Chapter 3 Talia's POV

Talia's POV

"How could this be?"

"She was in the mansion, right?"

"Oh! My Luna!"

The sad murmurs echoed in my ears as I parted my eyelids slightly. My blurred vision becoming visible as I blinked my eyes. Where was I? As I tried standing up, I felt a heavy weight on my legs as the clanging of chains echoed.

"Alpha, the rogue is awake!"

"You!" Alpha Logan's familiar angry voice rang.

My eyes widened at the sight by my side. The woman from earlier, laid lifeless beside me. Her body battered and bruised, covered in dry blood. I looked down to my dress, unable to comprehend what happened. I was covered in blood. What was happening?

"Why?! Why did you murder my mate!" Alpha Logan demanded.

"Killed?" I asked, perplexed.

"Enough of the pretending!" Alpha Logan snarled, walking towards me. Grabbing my neck, he raised me from the ground as I met his eyes which glistened with fury.

"Why?! Huh! Tell me who sent you! Was it Xander? Answer me!" He yelled.

I opened my mouth, gasping for air as I tapped on his hand profusely, my eyes pleading for him to release me. I could feel my airway tighten with each passing second.

"Alpha, let her speak," an old woman on the side said.

Releasing his grip from my neck, I fell to the floor coughing violently as I massaged my neck.

"Speak," the old woman said.

"I didn't kill her," I said, my voice timid.

"Lies. I found you with the murder weapon laying beside the Luna! I'm sure the Luna must have fought to death in a bid to save herself from you!"

"I didn't kill her! I'm innocent!"

"All you do is lie! Alpha, let's kill all rogues now, if not, more like our precious Luna will be killed!"

"I'm also in support alpha!"

"Justice for Luna!"

"I didn't kill her!" I yelled at the top of my voice, tears streaming down my face. "I'm not the one who murdered her. I didn't even know who she was until now. All I remember is seeing Alpha Logan's mark on her dress while she argued with that man."

"Man? What man?" Alpha Logan asked, his interest visibly spiked.

"During the game, I tried my best to escape. I ran as fast as I could. I didn't know where I was, but I heard voices arguing. I came closer and I saw her arguing with a man over why she hadn't killed you yet," I said, shifting my gaze to alpha Logan, "She refused to meet his demands and he went biserk, stabbing her continuously until she died. I tried to run, but I was caught by him. The last thing I remember was running away from him."

The air filled with murmurs as everyone exchanged words with each other. Alpha Logan remained frozen as he stroke his beards.

"Who was this man she argued with?" Alpha Logan asked, turning to me.

"I couldn't see his face. He wore a mask."

"It's of no use believing her words, alpha. She could be making it up!"

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!"

"I'm not making it up. I witnessed this with my own eyes!"

"Then who is the man that murdered my mate?!" Alpha Logan demanded, his face red with anger as he glared at me.

"I... I don't know," I sobbed. I'm innocent, I didn't kill her. If only I could see the face of the murderer.

"Enough of this. Take this rogue to the execution room. I want her head!"

"No! Please, alpha, take mercy on me. I'm innocent. I did no such thing! Please!"

The guards grabbed the chains on my leg, dragging me across the floor as i cried helplessly. My hands clinging to the floor as I begged for mercy. Why should I be punished for a crime I didn't commit? Is this really my fate?

"Alpha!" Xavier called out as he entered.

My mate. He'll save me, right?

"Alpha, permission to speak," he said bowing slightly.

Logan signalled the guards to release me as he ordered Xavier to speak.

"Alpha, according to medical reports, this rogue here is responsible for the death of Luna Marissa Stone."

Xavier's words hit me like a bomb as a ringing sound echoed through the hall, pausing the world around me. What did he mean by this? I thought mates are meant to protect each other. Why is he acting this way?

"Then she will be executed," Alpha Logan said firmly.

"Just executed?" Xavier asked dissatisfied.

"What do you suggest then?" Logan asked intrigued.

"Let her be hunted down as the rogue she is. Whoever catches her can do as they please. Let her captor torture her in ways he dims fit until her final breath. Beheading her is to easy compared to the tortures Luna Marissa endured."

My ears twitched at his words. Did he really mean that? My own mate would rather I be used as a sex toy until I die? Why did he mark me if he was going to be this cruel? He should have left me to be by myself rather than rejecting me. Here I was thinking he would plead on my behalf, but I was wrong. He's the main reason for my torture.

"Very well then, that's a very prominent punishment. But it's not amusing enough. Throw her into the abyss, let the beasts feed on her."