A SECOND CHANCE (Ii)

Zephyrine's pov

My eyes fluttered open  to the sound of  keys jingling outside my cell. I was exhausted, my body aching from lying on the cold, hard floor all night.

The guard gripped my arm, his hold vice-like. "Time for your trial," he growled as he dragged me from the cell.

I was led into a great, ornate room with many of the pack's council in residence. 

My eyes scanned the crowd for signs of Astrid but she was nowhere to be found.

The members stared back at me, their eyes cold, unyielding, all except Elara who wore a grace expression. The tall, imposing man who was the leader wore a cruel smile as he started the questioning.

"So, Zephyrine," he said with dripping malice. "Tell us, what happened on the night Cormac died?"

I took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I.I was with Cormac, yes. But I didn't kill him. I swear it."

The council leader raised an eyebrow. " I never said you killed him now did I?"

"And what were you doing with Cormac, exactly?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "We.we were just talking. Spending some quality time that's all." 

One of the council members, a woman with a pinched face, spoke up. "And what happened before you two decided to spend some quality time together?"

I tried to think backwards. "I.I'm not entirely sure. He was being really upset and hence I thought a walk by the river side might calm his nerves. It has nothing to with his death, I swear it."

The cast of the woman's face had turned skeptical. "And you expect us to believe that Cormac, a strong and healthy male, simply dropped dead hours after he was last seen with you, with no warning or explanation?"

I shook my head. "No, of course not. I'm just saying that I didn't kill him. I don't know what happened to him."

The council leader leaned forward, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And what about the argument you had with Cormac earlier that day? The one where you walked out on him, furious?"

I felt a surge of panic. What argument?

Cormac and I have never argued

"I.I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered.

But the head of the council just smiled. "Don't play the fool, Zephyrine. We have eyewitnesses to the whole thing. You were angry with Cormac, and you threatened him. Isn't that true?"

I tried to defend myself, but it was like trying to hold back a tide. "I.I was never upset.  I never threatened him. And I certainly didn't kill him."

These questions did not cease but continued-continuous accusations by council members.  And I tried answering, only to find my self caught in more trouble after every response.

"Did you even consider Cormac as your mate?" one of the council members spat, disgust lacing her voice. "Or was he just a means to elevate your rejected omega status?"

I stuttered. "I.I have always thought of him as my mate 

"But you killed him?" Ryker spoke for the first time.

The room went silent, and the air felt like it had been sucked from my stomach. 

 

I felt a wave of desperation wash over me. Alone, I was nobody in the court of law and no one wanted to listen to my side of the story. The trial was nothing but a sham.

The woman from the council then spoke, her voice icy and calculating. "Even if Zephyrine is to be believed, which I highly doubt, she lacks a mate mark to confirm any sort of relationship with Cormac. Why are we to take her word for it? What if, in private, he rejected her, and that is what led to the fight? What if she killed him because he did so?

The room went silent again, and I knew I was doomed. The lack of the mate mark was a serious threat to my credibility, and I knew it. Time was running out; I had to come out with something.

I stood before the council, my heart racing with fear and anxiety. The words of Alpha Ryker cut deep, the accusations piercing my soul like a dagger. "This trial is a waste of time," he said in a firm, commanding voice. "All signs and witnesses point to one thing: Cormac must have rejected Zephyrine in private, and it is that rejection which drove her to kill him."

  I started to shake all over, my legs giving way. I was going to be declared guilty; I knew it-a scapegoat punished for something I had not committed.

But just as Alpha Ryker was about to deliver the judgment, the door burst open, and in strode the pack's seer, Elwes. "Wait!" he shouted, his eyes scanning the room until they rested on Alpha Ryker. "For being late and disrupting your peaceful trial, I do apologize, Alpha. The thing is, I should correct you: Zephyrine would not be guilty.

A surge of hope welled up, my heart skipping a beat. Could this be so? Was I really to be set free?

 "Cormac's death has nothing whatever to do with Zephyrine," he said, firm and authoritative. "I have seen the threads of fate and can tell you that she is not responsible for his demise."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, my throat suddenly dry. I was innocent, and someone finally believed me.

Alpha Ryker's expression turned skeptical, but Elwes continued. "I would like to speak with you in private, Alpha. The information I bear is not for all ears."

Alpha Ryker nodded, his expression unreadable. "Very well. She is free to go." Ryker said, his eyes shooting daggers at me.

I felt as though I'd been kicked in the gut, the wind knocked out of me. I was free? I was innocent?

  The crowd erupted in murmuring and grumbling but none dared challenge Ryker.

I stumbled forward, my legs weak and trembling. Elara  flung herself beside me, embracing me. "Oh, Zephyrine, I'm so glad," she whispered, tears trickling down her face.

I buried my face in her shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. I was free, I was innocent. I did not have to face any punishment or death.

  Alpha Ryker and Elwes turned  back to me, his words laced with a final warning. "You are free, but let this not be taken as a resolution on the matter. An investigation will be pursued, and should we uncover any evidence that implicates you in Cormac's murder, you will be brought before justice.

I nodded, still sobbing. I didn't care about the warning, I didn't care about anything except that I was free.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Thank you, Elwes. Thank you, Alpha Ryker."

 Elara led me out of the room, holding me tightly as I stumbled and staggered.

“Where is mum? Why didn’t she come?” I asked the minute I was alone with Elara.

“Your mother, well she…passed away early this morning.” Elara said…dropping the bombshell on me.