Return Of The Accused Beta

Chapter 4

A harsh curse rang out from outside, followed by the sound of splintering wood as Micah kicked in the door. He stormed towards us, his face contorted with rage.

"Didn't I tell you not to mix parsley and cinnamon powder into Eunice's tea?" he growled at Kiara.

Kiara looked bewildered. "I wouldn't do that, Alpha Micah. I wouldn't put random powders in the tea of a pregnant woman."

"Then who did?" Micah snarled. "You'll be held responsible if she miscarries, you careless fool!"

"Micah, stop!" I intervened. "Eunice could have done it herself. You're blaming the wrong person."

Micah's gaze turned to me, his eyes flashing red with anger. He grabbed my jaw, his fingers digging into my skin until I cried out in pain.

"Alpha Micah, please let go of Luna Samantha!" Kiara cried, trying to pry his fingers away.

Micah tossed Kiara aside with ease, her injured hand making her unable to aid me. His grip on my jaw tightened, his eyes wild with accusation.

"You're protecting someone who never stood by me when I was at my lowest," he snarled. "Explain why you're so eager to defend Eunice."

I shook my head, wincing in pain. "You're always accusing her, yet you're the one with a black heart. What's so special about Eunice, besides the baby she's carrying? She's just—"

Micah cut me off, his voice dripping with scorn. "You're pathetic, Samantha. I bet you're behind this. You're the one who told Kiara to poison Eunice's drink."

"I don't know anything about herbal powders!" I protested. "You have no proof!"

I struggled against his grip, but Micah overpowered me, forcing me to the floor and making me bow before him.

"I found the powder after you returned from who knows where," he growled. "You have a motive, Samantha. You're a cunning wolf."

"I didn't do anything!" I cried. "Why are you so quick to blame me?"

Micah backhanded me, sending me sprawling to the floor. Kiara's screams echoed through the room as Micah squatted down in front of me, his grip on my jaw unyielding.

I looked up at him, my heart heavy with despair. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"You didn't come home all night, Samantha, only to plot something wicked," Micah accused, his voice cold. "I can't wait to send you back to your family."

"I-I didn't!" I protested. "I don't know anything about it. I swear—"

"Enough!" Micah snapped, cutting me off. "Guards, seize her!"

The guards approached, their faces stoic. "Alpha Micah, where shall we take her?"

"To the underground silver prison," he ordered. "We'll hear what the Elders have to say tomorrow. She'll face the death penalty or life imprisonment. She deserves to be punished for her transgressions."

"As you wish, Alpha Micah," the guards replied, hauling me to my feet as I begged Micah for mercy. He remained unmoved, leaving me to my fate.

The guards dragged me away from Micah, my struggles futile against their superior strength. My vision swam as darkness claimed me, Micah's grin the last thing I saw.

"No, Micah! Don't do this!" I cried, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

The cold of the prison seeped into my bones, my thoughts consumed by the uncertainty of tomorrow. Silver scales with sharp spines bit into my flesh as they secured me, the weight making my legs ache. Kiara huddled across the cell, her body bruised and beaten.

The guards showed me no mercy, their curses and harsh words cutting deeper than any physical wound. They treated me like a common criminal, their hatred palpable. They had once praised me as their Luna, but now they spat on my name, blaming me for not providing an heir.

I had loved Micah with all my heart, but he had never returned my affection. He cared for nothing but his future successor and Eunice, leaving me to wither away, unlovved and alone. I had begged him countless times to show me the love I deserved, but my pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Now, I was left gasping for breath, my heart shattered into a million pieces.

I resigned myself to the fact that I was wasting away in the Emberwood Wolves Pack, my life spiraling towards an untimely end. I began to plot my escape, suspecting the guards had intentionally added weight to my chains to break my ankle.

"They won't let me escape before the Elders pass sentence," I muttered to myself.

"Samantha, are you alright?" Kiara called from the adjacent cell.

"I'm managing, Kia," I replied, my voice steady despite the pain.

"Thank the Goddess. Those bastards. I'm afraid he hurt you with that iron. You need to take care of yourself," she said, her voice shaking.

"I'm fine, Kia. I'll get us out of here soon," I assured her, my gaze fixed on the padlock securing the weight around my ankle.

"Don't worry about me, Samantha. Please, save yourself from Micah's cruelty," she pleaded.

