AMARA

“She's a spy. She should be killed immediately.” That loud ringing in my head was still present and even as I tried to flutter my lashes open, it felt like a really hard effort to make.

It seemed like a daze had been pulled over my eyes and no matter how hard I tried, opening my eyes seemed impossible to do.

“Firstly, I'll like to know just how exactly she got so close to the border. Heck, she crossed the borders! And you all claim to have being on patrol.” That voice felt oddly familiar, like I had heard it somewhere else.

Gripping the sides of the bed I was laying on, I forced myself to seat and finally opened my eyes, fluttering my lashes repeatedly due to the blinding light in the room.

“We had noticed some irregular activities by the east and went to check it out. It's a good thing you were present there Alpha or who knows just what she might have done when she infiltrated the pack?” My packs widened as I pointed at myself with my index finger in confusion.

What the hell are they talking about? If I was going to live long enough to find out, then I better start clearing the air up so they don't have any suspicions against me.

“I didn't infiltrate the pack.” I finally gathered the courage to mutter slowly, while they all turned to stare at me.

They didn't even know I was awake prior to this moment, they hadn't even found out who I am yet and they had already concluded that I'd be executed?

What did I do so wrong that everything in life is just against me being alive?

Being framed by Kael's mistress was bad enough but this? This is just plain cruel

“Who asked you to speak?” Alpha Lucian questioned and I bit down hard on my tongue. I was only trying to clear the air and yet, even that was offensive.

“Alpha, what should we do with her? She should be executed immediately before—” I blinked when the door suddenly bursted open and someone who looked like a messenger came running in.

He waited a few seconds like he was studying the room before going over to Alpha Lucian and whispered a few words into his ears.

I was still biting down hard on my tongue while my fingers gripped my dress.

“Don't teach me how to be an Alpha, Darren. Take her back to the dungeon, I'll decide what to do with her.” I clenched my teeth together and gasped.

“But uhhh.” I said in an uneasy and unsteady voice as I felt chills run down my spine just by taking one look at their faces.

It seemed dark, cold, dangerous, not one of them held a soft look. It's as though they wanted to murder me with just their gazes.

“The dungeon. Now.” He ordered again and I didn't even get a chance to open my mouth when someone hurled me onto his shoulders and began striding out.

“Wait. Wait…I need to—”

“Pleading to the Alpha isn't advisable unless you're about to tell him the whole truth of why you're here.” The person carrrying me sneered as he walked into the dark hallway and I shut my eyes immediately, grabbing the collar of his shirt.

Sorrows.

Prayers! Suddenly, I was back at the night when my parents were killed.

“Run! Do not stop! Do not look back!” Mom yelled. I tried to stand and run for my dear life, deciding that I would figure whatever was wrong with my wolf later but the bear clearly saw me standing up as a threat because its eyes switched to red.

I'm not talking about a natural red color, instead it was brighter, like a laser. Releasing one final roar, it bounded to me and in a flash, it tore through my chest.

I screamed in pain as I saw the empty hole in my chest.

“We're here!” The guards voice snapped me back to reality as he threw me to the floor and bolted the doors to the dungeon. The dungeon was pitch black, I'm unsure how long I would be able to survive here before I'm overtaken by fear and my panic attacks.

I was shivering, my whole body trembling due to the fear of the unknown. Would Kael's wish of me being killed get fulfilled? If I died, would it be better for the world?

Tears slid down my eyes as I leaned back against the wall, shutting my eyes tightly as I wrapped my hand around my knees.

I lost track of how long I had been in that position when the metal keys on the dungeon gate rattled and I immediately placed my palms over my ears.

They're coming. They're closing in.

I shivered, placing my palm over my ears as tears ran down my eyes.

Is this it?

Is this what being so close to death felt like? Would it not have been better if I had just died years ago?

Why did nature have to give me the hope of living a good life by being mated to Kael only to throw me back to square one all over again?

“Who's there?” I questioned, gasping for breath as I heard heavy footsteps coming in my direction.

“Who are you?” Alpha Lucian questioned straightforwardly, his voice deep and rough, like gravel over steel.

The sound of it sends a shiver down my spine, even though there’s nothing kind about his tone.

“My name is Amara Sylverstone.” I instinctively stood up, pressing my back to the wall as though that would help me in anyway.

His brows arched slightly, like he recognized my name but the suspicion doesn’t leave his face.

What am I thinking of? Why would someone like him recognize the name of someone like me? I had practically being at Demon Oak pack my whole life. There's just no way.

“I don’t care about the name you gave me.” He finally stated after a long pause, tossing a chain he had been holding.

“I know you’re a spy, so it's probably not even your real name.”

“What? No, I’m not—” This is my only chance to explain myself and get a shot at living but he ripped that opportunity just as fast as it presented itself.

“Save it.” His voice sliced through mine, while I gripped the hem of my bloodied dress.

My whole body ached from running for miles and my wolf was too weak due to the rejection from Kael to help me heal.

I'm done for.

“You wandered onto my land with blood all over you, dragging yourself across the ground. And you expect me to believe that you’re just some poor girl who lost her way?”

My throat tightened. This is bad.

“No,” I whisper, and then louder, firmer, I continued.

“No. I’m not a spy. I swear. The only reason I ended up here was because I was rejected and framed from my old pack. ShadowFang.”

“I was supposed to be bonded today. I was mated to Kael Blackthorne—Alpha of Shadowfang Pack. But… he rejected me. For someone else.” I bit down on my lips as the memories of walking in on Kael laying on that vicious woman, both of them naked, flashed in my mind.

I shuddered when suddenly, Alpha Lucian scoffed. He actually scoffed.

Of course, as expected, he didn't believe me.

“ So somehow you end up here by coincidence? You should work on your acting, it's not very convincing. Maybe you want to try that again but this time, tell the truth?” He glared at me and I bit my lower lips, all thoughts vanishing out of my head.

How do I appease him? How do I prove myself?

I was about saying something when the door to the dungeon bursted open and the other guy, what was his name again? Darren. Yes, Darren came running in with an anxious look on his face.

“I clearly said no distractions when I'm interrogating the—”

“Alpha, I'm sorry to intrude but there’s been an incident.” He said in a hoarse and raspy voice, throwing me a vicious and suspicious look, “Three of our youths, Lian, Maes, and Elric, were killed not far from the northern training field and even better, we found traces of her scent on them.” He said and my eyes widened when I realized he was pointing to me.

Traces of my scent? That's impossible!

“Well, well, well. The plot thickens.” Alpha Lucian said slowly, with a menacing look in his eyes.