The One The Whole Town Abandoned

Chapter 26 The Execution

Ashleigh's POV

We finish our breakfast as Alpha Dave, or I'm trying to think of him as my father, walks into the dining room. He looks like he didn't get a wink of sleep last night. I'm sure he is having a really hard time with this sentencing. I couldn't imagine having to kill your own wife or mate, whether she was chosen or not, must be devastating.

Before I even know what I'm doing, I walk straight up to him, giving him a huge motherly hug or I guess in this case, a daughterly hug. Everyone knows that a hug makes you feel comforted and at ease, even if it's just for a moment. Because man, he looks like he can use it right now. I feel him stiffen up under my hold, as he slowly loosens up before wrapping his arms around me, and hugging me back.

But he doesn't say anything so I decided to start. "Everything is going to be ok, it's just going to take some time to get used to the change." I see Aurora in my peripherals as she walks up, hugging his leg. I feel bad because I can feel his body shaking lightly as I hear the tears coming. I felt him wrap his arm around Aurora as well, pulling us both tight into his hold.

"Thank you both for being here, it is already helping, more than you know. " He gets out this statement in between sniffles. I back up, giving him some room to breathe as Aurora follows my lead. He nods and wipes his eyes saying, "Let's just get this done and over with huh?"

He passes us walking through the rest of the dining room and out the door that leads outside. Stefanie grabs Aurora to take care of her because she is too young to see such things. So she is going to play with her while we are occupied. I blow them a kiss as I continue behind my father and outside. I would ditch with Stefanie and Aurora because I don't want to see these kinds of things either, but I feel like I have to be here, especially since I have to do with most of the evidence.

But I do feel like this is something I might have to participate in again in the werewolf world, so I might as well start now I guess. We get out to the middle of this field behind the pack house. It has circles drawn on it and looks almost like someplace to play a sport or train maybe. I arrive right behind the Alpha and see a good amount of people from the town that I never knew were werewolves, were there.

They are all standing at attention when Alpha Dave shows up. They have made a big circle as the Alpha steps into the middle of it. I feel nervous in this situation as I start to feel my heart race. I can feel Dominic behind me as I lean back into his chest trying to calm down with his relaxing musk.

"Ok I know most of you don't know why we are here, but there have been a lot of things happening around the pack lately and I need to explain them all... Our visiting Alpha, Alpha Dominic, has come to help us.." Everyone looks our way as I see Dominic's hand raised, silently waving. So the Alpha continues, "There have been signs of rogues in our area, so he came over here to make sure our defenses are secure and to make sure our defenses are up to par because he wants us to stay safe. During his stay here he has discovered his mate and my daughter, Ashleigh.." I hear gasps and whispers as people stare at us more.

That's when I see them bringing in the Luna to be executed, and putting her on her knees in front of the Alpha with her hands chained behind her back. The Alpha continues... "So during Alpha Dominic's time here, he discovered the reason that there have been rogues around our lands is that our Luna was letting them onto our territory without my knowledge, to attack and kill people. This includes the attempted murder of Ashleigh and her mate Alpha Dominic. Once they did more research into the situation, they found out she was not only blackmailing people but selling people as well. With the evidence against her and her full confession, my Luna told us.. that after I told her about my one-night stand, with my goddess-given mate, she kidnapped her and tortured her for weeks until she figured out she was pregnant with my child, then she made sure she came to a full term on minimal food and water. Once she was ready to have the baby, the Luna let her do it on her own, with no medical help and all the pain she could suffer through until she died having my child.. She took that child and kept her from me, by selling her to another family.. When they couldn't pay the full amount for Ashleigh anymore, the Luna blackmailed then suggested selling Ashleigh to a man who was very interested in her and was willing to pay the debts of her parents as long as he could have her. They agreed and.. well Dan Stevens, the man who bought her without her knowledge, raped her and we all heard about that. This is only the little bit of evidence that we have throughout the years as of right now.. but the selling, torture, murder and attempted murder of multiple people are heinous crimes and have to be punished. No one is above punishment, especially not my chosen mate and your Luna. So we are here for execution to show everyone that it doesn't matter who you are, you will be punished for your crimes."

