Chapter 8

The next day had been mixed feelings for me even as I worked the kitchen. Kayden was on my mind, he stood up for me and defended me when Leia accused me of cheating on her with him. I tried to tell myself that he was an Omega and wouldn't lie to me no matter what. And that he had promised me to keep to his words.

We had agreed to meet at sunset, in the woods where we met the other day. I couldn't help the excitement that I felt. I was so eager to see him again, to be around him again. 

I went through each work with a broad smile on my face, I was beginning to take an inkling to the Omega. His calm and husky voice when he drawled out each words, the warmth that he provided. 

All I had left for the day was the Sentinels quarters. I picked all I had to use for the cleaning, heading towards their path when I saw a few maids gathered over together with a worried look on their faces. They suddenly went silent when they saw me and it made me restless all the more.

Dragging my feet over to them, I held one of the maid's arms, giving her one of my best smiles to assure her that I meant no harm.

“What is it?" I asked.

She stroked the back of her neck, gazing at the others in dismay. I could tell from her hesitation that something bad must have happened and it scared me. Was I in trouble again? What had Leia accused me of this time?

"It's Kayden." One of the maids muttered. "We heard that he was taken to the lower dungeons and accused of being a spy.”

She rasped out her words and even before she could finish whatever she had to say, I cried out. All I held unto for my work dropped to the ground with a loud thud.

Spy?! That was a lie! “When did that happen? Who accused him? When was he taken?!”

“Slow down, Renna. We don't know much but we only know that Leia reported the Omega to the Alpha, and she told him how you had taken sides with the traitor when he tried to kill her. Then he was taken to the dungeons by the Sentinels and ordered to be executed!”

Before I could stop myself, I was already headed towards the dungeon with my heart nearly lurching out of my throat. This was wrong! Kayden wasn't a spy, or was he?! No! It had to be because he stood up for me there against Leia, and this was her way of getting back at him. 

I couldn't let him die like this! I was already starting to feel dizzy, my brain fogged and as much as I tried to reach out for him through our link, I got no response in return and a small sob left my lips from disappointment.

When I yanked the doors open, barging into the room, the Sentinels at the entrance tried to halt me.

"You shouldn't be here,” one of the bulky men standing right in front of me snarled. 

I squirmed against their hold, writhing against the one that held me back. I had to go through! I had to stop father from doing something stupid! 

“Let me in, please! I have to talk to him! I need to see Kayden, I'm his mate!”

Either they found me pitiful, or because I had just made it known to them that I was his mate, they suddenly let me go and I ran towards the direction of the cells. My body tensed, near rigid from the fright that racked through me like a tidal wave. 

Coming to a stop when I saw father, Leia and Kieran standing right in front of a cell. I noticed the splotches of blood on the ground and walls. Crimson drenched the floor and I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth to muffle the sounds that left my lips, my eyes widening in horror.

“Where....where is Kayden?!”

Leia's lips curled back in a smug smile, she arched a brow, squinting her eyes at me.“Dead, got what he deserved in the end.”

Panic rolled through me. I shuddered, my feet turning to jelly where I stood, it took all effort to keep still and stand up straight. 

“You...you killed him?! Why?! What did he ever do to you all?!“

Father grimaced, his eyes narrowing into feral slits when he approached me, “Kayden was a spy! How else do you explain that aura on him if he wasn't? Huh? Besides, why do you care about him? He's not even your mate, or did you really cheat on your sister with that man and helped him? Knowing he was a spy like Leia said?!”

“I didn't choose to be mated to him!” I cried out, tears cascading down in rivulets. “You all forced us upon each other! He didn't do anything wrong and you had to....you had to kill him.”

My breaths came out in short pants and I dropped to my knees, clutching my chest tight when I felt an agonizing pain surge through me. How could this be? How could they get rid of him like he meant nothing?! How could Kayden be dead?!

“Kill me father! Send me out of the clan! Break my link to the pack, turn me rogue I don't care but I don't want to be anywhere near you all! You disgust me! Send me out! Banish me from the pack!“

Kieran dashed towards me to grip my arms and I flinched from his touch, “Don't make things worse than it already is, Renna! You won't last out there if your father chooses to turn you a rogue! Get a grip on yourself for fuck's sake!“

"Get away from me! I'd rather die out there than be stuck here with you all.“

From where I sat, I saw Leia clutching her head tight, groaning before falling to the ground with a loud thud.

“Leia!” 

Father and Kieran screamed, running to her to hold her up.

I scoffed. 

Choosing to fall unconscious when she had just committed an evil deed? Kieran worriedly called out her name, carrying her off the ground and rushing out of the room. Father followed behind but suddenly turned to my direction when he got to the entrance.

“Come with us, Renna. Your sister is sick and she needs you.”

I seethed through gritted teeth.

“Never.”

He spared me one last glance before motioning towards the guards and they walked towards me, grabbing me and dragging me out of the room even as I screamed.