The Ashes of Vengeance

EpisodeFour

Evelyn’s POV

Lyanna let out a wicked laugh with the bread that was supposed to be my dinner in her hand. “Do you honestly think a lowlife like you can get married to the man of my dreams?” She said slowly, throwing away the bread she was holding.

Lyanna smiled, seeing the fury in my eyes. “Oh, is that supposed to be your dinner?” She said, laughing.

My stomach rumbled again, telling me I had to feed it. “Why are you doing this to me?” I said with tears.

Lyanna leaned closer to the cage, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Why am I doing this? Because you don’t deserve anything, Evelyn. Not love, not respect, and certainly not Darius. You’re nothing but a murderer, and soon, you’ll be nothing but a memory.”

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out at her. My wolf stirred within me, furious and aching for release, but I held her back. Not yet. If I let her out now, I’d never survive.

“Darius will see through you,” I hissed, my voice trembling with anger and exhaustion. “He’ll realize the truth.”

Lyanna laughed, throwing her head back. “Oh, sweet little Evelyn. Darius already knows the truth, my truth. And that’s all that matters. Do you think he’ll believe a word you say now? Look at you—pathetic, filthy, broken. You don’t stand a chance.”

She turned and began to walk away, her laughter echoing off the stone walls. My stomach clenched with hunger, and my back screamed with pain, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

As soon as she was out of sight, the gate to my cage clanged open again. Two guards stepped in, their faces emotionless as they grabbed me by the arms and dragged me out. I didn’t even have the strength to resist.

“What now?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from screaming.

“The Alpha has made his decision,” one of them said, his tone as cold as the stone beneath my feet.

Fear coiled in my stomach as they hauled me into the courtyard. A crowd had gathered, their faces a mixture of hatred and curiosity.

At the center of it all stood Alpha Darius, his powerful frame silhouetted against the setting sun. His eyes, once warm and full of life, were now hard and unyielding.

“Evelyn,” he began, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd, “you stand accused of poisoning my father, the late Alpha Marcus.

Despite your pleas of innocence, the evidence against you is overwhelming. Your fingerprints were found on the poisoned item. Witnesses saw him near his chambers on the night of his death. And Lyanna—” He gestured to her, standing smugly at his side “—has provided a detailed account of your actions.

I glared at Lyanna, my heart pounding. “She’s lying!” I shouted, but my voice cracked with desperation. “She’s setting me up!”

“Silence!” Darius roared, his Alpha authority resonating in every syllable. “I have given you every chance to confess, Evelyn. But I can see you have made up your mind.”

“Because I’m not guilty!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “Darius, please—listen to me!”

His eyes softened for a fleeting moment, but then Lyanna placed a hand on his arm, whispering something into his ear. His expression hardened once more.

“Enough,” he said, his voice icy. “Evelyn of the Crescent Moon pack, you are hereby sentenced to death for the murder of Alpha Marcus.”

The crowd erupted in cheers and jeers, their voices a cacophony of judgement. My knees buckled, and the guards had to hold me upright. This couldn’t happen. I couldn’t die like this—not for something I didn’t do.

“Prepare the stake,” Darius commanded, turning away from me as if I were already dead.

I was dragged towards the center of the courtyard, where a wooden stake had been erected. Chains were wrapped around my wrists and ankles, binding me in place. The crowd’s taunts grew louder, their faces blurring as tears filled my eyes.

As the executioner stepped forward, holding a torch alight with flames, my wolf surged within me. "Let me out!" she demanded, her voice echoing in my mind. We can fight! We can escape!

“No,” I whispered, barely audible. If I transformed now, it would only prove their accusations. I had to find another way.

“Any last words?” the executioner asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

I lifted my head, meeting Darius’s gaze. “You’re making a mistake,” I said, my voice steady despite the fear gripping me. “I didn’t kill your father." And when the truth comes out, you’ll regret this

Darius’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He turned away, his shoulders tense.

The executioner raised the torch, the flames casting eerie shadows across the courtyard. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end. But just as the fire was about to touch the wood beneath me, a shout rang out.

“Stop!”

The crowd fell silent, parting to reveal the tall man from earlier. His face was grave, his eyes locked on Darius. “You can’t go through with this,” he said, his voice firm. “There’s something you need to see.”

Darius hesitated, then motioned for the executioner to lower the torch. “What is it, Liam?”

I watched as he walked closer to Alpha Darius, whispering into his ear. “ You can't mean this, Darius. "She is harmless,” Liam said, looking at me.

“ Harmless? A girl that killed my father, and you dare tell me she is harmless.” Alpha Dairus's face gleamed with anger. “The only reason I am listening to you is that you are my beta. If not, I would have believed you had a hand in killing my father.”

Alpha Darius's words caught Liam by surprise. He looked at Lyanna, “Where did you get the item? Did you see her do it?”

“I don't need to, Liam. Evelyn is my friend, and I know what she is capable of.”

“You heard that, Liam. And why the hell are you defending her? "Don't tell me you have feelings for a mere murderer!” Alpha Darius snapped.

Without wasting time, he collected the torch from the executioner. I watched as he trailed towards me, and with tears I pleaded again, but it was too late. I could feel the fire burning from the soles of my feet.

Life fleeing from my body