EXILE IS MERCY

CELESTE POV

"Treason? What?!"

I gasped as I was forcefully pulled from the ground by the guards that Alpha Kieran had ordered to cease me.

"I swear, I did nothing." I tried to defend myself while struggling with their firm grip, but not even one person was listening to me.

I kicked the air, gritting my teeth as I looked at Selene, wrapped up in Alpha Kieran's arm.

Selene's gaze met mine, and a small smile formed on her face. She was enjoying this. Indeed, she would because she was going to be Alpha Kieran's mate. He was going to mark her in my stead, and for some reason, she hated me.

We had never had a real interaction before except for that one time she came around while I was cleaning the alpha's estate, and she started ordering me around as if she were my boss.

I had never objected to her making me do things because we were born to serve the ones above us. The omegas had no say in their life except you were somewhat lucky that one of your parents attained the status of being part of the Alpha's warrior, the system could be more forgiving. Also, if the goddess took pity on you and mated you with someone who was way above you in ranking, then you'd be elevated.

"Kieran, don't you think we should give her a chance to speak? I truly feel bad for her," Selene asked with fake concern.

She had secretly smiled at me, and now she was acting as if she were concerned for my well-being.

Such a stupid bitch and a hypocrite.

"I am the alpha here, and I get to pass judgment to whomever I desire." Alpha Kieran asserted, glaring at Selene.

"Take her away from here," Alpha Kieran ordered and I was dragged away from him. In spite of my protests and pleas, they didn't let me go until I was in front of the council members.

They were made up of six elders who played different roles to better the pack house.

The oldest was the strictest and most wicked of them all: Elder Morgana Vale. She was the leader of the elders, the one whom they believed her counsel was the wisest, and one who mostly passed judgment and ensuring punishments were carried out. She had a deep hatred for rebellion and saw omegas as inferior, expendable things.

She was the one who passed out the final judgment on my father when he was found guilty of betrayal by the previous alpha, Alpha Kieran's father.

Now, she was going to do the same to me.

Her dark eyes twinkled as they narrowed on mine, the corner of her lip tugging into a smile.

I stumbled forward as I was shoved by the guards, catching myself briefly before I fell face flat on the ground.

I let out a staggering breath, my eyes moving around the room. The elders' chamber, otherwise known as the council chamber.

It was a large, circular room with a massive moon-shaped table at its center. On the wall were picture frames with the names of the past alphas, some broken—representing fallen leaders.

The crowd had followed me in here. They were behind me.

I wondered if this was planned all along.

"What do we have here?" Elder Morgana asked.

Her white shoulder-length hair fell over her face as she leaned her head forward, squinting her eyes as if to take a closer look at me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing my thumping heart to cease, and held her gaze for as long as possible.

I hadn't done anything wrong to the alpha. I had only confessed to being pregnant. Perhaps it was the wrong thing to do. But I couldn't bear the shame alone, and I thought it would get better, seeing as I'd be having his baby!

All these could have been prevented, maybe if we had used protection, but at that time, I doubted Alpha Kieran was thinking anything about protection.

"She committed treason against the alpha and should be punished accordingly."

I swirled as I heard Alpha Kieran's voice behind me.

I began to walk towards him, but the guards who had brought me in intercepted me, stopping me in my tracks.

Alpha Kieran stopped walking to glance at me, and then he snorted, shaking his head.

"Treason? Punishable by death," Elder Morgana let out.

The other elder agreed with a nod of their head.

Elder Morgana stood, leaning forward on her cane to support her weight. She was a handsome woman in her sixties. Even though there were some members in the pack house who seemed fit at that age, elder Morgana had been said to have sustained many injuries from battles that damaged some nerves in her lower back. Hence, she used the walking cane to support herself.

I watched as she walked towards me. Silence engulfed the room, save for my own pounding heart.

She stopped walking, standing before me.

"Your name?" Her voice cut through the silence. It was so loud that it jolted me out of my thoughts and made me aware of where I was once again. Her voice might be the most powerful thing in her body now.

"Celeste Ravaryn," I answered.

"Daughter of?"

I bit on my lower lip, shaking my head. Everyone knew who my father was because when my father died, his death spread out like wildfire, and the stories were told to everyone, who in turn told her children. It was even made a bedtime story! It was one of the things I couldn't hide about myself, but making me repeat it in the presence of everyone was diabolical.

