The Binding Oath

Chapter 2: To The Silver Pyre.

The door to my cell swung open with a noisy rattle which made me awake suddenly.

A guard entered and lifted me up before pulling me outside. "Where are you taking me?" I asked. but he said nothing and just tightened his grip on my arm.

A second guard came over, and together they led me outside. Daylight hit, and what I saw was ruin.

Houses had caved in, walls lay in pieces, and the ground was dark with blood. That was all the proof needed. Bloodhowl had clearly been attacked and it had to happen on the day of my capture, and me accused of being a spy.

"Clear the rubble over here," a warrior ordered. A few men hurried to obey, pulling at the stones and dragging a body out from underneath.

The guards dragged me into the great hall and threw me at Alpha Damon’s feet. He still sat on his throne, but something had changed. His posture was rigid now, his face hard, the kind a warlord wears when a great battle is brewing.

To his left stood Alpftan, the broad-shouldered guard, his menacing gaze fixed on me like he wanted to devour me whole.

And to his right, a young woman, about the same age as me, flawless in a way that almost defied notice. She wore warrior’s garb that clung to her generous curves, a spear in hand, its sharp tip glinting toward the sky.

Jealousy pinched at me. Was she his consort? His wife? Or just another warrior? Pathetic. Here I was, life hanging by a thread, and this was what I allowed myself to think.

"Trusting you was my mistake, and it cost me." Damon started, his voice low and rough. Then silence. I could feel anger seething inside him as he steepled with one hand, rubbing his jet-black hair with the other.

"last night, we were attacked." He resumed. "It was fast and precise, only a handful of men... and yet they did real damage. But I presume you knew this was coming, didn't you, filthy spy?" He leaned in, his eyes widening and unblinking. holding there just long enough to make my skin crawl before sinking back into his seat.

"Some slipped away. The few we caught took their own lives before dawn, before we could question them." He paused again, letting the silence weigh down the atmosphere. "Striking at the very heart of Bloodhowl Dominion… that has never happened before."

"But the blood of our people will be repaid with the blood of our enemies. Your execution is set for this evening, before everyone. But you have a choice. Speak now. Tell me how our enemies struck at our heart, what they plan next, and I’ll end your life quickly, without the spectacle, without the pain. The decision is yours."

I looked around. The soldiers’ faces showed nothing. Damon stared at me, waiting for the answer he wanted. My fate felt already set. I was their enemy, blamed for things I didn’t do. What was the use of speaking?

Then a thought came. Maybe being mates meant more to him than being Alpha. His word was the last one. If I had even a small chance to make him believe me, I had to try.

So I spoke.

"Alpha Damon, I won’t beg," I said, my voice shaking. "From the start, I told you the truth. I’m innocent. I was only gathering berries near Bloodhowl, nothing more. But they caught me and called me a spy, and I can’t prove otherwise.

If it was because of someone that the enemy was able to strike you in the heart, then that person was not me. And if you still see me guilty… do as you will."

"So be it,"he said, turning to his men. "Prepare the silver pyre."

The silver pyre. My mother often spoke to me about it. It was not just fire. It was enchanted silver flame that burnt the soul, erasing someone from ancestral memory and that's the fate I was going to suffer no later than this evening.

In the meantime, I was thrown back into my cell to meditate on my fate. That's when she came to visit me. The flawless lady.

I just saw the door to my cell open, letting her in and she came toward me her face genuine and comforting, She crouched down to my level.

"I heard your name is Mireya. Mine is Alanah, the Alpha’s mate," she said, holding out her hand.

I could have taken it out of politeness. Her face showed compassion, as if she wanted to help me. But her lie said too much. I kept my hand to myself, my face closed. I expected nothing from anyone here.

"I see," she said, pulling her hand back. "When you spoke before the Alpha, I thought you were more expressive. But I was wrong. I only came to help you. Tell me what you know, and I’ll plead for you. The Alpha always listens to me. He’ll agree to spare you if I talk to him."

I stayed silent, staring at her. Her intentions were clear: to win my trust and make me talk. But she was already exposed.

"Time is running out," she went on. "Soon, I won’t be able to do anything for you. No one will. Not even the Moon Goddess. They say silver flames are the cruelest. When you’re on the pyre and they consume your soul, you’ll want to cry. But you won’t be able to. Your body will already be too dry."

I still didn’t react. She slowly stood up. Her face shifted, showing her true nature.

"Ha! You’d rather die with your secrets… Typical of a b***h loyal to her master," she spat, hatred lacing her voice.

Then, in a cold whisper: "Once you’ve burned, I’ll make sure your ashes are scattered to the winds. No one will even remember you died on the silver pyre." She left the room, and the door slammed shut behind her.

The moment came. The guards entered, seized me, and dragged me outside.

The sun was setting as I crossed the great gate. My last sunset. On the esplanade not far from the great gate, Damon stood tall. Our eyes met, but his face remained cold. He turned away without showing the slightest trace of emotion. At his side, Alanah smiled, her expression full of cruel satisfaction.

The guards forced me forward along the path leading to the silver pyre. On both sides, the crowd seethed with rage, barely held back by the soldiers.

“Nightfall viper!” “Wretch!” Insults rang out from every direction.

They tied me to the stake at the center of the pyre. The Alpha raised his hand, and slowly, the clamor died down.

"Mireya, you stand accused of spying on our pack for our enemy, the Nightfall Syndicate, which led to an attack that claimed the lives of many of my people. For this, I condemn you to burn on the silver pyre."

His voice rang out, cold and solemn, his gaze empty. A guard lit a torch and stepped closer to the pile of wood at my feet.