May My Memories Haunt You, Alpha

"Velda Griffin is suspected of conspiring with rogue wolves to assassinate the future Luna, Sienna Armstrong. Today, she shall face the memory trial!"

On the execution platform, a massive memory crystal shimmered with a cold, lethal light. My former fiance and Alpha of the Moonshadow pack, Lorcan Cillian, sat high above. His eyes were filled with pure loathing.

"Project your crimes for all to see! Let the entire pack witness the true face of the filth you are!"

Sienna leaned into his arms and grinned triumphantly. She thought that day would be my downfall.

As I was bound by silver chains, a relieved smile appeared on my pale face.

"Lorcan, are you sure you want to see it? Once you take a look, there's no turning back."

My smile only enraged him further. He slammed his hand onto the armrest and roared, "Still running your mouth at death's door!

"If we don't take a look, how can we answer for Sienna's suffering? How can we answer for the pack members you betrayed?"

As soon as his words fell, the wolves below erupted into shouts.

"Kill the traitor!"

"Shameless she-wolf! She was so jealous of Ms. Armstrong that she sided with the rivals!"

"Activate the crystal so she dies in agony!"

Lorcan looked down at me condescendingly from his tribune. His tone dripped with fake mercy. "It's not too late to confess, Velda. As long as you kneel, apologize to Sienna, and admit your crimes, I might grant you a quick death."

In his arms, Sienna looked up at him and weakly murmured, "Please don't do this, Lorcan. I'm sure Velda didn't mean it…"

She turned to me with tears welling in her eyes, looking all kind and innocent. "Velda, just admit you were wrong, alright? Please, I don't want to see you suffer."

I watched her pathetic performance and laughed. "Sienna, are you really sure you want them to see my memories?"

Her expression stiffened as I continued, "I want to see them. I want to see how you, and all of them, can enjoy everything with such clear consciences."

My gaze swept past Lorcan and landed on the two wolves behind him. One was my brother by blood and Beta of the Moonshadow pack, Arwen Griffin.

The other was my childhood sweetheart, who once promised to protect me forever, the pack's Gamma, Maverick Wulfe.

They had once been the most important wolves of my life. But now, they were Sienna's most loyal supporters.

Arwen frowned. His eyes were filled with impatience as he said, "Velda, don't blame me for being cold toward you. You brought this on yourself and tried to hurt Sienna just to win Lorcan's favor. So even if he lets you off today, I'll deal with you myself."

Maverick only shook his head with a sorrowful sigh. "I don't understand how you turned this way, Velda. Sienna is so kind. She even offered to share her blood just to cure your illness, yet you bit the hand that fed you."

"Fine," I muttered. "Since you all want to see it so badly, let's begin."

Lorcan's voice echoed across the trial square, "Start the trial! Show everyone how she betrayed the pack and me!"

One of the pack elders sighed and activated the trial array.

The massive memory crystal above my head began to glow before a blinding beam of light swallowed me whole.

Agony exploded through my skull. It felt like my soul was being pierced by a thousand needles and violently ripped from my body.

A memory trial forcibly extracted the core memories of a wolf and projected them for all to see. The process gradually tore the wolf soul apart until death.

It was the most brutal punishment reserved for traitors of the pack.

I could feel my life force being sucked away by the crystal, but I didn't resist. Instead, I felt a strange, unprecedented peace.

They could look as much as they wanted and see what I had done for them during my short, miserable life. Also, they could see how they repaid me.

…

In the light, Sienna's triumphant smile was especially clear. She was waiting for me to be wrecked and die miserably under universal condemnation.

I looked at her, then at the three he-wolves and at the coldness, disgust, and impatience written across their faces.

Smiling, I said, "Lorcan, Arwen, Maverick, this is my final gift to you. I hope… you'll like it."