Chapter 2

• DACIANA'S POV
• Her body had gone pale and white fumes were coming out of her mouth, already.
• "Get the healer! Get the healer! My mate has been poisoned." Howard yelled, in panic and I was thrown into total shock again.
• The fact that Howard addressed her as his mate sent invisible arrows deep into my heart.
• Also, I was thrown into a state of confusion as well at the fact that Moana had been poisoned.
• The hall was thrown into an uproar as the healer was brought in.
• Ava was shouting all around, in panic while they laid Moana on the bare floor while the healer checked on her.
• However, I was still standing at the same place.
• Though I hated her, I wouldn't want her to die. I just wanted to embarrass her a little but then I never expected this.
• I was torn between showing care for someone who hated me or just walking away.
• As I was still contemplating what to do the healer's voice boomed out.
• "I'm sorry, Beta, but she is dead!" The healer announced and I gasped, in shock.
• "No!! No!! Moana is not dead! How?" Ava screamed and I also had the same question. She had just been standing there and now she was dead! How?
• "Her drink was poisoned. The bane's poison was used and the result is death, paleness, and the white fumes around her mouth." The healer explained further.
• The hall was thrown into a state of devastation. Ava fell to the floor while the Beta, my father, balled his hands into tight fists.
• Howard continued to hold onto Moana's body, in shock. On the other hand, I didn't know what to believe. At this point, I realized my hatred toward Moana was uncalled for. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't see Ava marching toward me like a wrecking ball.
• "You murderer!" She yelled and swiftly, she slapped me across the face. My eyes widened in shock as my head whipped to the side.
• The force from her slap was so great, I got a whiplash and there was a metallic taste of blood in my mouth.
• "You killed her! How could you do this!" Ava yelled, in anger, and her voice filled with so much pain. It depicted how wronged she felt about the whole thing.
• This was the point that everything registered in my mind.
• Ava was accusing me of killing Moana.
• I couldn't believe it! My lips quivered as I turned slowly to look back at me.
• "I..." I started to say, shakily while I looked around. Everyone was looking at me with eyes filled with disgust.
• "I didn't kill her," I said, shaking my head from left to right. My voice was shaky, betraying my resolve to prove my point. Tears pooled in my eyes and dropped as I shook my head, continuously.
• "Shut the fuck up, Daciana! You are a liar and murderer! How could you do this to me? After everything?" Ava yelled while she banged against my body.
• I had gone weak and I couldn't even steady myself. My body was being swayed by Ava while I was in disbelief.
• "I didn't... I swear, I didn't do it." I said, with my voice raising a notch higher.
• "You killed my daughter! After all the love I showered on you." She said, pointing at me, weakly.
• I was tempted to shout back at her. She hadn't shown me any love and had no right to demand a good attitude from me.
• But then I knew I had been thrown into the spotlight and any wrong move or word would cost me my life.
• "I didn't! I didn't!" I yelled, trying to prove my point.
• "I would never hurt Moana. Believe me." I said as I cried along with Ava.
• But my words were put on deaf ears.
• "She is a murderer!" The guests all around started to point fingers at me.
• "Who knew she wanted to kill the sweet Moana when she suddenly wanted to bring the sweet girl down." I heard another say and I was filled with so much regret at my earlier actions.
• Before Moana collapsed, I yelled about bringing Moana down. Now, my words had come to bite me in the back.
• Ava was still holding onto me, wailing loudly while the whole hall was in an uproar. Tears were flowing from almost everyone's eyes but I was dumbfounded.
• "Guards! Arrest her!" Alpha Howard's pained and deep voice suddenly boomed in the air and my head snapped to look at him.
• I realized he was the only one who could save me. I didn't care if he had called the guards on me.
• I was quick to push Ava away and dashed toward me.
• "Howard! Please, believe me, I'm innocent. I would never kill her!" I said, in a pleading tone as I knelt before him.
• He hovered over me, stoically and I shivered, in fear.
