4~ The Verdict

~Avery~

     As I regained consciousness, I found myself bound and lying on the cold, unfeeling ground, surrounded by impenetrable darkness. The only covering on my body was an oversized shirt, which belonged to King. My eyes strained against the pitch black that enveloped me, but no shape or form emerged from the shroud of night. A flood of emotions— the sharp sting of recent events overwhelmed me. Betrayal, so raw and profound, bore down upon my soul with an unbearable weight. Succumbing to this tide of despair, tears flowed freely, tracing cold paths down my cheeks.

I thought about my mother. The thought of her, enduring this ordeal, her mind wracked with worry for me, intensified my anguish. I didn't want her to worry so much about me, so I tried speaking to her through the mind-link.  

       'M-mom?' I whispered hesitantly.

       'Avery, my dear,' her voice, laden with relief and anxiety, echoed in my mind, as though she had been anxiously awaiting my awakening. 'You're finally awake.'

      'Yes, ma. The accusations, they're false,' I implored, my voice a mixture of desperation and innocence. 'Jackson and I... we were never lovers.'

      'I believe you, my child,' her voice carried unwavering faith. 'I know the daughter I raised.'

I sniffled as I grappled with regret. 'I should never have agreed to become the pack's Luna. If I had known it would lead to this, I would have refused.'

      She responded with a mixture of regret and sympathy, 'It's not your fault, my dear. They've isolated you, and tomorrow, you will face your final trial and verdict. I'm deeply sorry I couldn't protect you.'

      'It's alright, Mom,' I said, attempting to sound resolute. 'I'll bear whatever comes my way.'

                   ~*~

     I awoke to the creaking of the door, my senses instantly on high alert. Disoriented and unsure of what was happening, I scanned my surroundings. Two formidable warriors entered the room and seized me. I was ushered into a chamber where three maidens awaited. They dressed me meticulously, letting my hair cascade freely down my back. Soon after, I was bound and led back to the judgment room. The room buzzed with the gathered crowd, all eyes upon me. King and Regina were absent.  In my heart, I couldn't help but think they were somewhere, perhaps rekindling their love, now that I, their most significant obstacle was conveniently removed from the picture. 

Once more, I was forced to kneel in the centre of the room. My gaze met Sammy's, and I couldn't help but notice the plaster concealing the part of her face that Tia had scratched. A faint smirk graced my lips; it was a small gift I had bestowed upon her; one she would remember for a long time.

      Beta Kristopher took charge, addressing the assembly, "After considering all the testimonies from witnesses and the substantial evidence we've gathered, it's time to deliver the verdict." He approached me, presenting a series of photographs. "Avery Frost, take a look at these pictures. Do you recognise anyone in them?"

As I examined the photographs, my heart sank. One captured the moment Jackson had returned my lost ring, sliding it into my finger on the day we first met. Both of us wore smiles. To an outsider, it might have appeared as a proposal, but my smile had been one of relief at the recovery of my precious possession. Another showed Jackson carrying me away from the ice cream shop, a day when I had been shaken to my core. His face leaned down towards mine, and I clung to him. To an outsider, it might have seemed like we were on the brink of a kiss, but I remembered the fear that had gripped me that day.

     My heart raced as I viewed the third photograph. It featured us on the dance floor at a club, a memory I couldn't recall. My arms wrapped around Jackson's neck, his encircling my waist, our faces so close that a kiss seemed imminent. But it was the fourth image that knocked the breath out of me. There, captured in the undeniable clarity of a photograph, was Jackson and I, locked in an intimate kiss. My lips quivered, a wave of emotion washing over me, as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

Whoever did this, did a good job and I had played right into their trap. A wave of worry crashed over me as I thought of Jackson. I didn't even know where he was. I have not seen him since that morning at the hotel. I hope they had not killed him.     

      "I—" My voice faltered, and I allowed the tears to cascade freely, understanding that no words of mine could tilt the scales of judgment now. "Yes, I recognise the people in those photographs."

