The Alphas were on the ground lifelessly, including Julian. The most powerful lycan king among the four lycan kings of the four major territories.

I, along with every other person in the ceremonial hall, stood frozen in place, gripped by disbelief and panic as we watched helplessly.

"High Priestess, do something! What is happening?!" One of the Elders cried out, his voice cracking with alarm.

The high priestess with a confused look on her face, raised her head slowly but calmly and stared at me. Her face was contorted with confusion and a hint of fear, "Wh...what are you?" She whispered as she locked eyes with me.

What?

I mirrored her confused look, my heart beating fast against my ribs and I stared right back at her. "What?? What are you talking about?"

"High Priestess, what do you mean? That is Alina, the criminal you are supposed to bind to the Lycan king. What does that lowly murderer have to do with our Alphas and our esteemed Lycan King collapsing on the ground like chickens?!" Another elder yelled impatiently, his voice laced with venom.

The man had barely finished his sentence when Julian jerked up, his eyes were wide and his chest heaved violently as he gasped for air, he looked dazed and confused as though his soul had been drained.

One by one, the other Alphas began to stir, they groaned and panted as they tried to comprehend what had just happened.

"What are you?" The High Priestess repeated, louder this time. "What kind of powers do you possess to take down not just the Alphas but also the most powerful lycan king??" She said as she moved dangerously closer to me, "what kind of powers do you possess that could suppress the powers of the lycan king?!"

'What?'

'She suppressed the powers of the lycan king??'

I stood in the middle of the hall, and continued staring at the high priestess in confusion, my chest heaved and my lip trembled. All eyes drilled into me and stared at me like I was a monster.

What powers was she talking about?

I do not possess any powers!

"I...I don't know what you're talking about. I do not have any powers." I stuttered in a hoarse voice and I could feel my chest closing in on me.

"You just brought the lycan king to his knees, so you better start telling the truth." She threatened, giving me a cold gaze.

"She suppressed their powers? No one should be able to do that. That is completely impossible." Somebody said in the crowd.

"Wait." An elder came forward. "If she was able to bring down not just the Alphas but also the lycan king, that means she's a threat to all of us. She's dangerous!"

He said and others mumbled in agreement.

"High Priestess!" A familiar voice suddenly called out from the crowd and when I looked, it was Sage, my cousin who stepped out.

Sage acted like the perfect girl to everyone including my parents but behind that sweet smile was a venomous snake that had always hated my guts, hated my existence even, and honestly, the feelings were mutual.

"Don't let that evil bitch deceive you." Sage said pointing to me with a scornful look on her face. "She has powers, black magic powers that I have been a witness to."

"Sage! That's a lie and you know it!" My voice cracked as I shouted defensively. "Why are you doing this??"

I knew she hated me but this was the height of it. This cruelty was the height of it.

"Shut the fuck up, Alina." She snapped. "If you don't have black magic powers, how else were you able to overpower a council member and kill him?" Sage said scornfully.

"I did not kill---"

"How then were you able to suppress the powers of the lycan king?? Tell us, Alina." She demanded and the crowd went quiet, giving me judging and hateful looks.

When seconds went by and I still remained speechless because I had nothing to say, I was also as confused and puzzled as they were.

Sage continued, "Exactly what I thought." Her voice was now calm and she gave a victorious smirk. "And we all know the punishment that comes with using black magic powers, and especially using it to not only kill a werewolf but using it against the lycan king. Alina should be put to death immediately."

No....

No...

I don't have black magic powers, this can't be happening to me.

I stumbled backwards as I wrapped my arms around myself. My breaths increased and came in shallow bursts. My body trembled as chills ran down my spine, I was about to be executed.

"I cannot feel my wolf, " Alpha Brandon of Shadow Pack mumbled. "I can't even sense the bond to my pack."

"Me either," Another Alpha said. "It's like my connection to the moon goddess is severed."

"That is because her powers have suppressed your powers and the suppression is going to last for twenty four hours." The High Priestess said while still looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"What?!"

"It will take twenty four hours before your powers return, including your highness. Until then, you are as human as you were born."

A collective gasp erupted.

Twenty four hours without their powers?

"Twenty four hours??? We have never once lived a moment disconnected from our wolves. This is like being stripped naked and left under the sun!" Alpha Brandon exclaimed.

"This is pure evil, she shouldn't exist." Sage spat. "No one should have powers like that."

"Sage is right. She is a danger to all of us. She could wipe out entire packs."

"She is no different from a rogue, her pack even banished her already!"

The room exploded into angry shouts, accusations, and chaos. I couldn’t tell where the voices were coming from because there were too many, too loud, too fast.

Murderer!

Criminal!

Rogue!

Abomination!

Then I turned.

And I ran.