Bound By Fate, Torn By Lies

/ FREYA / I sat down in the dock with my hands handcuffed. I had two hefty soldiers beside me - I stared at the sterile looking ground which was clear enough to reflect my face. “ Bring in the results!” one of the elders of the council commanded and I raised my head to see two men on white lab coats walk in. They were with the forensic department. “ Can you read out the content of the report in your hand?” Another elder beckoned to them. “ Yes, Your Honor,” the one with the report bowed he’s head slightly before taking the report out of the envelope. “ The cause of death,” he read with a voice devoid of emotion, “ was cyanide poisoning.” The other elders began to talk amongst themselves, giving me a condescending look. I didn’t even know what was going on so how could I possibly be the one responsible for his death? “ Silence!” The one acting as the judge silenced the remaining members of the council. “ What do you say for yourself, Luna Freya?” His words has a subtle hint of slander, contempt and mockery. Adding my title to my name while patiently waiting for me to punished was just low. In a private courtroom where I was without a lawyer to defend me, it was no different from a military rule where I would be tried without being allowed fair hearing. It didn’t matter what I said right now since their mind was set. “ I didn’t do it,” I muttered. “ Did you say something?” The elder acting as the judge asked. “ I said, I didn’t do it!” I raised my voice as tears fell down my cheeks. I was like a bird in the midst of predators. There was nowhere to run or hide and it felt like the only thing I could do was to accept my fate no matter how cruel. My eyes darted towards Zarek, my husband, who sat impassively across the room with the elders. He stared back at me, not with pity or concern but with a chilling disdain that gave me a reality check. “ What had I expected?” I bent my head over and scoffed. I had never been so disappointed in a long while but what had I really expected? That someone who has never liked or even regarded me would suddenly show me compassion just because we were married? I was a fool to expect anything from this loveless marriage we’ve been confined to. Though I had loved him, our marriage had been purely political and Zarek would never have agreed to it if I wasn’t his fated mate and if his throne and company weren’t at stake. He never once wanted me. I had put my all into a relationship that was beyond fixing. I was like a third wheel in my own marriage with his childhood best friend taking more priority in his affairs than me. I was well aware that Ravenna, his childhood friend had feelings for him and had made it her mission to break us apart but even if I complained to Zarek about it, who’d choose to regard someone insignificant over someone he valued? The judge’s voice cut through my reverie, bringing my mind back to my environment. “ The court finds the defendant, Freya, guilty of the murder of the late Alpha.” Though I had been acting strong since I was accused, I wasn’t alright and I was scared of what punishment I’d be made to face. My hands trembled at the thought of what might happen to me. Zarek lifted the mace in front of him and without any form of emotion on his face, he declared. “ As per the laws of the pack, the defendant, having been found guilty is here by stripped of her title as Luna and demoted to the status of an Omega. She shall be confined until she gives birth to pack’s heir,” he announced my verdict and sealed it with hitting the mass on the desk. The two guards beside me, grabbed me by both arms and pulled me up. Things couldn’t end here, I really hadn’t killed anyone. “ But I didn’t do it!” I cried and screamed. “ Why won’t you believe me?” I pleaded as the guards took me away. I stared at Zarek hoping that he’d have mercy on me and rethink his decision even though I knew that he didn’t care enough about me to do that. “ Take her away,” he ordered and turned his back on me. My hands which has desperately reached out to him was left hanging. Had he never once felt even a spark between us? As the guards grasped my arms, they led me away from the courtroom, I stopped struggling - it was of no use. No one believed me and no one ever would. I was placed inside a moderately furnished room which was at the abandoned end of the palace. It was a place even I had no knowledge of though I had been married to Zarek for some time now. As the heavy oak door slammed shut behind me, I was left alone in this dimly lit room. I sat in a corner, curled up as I stared at my bruised wrists. They at least had the courtesy of taking the handcuffs off. “ You’ll be fed three times daily according to the instructions from Alpha Zarek and you are to cooperate with whoever is serving you,” they said as they locked the door. I waited for their footsteps to fade before letting my feelings out. “ Could I really remain locked up for five months?” I wondered as tears welled up in my eyes. I had tried to hard to act tough in the courtroom as I didn’t want to give Ravenna the reaction she wanted but being left alone, I could finally let myself be vulnerable. “ It hurts,” I hiccupped through my tears as I beat my hand against my chest. Everywhere felt stuffy and my lungs refused to take in air making me gasp for air. “ All I ever wanted was to be happily married to Zarek. Where did it all go wrong?”