Chapter Two

Daciana's pov

“Come!” Dad yelled in urgency. He held my hand and I hurried after him as we ran to my room. “Stay in here and don't come out till I say so, is that clear?” I nodded.

I begged Dad to not go out. For the horn to sound, it could only mean something terrible was going on but he insisted he had to be there.

“Good. Now lock the door behind you and stay in the basement, don't open the door for anyone” He kissed my forehead and ran out. Never would I have thought that it would be the last time I’ll see him.

I need to wash off tonight with warm water and sleep, it's been a long day.

I quickly went to bed and was about dozing off when a hot searing pain radiated in my chest. I let out an anguished scream hitting my chest to soothe the pain. Something was wrong.

“ Can anyone hear me?!!” I scream into the mindlink. Silence. Panicked, I screamed again, calling everyone before I felt a connection.

“Ciana?! Where are you?”

“I'm in my room. What's going on?”

“ I'll be there soon” Wulf arrived shortly and wrapped his arms around me, his head falling on top of mine. “I'm so sorry”

“What's wrong?” Wulf avoided my way eyes and the door was kicked open.

“Drag her out” One of the elders commanded and the pack members stood at my door. Wulf's twin, Wuana stood smiling at me.

“Burn the witch!” Wuana shouted, pointing her arms at me. “ Stay away from her, she's a witch”

“Take her out” Someone else screamed. I was loosing my mind at this point. Puzzled, I pulled out of Wulf’s arms ignoring the pain searing through me.

I was about to get up when someone dragged me up but I pulled my arm away.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on? Where’s my dad?”

“Take her to the pack hall” Someone nudged me forward grabbing my arms but I pulled away. I can bloody walk.

“Run, Ciana” My mind screamed at me and my legs took over. I dashed out running of the house and into the woods, my heart thundering. My breathe echoed through the woods as the wind ripped through me.

Branches pierced into my skin but I didn't dare slow down. I completely ignorenthe branches that were poking in to my feet. There was no chance I was stopping to inspect any kind of injury. I was literally running for my life. With every step I took, I could hear their shouts behind me. My stomach tightened when I heard the loud cracking of bones and loud howls. I was being hunted.

Chills ran down my spine as I sprinted across the woods. I don't know where I'm heading to, I don't even care. I just need to escape.

Where was the Alpha? Why was he letting them treat me this way?

He had always shown up when I needed him. Something must have gone terribly wrong. I could feel my throat close as different thoughts ran through my head.

Every tree I passed only made the chase more intense. These are well trained warriors and I am just me, how do I escape this? That didn't stop me though. I jumped over a branch and kept running.

A growl ripped through the air behind me and I panicked, it was too close. I was about to jump over a fallen tree when my feet got caught and I crashed hard. Pain shot up my side as I tumbled down into the dirt. I tried to get up and run when heavy paws slammed down on me, tearing into my skin.

I can't believe the pack I had been in all my life would treat me this way. Did dad know about this?

How long had they been planning this? Was this the reason why the attack had happened? Did they want to distract my dad and get the opportunity to finally do this to me?

They hauled me up, steel grips digging into my arms. I was pinned down and powerless. They led me back to the pack like a criminal. The pack members gathered outside the hall when we arrived.

My throat felt dry as I tried to put on a brave face but pain was ripping through me. The warriors stepped away and two remained ensuring I didn't try to run away again.

“Where’s my father?” Only him could stop them.

“Shut up, witch! You should've thought about that when you killed him!” Someone from the congregation shouted. Killed him?

I wanted to laugh but my lips trembled.

“Can someone please explain what this idiot is saying. Where is my dad?!”

“Silence!” Hunter shouted and the hall went quiet.

I couldn't hold myself back from eyeing him. I knew that he played a role in whatever was happening, but I just couldn't prove it yet.

“Since the Alpha is dead and the enforcer is also the Beta, he would be taking over the throne in the absence of no heirs. The trail will now begin.” one of the elders continued.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He put me in a room. He said he was going to come back. Tell me where he is, Hunter!”

I watched as Hunter sat on my dad's chair. He looked satisfied, like this was what he was waiting for all along. I didn't miss the twinkle in his eyes, and the smirk on his lips.

“As we all witnessed tonight, the peace we had endured with the Lycan's for decades ended tonight. All because a witch who didn't have a wolf decided to poison a child. It might seem crazy but I saw when she filled the cup and gave it to him but I didn't think too much about it”

I looked up to one of the elders, my first clenching beside me. I felt anger course through my veins. More anger than I had ever felt in my life.

“That's a lie. I would never do that. Hunter had made a pass at me while I was leaving and I rejected him.” The crowd gasped from shock whispering amongst themselves.

“If he had truly made a pass at you why didn't you mention it? You were once the daughter of an Alpha, you know the pack laws better than anyone. She should be sentenced to death!” Wuana shouted.

Why wasn't Wulf saying a word? I knew that his sister hated me this whole time, but he could at least stand up for me.

My jaw tightened and I refrained myself from snapping. I felt strength leaving my body. My dad was dead. He must’ve died protecting the pack, that didn’t make it hurt less. That didn't change the fact that these people were accusing me of killing the one person that had supported me my whole life.

“Banishment is too quick a punishment for her, take her away. Her fate would be decided later,” One of the elders said. “We all expected this to happen anyway. We a warned the Alpha that his wolf less daughter was going to be the end of him.”

The words stung, but I was barely given the chance to react as they dragged me away.

They didn't take me to the prison, I would’ve preferred that. They locked me up in dad’s room, like they wanted me to see what I had done. Even if I didn't even do anything. I would choose the dungeon over this, where I was forced to inhale his scent on his clothes, and be reminded that he was dead over and over again.. The room was once packed with my happy life. Now, it all seemed like a dream.

I heard them lock the door from outside as the door shut. Everything in me screamed to throw myself at the wall but I stayed back on the floor paralyzed. I leaned my forehead against the wall, too weak to move.

“Leaving me like this wasn't part of the plan, dad,” I whispered, with tears pricking the back of my eyes.

I don't know how long I was there when I heard footsteps. It sounded familiar. I stood up from the ground and sat on the bed, I couldn't let them see how all this was affecting me.

Just then, the door creaked open and they entered.

Wuana.

I didn't acknowledge her but I could see the snare on her face.

“You must be exhausted,” she spoke out. Once again, where was Wulf?

“And you must be excited,” I let out a dry scoff. “You've always wanted to see me break. Too bad you won't.” Sarcasm dripped out of my words.

Something flashed across her eyes.

“And who is the pack calling a witch?” She asked. When I didn't give her an answer, she smirked. “I thought as much.” She muttered, before she turned and walked away, the door shutting behind her with a loud thud.

My heart tightened painfully as my eyes remained fixed on the door. My body shivered as a shudder ran through me, my heart pounding in my throat.

I sank into the bed, my breath coming out in pants. The walls were closing in on me and the haunting possibility that I could be killed kept me up through the night.