Chapter 3 Trial's

Isabella's POV

"We're gathered here today to bear witness to the trial of Isabella Leonidas," Elder Stefan's voice rang through the general Pack hall. "Luna..," He paused, and glared at me with open contempt. "...ex Luna of Blackpearl Pack, on the grounds of Adultery," he continued, and looked over at the Pack members who were all seated in the general Pack hall, their eyes filled with loathing as they awaited my judgment. "How do you plead, Isabella?" He asked, in a cold and unforgiving voice.

"Not guilty," I replied in a steady voice.

Murmurs and whispers of disdain filled the hall. I could already feel their hateful gaze bore into me. I forced myself to ignore their hateful gaze, and instead looked around, until my eyes landed on the one person I was looking for, My Father. His eyes were filled with the same disdain they've always held for me, for as long as I could remember.

Elder Stefan scoffed. "Alright then. We'll start by hearing the witnesses' testimonies, and all supporting documents," he announced. "After that, the Pack's council would decide your verdict," he looked over at me, and I could tell all this was just for formality sake and my fate had already been sealed. "May the first witness please step forward."

To my surprise, Lilian, Theodore 's sister, came forward.

"Tell us your name and relationship with the accused," Elder Stefan told her.

Lilian sighed, before glancing at me for a few seconds.

"I'm Lilian Sterling, and the accused is my sister-in- law," she said.

"Do you, Lilian Sterling, swear by the goddess to tell the truth and nothing but the truth in this trial?" Elder Stefan asked.

"I do," Lilian answered, with a slight nod.

"Very well, tell the Pack members all you know,' Elder Stefan urged.

Lilian sighed. "A few days ago, I noticed Luna... Isabella was so engrossed in her phone,it was obvious she just got a text message," she began.

"I was curious, because the glint in her couldn't go unnoticed, so I asked her who the text was from, but she wouldn't tell me and instead dismissed my questions, and excused herself."

"That's a lie!" I yelled in my defense. I knew my fate was sealed, so the least I could do for myself right now was to defend myself with everything I've got.

"That's enough, Isabella!" Elder Stefan warned. "You'll be given a chance to defend yourself."

"Tell them the truth Lilian," I continued, ignoring Elder Stefan's words. "You told me the text was from your brother, after you grabbed my phone. Tell–"

Whoops! A whip landed on my bareback, silencing me instantly as I winced in pain.

"That's just a warning, the next one would hurt more than that," Elder Stefan threatened.

"No one should dare whip her again!" Theodore growled, this was the first time he spoke since the trial began.

I smiled in between tears at him, a glimmer of hope, that he'll trust me and believe in our bond.

"We'll need her free of all forms of bruises, he likes his women squeaky clean."

Theodore 's next words left me confused. What was he talking about?

"Go on, Lilian," Elder Stefan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"I had a gut feeling that something was up, so I secretly trailed her."

"That's the only truthful thing you've said today," I mocked.

"Despite following her, part of me was hopeful, hopeful that it's not what I'm thinking, but.." Lilian broke down in tears, garnering sympathy from everyone while I was sneered at.

"It's okay, Lilian, thank you for being truthful," Elder Stefan said comfortingly. "The evidence shall speak for themselves."

Elder Stefan signaled to a guard and a projector was turned on. Just like yesterday at my surprise birthday party, images of me hugging the stranger from yesterday popped up.

The Pack members gasped in disbelief. If this was an entirely different scenario, I'd have believed what was on the screen, but I knew better. As the rest of the images showing the stranger kissing me, the sneers from the Pack members increased.

"I can't believe she's a slut," a Pack member said out loud. "Beware of the quiet ones," he added and the rest of them nodded in agreement.

"Are you guys blind or what?!" I snapped. "Can't you he's forcing himself on me?!"

"But that's not what the picture says, you clearly hugged him from behind–"

"That's because I thought he was my husband!" I said in my defense.

"But an omega saw you, and–"

"What omega?"

"Clara, please come to the podium," Elder Stefan called out.

