The Alpha's Dead Mate

CHAPTER 2: THE DEATH OF A MATE BOND

“No…” I shook my head slowly, barely breathing. “No, you can’t do this.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened. His gaze was cold and distant, like I no longer existed to him. “It’s too late; I already did.”

Something inside me cracked. I took a weak step forward, reaching for him even though my hand trembled. “Cassian, please... you have to believe me. I am innocent; I didn’t steal anything. Please.”

He didn’t even look at me; it was almost like he was disgusted by my presence. Instead, his eyes went to Lena as he spoke. “She stole your heirloom... Her punishment is your call.”

Lena stepped forward with the wicked grin of someone who had already won. She had never looked happier than she did watching me fall apart, watching me suffer.

“You heard him,” she said loudly, turning slowly so the entire pack could hear. “For stealing my heirloom and for claiming my man... you are hereby banished from LethalMoon Pack with immediate effect.” Her voice rose triumphantly, and every remaining bit of my already broken heart shattered completely. “If you ever return... you will be executed without trial.”

The crowd gasped. A wave of murmurs spread through the arena. I couldn't tell if they were in support of my banishment or on my side, but what I know for sure was that something broke as it dawned on me that I had lost everything because I chose to love Cassian... My legs went weak as the word "banished" rang in my head over and over again.

My throat closed as I stared at Cassian, waiting for him to say something... to take it back, to at least look at me, but he didn’t.

Yes, no one believed me. Yes, my life had just been ruined, and yes, I had done nothing wrong, but the most painful part… the part that shattered me… was that Cassian didn’t believe me. He rejected me, he let them disgrace me in front of everyone, and he didn’t even flinch.

Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, “Look at me, Cassian. Please.” My voice broke. “Do you really want me to go?”

Nothing... He said nothing.

He avoided my gaze like I was something dirty, and before I could think of anything to say in my defense, Elias stepped forward. “Guards. Take her away.”

I didn’t fight this time. I couldn’t; I was too broken to. My body moved as the guards took me away, but I didn’t feel it. My heart was numb, my wolf was silent, my world had shattered, and all that remained was emptiness.

I took one last look back. Cassian stood tall, unbothered, and guarding his new fiancée. Lena was grinning like poison in human form. The rest of the pack watched me like I deserved this, like I was never a part of them.

I lowered my head and walked with the guards till we reached the iron gates marking the border of LethalMoon territory. The guards released my arms, finally letting me stand on my own.

A voice spoke from behind. “I believe you.”

I turned sharply. Elias stood a few steps back, watching me.

“You… you do?” I asked, confused. “You believe I am innocent?”

He nodded once. Calm and serious.

“But how? Why? You found the heirloom in my room... so why would you believe me?”

He stared at me for a moment, then said quietly, “Because I love you.”

My breath caught. I mean, he had said it countless times, but Cassian was my mate; I couldn't have left him to be with his beta.

“If I were in Cassian’s place,” he said, voice low and confident, “I would have believed you, and you wouldn’t be leaving now, but you chose wrong.”

“I see that now,” I whispered. “Elias, I’m...”

“Escort her to the outskirts,” he cut me off, turning away without sparing me another glance.

“Elias!” I called. “Elias, wait... Elias!”

He never looked back, and the guards marched me deeper beyond the border, into the cold wilderness outside pack land. The moon was hidden behind clouds, the wind was cruel, and I? I felt dead inside.

When we reached a rocky cliff, I knew the rest of the journey was left for me to do alone, even though I had no idea where to go. I needed to keep moving, but as soon as I took the first step, one of the guards stepped in front of me.

“I hate to do this,” he muttered, reaching inside his cloak, “but I have to.”

Before I could move or realize what he was talking about, he pulled out a brutal, jagged dagger.

My blood turned to ice.

“No... no, please,” I begged, stumbling back. “Don’t do this; that wasn’t the instruction. I am already banished... Please, I won’t come back, I swear...”

He grabbed my hair, yanked me forward, and plunged the dagger into my stomach.

“AAAHHHHHH!” I screamed, the sound ripping straight from my soul. “A-AHHHH... AAGHHHH...”

White-hot agony exploded inside me. My shaking hands gripped his arm, pushing weakly.

He leaned close, eyes empty. “There were other instructions.”

He yanked the blade out and stabbed me again and again and again.

“GAHHH... AHHH... NNNOOO... AHHH!” I screamed as blood poured down my dress, soaking into the earth. Pain stole my breath, my vision blurred, and my knees failed me.

He twisted the dagger inside me, ripping flesh. Hot blood spilled over his hands.

“W-Who…?” I choked, blood dripping from my lips. “Who… sent…”

If I was going to die, at least I should know my executor, but he didn’t let me finish. With a final vicious thrust, he buried the dagger in my chest... And in one swift move, he twisted the dagger and kicked me hard like a log of wood that refused to sever.

I fell backward...off the cliff.

The wind roared past me as I plummeted; branches slashed at me, I heard my bones snapping, and rocks tore into flesh, but I couldn’t scream anymore.

The world faded, everything went dark, and as I fell into nothingness, I wondered if anyone was going to know what happened here or if they would find my body...