The Judgment
1647 Words
Selena’s POV
The Great Witch walked toward the platform as a loud bell rang behind her.
The crowd parted instantly, creating a clear path.
Everywhere she passed, wolves bowed their heads in respect.
She was an intimidating sight.
Long robes of dark crimson and black trailed behind her like living shadows. Strange silver symbols were stitched into the fabric, glowing faintly under the light.
A tall pointed hat rested on her head, decorated with feathers and bone charms that swayed gently with each step.
In her hand, she carried a tall wooden staff carved with ancient runes. At its top rested a crooked crystal, faintly shimmering with power.
An eerie silence followed her.
When she reached the platform, she began to circle it slowly, her staff tapping against the ground with each step.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The sound echoed across the clearing, sending a strange chill down my spine.
Finally, she stopped in front of Alpha Kael.
She bowed slightly.
“Greetings, Alpha.”
Kael nodded.
“Greetings, Great Witch. Your presence here is unexpected. Is there a problem?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she turned.
And her eyes landed on me.
My stomach tightened.
She walked toward me slowly, then suddenly slammed her staff into the ground.
THUD.
“Speak,” Kael said, his tone impatient. “I do not have time for games.”
The witch’s voice was calm when she finally spoke.
“The problem,” she said slowly, “is standing right here.”
Confused murmurs spread across the crowd.
“And if this problem is not dealt with soon,” she continued, “we will lose more of our young.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Stop speaking in riddles,” he said sharply. “You have interrupted my ceremony. Say what you came to say.”
The witch raised her hand…
And pointed directly at me.
“This girl,” she said coldly, “is the instrument the humans are using to kill your young.”
My heart stopped.
“What?!” I shouted. “That’s impossible!”
The crowd erupted into whispers.
“M-maybe you’re mistaken,” I said quickly. “Maybe it’s another Selena.”
“She is a murderer,” the witch cut in firmly. “And she is responsible for the deaths of our young wolves.”
For a moment, I just stared at her.
Then I laughed.
A harsh, bitter laugh.
“If this is a joke, you should stop now,” I said sharply. “Your daughter has already played her games with me. I won’t stand here and watch you do the same!”
The witch smiled faintly.
“Alpha,” she said calmly. “You see? She is clearly possessed.”
“That’s a lie!” I snapped.
Anger took over. I rushed toward her…
CRACK!
Lightning struck the ground beside me.
The force threw me backward.
I hit the ground hard, my gown staining with dirt as pain shot through my body. Tears filled my eyes as I struggled to push myself up.
“What is the meaning of these accusations?” Kael demanded.
Then his gaze fell on me, cold, unreadable.
“Do you have any reply to this?”
“I didn’t do it,” I said, my voice breaking. “I could never hurt anyone… not even a fly.”
Anger burned in my chest.
“Unlike your bride and her mother.”
SMACK!
A sharp slap landed across my face, throwing me to the ground.
A young warrior stood over me, furious.
“How dare you speak against the Great Witch!”
Pain burned across my cheek.
“If I said something wrong…” I said weakly, “…then correct me. Why hit me?”
Instead.
BAM!
Another punch.
My head snapped to the side as pain exploded across my face.
“Enough!” Kael roared.
The warrior stepped back immediately.
Kael walked toward me slowly, watching as blood dripped from my lips.
The witch spoke again.
“Tell us about the bloody dress found in your room.”
My heart skipped.
“The package!” I said quickly. “Someone left it at my door, I don’t know who sent it!”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“Who witnessed this?”
My throat tightened.
“The only person there was…”
My gaze lifted.
“Isadora.”
“That’s a lie!” Isadora snapped immediately.
She turned to Kael. “Wasn’t I with you all night?”
Kael nodded slowly. “She was.”
A faint smile crossed her lips.
She walked toward me and knelt beside me.
“I see you’re trying to drag me down with you,” she whispered softly. “But I hope they don’t discover I placed the cloth in your room.”
My breath caught.
She stood, then leaned gently against Kael.
“Honey,” she murmured sweetly, “I think she’s gone mad. Just look at her…”
I lifted my head, meeting her gaze.
And for the first time…
I truly saw her.
Cold. Cruel. Dangerous.
