Chapter 1

ADIRA

"Tie her up," the chief guard orders the guards holding onto me tightly to prevent my escape, forcefully dragging me towards the center of the bonfire with the crowd gathered all around us, doing exactly as they were instructed. I look around, feeling disoriented and utterly confused.

One moment, I was in the Alpha's room, busily tidying up in anticipation of the Alpha king's arrival. And the next, they barged in and forcefully dragged me out here against my will. I had no time to feel self-conscious or ask what crime I had committed. Their hardened faces tell me they wouldn’t listen to me even if I asked.

"Kill her!" Someone yells from the crowd.

"She doesn’t deserve to live. She’s a thief and a traitor to this pack!" Another shouts.

"Burn her alive!" And then another, until the whole crowd chants the same thing over and over again, causing a huge uproar that doesn’t seem like it will die down anytime soon.

The chaos makes me feel terrified, confused, and at a loss for words. To make matters worse, I have no idea what I’m being accused of.

"W-What’s happening? Why am I tied up here? What’s going on?" I stutter, my lungs at a loss for air. "I’m innocent. I swear by the goddess that I’m innocent of whatever crime I’m being accused of. I didn’t do it." I repeat frantically, trying to gain the pack's sympathy.

"You're innocent?" Someone mockingly asks with a scoff. "You stole our late Luna's jewelry, and you have the guts to deny it? You're the only one who had access to her room to clean, and you decided to steal them when no one was looking."

"No," I mutter in a low voice as the accusations keep coming.

I never knew my mother. Instead, it was the pack’s former Luna who showed me an abundance of care. We shared a very close bond. Whether she was alive or after her passing, she always made sure I was the only one allowed to enter her room to clean.

Luna was one of the people I respected most in the pack. How could I ever steal from her?

Grabbing me tightly by the jaw, the chief guard forces my face to meet his cold gaze. "By the time we're done with you today, you'll know your place in this pack," he swears vehemently, yanking my face away.

Tears burn my eyes, blurring my vision as my emotions overwhelm me. The hateful screams get louder, followed by insults, curses, and rotten fruits being hurled at me. I feel hurt and betrayed by my own people. Nothing hurts more than being accused and tied up for doing something you're not guilty of or even aware of. It feels like a knife is driven into my chest and lodged there.

"I'm innocent," I whisper amidst tears. "I swear that I didn’t do it. I didn’t steal. I would never steal something as important as that." I cry out, but all my pleas fall on deaf ears.

From the corner of my eyes, I notice a familiar figure push his way to the front of the line, followed by my friend who stands behind him, shielding herself from the angry crowd. It’s my boyfriend, Richard. He is the Alpha's second son.

Alpha and most of the warriors are currently at the frontlines, clashing with another pack, leaving Richard in charge of the decisions for the pack. Not only is Richard my boyfriend, but he’s also always been incredibly kind and gentle with me. I trust him completely. I believe he’s here to save me—just as he always has.

Richard raises his hands to the crowd, and they fall silent almost immediately. Then, with steady strides, he slowly approaches me.

"Why did you do it, Adira?" He asks me, disappointment shining visibly in his eyes as he stares down at me. "Do you know how much I trusted you?"

Even Richard doesn't believe I'm innocent! I shake my head negatively, hurtful tears falling freely from my eyes. "I didn’t do it, Richard. I would never betray the trust you have in me. You can ask Diane to vouch for me. Even she knows that I could never steal something that doesn’t belong to me."

He turns to look at Diane. "Is this true? Do you agree with what she just said? Did she steal it?"

I glance at Diane, hoping she will testify that I am innocent. If there's anyone in this pack who knows me better and can vindicate me, it’s definitely Diane.

She was one of the good souls that I had rescued from the woods where she was left to die months ago. I brought her here to my pack and took care of her until she got back on her feet. We’ve been inseparable since then. I consider her more of a sister than a friend at this point.

