Chapter 5 - The Trial

Sally POV

Two days later my murder trial began.

I was so nervous I couldn't sleep a wink during the whole night.

After Alpha Hudson left, I cried myself to sleep and spent the following day just staring into nothingness waiting for something to happen.

I heard someone approach and was surprised when I saw Luke standing outside my cell.

"Open the door. I will escort her to her trial." He said to the prison guard.

I sat in a corner of the cell with my knees against my chest, not sure if Luke was mad at me or not.

Once the door was open Luke stepped into the cell and ordered the guards to leave. Then he kneeled in front of me.

"How are you, Lala?" He asked.

I smiled weakly at the nickname and a tear slipped down my cheek.

"I'm scared." I whispered.

Luke pulled me into a hug.

"I'm right here with you. Every step of the way." He murmured.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, until Luke pulled away.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded.

He took my hands and pulled me up.

"Let's go."

We walked out of the cell and headed for the courtroom.

When the doors opened and we walked in I looked at the crowd inside. Most of them had stern expressions on their faces and I realized what a mistake I just made.

Our pack was very stuck on ancient beliefs. They didn't accept same s*x mates because they were considered unnatural. If they decided to stick to those beliefs during this trial they might think that I was at fault for not letting Tommy mate with me. He was of Alpha blood after all and I should be lucky he chose to mate with me.

I know Hudson didn't agree with that and had motioned for the pack laws to change. But the elders that grew up with those beliefs thought that they were right because it followed the line of the wolf's nature.

We reached our seats and I sat down. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach when I looked toward the elders.

The prosecutor stood up and I felt like I needed to puke. It was Rob, Tommy's father. His argument supported the pack laws to the letter and demanded that I would be executed for denying an Alpha to mate with me, killing him in the process.

I knew I was done for. Everyone knew that the elders were big fans of tradition.

After all the evidence and statements were reviewed, Alpha Hudson stood up and exclaimed that the elders would gather to decide the punishment. They left the chamber while I was taken back to my cell.

The prison guard left and I was alone with my thoughts.

Was I a bad person for protecting George?

I was basically letting him get away with murder.

Maybe I deserved this anyway?

I crawled back to the cell corner and hugged my knees.

Footsteps approaching my cell made me jump. Had the elders decided already?

I was surprised to see that the person on the other side of the bars was George.

Quickly, I got up and walked up to the bars.

"George! What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you." He said. "I'm coming clean. I will tell them I did it."

"No, you can't! They'll kill you, George." I cried.

George started sobbing.

"I am so sorry Sally. I never meant for any of this to happen!"

"George, stop. I was there too. If you hadn't done what you did, Tommy would have killed Alex. Tommy would have hurt all of us. He didn't deserve to die, but I know that wasn't your intention.''

I grabbed his hands through the bars.

"This could be your chance. You could use the outcome of this trial as a reason to leave. Just say that you need to be alone for a while. I think everyone will understand. Once you're out, send a text to Luke and tell him that you cut ties with the pack and are joining another. Then you toss your phone. Never look back. no matter what happens."

I squeezed his hands.

"Promise me, George."

He looked at me with teary eyes and nodded.

"If that's what you really want. Maybe I can convince Alpha Jordan to help you somehow…"

"No. You'll just put yourself and Alex in danger. You have a duty to your mate now. Make sure that he is okay."

George reached through the bars and gave me a hug.

"I love you Lala."

"I love you too."

-------------------------

Everyone stood and bowed when the elders walked into the courtroom. My heart was knocking at my ribs and my palms were sweating. I really wanted to scream how unfair this was.

But there was no going back now. Even if we told the truth I would still be an accomplice.

"Please be seated."

The elder that spoke turned to me.

"Sally Freeman, on behalf of the Red Ridge Pack you are found guilty of killing Tommy Evergreen. You are hereby sentenced to exile for life. You will also be registered on the blacklist."

No.

No no no no!

I had considered the possibility that I would be exiled. But I always hoped that I would find another pack to live in.

