Chapter 3 Ten Days to Die

"Vera was pregnant with my brother's child. When she came to inform him, she got jealous, snuck up behind her, and killed her," Lyra said, face stoically serious-lying straight to my face and her family's without flinching.

"What?!"

"No. This can't be happening." I thought in my mind with surprise

My head swirled with confusion, fear, anger-so many emotions crashing into each other, I couldn't even name them all. One thing was certain: this lie struck like lightning, burning away any sense of security I had left.

I opened my mouth to speak, to defend myself-but then I caught Arden's mother's glare.

Her threat returned like a ghost in my mind.

"If I denied anything... she'd sell me."

So now I was stuck choosing between two evils:

Being sold into an unknown land... or having murder pinned on me.

I didn't even get the chance to choose before Alpha Syrus stormed toward me. His hand shot out, gripping my throat with brutal force. His strength was overwhelming-a living embodiment of wrath. My air was stolen, my life beginning to slip with every squeeze of his hand.

I fought, gasped, clawed at him-but it was useless.

"Alpha, please! Don't kill her," Arden's mother cried, rushing forward. "We promise to punish her accordingly!"

Only then did Alpha Syrus release me. I collapsed, coughing and choking as his glare passed to Arden's father.

"The punishment for murder is death," he thundered.

"If she isn't executed in ten days... I'll do it myself," he added.

"We will follow the laws. You have my word, Alpha," Arden's mother replied smoothly.

Alpha Syrus turned and marched out, his warriors thundering behind him like a dark tide.

After he was gone, I became the next center of attention.

The gazes turned to me-all of them.

Hot. Judgmental. Disgusted.

I looked to Arden's mother, hoping-praying-she would reveal the truth. That she'd finally tell them Lyra lied.

But she didn't.

She said nothing.

Worse... she joined them, glaring at me as if I were truly the murderer.

"Luna, tell them! You told me to stay quiet and accept the accusation, or else you'd sell me as a slave!" I cried, clutching her hand, pleading.

But she yanked away with a sneer of revulsion.

"Guards! Take this murderer to the cells. Death by poisoning is the punishment," she ordered.

Two towering guards seized me, dragging me toward the prison yard. My screams and protests filled the air.

"No! Luna, don't do this to me! Please! You know I didn't do anything! You knew your son did it! Stop this!" I protested desperately, kicking and screaming.

And just like that-I became a fugitive without lifting a single finger.

Thrown into a dark, damp cell, I was left with nothing but my thoughts... and regret.

-

"I should have run. I should've chosen the life of a rogue."

"How could I have been so blind?"

"I thought agreeing to Arden's mother's plan was just a ploy to manipulate Alpha Syrus-but I see it now. I was always the scapegoat."

Tears streamed silently down my cheeks.

"Was I cursed from birth? Has the Moon Goddess truly turned her back on me?"

-

"I should have known this family was prone to discarding me, so I should have taken my leave."

"I should have escaped when I had the chance and chosen the life of a rogue."

"Or, I should have refused Arden's mother's offer and accepted being sold if I had to."

"I didn't know this was their plan all along. Oh merciful goddess, what have I done to myself?"

"I thought it was only a move to lure Alpha Syrus, but I didn't know the plan had been to put Vera's murder on me all along."

"This is hell. My life has turned to hell." Tears flowed from my eyes.

From the moment I breathed my first breath, my life was bound to turn out a doom.

~

I stayed for five days, all alone in this cell. I had little to no food in a day. I either got a ridiculously small amount of food, or nothing at all. It's been hell.

I always felt dehydrated because they did not give me water anytime they brought food to me here.

When I asked for water, they said they'd asked Luna-Arden's mother-to give me water, but she declined and ordered that not a single drop of water be given to me.

I haven't drunk water, nor have I taken a sip of it for five days now.

When I think of everything I've gone through in these last few months, trying to be Arden's Luna, I end up cursing the day I met him... and cursing his mother.

"I hope she faces a stronger rogue one day... and meets her death."

On the sixth day, a new cellmate was brought.

She said nothing to me. She looked really down, and I soon figured out she was an Omega by the way her dress was tattered and the sickly pale skin she wore.

I realized how badly she must've been treated. She didn't talk to me until I finally got her to speak on the 8th day. She had a pretty smile, though.

Of course, I didn't fail to countdown to the days I was expected to be killed for something I didn't do.

I had already made peace with the fact that I came to this life to meet doom and then face death.

