“Luna Ashleigh Conrad, you are accused of meeting with rogues beyond our borders, therefore, going against our law. Is that true?”

Ashleigh dropped to her knees, pleading innocent before the Silverwood Pack. The Central Chamber consisted of the council of elders and a shocked assembly.

Her hands were tied to her back, and her eyes puffy from crying.

“I wasn't meeting rogues! They attacked me but thank Goddess, I managed to escaped,” she explained a little too breathlessly. “I’m not lying, you all have to believe me.”

Murmurs erupted through the crowd, their faces a mix of hatred and disappointment.

“What were you doing there at that time?” another elder asked with a critical expression.

Her body froze in place. How was she going to tell them she was tailing Hans Edgar, her suspicious Alpha mate, whom she believed was having a secret affair?

“Come on, Ash, speak up,” Hans urged from his seat, a smirk playing on his lips.

He disliked her, ever since he found out she was infertile and unable to bear pups.

Despite realizing how snoopy she had become, Hans wasn’t going to give up his mistress. That night, he and the mysterious latter were going to a hotel quite far from the pack mansion and had seen Ashleigh follow them.

He wanted to teach her a lesson. Even worse, rid himself of her without the formalities of a proper rejection.

“I, I was only trying to protect my—”

“Protect yourself by faking victim because you were caught in the act,” He cut her off, stepping closer. “Right?”

The elders exchanged glances among themselves, nodding in agreement.

“No, don’t listen to him. He’s playing with your minds! He was there too that night.”

Hans tilted his head. “Is that so? Prove it.”

Her voice cracked. “Why are you doing this?”

He crouched in front of her. “Because Ashleigh, I don't need an ugly, cursed, and disrespectful leech as my Luna,” he whispered sinisterly, wiping away a teardrop on her cheek. “You brought this on yourself, my love.”

He straightened up, addressing everyone with an air of righteous power. “As Alpha, the welfare of the ones I lead supersedes all other ties. In as much as this breaks me, what must be done, must be done!”

Ashleigh sucked in a breath, her blood boiling with fury.

If she weren't just a lowly Omega, gifted the title of Luna due to the mate bond, she would have torn this place down by now, leaving nothing but broken bones behind.

An elder stood up. “She has offered no defense, only emotional pleas. The time for talk is over, we have made our decision!”

The silence that followed was deafening.

He continued. “By the law of our ancestors, anyone who aids or consort with rogues is guilty of treason against our Pack, punishable by death. Ashleigh Conrad, Luna of Silverwood Pack, you have failed to offer a credible defense for your presence near the border. This council finds you GUILTY!”

A collective gasp swept through the hall, and Ashleigh’s face went pale.

Her parents had died years ago, leaving her and her younger sister behind. Speaking of which, where was Giselle when she needed her the most?

Two soldiers stepped forward to seize her, but were surprisingly interrupted.

“Wait!” Rasmud, the Beta, shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. “She’s innocent.”

“How dare you oppose our judgement?” Hans demanded in a surly huff as Rasmud stepped closer to the scene.

“Forgive me, Alpha, but I am here to clear my conscience,” he said, before addressing the elders. “That night, I stood at the entrance of the Pack mansion and was the first one to see when she hurried back. Her dress was torn and her skin was covered in bruises. If you still don't believe me, her scars are the proof. Please, have mercy.”

Whispers shot through the air and Ashleigh could swear she saw Hans roll his eyes.

“Rogues roam around the border; it can happen to anyone else tomorrow. Please, we owe her a fair trial. After all, she is—”

“Quiet, Rasmud!” Hans snapped, walking over. “You better stop trying to play the hero. Know your place.”

Ashleigh was numb, but seeing Rasmud broke the dam.

“Banish her, send her on exile, strip her of her rank, but please, just don't spill her blood here,” Rasmud persevered, ignoring the Alpha.

“An exile would be foolish! She would simply crawl to the doorstep of the Black Talon Pack, sell them our secrets and return with a raiding force to burn our territory to ashes,” one of the elders disagreed.

Hans gave a cruel laugh, slowly shaking his head. “Why won't you get it? Your concern is of no value. Another word from you, and I'll make sure she is replaced,” he threatened, shoving Rasmud aside.

Rasmud was the only one on her side. The only one to fight for her after the Pack had made her a pariah.

Though she couldn't speak, her eyes held an undeniable gratitude.

An elder nodded at the guards and they proceeded in hauling Ashleigh to the backyard where a platform had been erected earlier.

A crude guillotine stood upon it.

It was rarely used and feared above all other punishments. The silver blade wasn’t just meant to deliver a quick death, but also sever her connection to her wolf.

