Home / The Alpha's Cruel Trial / Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

All Chapters of The Alpha's Cruel Trial: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

My mate's first love, Bella, begged for my help with her gravely injured mother. I rushed over, only to find her sobbing over the body, insisting it was all my fault.“It’s all your fault! ” Bella snarled.Her words were poison darts, each one finding its mark. I did come too late. Maybe if I had been faster… The self-doubt was a suffocating fog.I was so immersed in guilt that I completely failed to notice the shrewd calculation in Bella's eyes.But soon, a knot of unease tightened in my stomach.Bella's sobs were gut-wrenching, but her face was dry. It was a performance.More importantly, her mother's body was already stiff, with the tell-tale purple mottling of death.Based on the temperature and humidity in the woods, she'd been dead for at least two hours.Bella had only called for my help half an hour ago."You let her die on purpose!" Bella shrieked, her finger trembling as she pointed at me, full of accusation.But her gaze wasn't on me.It was fixed on the shadows over my

Chapter 2

"Get in."The guard's voice was as cold as the iron gate he opened.I stepped into a massive, underground arena.The stands were already packed with werewolves from across the continent, their gloating faces illuminated by giant screens overhead, broadcasting my humiliation to the world.The live comments scrolled by, a torrent of contempt."Some Luna. Can't even save her own pack member.""I'll bet 100 gold she doesn't last five minutes.""Is Alpha Ethan finally getting a new Luna? It's about time."The words echoed in my head.A tidal wave of shame and rage washed over me.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, hard enough to draw blood.If I wasn't worthy of being Luna, was Bella?I looked up at the VIP box.Bella had draped herself "weakly" over Ethan, accepting his comfort.Her mother had just died a horrible death, yet I saw no real grief in her eyes—only the vicious, gleeful anticipation of revenge.She'd already cast aside her mother's death, hungry only for my to

Chapter 3

Fifty million.The arena erupted."Who would place a bet that high?""It has to be an Alpha from a major pack!""Does someone actually think she can do this?"Ethan's already dark expression became thunderous.He turned to his Beta, Eric. "Find out who owns that account! Now!""I can't, Alpha," Eric reported, his voice trembling. "They're using the highest level of encryption."Ethan's gaze snapped to me, sharp and suspicious. "It seems you have secrets, Sophia," he said coldly. "What Alpha is backing you?"The accusation was so absurd it was almost laughable.I was bleeding out from a trial he had sanctioned, and he thought I had some powerful, secret lover.The last few shards of my broken heart turned to dust."I don't know what you're talking about," I said, struggling to my feet."Liar!" Ethan roared. "No one would bet that high on you!"Bella chose that moment to speak, her voice soft with false concern."Ethan, maybe Sophia does have connections we don't know about. After all…"

Chapter 4

Gabriel's words sent a shockwave of silence through the arena.Join the trial? An outside Alpha wanted to interfere with a pack's sacred ritual?Ethan shot to his feet, his face livid. "Gabriel, this is an internal matter of the Shadowmoon Pack. You have no right to interfere.""Internal?" Gabriel descended the stairs, his aura so powerful it felt like the air itself was bowing to him. "The moment you broadcast it to the world for entertainment and profit, you made it everyone's business."His voice was terrifyingly calm, but each word landed like a sledgehammer."If we're playing a game, we play by the rules," Gabriel said, stopping at the edge of the trial floor. "I placed a bet. I have the right to protect my investment."So the fifty million was from him.Ethan's fists clenched. "What do you want?""Simple." Gabriel's gaze flickered to Bella, who shrank back involuntarily. "If your Luna must prove herself in a trial, shouldn't you, her Alpha, have to prove your judgment?""What are

Chapter 5

The silver mist filled the arena in seconds.My lungs burned, and my skin felt like it was on fire.A concentration this high was lethal.But Gabriel didn't panic.He held me close, and his powerful Alpha aura formed a protective shield around us. The silver mist swirled around the barrier, unable to penetrate."How is that possible?" I asked, stunned."Let's just say silver and I have an… understanding," Gabriel murmured, his eyes glowing with a faint gold light. "We can talk about it later."On the other side of the arena, Ethan was roaring in agony.The silver was eating away at him, but Gabriel made no move to help.I watched Ethan struggle in the mist, my heart a cold, dead weight.His suffering was the direct result of his own choices.Seeing me protected in Gabriel's arms, a fire of pure jealousy erupted in Ethan's eyes.He lunged, grabbing my arm and yanking me behind him. "Stay away from my mate!" he snarled. "She bears my mark! She is mine!"Mate?The word was a bitter joke.

Chapter 6

Leaving the arena, I didn't spare Ethan a single glance.All the love, hate, and disappointment had turned to ash the moment I discovered the fake mark.All I wanted now was to leave this suffocating place."Sophia, where are you going?" Ethan jumped off the stretcher.He started after me, a hint of panic in his voice.I stopped but didn't turn around."Anywhere you're not." My voice was as still and dead as a frozen lake.Just then, Gabriel came to my side.He spoke to me with a tone of respect and equality. "Sophia, perhaps you remember. Three years ago, at the Continental Alpha Summit, the Shadowmoon Pack's territory was challenged. You were the one who stood up and defused the entire dispute with your intelligence and diplomacy. I've remembered you ever since. A light like yours shouldn't be dimmed by such foolish plots and betrayal."He paused, his deep eyes looking at me with genuine sincerity."My pack, the Northern Spire, will always be open to you. I ask for nothing in return,

Chapter 7

Ethan's POV"Useless!" Ethan swept his desk clean, sending papers and inkbottles flying.His eyes were bloodshot; he was a caged beast. "Territory-wide manhunt! Tear this place apart if you have to, but find her!"He issued the highest-level warrant, but Bella had vanished as if into thin air.A hidden power seemed to be helping her, erasing every trace.Ethan knew that once a lunatic like Bella was free, the first person she would go after was Sophia.Worry for Sophia and a soul-deep longing for her were two vipers, gnawing at his heart day and night.The tracker he'd hired came up empty. Gabriel's Northern Spire was an impenetrable fortress, shielding Sophia from the entire world.A month went by.Ethan barely slept. He became gaunt, his former authority and sharp edge worn down by endless regret and anxiety.Pack business piled up, but he couldn't muster an ounce of interest.Without Sophia, the title of Alpha felt like a cold, ironic cage.Just as he was about to be swallowed by de

Chapter 8

Sophia's POV"Sophia! Die!"Bella's shriek ripped through the sacred silence.The silver dagger flashed, a harbinger of death aimed straight for my heart.Everyone was frozen, stunned by the sudden attack.The guards were too slow. Gabriel was three steps away.In that split second, a body slammed into mine, shoving me out of the dagger's path.It was Ethan."No!"The silver dagger plunged deep into his chest."Ethan!" I gasped.He used the last of his strength to wrap his arms around the crazed Bella. "Why… why would you save her?" Bella stared at him in disbelief. "She's not yours anymore!"Blood trickled from his lips, but his eyes, fixed on me, were clearer than they had been in years. "Because…" he coughed, his voice a hoarse whisper. "I failed you, Sophia. Let this… let this be the one right thing I do."Bella finally snapped, her face twisting in a mask of triumph and madness. "You're insane! For her, you'd actually…" With a final surge of strength, she shoved the dagger deeper.

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