The great hall thrummed with the whispers of the pack, their eyes flicking between Alpha Herod and Elizabeth, who stood trembling in the center of the stone floor. The air was heavy with tension, the scent of pine and earth mingling with the unease that pulsed through the gathered wolves. Elizabeth's heart pounded like a war drum, her hands clenched at her sides as she faced Herod, who loomed on the raised dais, his broad shoulders rigid, his amber eyes cold as they locked onto her.
"You betrayed us, Elizabeth," Herod said, his voice a low growl that silenced the crowd. "You, my mate, chosen by the moon itself, were found in the arms of a stranger."
Elizabeth's breath caught, the accusation cutting through her like a claw. "That's a lie, Herod!" she cried, stepping forward, her voice shaking but defiant. "I've never betrayed you or the pack. You know me—how could you believe this?"
Herod's jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered with something—pain, perhaps, or doubt—but it vanished as quickly as it came. "I saw you, Elizabeth," he said, his words sharp and final. "The evidence is clear. You were caught in bed with an outsider, a rogue who could unravel everything we've built. Do you deny it?"
"I deny it with every fiber of my being!" Elizabeth's voice rose, echoing off the stone walls. She took another step, her hands trembling as she pointed at him. "I was in my chambers, alone, when that stranger appeared. I fought him off, Herod, but someone planned this—someone wanted you to see what you saw!"
The pack murmured, some casting wary glances at Elizabeth, others whispering in support of Herod. His gaze didn't waver, but his hands gripped the edge of the dais, knuckles whitening. "You expect me to believe you were framed, Elizabeth?" he asked, his tone laced with scorn. "The bond we share—it should have kept you loyal. Yet you broke it."
Elizabeth's chest ached at his words, the mate bond pulsing like a wound between them. "The bond is still there, Herod," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You feel it, don't you? You know I'd never betray you. Search your heart—search the bond. It doesn't lie."
For a moment, Herod's expression softened, and Elizabeth thought he might listen. But then his eyes hardened again, and he straightened, towering over her. "The bond is nothing if trust is broken," he said. "You've shamed me and this pack, Elizabeth. Treachery demands punishment."
Elizabeth's knees weakened, but she forced herself to stand tall. "Punishment?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you saying, Herod?"
Herod turned to the pack, his voice booming. "I reject Elizabeth as my luna and mate of this pack. She was caught in an act of betrayal, proof she would sell us out to our enemies. The punishment for treachery is death."
Gasps rippled through the hall. Elizabeth's vision blurred as the weight of Herod's words crashed over her. Death. The man who had once held her under the moonlight, who had whispered promises of forever, now stood ready to end her life. She searched Herod's face in disbelief, looking for the alpha she loved, but all she saw was a stranger.
"You can't mean this, Herod," Elizabeth said, her voice cracking as she stepped closer to the dais. "Look at me. Look into my eyes and tell me you believe I'd betray you."
Herod met her gaze, and for a fleeting second, Elizabeth saw a flicker of anguish. But then he turned away, addressing the pack again. "The decision is made. Elizabeth will face judgment at dawn."
"No!" The word tore from Elizabeth's throat as two warriors stepped forward, their hands reaching for her arms. She yanked free, her wolf stirring within her, urging her to fight. "You're making a mistake, Herod!" she shouted, her voice echoing. "Someone set me up, and you're too blind to see it! You're throwing away everything we had!"
Herod's fists clenched, but he didn't look at Elizabeth. "Take her to the cells," he ordered.
The warriors grabbed Elizabeth again, their grips like iron. She struggled, her heart screaming as she was dragged toward the hall's heavy doors. "You'll regret this, Herod!" she shouted, her voice ringing out. "When the truth comes out, you'll see what you've done!"
The doors slammed shut behind Elizabeth, muffling the pack's murmurs. The cold stone corridor stretched ahead, lit only by flickering torches. Her chest heaved as she fought back tears, the mate bond pulsing with a pain that threatened to break her. The warriors led Elizabeth to a damp cell, the iron bars clanging shut with a finality that echoed in her bones.
Alone in the darkness, Elizabeth sank to the floor, her hands covering her face. Herod's words replayed in her mind—betrayal, treachery, death. She had loved him with every part of her soul, had believed in their bond as something sacred. How could Herod turn on her so easily? The stranger in her chambers had been a shadow, a figure she barely glimpsed before he fled. Elizabeth had fought him, her claws drawing blood, but no one had listened to her side. Someone had orchestrated this, but who? And why?
Elizabeth's wolf stirred again, a low growl rumbling in her chest. She wasn't weak—she'd never been weak. The pack might see her as a traitor, but Elizabeth knew the truth, and she would fight to prove it. She wiped her tears, her resolve hardening. If Herod wouldn't listen, she'd find a way to survive and uncover the real traitor.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, soft and cautious. Elizabeth tensed, her senses sharpening. A figure appeared at the bars—her closest friend, Mara, with wide eyes and a trembling hand holding a key.
"We don't have much time, Elizabeth," Mara whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "I don't believe you did this. I'm getting you out."
Elizabeth's heart leaped, but fear followed. "If they catch you helping me, Mara, you'll be punished too."
Mara's jaw set. "I'd rather face that than let you die for something you didn't do. Hurry, Elizabeth."
The key turned in the lock, and the cell door creaked open. Elizabeth stepped out, her pulse racing. "Where can I go?" she asked. "Herod's warriors will hunt me."
"Head for the western woods," Mara said, pressing a small pack of supplies into Elizabeth's hands. "There's a rogue camp there—outcasts who might help. Find the truth, Elizabeth, and come back to clear your name."
Elizabeth gripped Mara's hand, gratitude swelling in her chest. "Thank you, Mara," she whispered. "I won't forget this."
"Go," Mara urged, pushing Elizabeth toward a side passage. "Before the guards notice."
Elizabeth slipped into the shadows, her bare feet silent on the cold stone. The passage led to a hidden exit, one she'd used as a child to sneak out for midnight runs with Herod. The night air hit her like a wave as she emerged, the forest looming dark and vast before her. Elizabeth glanced back at the pack's stronghold, its torches glowing like accusing eyes. Herod's rejection echoed in her mind, but she pushed it down, letting her wolf's strength rise.
Elizabeth shifted, her body rippling into her wolf form—sleek, silver-furred, and swift. The forest swallowed her as she ran, the wind carrying her scent away from the hunters who would soon follow. Her heart ached with the loss of Herod, her home, her pack, but Elizabeth clung to one truth: she was innocent, and she would prove it.
The trees blurred past, their branches clawing at her fur. Somewhere in the darkness, answers waited—answers about the stranger, the setup, and the traitor who had torn Elizabeth's life apart. She didn't know who to trust or where her path would lead, but she knew one thing: she would survive. And one day, Herod would face the truth of what he'd done.
As Elizabeth vanished into the night, a howl rose in the distance—a warrior's call, signaling her escape. The hunt had begun.