Ella’s POV
I laid on my back in the cell, staring at the rough ceiling and discussing with Lucy. I was glad to have her as a companion in this season. It was getting late and would get colder and I hoped that the elders would come to an agreement quickly on what to do with us.
I didn’t want to spend the night in this cold cell over a misunderstanding that I didn’t do. I snorted at the claim I was here for. I wasn’t even ready to be the Luna of the blood moon pack despite how much I loved Kevin, why would I be interested in planning a coup against the blue river pack?
If anyone here truly knew me, they would know that I wasn’t interested in politics. If anyone truly knew Kevin, they would know that he was more interested in forming an alliance with the blue river pack than being against them.
They don’t know you all and that is the problem.
“They didn’t ask to know us. They are blinded by fear.” I sighed.
You should show them who you are.
“How could we?” I snorted at Lucy. We might have a chance if they take us out of this cold cell and put us in comfortable rooms. I knew that we were werewolves and couldn’t be paralysed by fear but that didn’t mean that I was interested in wasting useful energy trying to regulate my temperature when I didn’t have to stay in the cold at all.
You will find a way. They will get to know you.
I smiled, loving how Lucy talked with confidence. Sometimes, I wondered if she wasn’t being too optimistic but I didn’t want to tell her and ruin her mood. I needed some optimism as well to get out of this stinky mood that I was in and maybe she would get to rub off on me and I would be fine.
“Do you think they have decided what to do about us?” I asked Lucy, needing her to tell me everything would be okay.
I needed someone to snap me out of the fear in my head. I had imagined over hundred ways that the elders might decide to punish and kill us for being near their land and sighed at the end of each thought, hating how creative I was.
If only Kevin was here. I sighed again.
I realized that Lucy hadn’t answered my question and sighed again. I guessed she was also afraid of dying despite her endless show of optimism.
Hang in there, Ella. Everyone will be fine. It’s not easy to make a decision.
I smiled, grateful that she was still optimistic.
“Thank you, Lucy.”
I didn’t get to hear her response because it was at that moment that a guard walked up to my cell and unlocked the door, yanking it open.
I was glad as I jumped to my feet, even before they asked me to do that. Had they made the decision quickly? I wondered about that and hoped it was a favorable one.
What did I mean by favourable? I snorted as I walked out of my cell. It was high time that they decided on what to do with us. It had been over four hours that we had been thrown back here the second time.
I wondered if we were going to the court for another trial or were being marched straight to the execution ground.
As much as I was afraid of the former, I hoped it wasn’t the latter. I didn’t want to die yet. I still wanted to experience living with Kevin as his official mate and being the mother of his wolf pups. I wanted to experience how it would feel to raise the next alpha.
“What would you like to eat?” The guard asked.
I gasped as I turned my head immediately to him and wondering what he meant by that. I hoped that they weren’t going to kill us with poison because that would be so cheap. Even a rogue would never have resorted to that.
“I am not hungry.” I said, shaking my head. I wasn’t ready to be killed with my own hands. “I just want to be free from here and not go back to the cell.”
He smiled as he led me outside. “Let’s go.”
I sighed as I walked out before him, knowing he probably realized that I had lied about not being hungry. I was grateful my stomach didn’t grumble and give me away. I would have been terribly embarrassed if that had happened.
I still didn’t know what was going on in Oscar Nelson’s head. I was taken to the palace dining hall by the guard and there I met the others already seated. They jumped to their feet as soon as they saw me and I smiled, waving at them to be seated while I sat in the vacant chair close to Kevin.
He took my hand in his and squeezed it lightly as I settled beside him. “Are you okay?” He asked.
I nodded, hating the anxiety in his eyes. I would pay the whole bank to wipe that out. “I’m fine.” I replied with a smile for his sake.
He nodded. “Now, I’m fine too.”
I grinned. “Don’t worry too much. Lucy said everything would be fine.”
He chuckled which was the result I was hoping for. He looked more relaxed with the amusement in his eyes. “I didn’t know Lucy was a seer.”
I smiled. “I think she would prefer to be called optimistic.”
“Do you believe that?” He asked, peering into my eyes.
I shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe but I can’t deny that I’m scared of the unknown. What do you think they would do to us?”
“Hopefully, it wouldn’t be to kill us.”
“I hope not.” I smiled as I saw dad and Caleb walk into the dining hall and sit with us. I was a bit relieved at the sight of them, knowing it wasn’t possible for them to poison us if members of their own pack would be eating with us.
“It’s good to see you again.” Dad beamed as he joined us.
“You too.” We all replied.
The maids walked in minutes later with trays of various delicacies. Even if I wanted to ignore and pretend that I wasn’t hungry, I couldn’t as the aroma made me hungry the minute I saw the food. I could only be grateful that it wasn’t poisoned as it would have been hard to ignore this.
“The alpha would like to see you in the next two minutes.” The head guard announced when we were done with our meal.
Even if they were going to execute us now, I was glad that I wasn’t going to die hungry.
“We are ready now.” Kevin said and looked at everyone.
We all nodded. We were ready now. He stood up, taking my hand in his and we walked out together after the guards.
Everyone was already gathered and seated when we got to the court.
Oscar Nelson stared at us when we got in and I stirred uncomfortably, wondering what he was thinking. I was curious to know what was going on in his mind and what he would like to do to us.
“You are free.” He announced suddenly.
I wasn’t sure I heard him right until I heard loud cheers around me. It was true. He had declared us free.
He raised a hand to silence the excited crowd and everyone obeyed. He had looked like he wasn’t going to let us go and I wondered what had changed his mind.
“As much as it was disconcerting to find out that soldiers of the rival pack were staying in our territory, I couldn’t overlook the logic of them staying there to fight their enemies rather than lead them to their pack. Moreover, the house they had stayed in wasn’t so close to the border that the war would have spilled to us so I don’t think they meant any harm. I know how lonely Zeke had been all these days and it would have been a tough decision to send his daughter away with the group of the men she was traveling with no matter how loyal he is to the pack. I’m a father as well and would have made the same decision to save my kid. Ella had lived here before and had never caused any harm to the pack at any time so she was here so I don’t believe she is a spy. Thinking on what everyone had said, I think it’s true that they had all been involved in situations beyond their control that led them to being here so I don’t think there should be a reason to keep them captive anymore. They are free to go to their land when they are ready to and we can put this episode behind us.” Oscar Nelson said and walked away.
Kevin pulled me into a hug, kissing me on the forehead. “Tell Lucy I said thanks. I didn’t know she was truly a seer.”
I chuckled. “You should have believed her when I told you of her prophesy.”
“Now I do. Did she tell you what I plan to do to you when we get back home?”
I laughed at the twinkle in his eyes and shook my head. “Lucy doesn’t have to tell me what you think. I think it’s quite obvious what you intend to do.”
“I regret that I can’t do it now.” He whispered.
“Don’t start with me now.” I said, blushing.
“Will you ever stop flirting with my daughter?” Dad said as he walked towards us.
“Will you ever stop interrupting my time with your daughter?” Kevin chuckled.
“I’m glad you are alive.” Dad said, patting him on the back.
“Me too.” Kevin smiled. “It would be a shame for the pack to lose you.”
Dad snorted. “They couldn’t have killed me and Caleb. All we would have gotten was house arrest for the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds sad.”
Dad shrugged. “I would stay imprisoned for the rest of my life if I could save my daughter. Having to watch my daughter executed in my presence is sadder.”
I sighed, hating the direction their conversation was heading to.
“I’m glad we all escaped an unfortunate fate.” I said. “Excuse me.” I said and walked away, seeing my people from the blue river pack beckoning to me.