Chapter 5 Mate!!!

They wanted a show.

And I was the main act.

The prison gates creaked open with a sound like death yawning. Two guards grabbed my arms, yanking me up before I could even stand on my own. My legs wobbled. My wrists were raw from the silver cuffs, my clothes hanging off my bones.

But I didn't cry.

Not this time.

I just stared ahead, eyes hollow, heart dead. If they wanted to kill me, then they would do it with me watching-cold, silent, unafraid.

As we stepped out into the courtyard, the roar of the crowd hit me like a tidal wave. People lined the square. Shifters from every corner of the pack. Some held stones. Some held sticks. Some held nothing but hate in their eyes.

"Traitor!"

"Murderer!"

"You deserve worse!"

A sharp rock hit my shoulder, splitting the skin. I hissed but didn't stop walking.

Another one struck my forehead. Blood trickled into my eye.

Still, I didn't fall.

They dragged me up the execution platform. A wooden stage built high, so even the ones at the back could see me die.

"Chain her," someone barked.

Cold iron cuffs clamped around my ankles, my wrists stretched above my head. I stood exposed before them all, like a monster.

The elder who led my trial stepped forward with a scroll in hand.

"Quinn Campbell, you have been convicted by the council and the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack for the murder of Alpha Tristan Winsley," he began. "You are charged with high treason, conspiracy, and collusion against this pack."

Lies.

Lies.

All of it.

"The evidence has been presented. The witnesses have spoken. The sentence-death by beheading-shall be carried out immediately."

I ground my teeth. "Where's the proof?" I shouted. "Where's the actual proof?!"

The crowd booed.

"You killed our Alpha!" someone screamed.

"You were a mistake from birth!" another voice snapped.

The elder raised a hand. "Bring forth the final witnesses."

My breath caught.

Two figures stepped onto the stage.

No.

No.

Not them.

Mom stood in a sleek black gown, looking every inch the perfect wife. Dad was beside her, jaw tight, eyes blank. My heart thudded against my ribs.

Please.

Not you.

The elder turned to them. "Do you, Mr Gregory and Sharlene Campbell, confirm that Quinn has always displayed rebellious and violent behavior against the laws of this pack?"

"I do," my mother said coolly.

"She's never respected authority," Dad added without flinching.

My knees buckled. "Dad..." I whispered.

Neither of them looked at me.

Not once.

Not even a glance.

"I expected you to lie," I said with a bitter smile. "But you could've at least looked at me while you stabbed me in the back."

Tears slipped down my cheeks. I didn't wipe them. Let them see. Let them feel what they did.

"Bring the next witness," the elder ordered.

Cassandra stepped forward, dressed in soft lavender, hair curled, eyes shining with satisfaction.

Of course.

She held up her phone. "I have chat logs from Quinn's number. She told me about her plan to poison Alpha Tristan. She was angry he never accepted her. This was all premeditated."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Fake.

All of it.

"That's not even my number," I snarled. "You photoshopped those texts."

"No one asked you to speak," Cassandra said sweetly.

I lunged against the chains. "You betrayed me! You lied to my face! You were screwing Dylan and pretending to be my best friend!"

"Enough," the elder snapped. "We have heard all we need to hear. The execution shall proceed."

The crowd roared in agreement.

A man stepped up behind me. I heard the scrape of his blade as he unsheathed it.

I clenched my fists. If this was it-then fine. But I'd haunt every single one of them till their last breath.

The blade lifted.

My heart slowed.

Then-

BOOM!

The throne room doors slammed open so hard they nearly flew off the hinges. Three of Dylan's guards were hurled through the air, crashing against the walls like broken dolls.

The noise died.

A terrifying silence replaced it.

Then came the sound of slow, heavy boots hitting the floor.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Everyone turned.

And in he walked.

A man in pure black.

Black coat. Black gloves. Black boots. Eyes like molten silver.

He didn't speak.

He didn't have to.

Because power radiated from him in waves. Pure, suffocating power. The kind that made your wolf shrink away and whimper.

Guards rushed toward him.

He moved like death.

Snap-one neck broken.

Crack-another went down.

The last one didn't even get to scream before his spine was crushed under a single hand.

Gasps echoed.

People dropped to their knees.

One of the elders whispered, "The Lycan King..."

Everyone bowed their heads.

Except me.

I couldn't move.

Not because I was scared.

Because something deep in me stirred.

He stood before the crowd, looking like the final judgment itself. His eyes scanned the room-disgusted. Angry.

Deadly.

His voice was low but sent chills down everyone's spine. "Who killed my men?"

Dylan stood at the edge of the platform, clearly shaken. But he masked it with a tight smile.

He pointed to me.

"She did. She's being executed for treason and murder. She attacked your men when they came for her."

Liar.

Bastard.

I opened my mouth to shout-

A guard slammed the butt of his weapon into my face, splitting my lip.

I gasped.

Blood filled my mouth.

The Lycan King turned to me.

And froze.

He took a step forward, slowly, like a predator scenting something familiar.

His gaze locked on mine.

I stared back.

His eyes widened.

And then-

He whispered, so low only I could hear, "You..."

He reached for my face, brushing his thumb against the blood on my lip. The touch sent a jolt through me. My wolf stirred awake inside me, wide-eyed, restless.

He leaned in slightly, as if trying to be sure.

Then his pupils dilated.

And he muttered, almost breathlessly, "Mate."

My body tensed.

Because my wolf whispered it too, loud and clear.

"Mate."

The execution platform went still.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.