It was the ultimate damnation.

Ashleigh fought back as she was dragged toward the scaffold. A desperate wail tore from her throat. “Please, no! I don't want to die, please. Hans, please, say something!”

Rasmud wasn't there; he couldn't watch.

Sympathizers cried into their hands while some either covered the eyes of their young ones or hurried them away.

“Kneel her,” the executioner ordered.

The guards forced her down onto the wooden block, pressing her head roughly into the shallow groove.

This wasn't a punishment for treason. It was a murder for convenience.

The pulley creaked as the executioner dragged the rope, raising the heavy silver blade high above her head.

Ashleigh’s breath ragged.

So, this was it? The Moon Goddess was really going to watch her die for no just reason.

An elder stepped forward, holding a Codex. “May the Goddess forgive her soul, for her Alpha has forgiven her crime.”

Seconds passed.

Swoosh!

By the time the sun rose the next day, they had already buried her body.

Hans Edgar sat in the living room of his Pack mansion with a few other high-ranking officials from different territories who came to condole with him.

The news had spread like wildfire.

“Ash meant so much to me,” he sighed, selling the image of someone who was sincerely grieving.

“You did the right thing,” Alpha Crane of Sunshield Pack said before taking a sip of his wine. “It was a necessary evil.”

“A lesson to all,” another authority figure concurred.

Rasmud sat quietly, his jaw clenched. He was nothing like Hans and hadn't gotten over what happened the previous day.

“It must have been so hard,” someone else added, and Rasmud suddenly choked on his drink, having heard enough.

“Are you well, Rasmud?” Hans asked, giving him a venomous look. “Perhaps you need rest.”

“I am fine… My apologies.”

The next one hour was a suffocating blur of talk and clinking glasses until the guests finally left.

Hans walked into his bedroom, his gaze instantly falling on Giselle who lay sprawled across his king-sized bed, completely at ease.

She was twenty, and undoubtedly more beautiful than her late older sister.

“What are you doing here?” he growled. “I thought I told you never to come my room.”

Giselle rolled her eyes, sliding off the bed to wrap her arms around his neck. “I missed you, my love.”

“If I need you, I know where to find you,” he pulled away, moving to the couch. “Now get lost before someone sees us together.”

“How unoriginal.”

Hans sat down, leaning back as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Finally,” she squealed, doing a spin. “I’m going to take my place beside you, my love, as the true Luna. Isn't that amazing? This calls for celebration.”

“Giselle, please. Not now.”

Oblivious of him, she began to soliloquize, her face screwed up in rage. “Ashleigh! Ashleigh! Ashleigh! Gosh, she made me sick. The good little responsible girl everyone adored.”

Her voice became a low, gravelly snarl, as her eyes began to glow, and her fingernails grew longer, sharpening into claws. “She made me live in her shadow, scurrying around in the dust she kicked up. I will never forgive her.”

Brown fur rippled over her skin as her body expanded.

“Are you crazy? Calm yourself, now!” Hans barked, and she seized up in a flash of convulsion.

His voice possessed a primal force, instantly overwhelming her unmastered wolf.

Giselle gasped. “I’m sorry. She… she always does that whenever I think about Ashleigh.”

The slip dress she wore was now ripped down the sides, leaving less to his imagination.

“Maybe I'm just being silly,” she reassured herself, perching on his lap. “Ashleigh is gone forever, yeah? Good riddance.”

Hans simply looked at her, his gaze dark and assessing.

“Shh,” he whispered, carrying her to the bed; a slow and deliberate act she knew so well. One that shook her organs. “I know just how to cool you off.”

He climbed on top of her, placing soft kisses on her skin. “You wanted this, didn't you?”

“Took you so long.” She smiled, her face flamed with yearning.

Hans ripped off what was left of her already ruined garment, then quickly undressed himself.

He was breathtakingly handsome with a flawless physique—the kind that makes you forget everything else.

The warmth of his mouth found her breasts, instantly hardening her nipples. He fondled and sucked hard, making her shiver with pleasure.

He kissed her body all the way down before flipping her over.

“Ahh… Ha… Nngghh…” she whimpered, as he fucked her asshole while rubbing, pulling and pinching her clit.

Squirt coated her honeypot as he continued to caress it, and after a moment, he dug three fingers into her pussy, making her cum again.

In no time, their bodies were slick with sweat and lust.

“Open wide,” he rasped, his breath hot against her ear, before guiding his hard length inside her cunt.

She let out a long, deep moan, gasping from the sensation as Hans thrusted with speed.

It wasn't the first time they made out yet the pleasure felt foreign.

She shut her eyes close, subconsciously grabbing her breasts as he increased the pace.

