Chapter 16

Aurora's pov

The figure stepped forward, revealing a hooded face. I couldn't see his features, but his eyes gleamed in the moonlight.

"Who are you?" I wrote on my notepad, holding it up for the figure to see.

The figure hesitated, then pulled back its hood, revealing a shocking face, as my mind flashes back to remember. It was one of the alpha's guards, the alpha's personal guard.

"I'm here to warn you, Aurora," the guard said, his voice low and urgent. "The alpha is not what he seems. He has a hidden agenda, and you're right in the middle of it."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I processed the guard's words. What could the alpha possibly want from me?

"What do you mean?" I wrote on my notepad, my hand shaking slightly.

The guard looked around nervously, as if he feared being overheard. "The alpha is searching for something," he said. "Something that could give him immense power. And he thinks you're the key to finding it."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What could I possibly have that the alpha wanted? And what would he do to get it?

I had more questions to ask the guard, but before I could write anything else on my notepad, he disappeared into the night. I searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. I returned to my apartment, but my mind was still racing with thoughts and questions.

The next morning, the loud sound of the city bell woke me up, and I struggled to open my sleepy eyes. I stumbled out of my room, searching for my personal guard. After what felt like an eternity, the guard finally appeared, panting heavily.

"Good morning, ma'am," he said, still trying to catch his breath. "Didn't you hear the bell?"

I stood there, looking confused and scared. The guard's expression turned serious.

"Oh, you don't understand," he said. "But don't panic. The alpha has caught some traitors, and he wants to show them to the people before he...punishes them."

At the sound of the word "punishes," my body trembled with fear. The guard quickly reassured me.

"You don't need to fear, ma'am," he said. "I'll take you to the city hall, and you can see for yourself what's happening. We can leave if you don't feel comfortable."

I was torn between my fear and my curiosity. Part of me wanted to stay hidden away, but another part of me wanted to know what was going on. I hesitated for a moment before nodding my head.

"Let's go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The guard nodded and led me out of the apartment, into the unknown.

As we walked to the city hall, I couldn't help but have this feeling of unease. The streets were crowded with people, all of whom seemed to be heading in the same direction. The guard led me through the crowd of people, his hand on my elbow guiding me through the chaos.

When we arrived at the city hall, I was struck by the total size of the building. It was a massive stone structure with towering pole and intricate carvings. The guard led me inside, where we were greeted by a sea of faces.

At the front of the hall, I saw the alpha standing on a raised platform. He was addressing the crowd, his voice booming through the hall. I couldn't quite make out what he was saying, but the crowd seemed to be hanging on his every word.

The guard led me to a spot near the front of the hall, where I could see the alpha clearly. As I watched, he look to a group of people standing off to the side. They were bound and silence, and they looked terrified.

The alpha began to speak again, his voice dripping with venom. I realized, with a jolt of horror, that he was condemning the bound individuals as traitors. The crowd began to chant and laugh at, calling for the traitors to be punished.

I felt a feeling in me like as if I was about to vomit as I realized what was happening. The alpha was using this public spectacle to assert his power and control over the city. And I was trapped in the middle of it, forced to watch as innocent people were condemned to who-knew and what fate.

Just when I was about to figure out all that I was watching, the blindfold that was wrapped around the traitor's face was removed. Behold, it was the guard who spoke to me at the warehouse last night. I was filled with shock. My eyes widened in horror as I stared at the guard's about to be lifeless face, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare. I felt as though I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. How could this be? The guard had warned me about the alpha's true intentions, and now he was dead. It didn't make any sense.

I couldn't believe my eyes, rubbing it clearly. But till the guard who had warned me about the alpha's true intentions was now standing on the platform, accused of being a traitor. I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

My mind was racing with questions. How could this be? Why was the guard, the alpha's personal guard, warning me about the alpha if he was just going to betray him? 

I looked around, hoping to find some answers, but everyone's faces were filled with anger and hatred towards the accused. I was filling desperate. I had to do something to help the guard, but what?

The alpha's voice cut through my thoughts, his words dripping with malice. "These traitors have been working against me, against our great city, you all can see" he spat. "They will be punished for their crimes."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized what was about to happen. I had to act fast, but what could I do?

It was just like a horror movie in front of me as I watched the executioners move towards Ryder and the others. I wanted to scream, to beg for mercy, but my voice was trapped inside me. I was powerless to stop what was happening.

The alpha's words echoed in my mind, "By the power bestowed in me, as the alpha I sentence you all to death." It was a cold, calculated statement, lacking of any compassion or empathy in him.

I felt a feeling of anger and frustration. Why was I just standing there, doing nothing? I knew I had to act, but what could I do? I was just a mute girl, new to the city, with no power or influence.

As I watched, frozen in horror, the executioners raised their swords, ready to strike. The guard's eyes met mine, and I saw a flash of desperation and pleading. I knew I had to do something, but it was too late. The swords came down, and...