Chapter Five: The Alpha's Judgment
1176 Words
Chapter Five: The Alpha's Judgment
Ella woke up before sunrise. She kept having flashbacks of everything that happened the previous night, the crimson eyes glowing between the trees and watching her without blinking. It was very creepy.
She sat upright, breathing a bit husky, her thin blanket had twisted around her legs and sweat dropped down her face despite the cool morning air that came in through her cracked window.
For several moments, she just stared around her small cottage. Everything looked normal, her old wooden table, the fire that had faded out, the cracked mirror but yet nothing felt normal anymore, not after Elder Mira's warning.
"Never attend the Mates' Ceremony."
She never explained why and she was gone.
Ella rubbed her arms trying to shake away the strange feeling that she felt deep inside her chest. Somehow, she knew life would never be the same after what happened last night.
After washing quickly, she stepped outside.
The village immediately felt... different.
Warriors stood at nearly every corner, they looked tense as they spoke in low voices. Some were sharpening their weapons while others patrolled the streets instead of training in the fields.
People whispered nervously while she walked past,
Heads turned. Ella lowered her gaze and continued walking, pretending not to notice the eyes that followed her every step.
---
Near the pack kitchens, she heard voices through an open window.
"The patrol only found his body at dawn."
Ella slowed down, stretching her ears to hear.
"I heard his throat was torn open."
"No rogue could do that." An older lady said.
"Then what did?"
A servant crossed her hands on her nervously.
"When I was little , my grandmother used to tell stories about an ancient curse."
"Don't say that! Don't say what you're not sure if." Another servant sternly warned.
"I'm serious! They said silver fur was found near the body."
Another servant gasped.
"The Moon Wolf..."
"Quiet! Someone will hear you."
Ella frowned.
Silver fur? She had never heard of any wolf with silver fur before. Before she could move from where she stood, another familiar voice spoke.
"Oh, please."
Nora walked into the kitchen followed by two of her closest friends.
"You people are looking in the wrong direction."
The servants immediately stopped talking.
Nora folded her arms.
"Think about it, nothing strange has happened in this pack for years, then suddenly, Ella turns nineteen and now someone's dead."
She shrugged.
"So you think she's cursed?" one servant asked.
"Yes definitely, I know she's cursed."
Ella stepped into the room before she even realized, the room immediately became silent. Nora's smile widened.
"Perfect timing." She laughed.
"You can explain to everyone why death keeps following you."
"I didn't kill anyone," Ella whispered.
"No?" You're sure about that." Nora folded her arms.
Before Ella could answer her, another voice interrupted.
"Because people would rather blame an innocent girl than look for the problem."
It was Ethan. He walked in, his gaze fixed on Nora.
"There isn't a single piece of evidence against Ella."
Nora rolled her eyes.
"I don't need evidence, it's already obvious that this girl is cursed."
"And that's why you're getting it all wrong, we don't know what killed that warrior, so stop blaming the innocent girl."
Nora smirked her lips.
"You always defend her."
She looked at him up and down.
"Unless..."
A sly grin crossed her face.
"You're in love with the wolfless girl."
The servants looked at themselves glances.
Ella wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Ethan remained calm.
"If standing beside an innocent person makes people think that.. then, so be it."
Nora laughed.
"Wow! How touching."
Ella stepped between them before the argument turned worse, she turned to gaze at Ethan.
"Ethan."
He looked at her directly, she shook her head and spoke.
"It's enough, let them believe whatever they want."
He frowned, then after a moment, he nodded and together, they left leaving Nora glaring at them.
* * * * *
Across the village, Alpha Rowan stood inside the warriors' barracks. The patrol captain bowed to greet him.
"We searched the entire northern border."
"And? What did you find" he questioned.
"There were no tracks, no scent of witnesses. Only...." He hesitated, "only that we found silver fur"
Rowan's expression changed.
"And Elder Mira?"
The captain frowned.
"Several villagers claim they saw her heading toward the northern forest before dawn."
Rowan's eyes darkened, he turned to his Beta.
"Find her, alive." He commanded at once, the Beta nodded.
"What about the silver fur?" The captain asked.
"Investigate it quietly, I don't want anybody panicking."
As you command, Alpha."
* * * * *
Ella had barely reached her cottage when she heard another knock on her door, opening the door, she found two warriors waiting.
"Ella Ashwood." One of the warriors spoke.
"The Alpha Council requests your presence."
Her blood immediately ran cold, she could feel her breath rising.
"I've... never been inside the council hall."
"You will today, you don't have to worry."
The walk through the village felt like it was not going to end, people stared at them as they walked past.
"Cursed."
"That's her."
"The Alpha's finally going to punish her."
Ella lowered her eyes and kept walking.
The doors of the council hall opened, inside the were already elders seated. At the center sat Alpha Rowan, his cold gray eyes settled on her.
"Step forward." He commanded.
She obeyed without hesitation.
"Why were you near the northern forest last night?"
"I was returning home after the g athering."
"And" he didn't wait for her to answer, "Did anyone visit you?"
Ella hesitated before speaking.
"Elder Mira visited me."
The elders exchanged glances.
"What did she say to you?"
Ella swallowed.
"She warned me not to attend the Mate Ceremony."
Everywhere turned silent again, before Rowan could ask another question... The council doors burst open.
A warrior rushed inside carrying a folded cloth, he dropped to one knee and board.
"Alpha." He was breathing heavily.
"We found this beside the patrol warrior."
He unfolded the cloth, a single strand of shimmering silver fur lay inside.
The oldest elder's hands began to tremble, his face immediately turned pale.
"No..."
He slowly fell to his knees.
"It cannot be..."
The remaining elders leaned forward.
"The Moon Wolf..."
The chamber froze, one by one, they all turned to look at Ella. They all looked confused and she had no idea why. Rowan never looked away from her.
"Ella Ashwood..."
His voice was calm and steady.
"Tell me everything."
Before Ella could answer, a deep ceremonial horn echoed across the village. An elder rose slowly to his feet immediately.
"The hour has come."
Another elder looked toward Rowan.
"The Mate Ceremony is ready to begin."
Ella's heart skipped a beat, Elder Mira's warning rang in her ears once more.
"Whatever happens... Do not attend the Mate Ceremony."
But as the council doors slowly opened...Ella realized that fate had already made its choice and she couldn't change it.
- Writer
