Chapter six.

Selina's POV.

A few hours had passed, though time had become a meaningless at this point, my body ached, my soul heavier than ever. Then, the door creaked open again.

It wasn’t Malik this time.

Two guards stepped inside, their eyes gleaming with fury, Their very presence sent a fresh wave of dread coursing through me.

“Get up,” one of them barked, his voice drenched in hatred. “Time to face the council.”

I didn’t resist. I had no strength left to fight, no words left to offer. I simply nodded and bit down on my lower lip, forcing my legs to carry my weight as I slowly pushed myself to my feet. Each step outside that cell felt like dragging a thousand regrets along with me.

My heart thudded louder with every movement, the council chamber drawing nearer.

But I’d made peace with something... my fate.

Whatever judgment they passed, I would accept. What I would not do was kneel to a lie. I would not plead guilty to a crime I did not commit simply for a lighter sentence. Let them strip me bare, let them humiliate me, but I would not surrender the truth.

When the grand doors opened, my breath caught in my throat.

The hall was packed.

Nearly half the entire pack had gathered... faces looming, necks stretching, eager to devour the spectacle of my downfall. Whispers buzzed like angry wasps through the crowd as I was escorted down the aisle.

Traitor! 

Liar!

Disgrace!

I kept walking.

My eyes lifted toward the council, and there, standing proud and unreadable, was Malik.

His gaze found mine. For the briefest moment, I swore I saw a flicker of something behind those guarded eyes. A glint of tenderness. A hesitation.

But it was gone before I could hold onto it. Rage reclaimed his expression. Disappointment sat heavy on his brow.

He stepped forward, raising a hand. The room fell into immediate silence.

“I don’t have time to waste,” he said, his voice laced with fury and a surprisingly dangerous calmness. 

“So I’ll ask once Selina Anderson, you’ve been accused of having an affair with another man different from your mate. Do you plead guilty?”

The silence thickened. 

I curled my fingers into fists, willing the tremble away. I wouldn't let them see me break. Not here. Not like this.

“No,” I said clearly. “I do not plead guilty. I did not commit the crime I’m being accused of. I would never do such a thing.”

The words had barely left my mouth before the crowd erupted.

Shouts of disbelief. Anger. Loathing. Voices crashing over one another, all desperate for Malik's ear.

His face remained stoic, but I saw the muscle in his jaw tighten. Our eyes met again. And for a heartbeat… there it was.. doubt. Pity.

Then, as quickly as it came, it vanished again.

He took a breath and stepped back.

“You’ve made your choice,” he said coldly. “You refuse to speak the truth. You forfeit the chance at mercy.”

"You mean nothing to me anymore," he spat, his eyes held nothing but disgust as he stared at me, dead in the eyes. 

"I, Malik Dimitri, Alpha of Blue Moon pack, hereby reject you, Selina Anderson as my mate and future Luna," he affirmed, sending stabs of pain through my already torn heart, slicing it into a million tiny pieces.

"As for the punishment for your crime, henceforth, you are no longer a member of this pack, and that means you can never show your face anywhere around here anymore," 

My entire existence flashed before my eyes, the world seemed to collapse around me, as if everything was crumbling and pulling me into a void. No matter how much effort I put in, I couldn’t stop myself from sinking deeper.

Except for the tiny little heartbeat I could feel beneath my belly, horrifically flashing back to a few moments back when I found out I was pregnant.

For Malik. 

I was going to tell him last night, I guess that could save me right now. 

Just as he turned his back to walk away, my hands trembled. My chest ached.

I couldn’t let it end like this.

I threw myself forward and grabbed onto his leg just as he began to walk away.

"Malik,” I cried, clinging to him. “Please... don’t do this. You know me. You know I wouldn’t, not when I'm carrying your....

The guards lunged forward and ripped me away from him before I could finish. My nails scraped the floor, my voice strangled in my throat as they wrenched me back.

Malik didn’t look at me.

“Escort her to the pack boundary,” he said without emotion. “Ensure she never returns.”

And with that, he walked out of the hall.

Not once did he look back.

I collapsed to the floor, stunned, broken, bleeding inside. My soul screamed in a silence so loud it nearly tore me apart. This couldn’t be the end... not like this.

Our story was supposed to be more.

But it was over.

Just like that.

A guard yanked me up by the arm. “Time to leave,” he growled.

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

My limbs had turned to lead. My mind… blank. Numb and Lifeless.

The guard sighed, clearly annoyed, and dragged me forward, his grip bruising my arm. Step by step, I was led from the judgment hall, the walls that once bore witness to ceremony and tradition now a tomb sealing off my last hope.

Then a figure stepped into our path.

Chloe.

Her smile curled with victory. Her eyes gleamed with mockery.

“Well, well. So much for being the future Luna, huh?”

I stared at her, my expression blank, my face tear stained and drained of all color.

She leaned closer. “Next time, Selina, check the size of your crown before trying to rule a kingdom.”

She flashed me a smug smirk and sauntered off, her laugh ringing in my ears.

The guards resumed dragging me forward, past sneering pack members who whispered and jeered. Their words sliced deeper than knives, but I didn’t flinch.

Let them hate me.

Let them cast me out.

The pain had passed the point of burning. Now it just… was.

Suddenly, without warning, one of the guards shoved me hard in the back. I flew forward, landing painfully on the floor. My knees scraped, my palms throbbed.

A pained cry escaped my lips.

Behind me, laughter erupted.

“Oh no, did that hurt, harlot?” one of them leered at me.

I looked up slowly, the world spinning around me.

“You can find your way from here,” the other laughed. “Not like you’ll last long out there anyway.”

Their laughter faded as they turned and walked away. 

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

The forest ahead seemed endless.

The world felt colder.

And I… I had never felt so empty in my life.

So alone.

I drew a shaky breath, wiping my tears with the back of my sore hand. I didn’t know where I would go, or how I would survive. But I knew one thing, moon goddess has cursed me with a cruel faith. 

And I'm certain she has more cruelty in stock for me.