CHAPTER FOUR: BETRAYAL AND TRANSFORMATION

The sound of celebration echoed across the clearing, each cheer slicing through my heart like a blade. I clenched my jaw,the shards of the shattered antidote crunching beneath my foot as I moved toward the circle.

My heart was heavy with betrayal,but my steps was fueled with the desperation of getting an answer.

My steps quickened,and I was barely aware of my surroundings which nearly made me collide with my father. His face darkened as he caught a sight of me.

“What are you doing here?” He hissed low,his voice venomous.

“I need to talk to Ethan.” I said,trying to side step him,but he blocked my path.

“You've done enough,” he snapped at me. “Your presence isn't welcome here. You should go back to wherever you crawled out from “.

I glared at him,my fury bubbling to the surface,”I had been trying to save Ethan,I walked through hell to…”

A resounding slap cut me off,and I stumbled back,clutching my cheek and looking at my father in shock,my protest dying in my throat. 

“Stay away from the ceremony” ,he said coldly,”This is your final warning”.

I cradled my cheek,and I watched him walked towards the circle,leaving me standing there with my resolve shaken. My father's slap stung,but not as much as the realization that he had never believed in me. Not once.

I barely had time to collect myself when my mother appeared,disdain written all over her face.

“Why are you here?” She demanded,her voice sharp ,”Haven't you embarrassed us enough?.”

“It seems nobody wants me back alive “ I murmured under my breath.

“What's that?” She asked 

“Nothing,” I replied curtly,” I need to speak to Ethan. “I said,my voice trembling and I bit down hard on my lips. “ I deserve to know what is going on”.

My mother laughed bitterly.”Deserve?, You think you deserve anything from anyone?. Look at you. You can't even shift. What makes you think you belong here?.”

My throat tightened,but I pushed through the lump of emotions. “ I found a way. Alexander, the lycan king is helping me.”

My mother's eyes widened before it narrowed,filling with mockery. “You’ve truly lost your mind now,haven't you?. Clinging to fairy tales and false hope. Do you honestly think the lycan king will waste his time on someone like you?.”

“I’ve been trying to make you proud my entire life.” My chest heaved as I tried to keep my composure. “But you've never cared.All you do is compare me to Sophie.” I said bitterly,my words catching in my throat.

My mother's expression hardened,”She deserves everything. She's strong,beautiful and capable. But you?. You are nothing but a burden. You have always been.”

I was taken aback,her words hitting me like a punch to the gut. But I couldn't let myself break. Not now.

My legs felt like lead as I dragged myself towards the ceremony. The crowd parted reluctantly,their gazes filled with suspicion.

My breath clogged in my throat as I spotted Ethan beside my sister,his arms draped protectively around her. And his eyes shine with tenderness I hadn't seen before.

“That's supposed to be me” I thought,still feeling like it's all a dream,and I might wake up soon.

Alpha Rowan stepped forward,holding the ceremonial orb that glowed faintly with the Moon's goddess blessing. Ethan and Sophie approached the orb,their hands reaching out to seal their bond.

“No” I whispered at first,”No!” I shouted.

Hands tried to hold me back as I surged forward in desperation,but I broke free and stumbled into the circle.

“Ethan,what are you doing?” I demanded,my eyes searching for an answer,but I was only met with a blank stare.

 Alpha Rowan snarled,stepping towards me,but Sophie struck first.”Lea,” her voice was cold and full of hatred. “What do you think you are doing?. You are not supposed to be part of this.”

“ I deserve an explanation” I demanded turning to Ethan,ignoring Sophie “ You promised me Ethan!.”

Ethan's expression hardened,but before he could speak,my sister interrupted again.

“She poisoned him” she announced,her voice ringing clearly through the clearing,and the crowd froze,their face full of suspicion.You could almost hear a pin drop. Sophie's lips curled into a smug smile as she continued,her voice softening,feigning  heartbreak,“That's why he collapsed during the last ceremony,she couldn't stand the thought of anyone having him except her,he wanted to steal his powers.” her voice dripped with venom.

My jaw nearly hit the floor,as my brain freezes over,my mind reeling,I shook my head in protest,”No!,that's not true.”

But the damage was done,everyone believed the golden girl over me,I had thought of her as my sister,someone I could lay my life down for,never knowing she's an enemy in disguise.

Alpha Rowan barked an order,and two guards stepped forward gripping my arms.

I struggled against their hold,”Ethan please,you know I would never hurt you.” I pleaded,my heart pounding in desperation.

“Why are you doing this?.” He finally spoke,his voice filled with indifference.

His uncaring attitude shattered something in me. A surge of emotion swam through me, betrayal,heartbreak,rage.

I heard several gasps as a sudden light erupted within me,surging through my veins like wildfire.. My body trembled as the sudden change took over me,every muscle twisting and reshaping as power and pain collided. I gasped,my scream shifting into a low growl.

When the light faded,I stood there on four legs,although I was smaller than most wolves,my red fur shimmered with an ethereal glow,and my eyes burned with defiance. The crowd stared,And for the first time,I felt whole.

The clearing erupted in shocked cries,but before I could fully process my transformation,a snarl from behind me sent chills down my spine.

I barely had time to react before a massive weight slammed into me,pinning me to the ground. It's teeth clamped around my throat,not enough to draw blood,but enough to dominate me.

And more surprisingly is that it was Ethan. He towered over me in his wolf form,his brown eyes glaring down at me. The pack watched in stunned silence. 

“Enough!.” Sophie's voice rang out. She stepped forward,her voice laced with venom,”Can't you see? She's stolen his powers. That is why she was able to shift. She is a thief and a danger to our pack!.”

The pack erupted into chaos. Gasps and mumurs filled the air as they recoiled from me.

“A thief.” someone hissed

“She's dangerous.” Another voice whispered. Their voice cuts deep,but I forced myself to stand tall.

Ethan growled low in his throat,he changed to his human form,his face was blank. For a moment,Something flickered over his face. Hesitation,Guilt?. But it was gone in an instant.”Guards “ he called out,his expression darkened,” Use the electric shock.” He said,his voice cold and filled with fury,”Bring her down.”

My eyes widened in terror as the guards advanced,their weapons crackling with energy.

The first jolt hits me like lightning,sending pains coursing through my body. I howled,my kegs buckling beneath me. The second shock sent me sprawling.My wolf form flickering and fading as the light around me dimmed.I whimpered helplessly,as I collapsed into my human form.

I lay motionless on the ground,my vision swimming,Ethan stepped closer,his face as hard as stone,and I wondered how a person could change in a matter of days.

“By order of the Alpha, You are sentenced to execution.” He announced,his voice devoid of any emotion. I realized then and there,that I never really knew him.

As darkness closed in,my last thought was of Alexander. His voice echoed in my mind.”Foolish little wolf,what am I going to do with you?.”