Chapter 6 No.6

My white wolf, Alyee, was engulfed in flames; Devil Lycan held me in his arms; Carlee was consumed by fire, and... Phillips was drenched in blood!

"No!" I screamed, reaching out, desperate to break free from this haunting vision.

"Do not fight it, Ophelia. This is your past, and it will be your future," she declared.

"No, it's not true!" I cried out. "I am not a Devil Wolf."

"Ophelia, calm down. I want you to understand that Devil Wolves do not embody evil," she soothed me with a gentle voice. "Devil Wolves are as wise and kind-hearted as ordinary werewolves. It is their formidable abilities that make people ostracize them. Out of fear, Devil Wolves become the target of their violence."

"Ophelia, you were once a mighty Devil Wolf. It was Phillips who beseeched me to seal your powers and memories. I made a grave mistake." She materialized before me at last. She wore pristine white garments, her hair shimmering like gold, and her eyes piercing and sharp. Though unspoken, I knew she was the Moon Goddess.

"Moon Goddess." I bowed respectfully.

"My child, I apologize for orchestrating your mate and destiny, causing you pain. If you heed my call, I will aid you in reclaiming your identity as a Devil Wolf," she conveyed.

"What awaits me once I become a Devil Wolf?" An uneasiness stirred within me.

"Child, though it is challenging, I must inform you that you will lose all memories of Phillips," she divulged.

Losing my memories of Phillips? I hesitated. Slowly, I stepped back, creating a distance between myself and the Moon Goddess.

Seeing through my inner turmoil, the Moon Goddess did not press further. She smiled gently and said, "Then, when the time comes, answer my summons, my child." After saying that, she vanished.

***

Abruptly, I opened my eyes, sitting on the straw bed in the prison cell. Sweat clung to my clothes. I took deep breaths as my heart raced erratically, the stench of blood permeating each inhalation. Was it just a dream, or could it be real? How could I possibly be a Devil Wolf?

"Are you alright?" Ryan's concerned voice immediately emanated from the adjacent cell. He sensed something amiss with me.

"I'm fine," I replied, still panting, failing to shake off the Moon Goddess's words that lingered in my mind.

Before I could fully contemplate the thing, footsteps grew louder. Someone was approaching the prison.

I swiftly stood up. Four young warriors appeared at the prison gate, adorned in armor with wolf head motifs. It indicated that they served under Alpha Phillips' direct command.

"The Alpha has tasked us to reinforce the chains of Devil Lycan. Lead the way, you damn bitch," their leader spat, shoving me forward. The path within the prison was labyrinthine, and apart from myself, who had guarded these halls for years, it was easy for outsiders to become disoriented.

"How dare you treat me like this?" I glared at them, wanting to unleash my aura and intimidate them. But alas, I discovered myself too feeble to do so.

"Wake up, will you? The Alpha has already rejected you, so you are no longer Luna, and we don't have to show you any respect!" They sneered, approaching me with malice. Roughly grabbing my collar, they yanked me down to the ground, causing the sharp gravel to cut into my hands and knees. "And now, you're too injured to fight back. Lead the way if you don't want to get beaten!"

Struggling to my feet in a sorry state, I pointed towards the prison where Devil Lycan was held captive. "Right here."

The four warriors moved forward to inspect the chains while I stood there, observing their hostile actions. Phillips had always told me that all Devil Wolves were cursed and deserved death. But what if the Moon Goddess was right? What if they, like me, were innocent? Should they also be condemned to die? I had never contemplated such questions before and always believed Phillips was right. However, the Moon Goddess claimed that Devil Wolves were not inherently sinful.

However, there was no time for contemplation. The four warriors, having reinforced the chains, approached me. "Ophelia, your execution site is ready."

My eyes widened in shock, and I gulped. They were sentencing me without even conducting an interrogation!

"No, you can't! This goes against the procedures of Pack Law!" I screamed, struggling as they led me out of the prison, gripping the cold silver chain and collar tightly. It was ridiculous. Phillips wanted to skip the trial and kill me directly to strip me of my position as Luna.

