Betrayed

Leona’s Point of View

“Let her burn!” someone shouts from the back of the room, and tears just roll down my face. Death was better than this.

“Mom, please,” I crawl to her, but she moves away, her eyes burning into me. I’m on my knees, pictures of my dad on the ground. All of them are fake and probably used AI.

“Please, Mum. I am…” I grab her leg, but she slaps me hard across the face. A gasp leaves my lips, my eyes trained on her, and I feel warm, fresh tears falling down my face.

“Mom,” my voice is barely above a whisper.

“You disgust me,” she says through gritted teeth before moving away.

“I will pass my verdict.” The alpha finally speaks, getting up from his chair and then walking towards me.

“What you have done is disgusting and insulting. A humiliation tin this pack that values family above everything,” he starts, his voice dangerously low.

“For your sins,” he pauses, his face straight. ‘I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.” The words leave his lips, and all color leaves my mother’s face as she looks at me.

I feel my heart thundering, and I can hear it in my ears. There’s a ringing in my ears, and I feel bile come up my throat.

“Mom,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. I know she has the power to save me from this fate. The alpha respects her, and her word carries more weight in this.

“Please,” I plead with her, and she swallows hard, looking at me, then the pictures. I think she might say something, but decides to turn on her heel to walk away. The tears keep falling as I lower my head.

“Mommy, please!” I shout at the top of my voice, then she stops in her tracks.

“Let her live.” The words leave her lisp after what seems like eternity. “Let her live with the shame, knowing everyone knows what she is. Death is an easy punishment for her.”

“Doc. She can’t live in this pack. We—” Bastiaan is the one to respond, but she chimes in.

“Please, Alpha. Let her live in her shame,” she says, and the alpha inhales sharply, looking at me.

“Your mother has pleaded that we spare your life. Not that you deserve it,” he says with an exasperated sigh, and murmurs fill the room.

“That’s why… You will be…”

“Father. If I may…” Bastian chimes in, cutting his father short.

“The temples are looking for women to serve there. I was wondering why not send her there. She can be a tribute from us to them,” he suggests, smirking as I lift my gaze, looking at him.

“No. No. Please, Mum,” I plead, trying to grab her leg, but she kicks me away. Sobbing loudly as I fall to the ground. This can’t happen.

“Mum, please. Don’t do this!” I plead, trying to free myself.

“No, Mum… Please don’t do this,” I pleaded with her, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“That sounds reasonable. Get her ready. We will be taking her tomorrow.” The alpha concludes and then walks away.

“Father, if you don’t mind. Maybe I can take her today. It will ease the pain of Doctor Hawthorne.” Bastian offers as I look at him. He will just hurt me again.

He killed my father and came up with this story? Everyone believes him, and they want him to take me there. How blind could they be to his lies?

“Be grateful you are not dead right now,” one elder growls as I gasp, shaking my head, and tears spill from my eyes freely.

Is this my life? Whom did I wrong in this life? Was it a sin to be born? What sin did I commit?

“Let’s go!” Bastian growls, getting down from his highchair as he smirks. He and David drag me out of the packhouse while people spit at me, throwing things and insults at me, so I lift my hand to shield my face.

When we get to the car, there’s no one. I launch at him, but he moves aside, and I fall to the ground.

I get up on my feet, turning to him while he laughs hard with David.

“You lied! You fucking lied!” I growl, lunging at him, and he laughs, staggering back, shaking his head like he just achieved the impossible.

“Well, don’t worry. It was your word against me. Plus, the gift Daddy got for you. It was pretty convincing,” he smiles. “Why sleep with your father? Oh, Leona, you are so disgusting,” he covers his mouth.

“You lying bastard! You know it’s a lie!” I try to lunge at him, but his little minion, David, hooks his arms around my waist, pulling me back.

“If you don’t behave. I swear, Leona, I will fucking knock you out!” David growls. My heart races thinking about what happened last time.

The last time.

I don’t even know what he did to me. My father is dead, and I am accused of sleeping with my dad. The man who taught me how to ride a bicycle. Who would hold me when I fall?

“My dad would never get me such disgusting things. You know that!” I growl, but David is holding me back.

“Of course I know. Jaden was helpful, though.” He smirks, his smile reaching his eyes.

My heart sinks, and it’s like the world just tilted to one side.

“Jaden?”

Jaden betrayed me. Why?

“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask. My body goes rigid. Standing frozen in one place.

“Oh, you didn’t know? David and Jaden are mates.” Bastian smiles, walking towards me as I look at him. It can’t be. Jaden is less than fifteen.

What the fuck was going on?

“Put her in the trunk. We have a long journey,” Bastian shouts. David hauls me to the back of the car.

“No. No. Please, David,” I plead with him, but he grabs some duct tape and places it on my mouth before shoving me into the trunk, then slams it shut.

Everything becomes black. “No. No, Daddy,” I want to scream, but the sounds come out muffled. I choke back a sob, throwing my head back.

I can’t serve the temple.

Death would have been better than being labeled a sinner by those zealots. Those fucking bitches who will just inflict pain on me because they believe I am a sinner. My father is dead now. Probably was trying to protect me.

Oh Daddy.

I am so sorry.

My sobs get louder, crying myself to sleep. I wish he were here to defend himself. But Jaden betrayed me. My own little brother betrayed me, had his own father killed.

I can’t believe this.