How did I never notice?
Kael turned to two warriors.
“Search her house. Bring back any blood-stained cloth.”
They bowed and left.
And suddenly…
Everyone was staring at me.
Like I was already guilty.
Whispers spread like wildfire. Doubt. Accusation. Fear.
My chest tightened as familiar faces looked at me like a stranger. Like a monster.
“Shameful…” Isadora murmured softly beside me.
Then she leaned closer.
“You should have stayed dead in the forest.”
Rage exploded inside me.
Before I could stop myself, I spat in her face.
Gasps erupted.
Moments later, the warriors returned.
One of them stepped forward and placed a folded dress before Kael.
Blood stained the fabric.
A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd.
“That proves nothing,” I said quickly. “Anyone could have put that there!”
“You expect us to believe that?” someone muttered.
“I swear on the moon—I’m telling the truth!”
Then, another disturbance.
Two guards approached… carrying something.
Something wrapped in white cloth.
A heavy silence fell.
They lowered it to the ground.
Slowly… the cloth was pulled back.
A collective gasp filled the air.
My breath stopped.
No…
I rushed forward and dropped beside the body.
“No…”
“It can't be.”
The body was cold, still and lifeless.
“Your Highness,” a guard said, bowing. “We found her by the river… after she was last seen with Lady Selena.”
The words shattered everything.
“No… that’s not true…” I whispered.
But the way everyone looked at me…
They already believed it.
“Our little Nyra didn’t even get the chance to become the White Wolf she dreamed of,” Isadora said softly.
Something inside me snapped.
SMACK!
My hand struck her face.
Gasps echoed.
“You don’t get to say her name!” I shouted.
She lunged at me. But I struck first.
We clashed.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
I scratched, hit, fought, driven by grief and rage.
“You think you can frame me?!” I hissed.
“Selena, stop!” voices shouted. But I couldn’t hear them.
Only Nyra’s laughter echoed in my head.
Then, strong hands grabbed me.
“Enough!” Kael roared.
I struggled, breathing hard.
Isadora stood nearby, disheveled.
Seeing blood coming out from her nose, made me feel a bit satisfied.
Kael looked at me coldly.
“Selena… you have brought shame upon this pack.”
My heart broke.
“You are accused of murder. And now you attack the future Luna.”
His voice echoed.
“For the safety of this pack… you are banished.”
Silence.
Then, he continued. “And the bond between us… is broken.”
Something inside me shattered completely.
Like glass.
I didn’t speak.
I didn’t beg.
I simply turned…
And walked away.
I don’t know how long I walked.
Everything was broken.
My home.
My pack.
Nyra.
My feet led me to the riverbank.
The same place she was found.
I collapsed, sobs tearing through me.
“I’m sorry, Nyra…” I whispered.
The wind moved softly through the trees.
Then a slow clap echoed behind me.
“Well… look who came back.”
I didn’t turn.
I knew that voice.
The rogues.
They stepped out, smirking.
“Looks like your pack threw you away,” one sneered.
I felt nothing.
No fear. No anger. Just emptiness.
anymore.
Today, I felt nothing. I slowly pushed myself to my feet and faced them.
My body ached. My spirit felt shattered.
If they wanted my life… They could take it.
I simply stood there, waiting. The rogues exchanged amused looks.
“Well, that makes this easy,” one of them laughed.
He raised his weapon.
Then…
BANG!
The thunderous sound of a gunshot shattered the silence of the forest.
One of the rogues froze. For a brief second, confusion crossed his face. Then he collapsed to the ground, and blood began to spread beneath him.
The others panicked, looking wildly around. Another gunshot rang out.
The rogues scattered into the trees. Footsteps approached through the forest.
Slow. Confidence.
Then a tall man emerged from the shadows, a gun still smoking in his hand.
There was something powerful about him, something dangerous.
His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
But my body had reached its limit.
My vision began to spin.
Darkness crept into the edges of my sight.
Just as my legs finally gave out, strong arms caught me before I could hit the ground.
I felt his firm grip steady me.
When I looked up, I saw a handsome face looking down at me.
A slow smile spread across his lips.
“We meet again,” he said softly. “Little bird.”
And then… Everything went black.
- Writer