"Shut up! This is the Alpha's command!" They wrapped the frigid silver chains around my feet as well. The contact between the silver chains and my skin burned, yet my wrists and ankles remained unharmed. But with every step I took, excruciating pain coursed through me.

They pulled the ends of the silver chains, forcing me to follow them out of the prison. I stumbled along, and my heart filled with anguish toward Phillips and my fate. I even regretted hesitating in my dream. Perhaps becoming a Devil Wolf was the path I should have taken if the consequence was death. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked rapidly, hoping they wouldn't escape and exacerbate the wounds on my face, causing further pain. I quickened my pace, attempting to minimize the friction and intense pain between the collar and my neck. The weight on my head was unbearable from all these torments. I wondered how Ryan endured the collar and silver chains during his years in captivity. For the first time, I felt guilty towards him.

They led me to the execution site, a place usually designated for werewolves deemed guilty by judges and the Alpha. It was just that I had never imagined that one day, I would stand here.

I ascended the central platform, trying not to let my legs give way beneath me. I had experienced enough humiliation, so I couldn't bear to kneel before them. I looked up at the judgment seat and saw Phillips and Carlee sitting there, peering down at me from their lofty perch. No one listened to my explanations, and no one believed me.

The glaring sun reminded me of another day when a werewolf named James was executed here under suspicion of being a Devil Wolf. At that time, I stood beside Phillips, ignorant and never doubting his actions, only feeling dizzy from the sight of the blood staining the ground. Little did I expect that I would be standing here this time.

I glanced at Phillips in the distance. Our mate bond had already been severed due to his rejection, yet my heart still ached. "Phillips, do you want to kill me like you killed James? I haven't even had a fair trial!"

He avoided my gaze, turning his head indifferently. "I am the one who makes decisions in this pack. If you will consume the Wolfsbane Flower and give up your wolf, maybe I won't kill you."

I almost burst out laughing at his lie. How could I survive while carrying that suspicion after abandoning my wolf and becoming wolfless? At that point, whether it was Richard, Carlee, or any other werewolf, they could quickly end my life.

Whispering, I said, "I haven't done anything wrong and won't give up my wolf." I didn't know if they could hear my words, but I no longer cared. I was prepared to face death, no longer expecting anyone's help or care.

Gamma Richard stared at me, standing up and addressing Phillips, "Alpha, it's time for the execution. Delaying it might lead to unforeseen consequences."

Phillips said nothing, simply waving his hand. The warriors at the side approached with silver knives. That was the execution method for Devil Wolves, a slow, painful death as the silver knives pierced the werewolf's body. I could endure at most two strikes from silver.

My breathing quickened, and fear compelled me to close my eyes despite being prepared. Faintly, I heard Lorraine crying and screaming. I wondered if they would torment her after my death because of our connection.

"Wait," Phillips suddenly called for a halt. "Ophelia, admit your guilt and consume the Wolfsbane Flower, and then you will live."

I opened my eyes and looked at his furrowed brow, feeling even more repulsed. He was not only despicable but also a hypocrite.

"I am not guilty. I have not betrayed the New Mars Pack," I said for the final time.

"Get on with it!" Richard anxiously ordered as if he was afraid that Phillips might spare me. He snatched the silver knife from the executioner and struck me with the first blow.

"Ah!!!" I couldn't contain the scream of agony. As the silver knife pierced my body, everything around me became silent, and I could only feel Alyee's pain through our mind link. The blood flowed out of my body, and darkness enveloped me. So was it what death felt like?

Another knife approached, and strangely, I grew calmer. This would be the second strike, and soon I would be free from this suffering.

But suddenly, a familiar aura surrounded me, blocking the knife and alleviating my anguish. It felt like I was being lifted by a cloud, separated from the scorching ground. The long-lasting ringing in my ears subsided.

"I'm late," I heard a familiar voice say.

The soldier's second knife slipped from his hand during the execution, crashing to the ground with a loud clang. It startled me out of my anxious state, and I opened my eyes, realizing that I had been holding my breath due to anxiety and pain.

I raised my head to see who had saved me, only to find someone unexpected, Ryan. How did he end up here?