him to show you the video in the camera. I didn't kill Jasmine.”

His gaze drifts to the camera in the Alpha's hands. Yet, the Alpha doesn't flinch.

My father nods at the bouncer and he begins dragging me out. My heart dropped. He didn't even bother to check if I was telling the truth.

I am shoved into the car, my father walks out of the building, still glaring at me. The bouncer closes the door and I begin sobbing.

I never knew my father's hatred ran this deep. His mind seems already made up.

I want to escape but that feels like an admission of guilt. I need to talk some sense into my father, make him believe I am innocent.

We head straight to the house and my father drags me out of the car.

Suddenly, my whole body begins shaking; my father quickly lets go like he was electrified or something.

I gasp as a faint silver glow blooms across my skin.

“This shouldn't be happening so soon!” He exclaims, dragging his feet backwards.

“What's happening?” I ask.

“The moon goddess is giving you a second chance mate!”