2.EVERYONE THINKS I'M A MURDERER
1261 Words
EVERYONE THINKS IM MY OWN MURDERER
As Lilith gasped awake, the first thing she felt was cold… it seeped into her skin, settling in her bones and wrapping around her like invisible chains.
She gasped, jerking upright as air rushed violently into her lungs.
A sharp cough tore from her throat…For several seconds, she could only breathe.
She was alive.But… How?
The last thing she remembered was the flash of steel dagger. Alicia's villainous smirk, the dagger plunging into her chest and the cold promise—"Everything you loved... is mine now."
Her hand flew to her chest instinctively, bit there was nothing. Her fingers searched frantically beneath the rough fabric she wore.
No blood. No wound. Not even a scar.
Lilith frowned. "I..."
Her voice echoed through the darkness and only then did she realize where she was.
Stone walls surrounded the room…iron bars and… a damp floor that smelled of mold and old blood—
A dungeon. The pack's dungeon!
How? Why?
How had she survived?
Why was she in a f*****g dungeon?
Confusion tightened around her chest."What...?" She staggered to her feet, gripping the bars. "Hello?"
There was no body around. Not even a guard.
Her breathing quickened as she raised her voice higher, "Is anyone there?"
Heavy footsteps echoed from somewhere beyond the corridor and then voices. "She's awake."
"Open it."
The key jingled and the iron door opened.
Three guards stepped inside, their expressions hard.
Lilith's shoulders sagged in relief.
"Thank the Moon Goddess." She hurried toward them. "Something terrible has happened. I need to see the Alpha."
One of the guards grabbed her arm so roughly she cried out. "What are you doing?"
His grip only tightened.
"You murderer!" He spat those heavy words to her face.
Lilith blinked."...What?"
"You heard him." The second guard sneered. "Now you're acting like you didn't murder our Luna?"
The words stole the air from her lungs. Her brows and mouth curved in utter confusion. "What are you talking about?”
She shook her head frantically. "No, you've made a mistake. I am the Luna."
The guards exchanged glances before bursting into laughter that echoed through the dungeon. Cold. Mocking.
One of them stepped forward and slapped her across the face, the impact sent her stumbling into the wall.
Pain exploded through her cheek. "Don't you dare mock our Luna!"
Lilith pressed a trembling hand against her burning face. "I... I'm not mocking anyone." Her voice cracked. "I am Lilith. Luna Lilith"
He slapped her again, but it was harder this time. "You'll address my mate as Luna."
"I am your Luna!" she cried, her fists curling so tight. The irritation and frustration inside her grew stronger every minute.
The guard's expression darkened. "Take her."
They seized both of her arms.
"No!"She struggled, panic flooding every vein. "Let me go!"
The guards dragged her from the dungeon, her bare feet scraped across the cold stone floor as they pulled her through endless corridors.
They brought her to the pack house… the Alpha's chamber, precisely.
There were servants, warriors, healers and even elders in every corner of the packhouse.
Everyone was panicking.
"The Luna..."
"The healer said she's still unconscious."
"Please, Moon Goddess..."
Lilith's heart pounded. Unconscious?
Who were they talking about?
One of the maids burst into tears. "If anything happens to Luna Lilith..."
Lilith's steps faltered.
Luna… Lilith?
Before she could ask another question, the guards shoved her forward.
They entered the main hall. It was filled with warriors and pack elders.
Healers rushed in and out of a nearby chamber and the atmosphere was suffocating.
Every face was heavy with fear.
Suddenly, the crowd parted. Heavy footsteps echoed across the hall.
Lilith looked up.
It was Lamien, her mate.
His ceremonial robes were gone. He wore only a black shirt, the sleeves rolled to his forearms.
There were streaks of dried blood across his hands. His face was pale and his eyes looked as though every ounce of life had been drained from them.
The moment she saw him, relief crashed over her. "Lamien!"
She tried to run to him but the guards yanked her back.
"It's me!"
He stopped walking and slowly, his gaze settled on her.
Lilith smiled through her tears with relief, believing someone would finally recognized her even though she didn't understand what mess this situation was.
"He'll know," she whispered to herself. "He'll recognize me."
Instead, his eyes filled with something she'd never seen directed at her before—Hatred.
His eyes carried pure, unfiltered hatred as he approached her until only a few feet separated them.
His voice was frighteningly calm. "How is my mate?"
One of the healers lowered his head. "We've managed to stop the bleeding, Alpha... but she hasn't woken."
Lamien closed his eyes. For one brief moment, grief flickered across his face.
When he opened them again, they were as cold as winter.
He turned toward the guards. "Lock her away!"
Lilith's brows knitted together. "Lamien..." He ignored her as the guards gripped both her arms, ready to pull her away.
"If my mate wakes..." His jaw tightened. "...then perhaps I'll grant you a quick death."
He stepped closer. Close enough that she could see the fury burning in his silver eyes.
"But if she doesn't..." His voice dropped to a whisper that chilled everyone in the hall. "...you're done for, Alicia."
Lilith's blood ran cold. Alicia...?
The name echoed inside her head.
No… No.
That wasn't possible.
Her eyes dropped to her pale hands…they were scarred and it really was Alicia's hand(it had the scar she'd once helped apply ointment on).
How..?
Lilith stared at him, searching for the man who used to hold her like she was his entire world. "Lamien..."
The entire hall went silent, not because they recognized her but because of the way she said the Alpha's name without permission.
Lamien's silver eyes darkened. "Did you just call me by my name?"
Lilith froze. "I..."
A cold, terrifying silence filled the room.
The guard holding her arm immediately lowered his head.
Even the elders looked away. Everyone knew… no one addressed the Alpha so casually.
Especially not her.
Lamien stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "You killed my Luna, Alicia!." His voice was quiet. "And now you stand here wearing her face, claiming her title, and daring to call yourself my mate."
Lilith's heart pounded. "No, that's not true. I am Lilith."
The moment the words left her mouth, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Lamien's jaw tightened."Enough!" His voice travelled through the entire hall. "You are not my Luna."
Those words pushed tears to Lilith's eyes.
He looked at the guards and passed his order, "She will be punished for impersonating the Luna."
Lilith's eyes widened. "Punished?"
Lamien's gaze returned to her. "For insulting the bond my mate and I share. For attempting to murder the woman who held that bond. And for standing before my pack and claiming to be someone you are not."
The guards tightened their grip. Lilith shook her head, panic rising.
"No... no, you don't understand."
But Lamien had already turned away, walking towards the chamber the healers had been parading. "Take her back to the dungeon."
The doors opened.
As they dragged her away, Lilith looked around the hall one last time.
Every face…Every person who once bowed to her.
They all looked at her like she was a monster.
Then the realization finally struck.
Alicia hadn't only stolen her throne. She had stolen the truth.
And now...Lilith Volney was imprisoned for murdering herself.
- Writer
