Vengeance In Vampire’s Dominion

SOPHIA Today was going to be the greatest day. I opened my eyes to the dimly lit light that passed through a tiny hole in the little room I had been kept in. The floor was icy beneath my paws, but as a wolf, I was accustomed to such harsh conditions. It was just another day in this confined space, a place where the pack's elders threw those who had committed crimes as severe as murder. Five months had passed since I'd been locked away, and today was supposed to be the day of reckoning. The pack would gather to hear my verdict, but in my heart, I knew I was already free. A small smile crept onto my lips as I thought of reuniting with my Alpha. I wasn't a criminal; I hadn't committed any crime. The iron door to the room was shaken, making me flinch and jolting me out of my thoughts. The sudden noise was a harsh reminder of my confinement. "Hey, you come out," the stern-looking man yelled, his face inches from mine. I slowly stood up, my eyes locked on his. I had barely eaten anything since being held captive. To them, I was a villain, a monster. But only one person knew the truth – Ryker, my Alpha. And he would be the one to set me free. I slowly stood up, my worn-out clothes hanging loosely on my thinner frame. My skin was pale, evidence of the harsh conditions I'd endured, but despite it all, a spark of joy flickered in my stomach. I was on the cusp of a new chapter – I would soon become Luna. The thought of embracing my new role and reuniting with Ryker filled me with anticipation. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The man dragged me violently, his grip tight around my left arm, treating me like a slave. I was pulled into a sea of familiar faces, and as I emerged, the whispers grew louder. But I didn't care. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for one face – Ryker's. My dad was there, and so was my stepmom, who wore a smug smile on her face. I could tell she was thrilled to hear that I was accused of killing someone. That's the impression she wanted people to have of me – a murderer, a heartless person. The pack's elders were also present, their stern faces a reminder of the gravity of the situation. I could feel their disdain, their expectation that I would be punished for my supposed crime. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the one person I longed to see – my Alpha, Ryker. As our eyes met, a spark of recognition and connection flashed between us. For a moment, I forgot about the whispers, the glares, and the accusations. All that mattered was the understanding and support in Ryker’s gaze. I wanted to smile, to show him that I was okay, but my weakness held me back. He sat confidently on the alpha's chair, and it suited him perfectly. I remembered the last time I'd seen him; he wasn't an alpha yet, but now he exuded a sense of authority and power. His presence commanded respect, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for the person he had become. But then something else caught my attention – Claribel, my stepsister, was sitting beside Ryker. I felt a pang of surprise and unease. What was she doing there? That space was meant for me, the future Luna. Why was she occupying it, and why was Ryker allowing it? My mind began to whirl with questions and doubts. But I didn't worry too much; I trusted him. "What do you think we should do with her?" One of the elder's voices broke me out of my reverie. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realise my verdict had started. The elder's words snapped me back to reality. There was a roar of murmur from the crowd, but one voice stood out clearly – "We should take her to the Red Mountain and leave her there." The suggestion sent a chill down my spine. The Red Mountain was a place of no return, a fate worse than death. Another elder spoke up, his voice cold and unforgiving: "No, she should be sentenced to death by hanging." The words hung in the air, and I felt my heart sink. My dad sat there, speechless, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of sadness and helplessness. He had been distant ever since he married Annabel, but I knew he knew I wasn't capable of such a heinous act. The doubt in his eyes hurt, but I held onto the hope that he would eventually see the truth and stand by me. I was bothered by the elders' suggestions, but deep down, I wasn't that scared. I was certain Ryker would defend me, especially now that he was the alpha. His position of power and influence would surely carry weight in the pack's decision-making process. I trusted him to stand up for me and clear my name. Just like the chief alpha had heard my thoughts, he asked Ryker, "What do you think we should do with her alpha?" His answer made my blood run cold, and it was worse than death. The pain I felt at that instant was suffocating. "We should throw her to the Red Mountain or sentence her to death by hanging," he said. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. Ryker's response was the last thing I expected, and it left me reeling. I couldn't believe it. My eyes were spinning, and I almost lost consciousness. This can't be happening. Maybe I was still dreaming. He knew I wasn't the murderer, and he said those words. The room seemed to spin around me, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of betrayal. Ryker's words were a knife to the heart, twisting and turning with each passing moment. I thought he was my ally, my protector, but now it seemed like he was my accuser. The pain was overwhelming, and I couldn't process what was happening. Was this some kind of cruel joke? I was certain he knew I wasn’t the murderer because he was.