“What? The death penalty?” Vione shook her head. “No. No. You can’t do that, Usher. No. Please.”
Vione resisted. She jumped over the barrier and ran toward Usher. The guards quickly caught her.
The werewolf pack was in an uproar. They were shocked. Some of them couldn’t believe the verdict Ayla had read. Despite concerns for the safety of Usher and the Frostholm pack, the death penalty seemed excessive. After all, there had been no coup, and the underground prison was considered punishment enough. Besides, Addy and Hilary were guaranteed never to leave it for the rest of their lives.
Some of them looked sympathetic. They understood if this was Usher’s way of punishing Vione. He wanted to make her suffer, even through them.
So, Addy held Hilary’s hand. He steeled his resolve and Hilary smiled. They had made their decision. Whatever happened, they were willing to endure it as long as Vione was safe. As long as Vione was alive, all would be well.
“I, Addy Roberto Munest, accept the death penalty, Alpha Usher Thorne.”
Vione’s sobs stopped immediately. While the guards continued to hold her back, she turned around. She saw Addy and Hilary, then shook her head pleadingly.
“No.”
But Addy did not waver. Neither did Hilary.
“I, Hilary Russell, accept the death penalty, Alpha Usher Thorne.”
Vione’s mind shattered. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. She moaned in pain and could not do anything as the guards began to take Addy and Hilary away.
“Don’t. Please. Forgive them, Usher. Please. Punish me, Usher. Punish me all you want, but not them. Not my parents. I beg you.”
Vione’s pleas meant nothing to Usher. When his hand was raised in a clenched fist, the decision was sealed. Addy and Hilary would face the death penalty that very day.
All the werewolves gathered at the Judgment Ground. It was located in the middle of Amerotha Forest, the sacred forest that served as the center of the Frostholm Pack’s mystical energy.
A circle of werewolves surrounded the Judgment Ground. They were all silent, not saying a word. Every sense was focused on Addy and Hilary, who now stood on the stage.
Silence surrounded them. The stillness grew. It was getting dark, and the sky was dark. The usually lively creatures of the night suddenly fell silent. It seemed that even nature could do nothing, mute in the face of the impending fate.
Usher arrived with Garth and Ayla. While Jemma mingled with the other werewolves, her face betrayed regret; there was nothing she could do.
“Tonight, the highest law of the Frostholm Pack will be enforced once again. In the presence of the full moon, Alpha Usher Thorne and the Moon Goddess, Addy Roberto Munest and Hilary Russell will face the death penalty.”
Ayla’s voice shattered the silence of the night. She forced herself to remain composed as her eyes met those of Addy and Hilary. Then, without a sound, she whispered.
Forgive me. I can’t do anything to save you. But I promise you. I will do everything I can to save Vione.
Addy and Hilary did not say anything, but they picked up Ayla’s signal. They smiled as if to say that it was not Ayla’s fault. They were okay with it and hoped that Vione would stay alive.
“Do it!”
Usher gave the order. The guards covered Addy and Hilary’s heads with black cloth. Then the guards’ claws ripped open their throats. Pulse broke, blood spurted, and both collapsed on the judgment platform.
*
Vione awoke, gasping for air. Her eyes were wide open and she gasped. For a moment she seemed half-conscious, and only then did she slowly begin to take in her surroundings.
Silence. Dark. All dark. No light. And a nauseatingly damp smell permeated the air.
The underground prison.
Vione suddenly sprang to her feet. She approached the iron bars that held her captive and began to scream.
“Anyone. Is anyone listening?”
There was silence for a moment, but Vione did not give up. She screamed again, calling for someone. Whoever it was didn’t matter. She just had to convince herself. There seemed to be something irrational about her dream. She saw something terrible.
It was just a dream. This couldn’t be happening.
So, Vione screamed louder. Her voice echoed, and just as she was about to give up out of exhaustion, a light appeared.
A shewolf arrived with a torch in one hand and a tray of food in the other. Her arrival immediately revived Vione, who had been sitting dejectedly on the rocky prison floor.
“You. Who are you?”
The female werewolf looked nonchalant. She answered Vione’s question as she pushed the food tray through a small gap under the iron bars.
“Greisy Burton.”
Vione nodded. “Greisy, let me ask you something. This may sound absurd, but I seem to have had a nightmare.”
“A nightmare?”
“Yes,” Vione nodded, holding her head as if she were dizzy. “In my dream, I saw my parents being sentenced to death by the Alpha.” She bit her lower lip, then lifted her face. She looked at Greisy with the sharpness of a werewolf’s eyes. “Th-That was just a dream, right?”
