Chapter 2: Two Choices

1201 Words
He looked at me coldly. So cold it felt like the man standing on that stage had never once been my husband. “Mia has always been very ambitious,” Leonard said evenly, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. “Willing to do anything for power. But you’ve really gone too far this time.” Each word landed like a slap. Before I could even process what was happening, Isla stepped forward beside him. She shook her head slowly, disappointment carefully etched onto her face. “I’m very disappointed in you, Mia. Your late father had high expectations… you just..” That was it. I surged forward, all restraint finally shattering, my vision red with fury. I couldn’t bear it anymore, the lies, the betrayal, the way they stood there painting me as a monster while pretending to be righteous. But Leonard reacted effortlessly. He sidestepped me with ease and shoved me backward, laughter spilling from his lips as I stumbled. “Have you forgotten your true identity?” he sneered. “You’re just an omega.” His gaze dragged over me mockingly. “Why would you even think you could hurt me physically?” The humiliation burned deeper than the anger. Rage boiled violently through my veins, but I had nowhere to pour it. No strength to release it. No power to strike back. I hated it. I hated myself. I hated how weak I was. My entire body trembled uncontrollably as I tried to calm my breathing. “Leonard…” My voice shook, raw and broken. I pointed at him, then at Isla. “You cheated on me with her and now you dare accuse me of something like this?!” My hands fumbled as I pulled out my phone, desperation clawing at my chest. “Listen everyone, this has to be some kind of collaboration. I have proof that he’s cheated on me, going against the pack laws in doing so!” I swiped frantically. But it was as if the messages the unknown number sent to me had vanished. I checked again. Still nothing. My head throbbed violently as confusion and terror crashed into me all at once. “What…?” I whispered. “What is going on…?” Leonard seized the moment instantly. “Now you’re accusing me of being unfaithful?” he scoffed loudly, shaking his head like I was beyond saving. “Look at her. Trying to drag my name through the mud because she’s been exposed.” The crowd murmured again. I forced myself to inhale. To calm down. To think. I straightened slowly, lifting my chin despite the way my hands still shook. “Fine,” I said hoarsely. “Since you claim I experimented on innocent wolves…” My eyes locked onto his. “Where is your evidence?” The hall fell silent. “You can’t make such a serious accusation without evidence,” I continued. “Unless you’re lying.” Leonard’s lips curved into a slow, smug smirk. “Of course I have evidence.” Suddenly, movement at the entrance caught my attention. Davis, my personal assistant, walked in carrying several thick stacks of files. I hadn’t even noticed his absence earlier because my thoughts had been too chaotic. One by one, he handed the files to the elders… to the reporters that came to cover the event, then to the pack members closest to the stage. Then he stopped in front of me, and bowed. It didn’t take much for me to realize that I had been betrayed by him too. “I’m sorry, Miss,” he said quietly. “But I couldn’t continue hurting people.” I slapped his face, and he staggered back, eyes wide in shock. Gasps erupted, but I didn’t stop. I slapped him again. “You ungrateful piece of s**t!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “My father practically raised you as his own! And you dare collude with him?!” I said pointing at Leonard. My chest heaved violently as tears streamed down my face, my hands trembling with a mixture of rage and heartbreak. Isla stepped forward immediately. “Why can’t he speak up against you if you did something wrong? You’re so violent.” I laughed, then slapped her too. “Shut up!” I raised my hand again, ready to strike her a second time, but suddenly my wrist was caught mid-air. Leonard’s grip was painfully tight. “Don’t you dare touch her,” he growled. His eyes burned with fury for her. “I would never hurt innocent wolves,” I cried. “Everything I did to save them!” My chest heaved as I looked around, desperate for even one familiar face. One person who still believed in me. But the looks I received were full of disgust and disdain. As though I had defiled something sacred. As though my very existence had become a stain they wanted erased. In that moment, I realized I had been fooling myself, I was nothing to these people.. Leonard didn’t miss the shift in the crowd. He stepped forward again, voice confident, -‘; merciless. “There is evidence,” he said calmly. “Everything points to her. And yet, even now, she continues to deny it all.” A low murmur rippled through the hall. Then a pack elder rose slowly from his seat. His gaze fixed on me with cold disdain. “It appears,” he said, his voice unforgiving, “that the previous Alpha made an unwise decision.” My heart clenched. “Placing someone like you in the line of leadership,” he continued, “was a grave error.” Each word struck deeper than the last. I had broken myself again and again to prove that I was worthy despite being born an omega. But to them, I was nothing more than a grave error. Leonard spoke again with chilling authority. “Take her to the special prison immediately.” The guards seized my arms roughly, their grips unrelenting as they dragged me across the floor. I struggled screaming for someone, anyone to believe me. I had almost lost my voice at some point due to the constant screaming. But the guards didn’t budge, they threw me into the prison cell like I was nothing more than filth. I collapsed against the cold floor, shaking violently as reality finally caught up to me. Instinctively, my hand flew to my stomach. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, to feel. Please… please be okay… Relief flooded me when I sensed my baby. “Thank the Moon Goddess…” I whispered hoarsely, tears streaming down my face. Minutes passed. Or maybe hours. Time felt meaningless in that suffocating darkness. Then footsteps echoed. Leonard walked in with Isla. They both stood there like victors surveying their conquest. Leonard’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “The pack has come to a decision,” he said casually. “You shall be executed for your wrongdoings.” The words didn’t register at first. “It only makes sense to exchange a life for a life.” My breath left me in a broken gasp. “What…?”
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