"Tell him, Diane," I urge her to speak when she doesn’t say a word. "Tell him that you trust me and that I’m not guilty." I turn to look at Richard. "Why would I steal something as important as your mother's belongings? What do I stand to gain by taking them? Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"The truth is..." Diane starts. "I might believe what you’ve just said, because you’re my friend, Adira, but these people are not, so how do you expect them to believe you?"

She gives me a sympathetic look. "You have to prove your innocence somehow, Adira. That’s the only way to get them on your side, and right now, your situation isn’t looking very good." She adds, unable to meet my eyes as she takes subtle glances at the murmuring crowd, who look like they want to tear me apart if given the chance.

I hesitate, I understand what she's referring to, and it is indeed a good way to prove my innocence. But even at such a dangerous moment, it's still shameful to say it in public, by myself.

"I am wolfless. I’m a wolfless omega. I can’t shift, nor can I fight, and the former Luna's chambers are heavily guarded, so how could someone like me steal anything?" I ask, and she looks away. "Or do you also believe their claims? Are you accusing me right now?!" I scream at her out of anxiety, and she takes a step back in fright.

"And how do you expect anyone to believe you with this attitude? When you're this aggressive to someone trying to help you?" Richard scolds me with disdain as he steps forward to shield Diane from my sudden outburst.

"It’s okay, Richard," she touches his arm to calm him down. "I can understand what she’s going through. Maybe if Adira had been born into a well-off family with both parents like most people, none of this would’ve happened to her, so I understand." She mutters in a low, pitiful voice that leaves me reeling from shock.

I look at her, too stunned to speak as I try to understand what she’s trying to say. Is she admitting that I stole those items because of my poor background?

"W-What are you trying to say, Diane?" I ask, the shock on my face evident.

"You just said it yourself that you’re wolfless, not to mention that you're a poor orphan too, and unlike everyone gathered here, you're the only one who stands a chance at benefiting from the stolen items. You’re the only one who’s different from us. Those were your words, Adira, not mine."

"Besides, I heard you complaining every day that you didn’t have money to prepare for the Alpha king’s upcoming visit, and it made you sad. You wanted to attend so badly, so maybe you didn’t mean to steal, but couldn’t help it," Diane goes on, and my heart sinks at those words.

"Her friend is right," someone from the crowd speaks. "She stole those items because she’s poor and unprivileged. She wanted to taint our pack with her selfishness."

"She’s lying!" I shout desperately when I realize what Diane is trying to do. She wants me to take the fall. She was never my friend like I had hoped. She’s just like all of them. "I’m innocent, and she’s trying to frame me. What if she stole it instead?"

Why can’t they believe that I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong? I have no idea where the luna’s belongings are and I didn’t take them either. 

"First, you said you were innocent and that your friend could vouch for you, and now, you're accusing her of being the thief just to save yourself? Diane has never been assigned to Luna’s chambers, so how could she have stolen it? You’ve desecrated my mother’s belongings, and I regret the day I met you, Adira. You disgust me." Richard spits furiously and turns to the guard.

The worst possible outcome has happened. Richard has always held his mother in the highest regard, honoring her memory and everything she stood for. Anything that offends Luna, even in the slightest, is his breaking point. I can already see the anger brewing in his eyes, and I know this is something he will never forgive.

"Let's do the execution!" He orders, and they light up the torch stick in flames while everyone cheers. At that moment, I close my eyes and surrender myself to what is about to happen.

A stray tear traced a lonely path down my cheek, the acrid scent of smoke stung my nostrils. I can almost feel the burn on my skin. My heart hammered against my ribs, realising I will never be vindicated. But just as they are about to set me alight, someone runs to the front of the crowd, breathing heavily, and stops them almost immediately.

"The Alpha king has arrived, my lord," he announces to Richard, and I slowly open my eyes. "He’s back and requests your presence in the courtroom."

Richard glances at me one last time, angry that his mission to kill me has been interrupted. "Lock her away for now, but rest assured, she will get the punishment she deserves." He swears before storming off.