Chapter 2

I took the paper as he practically shoved it into my face. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I recognized Kalen’s handwriting instantly. It was a letter to me…

A letter to me from Kalen… 

Alyssa,

   I know everything’s a mess, but I promise that I’ll fix everything. Please, just give me a chance to explain and it’ll make sense.

With all my heart,

Kalen

Once I finished reading it, I read it again. I had no idea where Lena would’ve gotten this letter, but certainly not from my room as I’d never seen it before in my life. If it wasn’t for the fact, I recognized Kalen’s handwriting I would’ve thought it a fake. 

“Well, well, well” Carl laughed and suddenly his eyes were bright with fury. He ripped the letter from my hands. “Have enough proof yet to admit you’ve betrayed me and this pack!” 

“I never seen that before in my life,” I told him adamantly. This couldn’t be happening. This was a nightmare. Carl growled and took a step towards me as if he might hit me, but he didn't. Instead, Carl shook his head. “You’re bad luck. A jinx. Now thanks to your disgusting dalliances your father is dead and the pack is weakened.”  

I flinched and ducked my head. No. No. It couldn’t be true… but Carl believed it. I could hear it in his voice. “No,” I breathed, shaking my head. I’m not a jinx. I didn’t betray the pack and if Kalen did something… I didn’t know… 

Lena grinned with what looked like victory shining on her face as Carl continued to speak.  “You have no right to be Luna,” he said coldly. “I call to the elders that we should strip you of the luna position to avoid further shame to this pack.” 

Lena handed the letter to the elders. Each one looked over it then eyed me with clear accusation and anger in their expressions. My heart broke once more as I heard each of the elders speak in loud, clear unison, “Agreed.” 

Icy numbness washed over me as I stared at all of this. I felt tears running down my cheeks, but my throat closed so tight I couldn’t get another word out. A nightmare. This had to be a nightmare.  

Carl turned back to me. “You, Alyssa, are hereby stripped of your position as Luna. You hold no rank over the crimson fang any longer. I also demand you be imprisoned into the dungeon until you confess your guilt and submit yourself to the Lycan King’s justice.” 

Two guards appeared by my side and as they dragged me out of the courtroom, I saw Lena smiling smugly and giving me a small wave of her fingers to say goodbye. Shock kept me numb as I repeated over and over that this had to be a nightmare. It wasn’t real. None of this was real. 

Everything was a numbed haze until the guards tossed me into my new cell. It was dark, dank and cold. There wasn’t even a cot to sleep or a place to go to the bathroom. It was just three stone walls and a barred wall with a door. I sat in a corner, pulling my knees to my chest. I closed my eyes and cried, praying to the goddess. Praying to know what I’d done and to have mercy on me.  

No one came to see me or bring me anything to eat or drink. I was just left there, forgotten. I had no idea how much time passed,  hunger twisted my stomach into knots and thirst forced me to attempt to capture whatever moisture I could get from the walls. 

Finally, an older man came and stopped in front of my cell. He held a plate of food.  “Hungry?” he asked, coldly. 

My stomach rumbled loudly and I wasn’t sure when I had last eaten. “Yes.” 

“Then confess,” he demanded. 

The shock had worn off and anger filled me. I had done nothing but think this entire time. Yes, I had been in a relationship with a rogue, but I didn’t knowingly do anything against the pack. If Kalen used me then, but… “I didn’t betray the pack!” 

“Then no food,” He stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and looked at me as he chewed. And then he tossed the plate behind him to smash on the hallway wall. 

“I’m innocent-” I started to tell him, but his fist hit me in the jaw, cutting me off.  

“Nothing about you is innocent,” he shouted at me. “You are the reason my son is dead now! Your betrayal allowed those rogues to kill him!” He tried to hit me again, but I managed to deflect it. 

“Confess,” he yelled at me. I refused, so he kept hitting me. While I managed to block most of it, he still hit hard and soon my arms were full of bruises. Still I never confessed and eventually he tired himself out. 

“There is nothing for you until you confess,” the man snarled, slamming my cell door shut, and leaving me there. 

Tears rolled down my face. I couldn’t help shaking, with the pain creeping over the every inch of my body. I huddled in a corner, trying to stay warm.

The silence was broken with the sound of a metal door far away opening. A moment later, I was blinded by the lights coming on. I listened as footsteps grew closer and stopped in front of my cell. The door groaned as it was opened. 

“Look at you,” I heard Carl say. I held up my hand to block out most of the light, so I could look at him. Surprise flooded through me like ice water then grew hotter until my blood boiled. What? Did he come to take a turn at me? I saw him shaking his head with a look of disappointment and noticed Lena behind him. A large Cheshire grin across her face.  