"I can't leave you here, Kia. We're getting out of this prison, together," I insisted.

"I can't walk any further, Samantha. They've beaten me badly," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No, Kia. I'm not leaving you behind," I insisted, my voice firm. "We're getting out of here together."

"I'm honored to have known you, Samantha," Kiara replied, her voice weak. "You've been the only one to treat me kindly. Let me protect you one last time."

Tears pricked my eyes as I listened to her, grateful for her loyalty. "No, Kia. If I escape, you're coming with me."

"I... I can't run that fast," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

"Kiara... hang in there for me," I pleaded, my heart aching at the thought of losing her. I turned my attention to the padlock, determined to break free.

My fingers bled as I clawed at the lock, my desperation growing with each passing moment. I paused, taking a deep breath to steady myself. Kiara's smiling face flashed through my mind, fueling my resolve.

Scanning the room, I spotted a handyman's toolbox near me. I inched towards it, my fingers brushing against the rusty lid. It took all my strength to pry it open, the contents spilling out as I fell back, exhausted.

A guard stormed in, his face contorted with anger.

"What the hell are you doing, b***h? Give me that screwdriver!" he growled, advancing on me.

As he lunged, I reached out, my hand closing around a familiar object. To my surprise, it was a screwdriver, and it seemed to leap into my hand as if drawn by a magnet.

I locked eyes with the guard, my heart pounding, and plunged the screwdriver into his neck. Blood spurted everywhere as he gasped, his life ebbing away. I grabbed his keys, my injured leg protesting as I hobbled towards Kiara's cell.

"Kiara, wake up. We need to go," I urged, but she only smiled weakly, her eyes closed. Panic surged through me as I fumbled for the key, dropping it with a clatter. I snatched it up, hiding behind a haystack as footsteps approached.

"Samantha?" a whispered voice called out. Alexander peeked into the cell, his eyes widening at the sight of the dead guard. "Come on, we need to go," he said, pulling me out.

"I'm not leaving without Kiara," I insisted, my voice shaking.

"Samantha, we have to go. Now," Alexander urged, his grip tightening on my arm. "I don't care about the servant. You need to get out of here before Micah loses it completely."

I hesitated, torn between Kiara and the safety Alexander offered. "What if they kill her?"

Alexander's expression hardened. "She's a servant, Samantha. She knew the risks. Now, let's go." He pushed me out, my shuffling steps echoing in the silent prison as I left Kiara behind.

“N-noo, Alex…”

"I can't bear the weight of your death on my conscience," I said, gripping Alexander's arm tightly. "Please, promise me you'll take care of Kiara."

Alexander's expression softened. "I can't promise you anything, Samantha. You know as well as I do what Micah is capable of. But I'll do what I can for Kiara."

"Please..." I begged, my voice breaking.

"Come on, we need to hurry to the border. Your brother and his men are waiting for us," Alexander urged, pulling me along.

Upon reaching the border, Nick and his companions were indeed waiting, their faces grim. They wasted no time in whisking me back to Witchwood Wolves, where my mother tended to my injured ankle and listened to my recount of Micah's cruelty.

I clutched my mother, sobbing into her shoulder. "I'm a failure, Mum. I'm the weakest Beta in the pack. I can't even give you a grandchild."

"Hush now, dear. You're not a failure," she soothed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Micah isn't the only Alpha out there. You'll find your true Alpha someday."

"But what if I can't? What if I'm just... broken?" I whispered, my heart heavy with self-doubt.

"You're not broken, Samantha," Mum assured me, holding me close. "You're special, in a way that no other Beta is. Don't blame yourself for things beyond your control."

"Pumpkin, your priority should be breaking your bond with Micah. Find your second chance, or you'll keep getting hurt. Micah has Eunice and their child now. I don't want to see you in pain," Mum urged, kissing my forehead before leaving me to rest.

The heavy stomp of leather shoes echoed through the room, and I shrank back in fear, thinking it was Micah. My father's angry voice boomed, "WHERE IS SHE?"

"Owen, calm down!" Mum intervened. "You're scaring her. Let her rest for now."

"Tell me what happened! Why was Micah keeping Samantha in a silver prison?" Dad demanded.

I screamed, my body wracked with pain, as Mum tried to soothe me. "Let's talk about this later, Owen. She needs to rest now."