Chapter 1

Isabeau's POV

My eyes forced open as a wet feeling engulfed me. I saw the guards standing in front of me, staring at me as if I was the most disgusting thing they had ever seen.

Two of the guards seized me and dragged my damaged body out of the dungeon. I was taken to the training grounds where every single member of the Pack was already gathered, eagerly waiting for my execution.

At this point, I'm half conscious, barely holding onto life but I could hear the people swearing at and hurling insults at me. Some even spat on me while the guards dragged me to the gallows that had been constructed at the center of the training grounds.

I could see my parents in the crowd. My mother was crying while my father tried to console her. He looked at me and I could see the sadness in his eyes, he probably couldn't afford to break down because of mum.

I finally saw Alaric sitting on a throne they had prepared for him. Leocadia was also sitting right next to him. She had washed off her makeup and ruffled her hair, she was dressed in all black and was wailing like there was no tomorrow. Pity.

Seeing her acting almost made me laugh but I couldn't, even breathing in my current condition is a struggle.

Alaric stared at me coldly and when our eyes met, he looked away. There was no remorse in his eyes, no pity, nothing.

They forced me up the platform and held me up since I couldn't stand, while they wrapped the noose around my neck.

"Isabeau Isolde Winthrop, you're being put to death today for all your evil actions towards the Pack. You misused your position as Luna and plotted treason. You cheated on me, your Alpha, killed our child, abused your sister and eventually tried to kill her after finding out about her pregnancy. You are a shame to this Pack and we'll pray that someone like you will never be born again." Alaric declared and the crowd chanted in support.

All the while, I looked at each and everyone in the crowd who were supporting my death. I had gone out of my way to help most of them in any way I could. I took my position as Luna seriously and usually visited the Pack house to see if the Pack members needed anything. I always wanted to help, wanted to keep everyone happy, everyone except myself apparently. And now they had all turned their backs against me. How sad.

I'll capture each and every one of their faces and engrave it into my memory.

"Do you have any last words?" Alaric suddenly asked again.

I have nothing to say to them and even if I did, I can't speak. Leo had stripped me of that privilege.

"How can she have anything to say? An evil spawn like her is probably too ashamed to speak. Nothing good would be able to come out of her mouth anyway." A woman from the crowd spoke and the edges of my lips twisted in a small smile.

How ironic it is. The name of this woman is Dinah, I remember her very well.

On one of my regular visits to the Pack house, I found out her child was very sick with a rare disease which could only be cured with medicine made from a rare plant which grew far from the borders of our Pack, close to the Lycan Kingdom's territory.

Most of the other Pack members said it wasn't worth the risk and told her to focus on having another child since that child would die soon but she was greatly distressed since she had been unable to have another child since she had him.

I felt her pain and took it upon myself to host an exploration party to go in search of the medicinal plant.

I went as well and we retrieved the plant. The doctor used it to make medicine and it was administered to the child. I went to see the boy everyday for two weeks until I was sure that he was fully restored back to health. Dinah had thanked me at that time and swore she would always be loyal to me but here she was, hurling insults at me.

I finally understand how selfish the world is, people only appreciate you when they need you and toss you to the side when you become useless to them. 

If only I had devoted my time into making myself better, I might have caught up on the plots brewing all around me.

"Very well then. May Selene accept your soul." He said and the guard pushed the lever, opening the trapdoor beneath me and sweeping the ground off my feet as they finally let go of my body and I found myself hanging from a height, the noose instantly tightening painfully around my neck. 

I heard a sickening crack as my neck broke, severing my head from the rest of my body. My body seemed to go into shock and in that short moment before death, the events culminating to my end flashed before my eyes. How unfortunate it is, to be told all your mistakes just before you die…..

*****

The head of the guards had just finished his daily lashing, cursed at and spat on me before he left. 

My body shook with pure fear when I heard the dungeon door rattle again just a few minutes later. I wished he would just end it since I was tired of suffering.

I heard footsteps, the unmistakable sound of heels as someone approached me.

I blinked repeatedly in an attempt to clear my vision. Still limp on the floor, I gazed at the feet of the person approaching and realized that she was wearing my shoes.

All my lost hope suddenly returned as I quickly realized who it was. With great difficulty, I managed to gather what strength I have left and sat up, finally coming face to face with my very own twin sister, Leocadia. 

My eyes widened in shock as I realized that she was wearing my wedding dress, the same dress I had worn during my mating ceremony.

Taking a good look at her, everything she was wearing belonged to me. But that was the least of my problems at the moment as I considered her my last hope.

I crawled towards her and held out my hand, hoping she would help me.

She smiled but didn't make a move.

"Leo." I called out hoarsely, my throat as dry as bricks.

She seemed to hesitate but finally approached me and helped me up. She helped me to a corner of the dungeon, placing my back to rest on the wall for support.

"I'm sorry Isa, that you're having to go through all this." She apologized and I saw tears gathering in her eyes which instantly made me anxious despite the pain I was feeling.

I hate to see her cry more than anything.

I stretched out my hand and caressed her cheek gently.

"Please don't cry, Leo and don't apologize, none of this is your fault. I'm just unfortunate, cursed with this ill fate." I tried to comfort her and she managed a small smile.

"I tried to talk to the Alpha, I really did but he wouldn't listen. He's not listening to anyone and he even threatened to have me banished from the Pack if I tried to intervene. I'm sorry sis, I really am, I've failed you." She said as a single tear fell down her cheek.

"Stop it Leo, you know how seeing you cry makes me feel. I know that you tried your best but it's really out of our hands if that's how fate wants it. I just want you to promise me that you won't be sad for too long and that you'll live your best life after I'm gone." I requested.

"I promise that I'll live each day to the fullest after you're gone." She said, and something about her tone sounded sinister.

I waved it off, thinking that the fear of death was beginning to mess with my senses.

"Sis, I have something to share with you. It's good news and I know that now's a bad time but I'll never be able to tell you again after today and I've waited so long just to reveal this." She said, instantly piquing my interest.

She said she wasn't able to convince Alaric to stop my execution so what could possibly count as good news at a time like this?

"Don't keep me waiting and spit it out already." I urged, trying to pull on a smile.

"I'm pregnant, Isa. You're going to be an aunt." She revealed and my jaw dropped in shock.

Despite that being the last thing I expected to hear, I couldn't hold back my happiness.

But my joy was instantly cut short when reality hit me again. I'll die today and that means I'll never get to see or hold my nephew or niece despite how much I love babies and have wanted a child for so long.

Once again, fate had played another cruel joke on me. But I won't display my sadness since it'll make Leo worried. She's pregnant so she only needs to be happy till she gives birth.

"Congratulations Leo! I'm so happy for you. You're going to have a little baby running around soon." I congratulated with a smile, biting on my lip to hold back my tears.

"Thanks sis, I was really nervous after finding out but seeing you this happy brings joy to me." She said with a smile.

"Don't mind me asking but who's child is it? You're not mated yet and you don't have any boyfriend that I know of so who's the lucky father?" I questioned.

"He's actually someone you know very well, someone close to the both of us." She replied evasively.

"Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me already. Who's the lucky man who was able to capture the heart of my beautiful sister?" I asked with a small smile.

"Well, if you must know, the father of my child is Alpha

Alaric, your husband." She finally dropped the bombshell.