The Hearing

The cold water hit my face before I even opened my eyes. I jerked up, coughing and gasping, the chains rattling hard around my wrists. The guards stood in front of me, their faces harsh and without pity.

“Get up,” one of them ordered. “The council wants you.”

My legs shook. My body felt weak, bruised, torn, and empty. But I stood, even though my knees almost gave way. The guard held my arm tightly and dragged me toward the exit. My mind screamed in fear, but I forced myself to breathe.

This was it.

Today was the hearing.

Today they would decide if I lived or died.

No one was on my side. Not even the so-called friend I thought I had.

The hallway leading out of the dungeon felt colder than the cell itself. The metal chains scraped the floor behind me as they pulled me along. I didn’t protest. I didn’t fight. What was the point? Everyone thought I killed the Alpha. No one wanted to hear me.

Not even Jaden.

My chest tightened at the thought of him.

When they brought me out into daylight, the sun hit my eyes so hard I had to squint. People stood everywhere—warriors, servants, pack members, journalists, elders. Their whispers hit me before I reached them.

“That’s her.”

“The Alpha killer.”

“She doesn’t even look ashamed.”

“Monster.”

A tomato hit the side of my face. Another person spat on the ground beside me. Someone else threw a stone that hit my shoulder, making me cry out.

The guards didn’t stop them.

I kept walking.

The hearing took place in the main hall. The doors were tall and heavy, carved with the history of our pack. I used to think the hall was beautiful. Now it felt like the entrance to hell.

When the doors opened, all eyes turned to me.

The elders sat at the front. Lola’s father sat in the center, acting like he was a pillar of justice. The man looked at me with disgust, even though his daughter was the real killer.

My breath caught when I saw her.

Lola stood beside the elders, her dress pure white like a fake angel, her hands folded in front of her. She looked at me for one second—and smirked so gently only I could notice.

I swallowed hard.

She was enjoying this.

She wanted me to suffer.

My eyes moved to Jaden.

He stood beside his father’s empty throne, wearing black, which showed he was still in mourning. His jaw clenched when he saw me. His eyes were red, angry, broken. But not for me.

Never for me.

He stepped forward.

“Bring the prisoner forward,” he said.

I walked slowly, every step hurting. The guards pushed me to kneel before him.

My heart screamed his name, but he didn’t even look at me like I was human.

The elder in the middle cleared his throat.

“This hearing begins now,” he said. “Amara, daughter of Melisa, you stand accused of killing our Alpha, Raymond Khal. Do you accept or deny the charge?”

I lifted my head.

“I deny it,” I said. My voice shook. “I didn’t kill him. I woke up beside him covered in blood, but I don’t know how—”

“Silence!” another elder shouted. “Lies!”

“It’s true,” I tried again. “I didn’t even wolf yet! I couldn’t overpower an Alpha.”

The elder scoffed. “The strongest evil hides behind the weakest face.”

Lola stepped forward and pretended to wipe a tear.

“Amara,” she said softly, “just confess. Stop lying. The kingdom is in pain. Jaden deserves peace.”

My heart broke.

She was good.

Very good.

Everyone murmured in agreement. The hall was hot and loud, filled with angry voices calling me a murderer.

I shook my head so hard my neck hurt.

“I didn’t do it,” I said again. “Please, believe me.”

Jaden finally looked at me.

“Where were you,” he asked, “before the night my father died?”

“At the party,” I said quickly. “You know I was at the party.”

“And after the party?” he asked.

I had no answer. Just the same empty darkness. I had no memories of it.

“I… I don’t remember.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “Convenient.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Jaden, please. I swear on my life. I didn’t kill him.”

“Your life means nothing to me,” Jaden said coldly.

The words stabbed me deeper than any blade.

My voice broke as I whispered, “But I am your mate.”

Jaden’s eyes turned colder.

“You are not my mate,” he said harshly. “I reject you. I will never accept a murderer as my Luna.”

The room exploded with noise.

I felt something inside me crack. My chest burned so badly I thought I was going to faint. Lola placed a hand on Jaden’s arm, pretending to comfort him, but her eyes stayed locked on mine—mocking, victorious, cruel.

The elder in the center lifted his hand.

“The council has reviewed all evidence,” he said. “The sigil ring on the victim’s finger. The blood on your hands. Your disappearance from the party. Your weak testimony.”

My heart dropped as he continued:

“We find you guilty of Alpha Raymond’s murder.”

The screams of agreement echoed across the hall.

Jaden stepped forward. His voice shook with pain and fury.

“As the rightful heir,” he said, “I pronounce your sentence.”

I closed my eyes.

This was the end.

“You will be executed at sundown today,” Jaden announced. “Your body will be burned, and your ashes scattered outside the borders of the pack. You will receive no funeral rights.”

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to cry.

But nothing came out.

The world became blurry.

Two guards pulled me up and dragged me backward. The crowd spit on me as I passed. Someone hit me with something. I couldn’t even react. Everything felt heavy.

Lola leaned close as I was taken past her.

“It’s over,” she whispered. “You lose.”

I wanted to kill her. I wanted to rip her throat out. But I couldn’t even lift my hand.

They dragged me outside toward the execution grounds. My vision kept fading. My knees scraped the ground.

Someone shouted something, but I couldn’t hear it clearly.

My mother’s last image flashed in my mind.

My wolf cried painfully inside me.

I lifted my head to the sky.

“Moon Goddess…” I whispered weakly. “If you are real… please… help me…”

The guards pushed me to my knees and held my head down. I felt the cold blade touch the back of my neck.

I shut my eyes.

Then—A loud ringing sound filled my head.