Chapter 5

Ashley's POV

I couldn't believe my ears. Pregnant? I knew she is mischievous and evil but how dare she call my child a bastard.

But this was not the time to leap on someone as my head was spinning. The figures in front of me tripled and I blacked out. What keeps happening to me?

Splash! I jerked up, waking up with my clothes drenched in water. One of the guards had poured a bucket of water on me in an attempt to wake me up.

As I opened my eyes, I noticed Luciana was no longer in the cell. 

Two maids came into the cell and one I could recognize as Julie the pack's midwife and nurse.

"Luna, please excuse me." She said bowing her head slightly before getting down to business. She examined me for a while before leaving. I was left all alone again.

The two guards kept whispering by the door and although it was faint whispers, my wolf hearing was still alert. I could hear them talking about telling the alpha something about me.

"You shouldn't have done that. What if it complicates the issue with Luciana?" One of them said.

"I had no choice. Can't you see the Luna's condition. What if he finds out later? We don't need to panic, the alpha would know what to do." The other said.

My condition? Did they tell Martins I am not feeling well? Is that why he sent Julie. Then I realized he sent Julie to check if I was okay and in no time, the news of my pregnancy would reach him.

"Probably he would come see us." My wolf said slowly with a bit of hope in her voice. "I hope so." I said to her in my head.

I closed my tired eyes and laid on the bare floor to rest. Hunger kept tugging at my limbs, punching my stomach and every part of my body.

I was glad when the door opened and a maid brought in food. The food looked different and so was the maid.

The food was garnished with assorted beef and it was all my favourite. My eyes widened in disbelief at the kind of meal served.

"It's all from the alpha. You should eat quickly. He will come see you soon." She smiled at me.

I rather found the smile and the whole act suspicious but I ignored it. Hunger was not on my good side. So I ate till I was full and she took the plates away.

"Why the sudden change of maid? Where is the other maid that usually brings my food?" I asked as she was about to leave.

"I don't know. The alpha only sent me here." She said and left hurriedly.

The two guards kept coming at intervals to peep at me for some reasons I could not tell.

An ominous feeling tugged at my mind and I felt maybe I would be killed soon and I had just eaten my last meal on earth. I curled into myself at the thought of this.

I soon slept off. I woke up to stinging pain in my side and stomach. Arggh! Am I still alive? How long has it been? I sat up and saw that I was still in the dark dungeon.

I had no idea how long I had been asleep. I knew it must have been for a long time. The last thing I remembered before falling asleep was eating a delicious meal and then curling up into my shell.

No doubt, something was put in that food. I guess that's why I feel pain all over and slept for a long time.

Was it another sleeping pill from Luciana? Or what could she have put inside? Poison? It can't be.

My thoughts were running to and fro when I heard footsteps coming towards my cell. The door opened and two men about 6feet tall came in. I could not really see their features but they were well built and masculine.

"I see you're awake. Take her out." He said to me and snarled to the other man.

I looked up and saw him stiffen a little. His eyes was glazed over. Who was he mind linking? Who are this men?

I was dragged roughly from the ground. One of the muscular men held me like a vegetable and took me out.

The daylight made me go blind for about five minutes. I haven't seen the light of day for quite sometime now.

As my vision got clearer, I saw that I was in garden hall, a halll used most times for pronouncing of judgement and punishment for offenders. Martins was sitting on the central seat in the hall with Luciana beside him and there was a crowd gathered in the hall.

Am I about to be judged? I looked at the faces around me, some looked at me with pity while others with eagerness to witness the punishment. I couldn't find my family. I thought my dad would at least plead my cause but he never really cared.

"The Luna has committed treacherous crimes. She committed murder, cheated on the alpha, tried to place the fruits of her abominable affair on him and finally tried to commit suicide by taking poison. She is not worthy to be our Luna. As the alpha, I order that she be flogged to death with a silver whip. That is my judgement." 

His voice reverberated in the whole hall as I felt strong hands pin me down.

"Whoosh!" One stroke landed on my back and I felt like I was on fire. The whips dug into my flesh one after the other.

My vision became blur and I was gradually slipping away. I couldn't even cry out in pain.

My wolf Lola tried to take the pain but she could not. I blocked her out to let her rest quickly and not witness the painful end.

I drew in my last breath and everywhere turned black. Black forever! 

However, I felt a tap on my shoulder and something tugging at my legs and a bright light shining ahead of me.

Who could that be?