I am always ready to accept my fate.

However, before I draw my last breath, I will be sure to bite the sand and curse Arden and his mother for contributing most to my demise.

Then, I thought about my father.

I've been separated from him since I was a child. I don't even know my mother, nor would I recognize my father now. I hope the Moon Goddess protects him wherever he is and grants him peace and happiness. I wish I could see him one last time before my death.

But now, Arden had to be a devil's incarnate and ruin so many life plans for me.

His mother took the baton from him, making my life even more miserable.

~

On the 9th day, a new inmate came in. She was lively. And, I think her crime was serious because of the way she related to me and the other girl.

She engaged us in useless conversations and spoke about her friend who betrayed her, which led to her landing in the pack's cell.

She asked about what made me land in the cell, but I didn't tell her. I was relieved that the words of me killing Vera hadn't spread yet.

It was only extended to a few people, and something told me it was Klaus's handiwork. Aside from Arden's mother and Lyra, Klaus also knew that Arden was the one who murdered Vera.

And, he cared about me. At least, a little.

It could be him that prevented the words from spreading.

The new inmate kept ranting on and on about her friend's betrayal, and my mind drifted off to other things.

However, when she said something about a new Beta, my attention snapped back to her.

"A new Beta? What about Klaus?"

"Please, can you come again?" I asked her.

She paused mid-sentence, looking from me to the other girl.

"So, you haven't been listening?" she said, frowning.

I smiled awkwardly, urging her to go ahead and repeat herself.

She did. Of course, she would. She liked ranting.

"I said, the pack is appointing a new Beta. Betas, actually. They're twins from another pack," she said.

I quickly asked, "Why exactly are they appointing new Betas? Why is that? What happened to the old one? Klaus, I mean?"

"He stepped down," she replied.

"What? Klaus stepped down?" I said, surprised, then continued, "Why? He was next-in-line for the Alpha's position."

"It only makes sense that he stays there until he's appointed Alpha. Why would he leave now, so close to the position?" I added, looking at the girl.

"I don't know why. I wish I did, honestly. So I could share the information with anyone who cares to listen," she replied, reminding me of how she'd pointed out earlier that I hadn't been paying attention.

From the little time we spent together, I knew she would spread any tidbit of information she got her hands on to anyone who would listen.

"Word is, they're extremely good looking. And they don't have mates yet. Girls are literally on their toes, anticipating their arrival and wishing one of the twins is their mate," she added, taking a deep breath.

"I know I can't be that lucky, though. The Moon Goddess is just going to bless me with some mid-average-ranked wolf as my mate. How about you? Would you want one of them to be your mate?" she asked me.

"Yes," I quickly responded. If I said no, she'd ask why, and I didn't want to tell her it was because I'd be dying in 24 hours.

"Their crowning ceremony is tomorrow. I hear it's going to be a blast, and here I am, stuck in this hellhole, unable to attend," she added.

"So, that witch had the guts to hold a party after accusing me falsely and locking me up here?" I thought, frustrated.

However, as the new inmate continued with her rant, I took note of something she said.

She mentioned that everyone would be at the ceremony tomorrow, which would make it a busy day. So I started thinking of escaping when everyone was focused on the ceremony.

I knew it might be futile, but it was worth trying.

Moreover, attempting an escape or remaining here would still yield the same result-death. So, I wasn't afraid of the outcome.

I couldn't sleep that night, plotting how I would execute my escape plan.

Then I remembered-"The guards always come around in the morning to take us to ease ourselves." I thought that would be the perfect time to strike.

The next day, just as the new inmate had reported, it was a busy day. I could hear the ceremony alive from the cell.

Instead of two guards to come and get us, only one was available to do so.

It gave me more opportunity to succeed with my plan.

The guard took us around the yard.

When he got to a spot only a few steps away from the entrance, I dashed away.

A stupid move, one might say.

But my reasoning for making that move was simple: there was a small window at the end of the hall waiting for me to slip through, and the guard would never be able to reach me. He was too hefty.

So, I skillfully climbed through the window and knocked down the burglary before the guard got to me.

Thank Goddess my power could do just that.

I passed through the small opening of the window.

I waited a few minutes. The guard never showed up.

I smirked to myself.

I never thought I could come up with such a clean, smart plan.

I patted myself inwardly and headed for the river bank of the pack.

"I don't mind becoming a rogue. As long as I survive death..."