Chapter 4: my fate 

“No, I didn't!” I screamed on top of my lungs. The entire room seemed to spin around me, and my eyes pulsed as hot tears started rolling down my face. "I didn't kill him." 

“You were forcing yourself on him," the lady who had walked in at the last minute said as she rushed to the still bleeding alpha. "I saw everything. It was clear as day.”

"No..." I muttered under my breath as I took two steps backwards. "I... I would never do such a thing. He tried... he tried... " I tried to speak but I only burst into tears.

Suddenly, the door slammed open and five guards stormed into the kitchen. Two pulled at my arms, dragging me toward the door. I tried to react but I could not as it was happening all too fast.

"Exalia," one of them, the pack gamma, asked as his grip on my hands tightened. "What have you done?"

"Nothing!" I cried out as more tears fell from my eyes. "I swear! He tried to force himself on me and... and I didn't do anything, just a push."

"Don't lie to us!" Mike, the gamma shouted, pointing at the alpha's body and the unknown lady. "We have a witness!" 

"What?" I muttered, my eyes wide as his words hit me. "No! I didn't force myself on him, how is that even possible! I would never do such a thing, you know me!"

"Save it for the trial!" Jesse said as he grabbed my wrist and brought out a silver cuff. "You're under arrest for murder!" 

Jesse and I never got along, so I understood why he would act in such a way. But Mike? He knew me well enough to know I wasn't going to do such a thing. I looked at him, but his eyes held nothing but disgust and anger. 

He really believed I killed him?

The silver cuff clamped around my wrist and my skin hissed the moment they both touched. I groaned in pain, the smell.of burning flesh reaching my nose as they tightened their grip on my hands and dragged me out of the room, ignoring my pleas and cries.

"Alpha Jake," I shouted but Jake turned his gaze away from me like he didn't even know me. I decided to resort to the only person I could call. "Dad, dad please wake up!" I kept screaming, but my father was nowhere to be found. 

"Shut up, you bitch!" the lady yelled as she struck me hard against the face. "You killed him! You killed our alpha!" 

"No! No! I didn't do anything! I didn't!" 

"Liar!" A guard spat. "Traitor! Witch! You'll pay for what you did!"

I felt a surge of shock and despair as the guards dragged me until we were in a dark and damp dungeon. I barely registered the sounds and sights around me as all I could hear were my sobs and the clang of the rusty bars snapping shut behind me.

'This had to be a nightmare,' I thought to myself. 'It was going to be okay,'

I banged my head hard on the cold, moss-covered wall behind me, trying to wake myself up-all were to no avail. It wasn't a dream-it was all real. 

'How did this happen? This couldn't be real.'

I replayed the events in my mind, and realized the horrible truth. I couldn't ignore it anymore-I was really cursed.

"Ugh" I groaned as I collapsed to the cold floor and sobbed uncontrollably as I remembered everything. "Why me? Why did Maria really do this to me?” 

We were like sisters-No! We were sisters. And she had to stab me in the back by having sex with Jake even though she knew I had feelings for him.

*****************

Days turned into weeks, and no one still came to see me-not Maria, my dad, Joel, or even Jake came around the dungeons. 

I looked up at the bars shielding me from the outside world and found a guard walking down, his sword clanging the metals he passed. 

I quickly stood up and rushed to the bars before he could walk away. “Please," I begged as I stretched my hand, trying to reach him. "Can you tell me about my dad's condition? Is he fine?" 

The guard turned to face me and I smiled upon seeing his face. It was Gerald, the only guard who had ever spoken with me ever since I came here. 

He sighed and looked around to see if there was anyone nearby before walking toward the bars. "I still respect you, Exalia, so I'm going to answer once," he whispered. "The beta's condition is getting worse, and no healer is attending to him, so I heard."

I fell backwards, running a hand through my disheveled hair as Gerald's words kept on ringing in my ears. I thought they were taking care of my dad-I was wrong. I longed to see him, but I knew it was too impossible.

"Can you please allow me to visit the Alpha?" I asked as I looked back up at Gerald. "I promise I'll be quick." 

Gerald eyes narrowing as his jaws clenched harder. He remained motionless, as if he didn't heard a word I said.

Weeks ago, my words were treated with respect-even though it was little-but now I felt like I was no longer the daughter of the beta of the pack. My status in the pack had shifted from being the daughter of the beta of the pack to being a criminal. 

"How lucky am I?" I muttered as I laughed bitterly. I understood Gerald's silence and couldn't blame him. "Please, I am begging you. I just need to see him real quick. After that, I'll leave immediately."

"I'm sorry, but I cannot grant your request," he muttered, shaking his head. I could see it in his eyes, even though the cell was dimly lit-he didn't believe I would truly do what I was accused of. However, his personal opinion held no weight against the evidence they had. 

Funny.

"I really just need to see him, please!" I continued to plead, going down on my knees.

"I can't let you do that, Exalia... giving you access might only add to the accusations against you." Gerald was worried about me and I smiled at that, but it was evident he wasn't telling me something. “The accusations against you are more than you can imagine."

My heart sank.

“Tomorrow is your trial, Exalia," Gerald muttered as he turned away. "I'm sorry.”  

There was no need to try to object to my fate, it already has been sealed.

“And exalia," I looked up to see Gerald standing by my cell, "I... I know it doesn't concern you, but... but we've been under attack for weeks now.”