Everyone is still whispering and still staring at me, which is very uncomfortable but understandable, so I just let it continue.

I can feel Dominic putting his hands on each side of my arms, trying to make me feel better by being my support. The Alpha takes a deep breath, then lets it out, before turning away from the people to his Luna, who is kneeling before him as he asks, "Are there any last words you would like to say before we continue this?"

She starts crying to him as she begs for his forgiveness. "Davy baby please don't do this. I love you and I have always loved you. That's why I did that because I couldn't let that human w***e take you away from me and take my title as Luna... She already made you give in to her s****l demands. I couldn't let her take you from me and when I saw she got pregnant with that little b*tch I had to get rid of her... Please just know it was in your best interest. I swear, I did all of it for you!"

The Alpha shakes his head as he responds, "You didn't do any of this for me. Torturing and killing my goddess-given mate, then keeping my daughter from me and selling her to be abused and tortured was never for me. It was only for yourself. But the things you put Ashleigh through just because of a hatred you had for her before she was even born, were completely uncalled for. She never did anything to you, but you hated her and tortured her in your way anyway. Only a heartless person could do something like that and that kind of a person doesn't need to be in charge of taking care of everyone's wellbeing in the pack.. especially if this is how you treat me and your stepdaughter."

"THIS IS F*#KING BULLSH*T!" the Luna yells, gaining everyone's attention as she whips her head to the side, glaring at me. "This is all your fault you little c*nt! I should have murdered you the day you came out of your mother's womb!" Dominic growls so loud as he wraps me up with his protective hold, quickly tightening it more around me.

"You want my last words?! YOU destroyed everything I ever had and I wish the worst upon you. I hope you get your family ripped away from you the way I have and I hope you have a miserable life of loneliness.. Oh and just so you know, the contract with Dan Stevens was all my idea. I put your virginity in the contract and I even added abuse too without your parent's knowledge.. I know the things he did to you and I laughed, enjoying the knowledge of the pain and torture he already put you through. I know you will have those scars for life, so just remember that was all me, you little b*tch!" I don't know when it started to happen but my cheeks are getting cold from the silent tears falling from my eyes as I don't break eye contact with her or say anything back.

"I Alpha Dave Willows condemn you, former Luna Karen Stevens, to execution with the evidence and your confession for your heinous crimes." She starts to cry as she begs again, "Please Davy don't do this, please. I'm your Luna please." He doesn't look away from her before responding. "I do love you Karebear, but I can't lets these crimes go unpunished and you were a part of them all. You were behind every single one.. for years you did this and none of it is ok." In one swift move his hand plunges into her chest as I hear the breaking of the chest plate echoing in the now silent ring of people. He pulls out her still-beating heart quickly, as her lifeless body falls to the ground, he crushes her heart in his hands.

I jump in so much shock at this quick and swift punishment. I don't know what I was expecting, but that was not it. Tears are falling from the Alpha's eyes as he grabs his chest as if he is in excruciating pain. I can tell he is having a hard time breathing as he eventually turns, walking away from the scene before us. Some of the warriors clean up the body setting it up to burn. All the people slowly dispersed, leaving the area. I just can't get my feet to move and I can't tear my eyes away from her lifeless ones.

I finally get movement in my legs, but it's not to walk away, it's to walk towards the pile of wood that she was laid upon by herself. No one stayed and that honestly breaks my heart. Not even her kids stayed. I'm sure it's hard to see her like this, but to leave her alone in the last moment you will have before she becomes ash, is just something I wouldn't think they would do because it's too hard for me to do.

I reached out and shut her eyes, combing her hair to the side gently and putting her hands on her chest. I fix her legs, straightening them out, then fixing the clothes she was wearing. I stop and just stare as I feel the tears coming from my eyes. I don't understand these tears because she was never anything short of awful to me, but I have been alone on my own for a while and knowing she will burn alone breaks my heart. No matter how much we hated each other, I don't want her to be alone like I suffered for half my life.

I moved out of the way so the warriors could start the fire below her. I step back as I watch the flames move their way up the pile and consume her body into the flames.

