Namara's POV:

I continued to breathe in and out, as I locked eyes with my husband, Alpha Damien.

His gaze, usually filled with warmth, was now filled with hatred. The warmth had left his eyes leaving only coldness as he glared down at me.

My mother, Luna Mira, died giving birth to me, leaving my father, Alpha Lucas Scott of the Vellex Pack, to raise me alone.

He retired early due to his declining health, and as his only child, I was destined to inherit the Pack—not as an Alpha, but as a Luna.

To fulfill this role, I was expected to choose a suitable husband who could assume the position of Alpha.

I fought tirelessly to prove my worth as a leader, determined to show that I didn’t need a man to rule by my side.

But my efforts were overshadowed by a cruel truth—I had a dormant wolf. To the Pack, that made me weak and unfit to lead.

Whispers turned into threats, warning me that I would be cast out and replaced by a more "capable" family if I didn’t comply.

Then I met Damien—my mate. He was everything the Pack could want in a leader: strong, charismatic, and undeniably handsome.

He seemed like the perfect solution to my struggles. At first, life with Damien was everything I hoped for.

But everything shattered the day his younger sister, Ella, was found dead in her room. Ella and I had never seen eye to eye, so it wasn’t surprising when suspicion fell on me.

After all, she had openly criticized me, urging Damien to take another bride since I had yet to bear him a child. An investigation was carried out and within a day, evidence surfaced—my fingerprints were found on the knife lodged deep in Ella’s heart.

A few days ago, Damien condemned me to death. Had it not been for the intervention of his Pack’s Beta, I would have been executed the very day of my sentencing. Beta Kelvin requested a brief wait so that my father could see me one last time before my execution.

However, Damien could not wait any longer. Instead, he had me dragged from the dungeon just an hour ago, parading me through the streets for all to witness the so-called justice being given out.

The townspeople watched as I was displayed like a trophy of shame, accused of killing Damien's little sister. The accusation is baseless.

I am innocent, but no one believed me. I wanted to scream this out badly, but my throat was dry and weak. From all the days I had spent locked up in the dungeon till now, not a single drop of water has landed on my lips.

I glanced down at my bare feet, caked with mud and blood. Then to my palms, which were stained with the blood that had dripped from my head after villagers hurled stones at me.

I could still feel the sting of the stones and the icy cold of the rain made it worse. The villagers, riled up and furious, hurled insults and curses at me. My eyes drifted to Damien, I wasn't anticipating any sympathy from him, given that he had lost his sister.

But still, how could he doubt me? As tears streamed down my face, Beta Kelvin's voice broke through the noise of the crowd. “We are gathered here today to witness the trial and sentencing of Namara Scott.

She stands accused of causing the death of Ella, the only family of the Alpha of our esteemed Pack.

For formalities, she will be asked a series of questions.” He announced. Kelvin's gaze shifted to me.

“Keyleth, did you or did you not kill Ella Kent?”

“I did not.” I managed to reply, forcing the words out.

“Do you have any evidence to support your claim?”

“No.” I admitted, my head hanging low.

“Enough!” Alpha Damon's cold voice cut through, causing everywhere to fall silent.

He slammed his hand onto his chair, clearly frustrated.

“I have no patience for these formalities. She was found guilty long ago. It is time for her execution.”

“Vellex law mandates that every member of the Pack is entitled to a fair hearing. What would the people think if we simply killed her without allowing her to speak?” Kelvin stated firmly.

“This goddamn rule was established by her father when he was Alpha. And I have every right to change it.” Damien countered, rising from his chair.

He unsheathed his sword then he made his way towards me.

“I will handle her execution personally.”

I fell to the ground, the chains binding my wrists clanged loudly as I looked up at Damien.

“Please.” I muttered under my breath.

Suddenly, the crowd suddenly parted as Alexander, my best friend, stepped forward. His face was pale, his eyes red from crying.

I wanted to scream out to him, to beg him to believe me, but the words caught in my throat.

"Damien!" Alexander called out, while pleading on his knees.

"Please, she didn’t do it. Namara didn’t kill Ella. She would never. You have to know that."

Damien didn’t even look at him. His eyes were fixed on me, his expression unreadable.

A slight smirk tugged at his lips as he spoke.

"You’re wrong, Alexander. Namara killed Ella." Damien said, his voice dripping with malice.

"She is guilty of murder. She has betrayed me, and she has betrayed this Pack."

Betrayal? I didn't betray anyone. I loved him. I stood by him through everything. How could he say such things?

Alexander stepped forward, desperation in his eyes.

"Damien, please. She is innocent. If you have any love for her, for what you once shared, you must spare her. Please let her go."

Damien’s smirk deepened as he locked eyes with Alexander, and for a moment, I saw something in Damien’s gaze that made my blood run cold—something that wasn’t just anger, but something darker.

Something… wicked.

"I have no love for her." Damien said, his voice suddenly low and cruel.

"I have no love for a murderer."

How could he be so cold, and wicked towards his own wife?

He didn't even give me the chance to explain? Everything happened so suddenly, it seems too fast to be a coincidence.

"I didn't do it!" I screamed, but my voice barely made a sound in the oppressive silence.

I struggled to rise to my feet, but the guards at my sides held me down, their grips tightening on my arms.

"You will pay for what you’ve done." Damien continued.

"I, Damien Kent Alpha of Vellex Park. Sentence you, Namara Scott to death for the murder of Ella Kent."

The words hit me like a blow to the chest, and I couldn’t breathe.

Death?

How could he?

Alexander’s eyes widened in horror as he stepped forward, pleading with Damien.

"You can’t do this! Please, Damien—Damien, please! She’s innocent!"

But Damien turned away from him, his hand raising in a swift motion.

The crowd went silent, the air thick with tension. Then, as if it were some sick form of justice, Damien gave the order.

"I will execute her."

That was the last thing I heard before I felt the sharp pain of his sword piercing my heart.

Pain surged through my body, but I had no idea if it came from the wound on my chest or the fact that I was just stabbed by my husband.

And his face showed no remorse, no pity, only hatred. And it felt much deeper than ever before.

I coughed, and water mixed with blood trickled from my mouth.

“I hate you!” I managed to scream, as darkness closed in around me and I lost consciousness.