RAINA

'Raina, wake up. Wake up.' Selene, my wolf suddenly called to me.

"What's the point?" I muttered weakly.

'You cannot give up now. You have to rise above this.' She said, trying to encourage me.

I lay down weakly as my stomach rumbled from hunger. It has been two days since I was confined here and I kept awaiting my fate. I was still finding it rather hard to believe that my husband had done this.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching and then my dungeon was opened and there stood Connor with two guards at the entrance.

I looked up at him weakly. He was my stepbrother and I had been waiting for him to come save me.

"Oh Connor, I knew you would never abandon me." I said to him,

"Bring the witch." He said and started walking away.

What? No. Certainly not my own brother, this was impossible.

"Connor, please. You have to help me." I said weakly as the men approached me.

Suddenly, they brought out a shackle which they put around my neck. The instant it was put on me, I let out a shrill cry as it burnt through my skin.

Silver. This was one of our weaknesses apart from wolfsbane. It was also the first time it had been put on me.

One of them using a thickly gloved hand held one end of it while the other forcefully pulled me up to my feet. I was feeling really fuzzy when the guard with the end of the chain pulled hard at it and I fell again with my face to the ground.

"Get her up. The council would be pissed if we waste any more time." He muttered.

Suddenly, someone appeared at the entrance.

"What's the hold up for?" He demanded angrily.

"We're sorry, commander. The witch is refusing to move." The other guard said.

"If she would not move, drag her along. Time is of essence here." Connor said, distastefully.

I looked up at him with so much shock in my eyes.

"Why?" I muttered.

He did not even seem to care as he walked inside and then slapped me really hard across the face as I spat blood out. I could not believe this had happened now.

"Do not speak to me, witch." He responded and then looked at the other guard with the end of the chain. "Bring her or I'll have your head delivered to the Alpha."

With that word, he was gone.

I was forced on my feet again but this time, I managed to stand. The guard started pulling at the chain as he led me out of the dungeon like a dog. My clothes were dirty and my neck was hurting. I was sure that I was also bruised and it was not healing thanks to the silver components of my neck shackle.

I struggled to keep up and the moment we came out of the dungeons, my eyes were met by the sudden light outside. The dark dungeon had not let me know that it was day already and it really hurt but no one cared.

As we moved around, I could see the servants and they scorned me. Someone threw an egg at me and it landed on my head as the contents spilled down my face. This made them all cheer.

I could not understand the hate and betrayal but then, we came into the judgment hall. I was forced inside where the elders sat down but what caught my eyes was my husband. He was seated too and beside him was the woman I had seen him with earlier.

I could not believe my eyes as I was led to the stand.

"Raina Seawolf, you have been brought here today before the council for the crimes of witchcraft in the pack which you committed against your husband. How do you plead?" An elder demanded.

So, they already started addressing me by my maiden name.

"I'm not a witch." I responded, looking straight at Kaelin. I was hoping he would come to his senses.

"That is not an answer." The elder said.

"What use is the answer I give? You all already decided my fate." I responded.

"So you're guilty then?" The elder demanded.

I now turned my head to look his way.

"No. I am not guilty." I responded.

"Well, I believe there are witnesses that would beg otherwise. Please, come to the stand, Connor." He said to my step brother.

Connor walked to the stand and then he took his oath.

"Who are you?" Another elder demanded.

"I am Connor Seawolf." He responded.

"And how are you related to this woman?" He was asked again.

"Unfortunately, I am her half-brother." He responded.

I could not believe that he was going to be this cruel.

"Please, proceed, Connor Seawolf." He said to him,

"Well, my sister here has always had a thing for the Alpha. She would admire him but then she wanted him so much that she decided to take the false seed to invoke the mate-bond between her and the Alpha. In exchange, she gave..." He said and then stopped.

"Connor, might I remind you that you're under oath to divulge every truth here. So, please tell us everything." The elder said to him.

Connor started crying now. I could not believe what an actor he was.

"I'm sorry. It's just that it breaks my heart to say this but I cannot keep this secret anymore. She exchanged her womb for the false seed." He said.

I was so shocked that I fainted.

Suddenly, I was splashed across the face. The impact caused pain and some of the water entered my nose. But there were two guards holding me on my feet at this point. The shackles were still there.

Kaelin walked up in front of me now.

"Undo your spell, witch." He said to me,

"I did nothing. You're my mate. I swear." I said to him,

He looked really angry.

"Very well then, since you would not acknowledge the truth or undo your spell, I shall sentence you. I, Alpha Kaelin of the Red Moon pack, reject you..." He started.

Suddenly, I was hit by the wave of pain. It was so intense but I stood my ground.

"You best accept my rejection." He said to me,

I groaned.

"I am not a witch." I said through my teeth, only standing because I was being held up.

The pain was intense.

"I hereby absolve this marriage and I banish you from the Red Moon pack. You're never to return or you shall be put to death." He said to me and then nodded to a man.

That was when I noticed the branding silver steel burning bright red.

I was spun around to my back and suddenly I felt it.

The searing pain and then the smell of burning flesh as it bore through my skin.

I cried out from the pain and then passed out.