   Kristopher's gaze was unrelenting, almost challenging as he probed further. "Very well. Do you still claim innocence in the face of these accusations?" His eyes bore into mine, seeking the truth or perhaps a falter. I struggled to compose myself, wiping away my tears, unable to utter another word. A heavy silence fell over the room, every pair of eyes fixed on me, awaiting a response that I couldn't muster. Even if I try to explain those photos, I will get tired of explaining and still no one would believe me. "As I thought," Kristopher declared, his voice laced with a mix of triumph and accusation, "you have nothing to say."

     "This is a setup," I managed to protest, evoking a derisive chuckle from Kristopher.

      "Initially, you vehemently denied any guilt, your eyes ablaze with conviction. But now, these photographs surface, contradicting your claims. Did you truly believe such evidence would remain hidden forever?"

I felt a crushing sense of defeat. There was no point in contending against the wave of evidence and suspicion. Dejected and bullied into silence, I lowered my gaze to the floor, wishing it to open up and swallow me whole.

      "My daughter is innocent! This is all a plot against her!" my mother's voice pierced through the tension, filled with anguish and conviction. 

     "By you?" Luna Delores retorted.

I was desperate to shield my mother from any punishment. With a silent plea through our mind link, I implored her to cease her protestations. The last thing I wanted was for her to suffer on my account.

      "It is regrettable that Alpha King isn't here to pass judgment personally, but I have been granted the authority to do so," Kristopher declared, addressing the assembly. "After careful deliberation by the ranking members, elders, and myself, here is the verdict. Avery Frost has been found guilty of not only disrespecting our formidable Alpha King by engaging in an affair with a dangerous rogue, thus undermining our Alpha's authority and strength, especially in bed, but also of betraying the entire pack. Our beloved Alpha is away, striving to quell the turmoil her actions have caused. She is also guilty of sharing crucial information with the rogues, enabling their successful attack on our pack, resulting in significant losses. May the souls of the fallen find peace."

Kristopher surveyed the crowd before continuing, each word a hammer blow to my already shattered spirit. "By the authority vested in me as the pack's beta, I hereby strip her of her Luna status, relegating her to the mere rogue she had entered this pack as. However, she remains Alpha's mate, and enslavement only becomes an option if he rejects her. For now, isolation is her fate. She shall have no contact with anyone or consume any food until Alpha King returns from his journey in three days. On the fifth day, we shall reconvene to determine whether he rejects her or not. Following that, we will ascertain her standing as either a slave or Alpha's mate. This assembly stands adjourned until five days from now when we shall await our Alpha's judgment. Take her to the isolation room and secure her there."

     As the assembly dispersed, there was the sound of whispers and shuffling feet filling the air. The same two warriors who had escorted me earlier, took hold of me, guiding me towards the exit. I caught my mother's gaze one last time, my eyes imploring her to stay composed, to avoid drawing punishment upon herself. The guards ushered me back into the dark, desolate room. I heard the ominous sound of the door locking, followed by the clanging of the gate securing the entrance. Alone in the darkness, I sighed deeply, contemplating my uncertain fate.

       Tia's voice trembled as she asked, 'What are we going to do? I can already feel my strength waning from the effects of the silver.'

I remained silent, trying to come up with a solution. I know, I wouldn't just sit here and let them punish me for something I didn't do.  

      'Avery,' Tia continued, urgency creeping into her tone, 'he's already marked us. Isolation will only weaken us further. We must find a way to reach him before the day of rejection and plead with his conscience.'

I almost chuckled at my wolf's suggestion. I knew King had already rejected me in his heart long before the formal ceremony. The coldness in his gaze that fateful day had spoken volumes. He might not officially reject me just to maintain his wolf's strength, but he would never touch me again or cast a second glance my way. I would lose my Luna rights, and sooner or later, the pack would demand a new Luna, and he would bring another woman into his life, leaving me shattered and forgotten. I refused to accept such a fate. I rose to my feet.

       'Tia, I can't simply sit here and leave my destiny to chance,' I declared. 'I need to take fate into my own hands.'  

     'That's why we should meet King first, after his return in three days,' Tia suggested. 'I'll emit my scent to entice him. You only need to make physical contact, and his wolf will compel him to listen to you.'

I understood what Tia was trying to avoid, and I shared the same desire. I was still in love with King, and I longed for him to believe in me, even if he was the only one left who did.

      'Then, in three days, it shall be,' I agreed with determination.