"Who is your father?" she scowled at me.

"John Ravaryn," I murmured.

"Who heard what she said?" Elder Morgana asked the crowd, and everyone answered that they could barely hear me.

"Do I strike you with my cane so you'd speak a little louder, or do you want to do things without being forced to do it?"

I heard the threat in her words. She'd genuinely strike me if I didn't say anything.

"My father is John Ravaryn."

"The one who betrayed the alpha," Elder Morgana added.

I was silent. I had nothing I could possibly say to her.

Elder Morgana looked away from me to address the crowd once more.

"This is what you get from coming from a cursed home. Her father betrayed the alpha and now she has done the same. Treason is not taken likely in the Blood Moon Packhouse."

"Do you have something to say, young lady?"

She was giving me a choice. That was new.

I nodded. Sucking in a deep breath, I opened my mouth to speak but a voice interrupted me.

"She tried to kill the Luna. She was jealous of the alpha choosing Selene and tried to poison her!"

"What?" I stuttered, my eyes widening as I stared at the person who had spoken.

Lara. One of the omegas I was acquainted with.

"I found this in her room. I told her to stop, but she wouldn't, and she claimed that if she can't have the alpha, no one else can," she explained.

"N-no. I swear, I didn't do that. I'll never try to kill anyone. I had never harbored such a thought before!"

I walked as Lara handed Elder Morgana whatever was in the red pouch. She accessed it, brought it to her nose, and sniffed it.

She swiftly pulled back, coughing. "What the hell is in this?"

"I have no idea!" I answered as the question was directed to me.

Lauren stumbled forward. I felt someone had pushed her out of the crowd, but I couldn't tell who it was.

She fell forward, bracing her fall with her hands. I winced as I heard the breaking of a bone.

"Do you have something to say?"

Lauren lifted her head, her lower lips wobbling as she stared at me. "It's true she did it."

"Lauren?"

This was some kind of joke, right? Why were only omegas testifying against me? Did someone put them up to this?

The way Lara had stepped forward and now Lauren. I could sense the fear radiating from both of them.

As I observed the crowd, my eyes collided with Selene.

She was being held by two girls. They pulled her towards Elder Morgana and laid her on the floor. She wasn't moving, but she was breathing fine.

She looked fine too. Nothing was wrong with her because I had seen her wrapped in Alpha Kieran's arms a few seconds ago. She had even tried to defend me!

Now, how the hell did she look like she was dead?

"Is she alive?" Elder Morgana asked.

"That isn't the question that should be asked!" Alpha Kieran snapped. He stood, stopping Elder Morgana from going to Selene. "Pass the sentence on her!"

"Of course, Alpha. We are guarded by rules and regulations. We can't pass a sentence without observing all due protocols—"

"Damned the protocols. Who's the head here? Me. Who is the alpha here? Me. Who has the utmost authority here? Me! Now fucking do as I said!"

"Very well, alpha," Elder Morgana responded.

He turned to me, "By the power vested in  this council, I, Elder Morgana Vale, thereby found you, Celeste Ravaryn guilty of treason against your alpha, luna and your pack. At such, the punishment must fit the crime."

Elder Morgana paused. The silence in the aid was thick and enough to be cut through by a scissor.

Then she spoke up in a loud voice, "Exile would be a mercy. But treason must be paid in blood. Strip her mark. Let her feel what it means to be cast out."

Blood rushed through my head as I suddenly feel faint. The cheers that erupted from the crowd didn't make the pain spreading through me quickly to vanish.

A hand touched me, bringing me back to the presence.

I lifted my head to see Alpha Kieran before me.

"Why?" I choked out, pushing back the sob threatening to burst out of my mouth. I didn't want to cry here, especially not in the presence of everyone that seemed to believe everything that was happening. "Do you intend for this to break me?"

Alpha Kieran gripped my chin, leaning forwars, his face a few distance from mine, "Why?" he pursed his lips as if he was thinking of what to say.

Then he chuckled cruelly, "Because Celeste, I'll never claim that bastard in you, let alone mate with you. And breaking you? Hell no. Hell no. I happen to just enjoy hearing you scream for help."