A second chance

Chapter4

Alexander

"My son, I don't know how much longer I can endure this," he whispered. "It seems Luna has perfected her plans.

Papa, lying nearly lifeless beside me, spoke with a weak but relentless voice.

Make sure you stay safe and protect yourself if you have any chance to. I don't know why the moon goddess created you without a wolf, but I know that, with or without a wolf, you're a wonderful son."

"Papa, don't say that. We'll make it out of this alive," I reassured him, but our conversation was suddenly cut short as the prison entrance door swung open once again.

"Take them out," a voice commanded. The guard unlocked our cell door and roughly dragged us out.

"He's your alpha; show some respect," I managed to say, but it was met with a resounding slap and mockery.

Another guard chipped in, “What kind of alpha is he? We don't want an alpha that can betray his own kind.

Finally, we were brought out before the entire pack. I looked around, faces filled with anger and curses directed at us.

"Tie him up!" Luna's voice thundered, and I couldn't hold back my scream as they dragged Papa away like trash.

I tried to fight back but was beaten mercilessly and chained. Helpless, I could only shout, cry, and scream as I watched Luna and Papa’s beta, who is his second in command, judge and sentence Papa for a crime he knew nothing about.

Papa was tied to an arranged pile of firewood, ready to be set ablaze by Luna's command.

"He is a traitor to his own kind, not worthy of being our alpha. He deserves to die!" Luna's judgment echoed through the walls of the Red Moon pack.

"He's innocent! Papa!" I cried out, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.

The fire was lit, and it slowly began to burn papa. The painful whines and groans that came out from his mouth shattered my heart. All that mattered now was joining my parents.

“Awoooo!”

With a loud howl, I let out the anguish and mourning that had filled up within me, a grievous cry that echoed through the walls.

As Papa's remains turned to ashes, the crowd began to go away, and I looked up at the faces of the people Papa had protected and fought for over the years.

It was disappointing to see that no one stood up for him. Not even his so-called friends had protected him; they easily believed the allegations against him.

"Do you miss Papa?" Luna's voice snapped me back to reality.

"How could you?" I asked bitterly. "How could you be so wicked and heartless toward the man who loved and cared for you? You killed a man who accepted you with all his heart. The best way to thank your friend, the former Luna, is to kill her mate? How cruel can you be?"

She laughed mockingly. "You don't know how it feels to see the person you love so much taken away from you. Ouch! Sorry, you know now."

I couldn't hold back my anger. "How is it Mama's fault that Papa was her mate? She died, and you got him back. You got him back! Why did you have to kill him?"

"Well, being the second wasn't part of my plans," she retorted.

"Tomorrow, my son will become alpha, and he will rule better than your weak father, right? Andrea," she said, turning to her son.

He hesitated for a moment before nodding his head in agreement.

She started to walk away from the arena but stopped and returned to where I was, still chained.

"I planned your mother's death," she whispered. "Hope it was fun seeing both your parents die before your eyes." She winked at me and then walked away, ordering the guards to give me food and water.

I let out a painful howl, full of hurt and anguish. "You will meet your end soon. I promise you that," I yelled after her.

The night was filled with sorrow and anger, and the weight of the injustices that had befallen my family stuffed upon me.

I was dragged back to my room, where food and water were already placed on the table. Reluctantly, I walked over, sat on the floor, and began to eat. I knew I needed all the energy I could gather for the fight that lay ahead.

As I ate, memories of my parents flooded my mind, and tears filled my eyes. Their love, their sacrifices, all that they had done for the pack - it was all taken away unjustly.

Eventually, tiredness and grief took over me. I lay down on my bed, still thinking about my parents, and slowly I drifted off to sleep.

My restless sleep, however, was suddenly interrupted by a sudden noise. I woke up, my heart pounding, as I listened carefully.

The sound was coming from outside my room. It was as if someone was trying to sneak in or approach silently.

Fear gripped me, and I cautiously prepared myself for whatever or whoever might be creeping just beyond the door.

My door swung open, and to my surprise, it was a guard. He wasted no time and ordered.

"Get up and follow me." I complied, rising from my bed, and followed him down through the hallway.I had already prepared myself for whatever that's to come.

We continued until we reached Andrea’s room. He stopped and re-chained my hands and legs, leaving me feeling helpless.

I became curious. “Why did you bring me to Andrea’s room? And why are you chaining me? But my question fell on deaf ears. As I was ignored.

When I entered the room, I didn't see any threat, but a heart-wrenching view welcomed me. There, on Andrea’s bed, lay Yvonne, tired and vulnerable. My heart bled at the sight of her.

When Andrea saw me, he pounced on her and started taking advantage of her. I couldn't stand by and watch such a horrible act happen before my eyes.

Without wasting a second, I ran out of the room filled with anger and rage.

Unknowingly, I bumped into Mia, who seemed to know what was happening inside. But she drew me back and unlocked the chains.

As soon as she was done, I fled into the woods. I have had enough for one day. Yvonne didn't deserve what just happened to her. She's just a sixteen-year-old helpless orphan who was just trying to help me.

I found myself deep in thought, haunted by guilt over what had happened to Yvonne. Surprisingly, Mia appeared.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You shouldn't be here. The full moon is about to appear. You should be getting ready to welcome your wolf. It's almost midnight."

Mia’s response was shocking. "I care less about a wolf right now. With what I have done, I don't even deserve to have one," she admitted.

Out of curiosity, I pushed further. "What did you do? And what does it have to do with me?"

With a heavy heart, Mia confessed. "I planted the fake voice evidence on people's phones against the alpha, at Luna's request.

I got carried away by the quest for power. I wanted to be Luna, but I never imagined that Andrea could go so far with what he did to Yvonne.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't admit this. Alexander, please talk to me, say something. Your silence is breaking my heart.

Please forgive me."

She leaned closer, whispering into my ear, “all the evidence is all in the First Bank Locker room”. The code and password are your age, twenty-six. “Get your justice”.

“Awoo! Awoo!! Awoo!!! Howling from new wolves filled the air. Interrupting what Mia was saying.

But before Mia could even experience the shift, her life was unexpectedly taken from her.

I stood there, startled, as her lifeless body lay before me.

Fear gripped me as I began to run, but I couldn't outrun a wolf. Andrea’s attack was quick and ruthless, tearing into my throat, and blood gushing out.

As I lay there, ready to die, "If I ever have the chance to come back," I vowed, "I will avenge Yvonne, seek justice f

or the injustice done to my parents, and make things right."

Those were my final thoughts before I gave up.