• "Daciana Whitemane, you are guilty of committing treason against the Alpha's family as well as the Beta's. You shall serve the punishment alone. You will be cut into a thousand pieces!" Alpha Howard passed his judgment and everyone was in support.
• However, I gasped in shock. I was paying for a crime I didn't commit.
• Before I could say anything, the guards took hold of me and dragged me across the hall.
• "No! Please! Hear me out! Please!" I yelled as I struggled against them.
• In the next second, I saw Ava rushing toward me and she slapped me across the face, again.
• I went still as pain radiated through my body.
• She moved closer to me while the guards held me down.
• "My daughter took the fall for my mistake. It's no big deal if you die for my mistake as well." She whispered in my ears and for a moment, I couldn't process her words.
• The guards continued to drag me as Ava's words registered in my head.
• ___
• The continuous sound of dripping water was torture to my soul as I lay in the darkness. My whole body was wet and weak.
• I was thrown into the dungeon for days while Moana was being mourned.
• However, I cried myself to sleep every day. I was wrongly accused and now my existence was a bane to the Pack.
• No one wanted to hear me out. After all, I had been gone for two years and no one knew if I had allied with other Packs.
• "Moon Goddess, please save me." I cried out, as I lay on the bare floor. I was stark naked and there were whip marks on my body.
• Aside from being thrown into the dungeon, I was beaten up every day.
• I would always try to plead with the guards that I was innocent but then no one wanted to hear me out.
• My father had also neglected me. I had no one to turn to since he hated me so much.
• "Hey, prisoner!" The guard's voice boomed out as he banged against the metal bars of the dungeon. Immediately, I jolted up, in fear and shock.
• From being addressed as Beta's daughter, I was now addressed as a prisoner.
• At this point, I wished I had never come back to the Pack.
• My life outside the Pack was dangerous but then I was able to live freely and on my own.
• As I thought about my regrets, I felt like turning back the hands of time but I couldn't.
• I needed to take the pain, anguish, and guilt of everything that had happened.
• I had gone so deep into my thoughts that I didn't notice the guard had gotten into the dungeon.
• Instantly, I got a kick in my stomach and my body went flying across the space. My back banged against the wall and I could hear my bone cracking, slightly.
• "Ahh... hmm..." I groaned, in pain as I coughed out blood.
• My fingers dug into the ground as I tried to find balance but I couldn't. I was a mess and pain radiated through my whole body.
• "Now, you will learn to listen to me, while I speak." He hissed at me and I nodded my head slowly. I needed to be submissive to whomever, or else I had the risk of being maltreated.
• "Now, get up and have your last meal!" He declared and my eyes widened while my blood-filled mouth gaped open.
• My last meal? I was going to die! A reality that I thought was far ahead was staring at me, right in the face.
• "P.. please, don't kill me. I'm innocent." I said, in a low and shaky tone as I tried to crawl toward the guard.
• My naked body had become dirty and I didn't care if he leered at me, lustfully, knowing he wouldn't be able to take out his desires on me. I just wanted to get out.
• "You can say that to the Moon Goddess when you are finally out of here! Slut!" The guard spat at me and in the next second, a tray of food was thrown at me.
• For the first time in days, I got to see and smell food. The smell was too enticing and my stomach rumbled, relentlessly.
• I tried desperately to avoid the temptation of eating but then I was too weak. I knew I needed strength for what was to come. I was alone and even my wolf had deserted me.
• Without thinking twice, I grabbed hold of the bread and whatever was on the plate of food. Stuffing food into my mouth was an amusing sight for the guard.
• I looked like a dog before him but I had no time to care.
• An hour later, I was dressed and in chains. I was escorted by two guards out of the dungeon. My mind and body were at alert and my strength had been rejuvenated.
• However, I still felt pain around my body.
• As they escorted me down the hallway, I could hear the shouts of the Pack members.
• "Kill her!" They yelled.
• "She is a murderer!" They yelled.
• It was finally time to die and my heart shook for the fear of death.