Red:The Alpha's Queen

Chapter One

~Ruby~

The guards had certainly done a number on me. My lips were split and blood was still dripping from my mouth. My left eye was clearly shut closed, swollen and purple and I could hardly see from the right one.

Everything was blurry and it took me great concentration to focus on something.

Clearly, all this was all an outcome from my attempted escape. Even though I was considered the greatest and strongest, I was obviously no match for the warriors I was equally ranked with. Let alone seven of them.

Nothing made sense to me. I had no good reason to kill a member of the Royal Family, let alone one who was part of the werewolf clans.

And yet, the Elders and everyone who I looked up to and called friend had turned against me. All because my cloak had been soaked with the victim's blood and had been found at the crime scene.

While the evidence was quite convincing, it was clear as day that I was being framed, but no one seemed to believe me.

My only ally, Master Milagros had submitted a petition on my behalf, so that I could be granted temporary freedom in order for me to find evidence to prove my innocence, but that was denied too. It was a vote of 4 against 1.

Whoever had done this had clearly planned it out well, leaving no room for any potholes and questionable circumstances. I was a pawn in their game, and they were clearly winning.

I was at a loss, and the most frustrating bit about it was that I knew of no one I could suspect. My grandma was the only other person that could be my stand-in witness, but she too was denied because we were related. She would defend me whether I was guilty or not.

My partner, Louis, the only other person that could vouch for me as a witness was in no shape to do so. On the night I had been arrested, he had been found on his floor in the apartment he rented, beaten to a bloody pulp it was a miracle he was still alive. Even if I prayed for a miracle, nothing would wake him up from that comma.

A few days after no one came forward to defend me, the Council made its decision. I was to be executed. Hence my attempted escape. I couldn't just go down like that, without even receiving a hearing. But at the end of the day, I had failed. Beaten like a criminal they all thought I was.

I couldn't definitely attempt an escape the second time. Not even when those dungeon doors were left open for me to run. I was too weak to move. Every inch of my body howolled in pain, and I was sure I had a concussion and several broken ribs.

My labored breaths echoed in the room as I realized that I was truly going to die. The Council's decision was final and they weren't going to conduct any investigation. And no one was going to listen to me either.

My hope began to dwindle. Everyone else truly believed that I was the one behind the murder of that werewolf Prince. All because of that stupid cloak. I didn't want to die. At least not as a criminal.

Tears welled in my eyes as everything finally sank in, but I held them back when two guards, led by master Milagros made their way inside.

He had a sorrowful look on his face, and just like that, I knew.

"Child, it's time."

****

"To all the people before us on this day, we're gathered to witness the execution of Ruby Halloway also famously known as Red." The main secretary of the council read from a scroll, announcing my 'crimes' to the crowd that had gathered to watch my death.

Many of the people I knew had come. Some had teary eyes while others remained expressionless. I didn't want to make eye contact with any of them, so I kept my head lowered.

When the secretary finished speaking, I was led to the 'Stone of Death', where I was to be beheaded. Master Milagros had stayed by my side, but then, he turned to me.

"I'm deeply sorry I failed you, child."

It took everything in me to fight my tears this time. However, my fate had come, and there was nothing I could do to change it. My time had ran out.

The town executioner was already in position and the guards forced me to my knees, my hands tied behind my back. The town executioner raised his blade, but he was interrupted by another voice.

"I'll do it."

Gasps echoed around. No one had expected the Alpha King to show up. The murdered prince had been his cousin, so it only made sense he would want to unleash justice himself.

The executioner surrendered his blade and the Alpha took position.

For the first time, I looked up at the him, the victim's family and King of the werewolves.

His eyes glared down at me, pinning me down the earth where I already knelt. His eyes glowed silver, letting me know not to push him. His wolf was on the brink of taking control. With nothing to say to him, I looked away.

Slowly, I lowered my head and exposed my neck in surrender, but something else caught my attention.

A woman, deep in the masses of the crowds of people that had gathered to witness my execution. She wore a cloak, a blue as dark as the sea. A hood covered her facial features, but I didn't miss the sinister smile on her blood red lips.

She didn't have to hide it. She wanted me to see it. She was the one behind all this.

I began to struggle. If we could only catch her, then my life, my reputation and name would all be spared. The woman's smile widened in mockery and that only fueled my actions.

"Hold her down." The Alpha barked and two guards proceeded to do his bidding. I wasn't trying to escape but no one could see that. I had no strength left to scream, nor fight.

Everything was pointless. That woman, whoever she was, had clearly won, and I had lost. There's nothing I could do to change that.

I stopped struggling. I had given up. It was better not to delay the inevitable. I surrendered.

As if he could tell what I was thinking, the Alpha gave a respectful nod and then raised his sword.

The blow came with a sharp sting, and everything went black.