Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

VENITA POV~

I was pulled roughly onto my feet, causing a small red coin to drop from the pocket of my clothes. I wasn't naturally superstitious, but for some reason, I grabbed this tiny object and moved with it wherever I went.

"I need to pick my coin, please." I begged desperately.

The guard to my left, Ricky, huffed. "What good do you think that'd do for you?"

Tears strolled down my face, but I refused to take any more steps forward. "Please, Ricky. Just... please."

I could see the war in his eyes, and he finally conceded with a nod. He let me go, picked the coin up, and handed it over to me; before he returned to his place and dragged me along.

The pain that tore through me started from my heart and spread through every single limb on my body. Death was imminent for me, I was basically being dragged off to it right now.

"What a shame," some maid whispered as I was dragged past them to the execution ring at the back of the pack house.

"What kind of Beta poisons the Luna and kills their heir? Despicable!" Another chimed.

The echoes didn't fade. "You would think that she would show some mercy seeing as the Alpha is her brother."

"She's so heartless. How could she kill her own nephew over some rogue?"

"Such a sad excuse for a beta. Who set the bar this low?"

By the time we made it past the lines of servants who took no prisoners when it came to airing their thoughts on my supposed action, I had heard my own fair share of insults - all of them directed at me.

The guards that held me finally had me lowered to the pyre that had been set, linking chains from my arms to the poles that stood on either side of my head, leaving me spread wide open.

The smell of gasoline danced through the air as they dumped liters of it around me. Ricky had a look on his face that said he didn't want to be doing this, but just like me, he didn't have a choice.

Rogen walked over, coming to a stop just in front of the pyre. "Are you ready to admit that you killed my child?"

His voice didn't hold any of the familiarity or warmth that I was used to hearing. The man before me was simply the Alpha of Bloodied-Fang, not my brother.

My eyes met his. "I didn't kill anyone, Rogen. Believe me."

"How do you expect me to believe you over all of the evidence?" He snapped. "Am I supposed to take your word for it simply because you're my sister?"

My lips curled in a sad smile. "I'm not your sister anymore. You made sure of that."

His face hardened even more. "I see you're done playing innocent. Guards!"

"Wait!" A soft, feminine voice called from behind him.

Rogen stepped aside, and his mate took her place in front of him. "She's still my best friend, after all. I need to have a talk with her before you dole out her punishment."

Her face was face, eyes filled with kindness that had to be faux as she stared at me. Rogen looked at her, no doubt admiring the kindness of the woman he chose.

She walked up to me, then leaned forward.

"You were always too much of a threat to me and my relationship with Rogen." She whispered in a dark tone.

Shock slammed into me, leaving me feeling bereft of a comeback. Was she... was she really confessing to doing this intentionally?

My response was weak, still laced with the pain that was coursing through me. "What are you talking about? He's my brother."

A scoff fell past her lips. "The thing is, Veni, your brother has always taken such good care of you, and I knew that if you ever got wind of what I was involved in, he'll take your side."

He wasn't taking much of my side right now, though. I didn't say anything as I continued to watch her, wondering what she was involved in.

"You're not going to ask?" She sounded surprised. "Well, it doesn't matter now, does it? You're the pack traitor, and it really pains me to see you go this way."

"You accused me of killing Rogen's child." I whispered. "You were never pregnant, were you?"

Her smile was unnecessarily gleeful. "Finally putting things together in that trusting head of yours, are you? Too bad it can't help you now."

She stood back to her full height, clutched her chest, and then said in a voice that was loud enough for everyone to hear. "I forgive you for killing my child and breaking my trust, Venita. I hope the moon goddess can forgive you too."

Whispers rose in the crowd.

"She's so kind."

"How could anyone forgive such a heinous act? She really is an angel."

More and more of my tears fell as I watched Rogen step forward and take hold of his mate, pulling her away before he gave the order for the execution to be carried out.

My words tore out of me, urgent and desperate. "She's playing you, Rogen. You have to see that. You have to believe me."

When he turned to face me, there was nothing but raw anger in his eyes. "Some nerve you have to still accuse her after everything you've done."

He looked past me, jaws clenched. "Set the fire."

Instantly, heat enveloped me, flames licking my skin as they rushed through the spilled gas to meet me. I screamed, the smell of my pain and flesh as it burned, commingling the air to form a gut-wrenching fragrance.

Without taking any time to think about it, I let my eyes meet my brother's. He was staring at me without a single hint of remorse, and beside him, a satisfied smirk sat on his mate's face.

This was really it. There was no getting mercy. Not from my family and not from my pack.

My eyes dropped closed as pain consumed me whole, and I whispered weakly. "Help me, Cassius."

And just like that, darkness swept me under, my last breath floating behind me.