That was never going to happen once I was blacklisted.

"No!"

Everyone turned their heads and I realized that George stood up.

"It wasn't her. It was me. Please, let me take full responsibility for Tommy's death. Let her stay in the pack."

George marched up to where the elders were seated and fell to his knees.

"Please I beg of you. I killed Tommy. Let her go."

Oh George, you idiot…

I knew I had to do something before they started to look into this even more, so I stood up and bowed to the elders.

"May I speak?"

Alpha Hudson gestured to me, allowing me to continue.

"Please forgive my brother for his foolishness. We have always been close and he just wants to protect me. He has Beta blood, which means it's instinctual to protect the people that he loves. I already confessed to the crime and I accept my punishment."

George stared at me.

I cleared my throat, approached Alpha Hudson and kneeled in front of him. I glued my gaze to the floor and said shakily:

"I am ready."

I braced myself. It was painful to be stripped of your ties to a pack.

"Sally Freeman. I, Alpha Hudson Evergreen of the Red Ridge Pack, hereby demote you from Beta to Rogue, severing all ties to this pack."

The moment Hudson finished his sentence, pain surged through me. I collapsed onto the floor, feeling like my head was about to explode.

I don't know how long it lasted, but it felt like hours before the pain subsided. I heard my wolf whimper in pain inside my head.

We were on our own now.

It took every ounce of strength left in me to gather myself. Once I did, I stood up and looked at Hudson.

"Usually a rogue gets 20 minutes to get off the packlands, but because you are my Beta's sister I will grant you an hour to pack some things and leave."

I bowed my head.

"Thank you, Alpha."

I bowed to the elders before I walked out, trying my best not to look at anyone. The humiliation became too much and once I was out of the courtroom I sprinted up the stairs to my room where I started to gather some things in my backpack.

I was interrupted by my parents walking in. I froze, not sure what to do.

My mom looked at me like she wanted to kill me and I gulped.

Without a word, she marched up to me and slapped me across the face.

My cheek stung, but in a way it felt relieving. Like the physical pain helped numb the pain I felt in my soul.

Mom didn't back away, so I half expected her to slap me again.

My father cleared his throat and said:

"I am very disappointed in you Sally. You have brought shame upon the whole family. Tommy was an Alpha, you could have done really well with him."

I felt something snap within me. I had nothing left to lose now.

"So I should have just let him mate me without protesting?" I shouted.

"Yes you should!" My mother yelled. "You are a she-wolf. That is what we do."

I felt disgusted by how unfair this whole situation was.

Just when I was about to answer, Luke and George walked into my room.

"Just take your stuff and leave." My dad said before he led my mom out of the room.

Luke and George just stared at me and I could tell they were both uncomfortable.

"It's okay guys." I said and went back to packing.

"No it's not." Luke said. "They just made a mistake by sentencing you so harshly. There will be a riot once the news spreads through the pack. A lot of people are starting to think that the old ways don't make sense anymore."

He pulled out a large piece of paper and gave it to me.

"This is a map over all the packs in the country. Use this to stay out of trouble. Try finding a human town and start over."

He pulled out an envelope too. When I looked inside there was a wad of cash in there.

"You might need it."

"Thank you."

I started to tear up and Luke hugged me tightly.

"Don't lose my number, little sis." He whispered.

I shook my head.

"You could get in trouble if you stay in contact with me."

"Then at least call me if you need help with anything. I don't care what others think." He smiled.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at George. I've never seen him look so broken.

I put a hand on his arm and smiled at him.

"I'm gonna be okay. Everythings gonna be fine. I promise."

I tried to sound optimistic, but I wasn't sure if I said it to reassure him or myself.

George pulled me into a hug and whispered "I'm so sorry." into my hair.

Luke hugged us both and we stayed like that for a while before I pulled away and threw my backpack over my shoulder.

"I have to go."

Luke and George followed me to the edge of the territory. I gave them one last hug before I crossed the border, leaving my old life behind me.