Malevolent Penitentiary: The Alpha’s Prisoner Mate

Chapter 2

***Avery***

10 years ago

The grand chandeliers of the Alpha King's Palace sparkled like a constellation of stars, illuminating the ornate ballroom where Alphas and their families gathered in vibrant finery. The scent of jasmine and sandalwood wafted through the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the elite. It was a night of celebration, a night when power and prestige danced in perfect harmony, yet in the midst of the festivities, a dark shadow loomed, waiting to extinguish the light.

At eighteen, I felt both out of place and utterly at home in this environment. As the youngest of three siblings, I had been granted the freedom to carve my own path—a privilege that came with its own burdens. While my brother was immersed in the expectations of our lineage and my sister fancying boys and the idea of love, I found solace in the pages of my beloved books. I had always preferred the company of fictional heroes to the rigid expectations of the Alpha court.

Tonight, however, the allure of the palace library was irresistible. The ball's music swelled in the background, but my heart yearned for the tranquility that only a book could provide. The library was a sanctuary, a hidden world of knowledge waiting to be explored. I slipped away from the festivities, my gown swirling around me as I made my way through the marble halls adorned with portraits of the most revered Alphas of the past.

The library door creaked open, and a wave of musty air washed over me. Rows upon rows of books lined the shelves, their spines worn and faded, each volume holding the secrets of generations. I smiled to myself, my fingertips grazing the spines as I wandered deeper into the heart of the library. I was in my element, lost in the promise of a new adventure waiting to unfold in the pages of a book.

Hours seemed to pass in blissful solitude, and as I perused a collection of ancient texts, a sudden noise shattered the tranquility. A loud thud echoed through the library, an ominous sound that sent a shiver down my spine. My heart raced, curiosity piquing my instincts as I instinctively moved toward the source of the sound.

With cautious steps, I treaded deeper into the library's recesses, each footfall echoing in my ears. The room felt eerily silent, as if time itself had paused in anticipation. As I turned the corner, the sight that greeted me would forever alter the course of my life.

There, sprawled on the cold stone floor, lay the body of a male, his once-magnificent figure now lifeless and covered in blood. The crimson liquid pooled around him, a stark contrast against the pale marble. My breath caught in my throat, a mix of horror and disbelief flooding my senses. It felt as though the ground had fallen from beneath me, and the world spun around me in a dizzying whirl.

Instinctively, I stepped closer, my heart pounding as I fought the urge to flee. An Alpha I recognise, he had been a figure of power and respect, a leader who commanded admiration from all. How could this have happened? Who could have done such a thing?

I knelt beside the body, my hands trembling as I reached out to touch him, to confirm that this wasn’t just a cruel trick of the mind. The chill of death enveloped me, and I recoiled, realizing the gravity of the situation. I had stumbled upon something far beyond my understanding—an act of violence that would unravel the very fabric of my world.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind me, and I turned, my heart leaping into my throat. A group of guards burst into the library, their expressions a mix of shock and urgency. Someone must have heard the noise and alerted them, I doubt they had heard the noise and rushed to investigate-not when guards were busy patrolling the celebration. My eyes darted back to the body, then to the guards, panic rising within me as I realised the implications of being found here.

Before I could utter a word, the guards descended upon me, their expressions darkening as they took in the scene. "What have you done?" one of them barked, his voice low and menacing. My heart raced, and I shook my head, desperately trying to explain.

"I didn't do anything! I just found him!" I pleaded, my voice trembling. But their expressions were unyielding, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. They were quick to assume the worst, a tragic misunderstanding that would set in motion a series of events I could never have foreseen.

"Step away from the body!" another guard shouted, advancing toward me. I stumbled back, my hands raised in surrender, but I could see the blood on my fingertips—evidence that would seal my fate.

As they dragged me away from the scene, my mind raced. I could hear the distant sounds of the ball continuing, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding in the library. The laughter and music felt like a cruel mockery, a reminder that my life was about to change forever.

In the days that followed, the palace became a whirlwind of accusations and fear. The news of the Alpha's murder spread like wildfire, igniting panic among the packs. I found myself trapped in a nightmare, my family torn apart by suspicion and betrayal. My brother and stepmother disowning me and my sister silent and nowhere to be seen at my sentencing, the evidence was damning. The blood on my hands, my presence at the scene—it painted a picture that no one wanted to see differently. The guards statement was the final sign that I couldn’t defend myself.

The trial was swift, a spectacle for the nobles who gathered to watch the drama unfold. My pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears as the prosecution painted me as a vengeful rogue, a girl scorned who had sought to take down the Alpha in a fit of rage. The whispers of deceit and betrayal echoed through the court, drowning out my cries for justice.

My family didn’t stand by me, no one did. Who would even show their support when the evidence against me, was plenty.

The Alpha had been a powerful figure, and those who sought to protect their own interests turned their backs on me. I felt the crushing weight of betrayal from those I had trusted, and I realised that in the world of Alphas, loyalty was a fragile thing.

It was during the trial that a key witness emerged—a member of the Alpha's inner circle who had been present at the ball. His testimony shifted like the wind, and in a moment of desperation, he pointed a finger at me, claiming he had seen me near the body. The courtroom erupted in chaos, the shockwave of his words reverberating through the hall.

My heart sank as I heard his accusations, my mind racing to comprehend the betrayal. How could he lie so easily? How could he betray the memory of a man who had been a leader, a father figure to so many? But the damage was done, and the jury's verdict was swift: guilty.

As the gavel struck, sealing my fate, I felt as if the world had collapsed around me. I was sentenced to life in the Malevolent Penitentiary, a place where hope was a distant memory and despair reigned supreme. My dreams, my aspirations—all shattered in an instant.

The night of the Alpha's murder would haunt me for the rest of my life, a painful reminder of the betrayal that had led to my imprisonment. I had not merely lost my freedom; I had lost my family, my identity, and my place in the world. As I sat in my dark cell, the weight of my memories pressed heavily upon me, and I vowed to uncover the truth behind that fateful night. If I could ever get out.

In the years that followed, I would come to understand the true nature of power and betrayal, and I would stop at nothing to prove my innocence. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but I was determined to reclaim my life, to find the real murderer, and to unearth the secrets that had led to my wrongful imprisonment.

The Alpha's murder had set in motion a chain of events that would change the course of my destiny forever—a destiny that I was determined to rewrite.