 “I’ve come to make you a deal,” Carl told me. “Confess to the Lycan King, give him information to kill Kalen, and I will plead with him to spare your life.” 

“Confess to what, Carl? That I had a relationship with Kalen before the war? Fine, I’ll admit it. I’ll admit I was an idiot for ever loving a liar. I will confess to that, but I can’t confess to being the traitor because I didn’t do anything to betray the pack!” 

“And what about the letter,” Carl said, his words dripping with malice. 

I shook my head. I wish I had known before about Carl’s feelings about Kalen and my relationship.I would’ve explained things, and maybe all of this wouldn’t be happening. “I swear Carl, I haven’t seen or spoken to him since the war.” 

Carl’s expression twisted with anger. “Lies,” he snapped. “After everything, after all that I’ve done for you! Do you know how much I cared for you? I loved you long before Kalen thrust himself into our lives!” Carl began to pace back and forth, his words falling out of him in a rush.  

“I was there for you always. I was pack! No, not just pack. I was the beta’s son, strongest of all the other men! I was the best this pack had! But that wasn’t good enough. No! You had to drag me off to college with you, only bring that rogue into our lives. How could you not see what he truly was? Always showing off to the teachers and other students. He had to be the star of the show, but I know his secret. I know he cheated to get all the accolades, titles, and attention. He’s a rogue for the love of the goddess! A rogue! A rogue could never be better than me!” 

Carl paced back and forth, looking more than a little crazed. “But the worst thing he did was steal you from me! You were mine and he stole you from me. As soon as you saw him you forgot all about me! No, all you cared about was your dirty little rogue! You betrayed me for him!” 

“No, I didn’t Carl,” I insisted. He had to believe me. Why wouldn’t he believe me. “I thought he was good, just like you did. We were friends then-” 

“He was never my friend,” he shouted. “Both of you are nothing more than lying, hypocritical cheaters. Even now you prefer the man that killed your father over me!”

I sucked in a break then gasped, “No-” 

“You did,” Car snapped. “I have proof! Yet, that’s not enough for you is it? You still love him. You still long for him. If he was here now, you’d run into his arms.” His expression cooled and he stopped pacing. “Even now, you’d rather die and protect Kalen than confess and bring him to justice.” 

“If that’s how you always felt then why didn’t you marry me?” I asked, wondering how Carl could ever marry me if he thought I was so hopelessly in love with another man.   

Carl sneered at me. “I married you because I needed to become the alpha so that you will see me, realise how capable the man you tossed aside. I thought you’d get over him and fall in love with me, but you’re never satisfied with me. Though the pack was stable, you were still nitpicking. But I am too kind. I am willing to give you a final chance. but, pity Kalen, one day I’m going to make him back every once of the humiliation he gave me.” 

My stomach dropped, hearing the bitter resentment in his voice. Was this the real Carl? Was this the actual man I married? Goddess, I was a fool. A stupid, stupid fool. Again, hot tears burned my eyes and anger filled my heart. “You know what I think,” I said, hurting my voice. “I think you’re just as bad as Kalen. Both of you are cheaters and liars!”  

Carl jerked as if I stuck him and I couldn’t help feel a flare of satisfaction. He started towards me, fury filling his expression, but Lena rushed into the cell next to him. “How dare you?” She demanded. “How dare a filthy traitor like you speak to our alpha like that!” She turned to Carl. “I’ll punish her for you,” she said, unfurling a whip she had at her side.  

She lifted her arm to hit me, but Carl caught her arm. He looked at the whip approvingly. “No, this time I’m going to do it! I’ll show her the price of her lies!” With lighting speed, he turned and struck me with the whip across the face.

I gasped at the sting of it across my face, followed by the warmth of my blood falling down my cheek, nose and chin, a second later I felt a strange heat spread through my face. 

“Don't compare me to him, never” Before I could do more than hold my hand to my wound, Carl hit me again with the whip. I cried out in shock and surprise as another lash hit me, followed by another. Crazed glee filled Carl’s face as he struck me with the whip over and over. 

All I could do was curl up in a ball as he continued to whip me. Blood covered me and that strange heat filled me. My heart raced out of control and my muscles cramp with pain. I wasn’t going to survive this. Carl would kill me. 

The burning flooded through my body. It felt as if someone set a fire inside of me. Lena’s laughter filled my ears and my heart hardened with hatred. 

As I started to lose consciousness I heard another man shout, “Alpha! The rogue! The rogue is coming!”