Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Celene's POV

They dragged me into the judgement hall, and I realised a couple of pack members, the judgement council, and Dad Valerie were already gathered there.

They all had accusatory and judging expressions as they cast sidelong glances at me. The guards asked me to kneel.

"Dad, what's going on?" I yelled, frustration getting the best part of me.

He didn't even bother answering me as he faced the people present. "Today, I lost my second daughter, Ella!"

I let out a gasp. "What? How's that even possible!?"

The judgement room sprang into life with whisperings and chatter. A needle-like pain was stabbing at my knees, and I felt like every ounce of strength in my body was being snapped out.

"We are trying to find out who..."

"She did it!" Leslie cut him off coldly, pointing accusing fingers at me. "This cold-blooded runt killed my daughter in the woods. We have all the evidence on her, and now she has to pay with her life!"

Her words held so much weight that they plunged the room into silence that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

My heart threatened to pull out of my rib cage as all rational thought jumbled up and dispelled from my head.

I just saw Ella about one or two hours ago. And she's dead? They've got to be fucking kidding me! And knowing what Ella could do, it was probably one of her cheap tricks to have me punished for trying to hit her the other time.

I glanced at Dad, and I could see the way he was visibly shaking. He held onto the arms of his chair tightly with his eyes squeezed shut.

I sprang up in fury. "Dad, you know it's not true!"

His eyes flew wide open, and for a split second, I thought I could see a drop of tears trickling down the corners of his eyes.

Or maybe not.

"Why would I want to kill Ella? You know they are trying to frame me, but you will still remain silent and let them kill your kid. What is it that you are so afraid of? Why are you so afraid of your stepsister!? You know I'm innocent in this!"

A derisive snicker broke through Valerie's lips. "Frame you? Are you insinuating that I killed my daughter just to do away with a worthless bag of shit like you? And innocent? What evidence do you have to prove that you're innocent?"

This is a is a coy serpent! The curse was almost on my lips. She knew I didn't have any evidence. This was it. What she'd been trying to do for a very long time. She wanted me gone from their lives, but must she use this method?

"I may have evidence!" My voice croaked out. "But to assure you, most of the maids knew I was indoors most of the time. Do you have any evidence too, stepmother?"

"Who said I didn't?" An evil smirk lifted the corner of her mouth. "Let him come in, please!"

The noise level in the hall increased as everyone waited for whoever it was to enter. The huge door creaked open, and a man strode in. I didn't need anyone to tell me it was Christoph.

I winced as I immediately averted my gaze. Was he going to accuse me of killing Ella too?

"Tell us what happened, Christoph," Valerie ordered him.

His lips quivered slightly, making me wonder if he had been threatened by Valerie or if this was his plan all along.

"Celene and I were dating before I found out that Ella was my fated mate. Things went out of hand, and Celene found out that I was sleeping with Ella today. We broke up, and after that, Ella went out."

He paused to look at me.

"A few minutes later, I couldn't smell her scent again, which could only mean she was dead. I searched for her and couldn't find her, so I told Luna Valerie. They also tried searching for her, but we couldn't find her."

"However, we did find something interesting." Valerie shot in. "Celene's ring is covered in a pool of blood that obviously belongs to my daughter. She has committed an abomination against the royal house, and it's punishable by death! How will you explain this, huh?"

Chris suddenly fell to his knees. "But that doesn't mean she killed Ella or Luna. I mean, she might have had the motive, but she won't do something like this."

You sly pretender! "Fuck you, Chris!" I gritted out, spittle flying as I lunged at him.

"Grab the criminal and bind her with heavy chains!" Dad's voice boomed out, and my whole body stiffened.

My heart was constricted against my chest, and I could hardly breathe as I stared into his expressionless face. He really didn't care if I died. He was my father; the least he could do was stop Valerie, but now he was also calling me a criminal.

Tears of anger mixed with frustration welled up in my eyes as the guards seized me. As they bound me with the chain, the sharp edges sliced through my skin, and I bit down in pain.

"Dad, are you even my father?" I asked, my voice a shattered sob.

He avoided my gaze. "What are you still waiting for? Throw her into the dungeons. She'll be brought forward for judgement tomorrow!"

"Says who!" A baritone voice, drooping with authority, boomed from the door.

The door kicked open immediately, and the colossus of a man barged in. He took long strides to the front, flexing his muscles. His figure dripped with raw strength. So feral. Alpha male!

I couldn't place a finger on it, but I feel like I have seen him before.

"Alpha Mondrian!" The father said it with a subservient tone.

The hall broke out with whispers. "It's the Lycan king!"

My mind emptied when he turned, and I saw his face. A shocked gasp left my mouth. He was none other than the man Valerie had said I was going to marry earlier. He was the Lycan king.

Shit! Was that what she was trying to say when I spoke rudely to him? And now, I was just so fucked up.

There were rumours about him. How ruthless he was towards anyone who dared defy him. My heart quivered from the thought of what he would do to me.

I was in it today, and now no one could save me. I'm just destined to die today.

When his heated gaze fell on me, I felt my insides go all hot as fear slithered down my spine. A minute passed, and he didn't say anything. He just kept staring at me relentlessly.

Then his gaze grew dark. "Bring her in!" He growled, and the door opened instantly.

My heart almost jumped out of my throat when a figure walked. It was Ella, and she looked very much okay. her normal, bitchy self.

A collective gasp filled the hall when everyone saw his face.

"Luna Valerie, what should I say? The dead came back to life."

Valerie trembled with fear, a horrified expression framing her face. "I was—I thought she was."

"I don't care what you think!" Alpha Modrian bellowed. "Get that woman out of those damn chains! She belongs to me now!"