A petite young girl probably seventeen or eighteen years at most stepped forward. I recognized her, she was the omega I bumped into while fleeing from the strange man.

"Tell us what you saw," Elder Stefan urged her.

Clara glanced at me, and immediately averted her gaze.

"Don't worry, she can't hurt you," Elder Stefan assured her, like I was some monster that eats people's flesh.

"Luna Isabella, is indeed cheating on the Alpha," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been going on for weeks, but I couldn't do anything, because I was just a mere omega, it would be my words against her's."

"What rubbish are you spewing?!" I barked. "You saw how disoriented I was yesterday when I bumped into you, and that was because I was fleeing from my abuser!"

"Is this true?" Elder Stefan asked her.

"Yes," she affirmed, and I could finally breathe. "But that was because she was fleeing because I caught her."

"W–what?!" I screamed in disbelief.

"Did you see the man's face?" He probed further.

"Yes, it was Ethan, her personal guard.

"W--What?! Ethan is gay!"

"That's a lie!" Clara retorted. "Ethan is my mate, and you–" she burst out in tears.

"Thank you, Clara, for being so brave," Elder Stefan comforted her. "We found this in Ethan's room," Elder Stefan raised a neatly folded paper up.

It was a suicide note supposedly from Ethan, being sorry for having an affair with me.

I parted my lips but no words came out, only uncontrollable tears. I can't believe Lilian would go as far as killing someone just to get me out of her brother's life.

"Isabella Leonidas, you've been found guilty of committing Adultery, and it is a great crime not just against your bond, but against the Alpha," Elder Stefan stated, before stepping aside for Theodore .

"Theodore please believe me," I said in a voice choked with tears. "I'd never cheat on you, Ethan was murdered–"

"Now she's trying to protect her lover's image," a pack member sneered from the crowd. If this wasn't an official hearing, I'm sure as hell that I'll be stoned with spoiled fruits and vegetables as well as some rotten eggs.

"Bring the Codex," Theodore instructed.

"No!" I half screamed. "Not that please, I just need time, Theodore , I can prove this is a set-up," I pleaded.

The Codex was an ancient mate bond breaking item. Unlike most rejection where both parties say the rejection words, with the Codex, the words are said with a drop of both party's blood inside the Codex, making the rejection eternal, they can never be mates even if they reincarnated.

The Codex was brought by Lilian, even though she kept a sympathetic face on, I could see the smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Hold her," Theodore instructed coldly. As two guards held me, I lost my will to fight. Not because I was indeed guilty, but I was weakened at the fact that the one person who's supposed to trust me in all of this, is the very same person condemning me.

Theodore pricked his thumb, and a drop of his blood went into the Codex. My thumb was pricked also, and a drop went inside the Codex.

I looked over at Theodore one last time with tear filled eyes. "I'm innocent," I whispered. "Why don't you believe me?"

"I, Theodore Sterling, Alpha of Blackpearl Pack, and Mate to Isabella Leonidas...," Theodore began, ignoring my pleas. "...do thereby break the mate bond between Isabella Leonidas and myself, for all eternity, and for as many lives the goddess wishes to bestow on us."

I slumped to the floor as the guards let go of me.

"You're so brave, Alpha Theodore ," Elder Stefan said, as Theodore staggered backwards as the bond was broken. "Long live Alpha Theodore !"

"Long live Alpha Theodore !" The pack members chanted in unison.

Theodore raised his hand in solidarity, and they chanted louder.

"Isabella Leonidas," Theodore called out to me, and he has never felt so distant like he did right now. Maybe it's because we were no longer mates. "According to the Pack laws, your punishment for Adultery is death."

The Pack members nodded in agreement, not even one of them had an ounce of pity towards me.

"But.." he paused, and stared at me for a few seconds. "... for the sake of what we shared, I'd let you keep your life."

The Pack members began murmuring in disagreement.

"Silence! The Alpha isn't done talking!" Elder Stefan ordered.

"You'll be married off, to the Lycan King of Ravenclaw Pack."