Dominic's POV

I felt Ashleigh jump at the sight of the Alpha taking the Luna's heart and ripping it out of her chest. As werewolves, we try to handle situations as quickly as possible... Yeah, it's a little more gruesome, but the death is way quicker. By killing her this way, he was saving her from pain and torture. I can understand that. If I ever had to kill someone I cared for, I would make it as quick as possible as well. I see the Alpha trying to not cry, but who could not in this situation?

He holds his chest and I can't even imagine how much pain he is probably in at this moment. He leaves with such haste because I'm sure he doesn't want to look at her lifeless body again. I watch everyone walk away except Ashleigh. I stay with her because I don't want her to be alone in this almost traumatizing moment. I have seen plenty of death, but I know she hasn't and I feel like I need to be there for her. Even if she doesn't care for the former Luna, I know it's still affecting her as it should for almost anyone.

She stands there frozen in her place until she walks forward slowly. We are the only ones here anymore, not even the Luna's kids stay.. Well, everyone except for the two warriors who are going to monitor the fire to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. I see them curiously staring at her as I am. They watch her quietly, not interrupting her.

I wonder why she doesn't just leave like everyone else. I don't know how I feel about her wanting to see this dead body so close... I already hated that she had to see the execution but I knew she had to be there.. but doesn't mean I liked it. I like how innocent and pure she is with everything.

Miles says to me as I internally nod.

I don't like it either Miles, but you know as much as I do that she had to be here and this probably won't be the first execution or death she will see with us... I just want to be here with her for it, to help her through it.

I retort back to him as he groans, but still agrees with me. I let her go as I watch her slowly glide across the grass to the pile of wood where the former Luna was just thrown up upon. The warriors and I still observe her movements as I slowly follow behind because I won't ever be too far from her if I can help it. I watch as she gently lifts her hands and I just observe her closing the Luna's eyes slowly and moving her hair out of her face. She fixes her clothes and repositions her hands and legs, making her look better.. since she was just thrown upon the pile.

I hear her sniffling from over the body and I notice she is crying. She lets out a deep breath as she steps back and lets the warriors light the fire at the bottom of the pile. She backs up a couple more feet and stops again, still watching the fire get bigger and start to consume the body. I walk behind her as I wrap her in my comforting embrace. I feel her lean back into my chest... I'm so curious so I have to ask softly in her ear... "Why didn't you go when everyone else left? Why are you staying? You know you don't have to stay here right?"

She nods as she takes in another deep breath and answers. "I don't know if you have ever experienced what it's really like when you have no one and to truly be alone.. but I have.. and it's an awful feeling. When I saw everyone leave her alone, on the ground, then just thrown on the pile, it broke my heart. I can understand why my father couldn't stay, but for my siblings or pack members not staying is awful... These are the last moments her body is going to be on this earth and no matter how awful she was to me, I was never going to let her be alone in those last moments. She is not just a murderous, hateful woman, she is someone's wife and mother and to treat her like this, no matter the situation, sounds awful to me... I had to stay.." She says this with so much compassion in her voice and it makes me love her even more.

I can't believe she would stay with the one woman who ruined her life because she felt bad for her being alone. This shows how amazing and strong she is. "You're such a beautiful person inside and out Ash and I'm so proud to call you mine. This right here shows how strong and compassionate you are, even for your enemies and it's commendable for sure." I say to her as she turns around in my hold looking up at me saying, "I didn't do it to be commendable I did it to be an empathetic soul, which is something everyone needs at some point in their lives.. this is one of those reminders that will bring me back down to earth and keep me humble for sure." She turns back to the fire as she takes another deep breath in than lets it out.

We stand there for a while longer until Ashleigh turns around and her cheeks are wet from the tears she shed. "Ok, we can go. Thank you for standing here with me." She says this so softly to me as I nod taking her hand in mine as I say back, "of course baby... I have seen my fair share of death but I figured you had not and I didn't want you to be alone at this moment. Everyone remembers their first kill and the first death they have seen, forever... So I wanted to make sure you were ok because I will always be there for you my love. Just remember that. You're not alone anymore." I say to her because I don't ever want her to forget it... She has been alone for so long, but not anymore. I will be by her side until the day I die.