1-LILA

LILA

The guard shoved me out of the dark, dank cell, and I staggered and almost fell face-flat, but Erick, one of the guards, caught and steadied me. My legs and hands were bound in fetters, a large chain was snaked around my neck, and it had an extension where the guards pulled me forward as if I was a plague. I was infected to them, and they did not know what to do.

I did not defile The Alpha; neither am I a criminal. I was not even strong and had not even wolfed out. I am just a sister to Markus McKenna. Markus was my brother who almost raped the pack's Luna and killed her when she exposed him. Now, I am serving his punishment.

"Move your lazy ass, you mutt!" one of the guards yelled at me while dragging me with him.

The chain around my neck gnawed into my flesh, sending pain down my spine. Two years ago, I would have broken down. I would have fallen on my hands and knees, cried and begged for mercy, but two years of unending torture and pain only made me stronger and able to bear all the pain.

Instead of focusing on the pain and the scorn from the pack, I let those agony turn to anger and hatred. I hated this pack so much that all I dreamed of was to raze it down with all my wrath. Not that I could do anything, even if I wanted to. I did not have a wolf yet and was unsure if I would ever wolf out. My anger was useless, and could not burn them, but I still carried it in me. Despite my rage for the pack, I craved death too. I had nothing else left to live for, except for the other prisoner girl Cassie, whom I had gotten close to since she was brought into the cell where I stayed. She is the only reason I had not ended it all. The family I knew and once had were dead. My brother died in the accident that killed The Luna and her pup and put the Alpha in a coma. My Nana suffered a heart attack after hearing about my brother's death and died. I was left all alone in the world.

"Get down on your knees, stupid!" the guard, Patrick by name, yelled again, dragging me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see the acting alpha. Beta Leo, standing, hands akimbo, staring at me. He had been the acting Alpha since the Alpha went into a coma. Everyone hated me, but his hatred for me was double, and it was none of my business because the feeling was mutual. Patrick dragged the chain around my neck, forcing me to my knees at Beta Leo's feet.

"I suggest you keep your eyes down, rogue," an elder spoke from behind the beta.

Oh, I was a rogue wolf. My brother Markus had escaped from the pack's prison, and we fled the pack that night. We lived in hiding for a month, but he had been so angry that he went back to Crescent Hills Pack, and rammed a truck into the Alpha's vehicle.

Beta Leo always wore a stern frown whenever I was in his presence, but today, he wore a smirk as if he bore news of my death. I stopped thinking about it. If today were my execution day, I would only be happy. Some warriors and elders stood behind him, all staring at me with hate.

"Finally, this abomination will be purged from us tomorrow," Beta Leo bellowed and looked around at the elders around him. "There is good news! Alpha Blaise has recovered from coma and will return to the pack tomorrow."

The atmosphere erupted with excitement when the alpha's recovery and return were announced. My heart sank into my abdomen for some unknown reason. I had never seen Alpha Blaise and did not know what he was like. I was not sure if I should be happy about his recovery, but my decision was made by the next statement from Beta Leo.

"At long last, he will execute this abomination from us."

The crowd cheered. I was an abomination to them anyway, and my execution will do them good. At least they would be free of me. There will be no one to torture again.

"Let every pack member hear the news and gather on The Hill tomorrow. There, Alpha Blaise will state his verdict." Another uproar, accompanied by claps from everyone. "Release her to do her chores, but make sure you keep an eye on her; she has a knack for running away."

The guards removed my chains and led me away from the elders. Once I was released to the pack, Agatha, the Alpha's cousin with two black braids, threw a bunch of clothes at me. I did not take these things to heart before, but since I would die soon, there was no need to be quiet. I allowed the clothes to fall and trampled on them. The look on Agatha's face was iconic, and I enjoyed it. They saw me as weak because I had not wolfed out, but I refused to answer that. Agatha walked up to me and slapped me hard on the face. It stung badly because I could still feel the pain of the other slaps on my face.

"How dare you trample on my dresses?!" Agatha yelled.

A little crowd had gathered around, watching what was going on. The bitches in this pack were mean, but Agatha was the meanest and always got away with everything because she was Alpha's cousin. I wanted her to feel the pain she had caused me for two years, the pain and humiliation I bore for something I knew nothing about. Without caution, I punched her face, breaking her nose. She yelped in surprise and staggered back, holding her nose as blood ran down her nostrils. Shrieks from other girls filled the air around me.

"Did you just punch me?" Agatha asked with fire in her eyes.

I didn't feel very sorry, so I punched again. I wish I had a wolf; I would have torn a chuck out of her in front of everyone. Agatha shrieked, making the other girls come at me. They could half shift— their only weapon against me, so they did that. They lunged at me, tearing my flesh with their claws, beating the life out of me, until some guards came to my rescue, pulling the girls away from me. I rose to my knees, and Patrick landed a heavy slap on my cheek. Blood spurted out of my mouth, and I crashed to the ground, using my hands to cover what little remained of my clothes.

"Do you not know your position, rogue? How dare you raise a hand on an Alpha Blood?"

I wiped the blood from my lips. I am not sorry and will do it again if they try me. I did not deserve this, and I will prove to them all that I am not weak.

"Answer me!" Patrick barked.

"That's enough, Patrick. She has received enough punishment for that already." That was Erick again. "I will take her back to her cell now until Alpha Blaise arrives."

Erick is the only guard who had been nice to me, and he was keeping most of my possessions. He was my brother's friend and had been my saviour since I was taken captive. He knew the truth behind my brother's accusations, and he was the only one that believed Markus was innocent, not until he killed The Alpha's family. I did not really trust him because if he knew the truth about my brother, he should have stood up for him when all that accusation was going on.

He grabbed my arm, helping me stand and led me away from the centre of the scene, covering me with his coat. My whole body ached from the attack from the other she-wolves, but his jacket was heavy on me.

"What was that? What came over you?" he whispered through gritted teeth once we were out of the Pack's sight.

"I will die anyway. Why not let them kill me now?"

"Stop being irrational, Lila. Stay calm until you hear what Alpha Blaise has to say." He let the other guards bind me again and shove me back into my cell.