Greisy stared at Vione for a moment in silence. Then she finally answered. “That was no dream. That was reality. Your parents, Addy Roberto Munest and Hilary Russell, were sentenced to death yesterday.”
Vione’s hands fell to her sides. She was stunned and her whole body went numb. She fell, and Greisy said nothing more, just walked away.
Now Vione was alone. There was only darkness and gloom. She had no one left. Without Addy and Hilary, her world was over.
*
“Damn them. How dare they petition? Who do they think they are?”
Usher’s shout was followed by a slam of his hand on the table. Garth stood still, saying nothing, allowing the Alpha to vent his anger.
Usher rose from his seat. He paced back and forth, one hand on his hip, shaking his head in uncontrollable rage.
“This cannot be allowed,” Usher said, pausing in his stride. He thought for a moment and then gave Garth an order. “Call Ayla. Tell her to meet me immediately.”
Garth nodded before he left. “Yes, Alpha.”
Usher waited impatiently for Ayla, his frustration and anger escalating. He became restless and kept looking at the wall clock. Then he began to curse.
“Damn you, Ayla. What is taking you so long?”
Usher thought about contacting Ayla directly. It was certainly not common for the Alpha to contact those he wanted to meet directly. But this was crucial. He needed to meet Ayla as soon as possible.
His hand reached out. Usher had already taken his phone from the desk when there was a knock at the door. He turned to find Ayla arriving.
“Good evening, Alpha.”
Usher sighed. He saw Ayla’s tired old face. Maybe he should not have called Ayla at eleven in the evening.
“Good evening, Ayla,” Usher replied, pointing to the chair in front of him. “Please sit down. I have something to discuss with you.”
Ayla nodded, sat down, and asked without beating around the bush. “What is it, Alpha? Does it have something to do with the petition of the pack members to reject Mireya as replacement for Luna?”
Usher’s face looked uncomfortable for a moment. He nodded, avoiding Ayla’s gaze for a few seconds.
“I don’t know who initiated this petition, but it’s absolutely outrageous.”
Ayla took a deep breath. “Actually, Alpha, according to the laws of the Frostholm Pack as written in The Rulebook, there has never been a replacement for Luna. Likewise, there will never be a substitute Alpha. An Alpha is only for one Luna, and vice versa. So, the pack asked for a valid reason.”
“I know that, but can’t we make an exception for this?” Usher asked angrily, his eyes wide with rage. “Don’t you understand why I want to make Mireya my replacement for Luna? It’s all because of that damned Vione. She betrayed me, Ayla. Now she’s no longer my Luna and my mate. So does it make sense that I have to suffer without a replacement Luna because of her actions?”
“Forgive me, Alpha, but there’s nothing I can do. I can’t break the law.”
Usher growled as he slammed his back into the chair. “You’re not trying to mock me, are you? I don’t want to break the law unless I have to.”
“I’m not trying to mock you, Alpha. I’m just saying what I think.”
“Enough,” Usher replied, raising a hand. He stopped Ayla from speaking further while he thought for a moment. “What do you think I can do to calm the members of the pack?”
“Alpha.”
“Oh, come on, Ayla! You think I’m going to die alone without Luna? Ugh!” Usher grumbled with growing irritation. He wiped his sweaty face and a thought crossed his mind. He looked at Ayla as he exhaled. “You know something, Ayla? Right now, Mireya is carrying my child.”
Ayla’s eyes widened. She was so shocked that she could hardly breathe.
“That’s why I can’t keep quiet about this petition. I have to make Mireya my Luna and my mate. I don’t want my child to be born with the judging eyes of others. I don’t want him to be labeled as the illegitimate child of my affair with Mireya.”
Ayla pursed her lips. Even though it was a reality, she couldn’t judge Usher. So she composed herself. When she felt she had regained control, she spoke.
“Poor baby. I sense your concern, Alpha. For that, I can only remind you of one thing.”
Usher frowned. “What is that?”
“There is actually no prohibition against werewolves changing partners. It’s human and can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, you are an Alpha and there are slightly different rules for you.”
“Basically, Ayla.”
Ayla took a breath. “There is no law that prevents you from changing mates. You can make Mireya your mate, but not as a Luna.”
Usher’s expression changed. The possibility crossed his mind, but he rejected it. “What do you mean, Ayla?”
“I mean I can’t perform the sacred ceremony to pray for and raise Mireya as a Luna.” Ayla dared to look into Usher’s eyes and finished her statement. “As long as I and the entire pack live, we recognize only Vione Celestia Munest as the Luna of Alpha Usher Thorne.”
*