Time passed with every new style becoming more intense.

“Once you… nngghh… make me Luna, we won't have to… ahh… bother about anyone seeing us… fuuck!!”

Suddenly, Hans pulled out, rolling off her immediately. He walked to his dresser and put on a robe.

At this point, Giselle was weak. Too weak. She sat up, covering her naked body with the sheet. “What’s wrong?”

“Just get lost.”

“W-what?”

He walked over to the nightstand, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag, letting the smoke billow out. “Tell me, when will we ever get through a few rounds without your selfish desire poisoning the moment? It always has to be about you.”

“I-I don't understand.”

“Gosh, you're a fucking child,” he remarked, puffing smoke. “Now answer me, if I name you Luna, what message does that send to the Council? What will it tell everyone? Don't you think?”

The words hit her like a cold wave.

“Easy for you to say,” she scoffed, getting out of bed. “Do you know what it feels like explaining yourself to people who only listen to judge? Of course not. I loved you, Hans, even before Ashleigh did, but for some reason, you chose her over me. Why do you keep trying to make me feel like the villain when we both wanted her out of the picture?”

“This is not about Ashleigh.”

“It damn well is!”

“Lower your tone,” he warned, his voice dangerously low.

“No! I want to be heard, I want to be seen, I want to be somebody.” Her eyes pricked with unshed tears. “Do you even love me?” she asked, receiving no response.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door.

Giselle stepped out of view as Hans sauntered over, opening it a crack.

It was Rasmud. He held out an envelope.

“What is it about?”

“A condolence letter from the Emberfang Pack. It just came in.”

Hans snatched it, and slammed the door shut. Only the moon goddess knew how long Rasmud had been eavesdropping?

Rasmud walked past the corridor. He paused, hearing the muffled chatter of the kitchen workers.

“What in the world happened two days ago?”

“I know, right?”

“I can't get over it.”

“Same.”

“Yeah, me too. I'm still recovering from shock.”

“I tell you. She was a snake in Luna's fur.”

“Maybe that's why the Goddess cursed her with barrenness.”

“Yes. Because she saw and heard conversations we weren't part of.”

“Shh, keep your voices down. I'm afraid someone may overhear us,” the head chef warned.

Just as her words had it, Rasmud walked in, his presence commanding a mix of fear and regret. “What happened? Why did you stop?” he asked with a shocking calm. “After all, it’s the only thing you're all good at.”

They swallowed hard, their expressions apologetic.

“Tell me, what club is this? A debate club? Honestly, I won't mind joining.”

“No, Beta,” the head chef replied, and the rest of them apologized, dropping their heads.

“You better be sorry,” he grimaced. “Think before you open your mouths to spew out rubbish. The next time I hear you say things that are untrue without getting your facts right, I won't take it kindly.”

“Yes, Beta.” The head chef nodded, replying again on their behalf. “Understood.”

“Thickheads,” he cussed, leaving. Rasmud didn't walk a distance before hearing—

“Have you noticed the way he always defends her whenever there's a slight chance?”

“Like his life depends on it.” Another of them added, followed by a chuckle.

“Didn’t you hear? People say she was his first love before the Alpha took interest in her.”

“Everyone knows that.”

Rasmud took a step back, but stopped himself. There was no point reprimanding them a second time. It was obvious their ears were only for decoration. “Gosh.”

A week later.

Hans pulled to a stop in the small frame one-family house of a normal Pack member.

He glanced at his watch. 22:07. The usual time he left home for his misdeeds.

Suddenly, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed RASMUD. Hans dismissed the call, slipping the phone back into his trouser pocket.

He was about to knock on the wooden front door when an old man came out. “Alpha Hans,” the man greeted, bowing his head. “Welcome to my home.”

“We meet again, Corinth,” Hans said as they shared a knowing glance.

His wife stepped out too, dropping down in a curtsy. “We are humbled by your presence, Alpha. What can I offer you?”

“Skip the pleasantries. You know why I'm here.”

“I do,” Corinth replied before turning to his wife. “Get back inside.”

She nodded in submission, obeying him.

“Follow me,” Hans ordered, leading the way to his car. They settled in the front seats.

He pulled out a pack of cigarette, lighting a stick. “I haven't got all night. What is it that you want in return?”

Corinth pasted a wide smile, glad the Alpha kept his word.

He was one of the people Hans had contracted to bear false witness against Ashleigh in front of the assembly of elders. He lived on the outskirt of town, and near the hotel Hans frequented almost every night with Giselle.

“Th-there is um…” Corinth began, his voice taking a subservient tone. “There is an abandoned plot of land located near the market. I want to take full ownership of it.”

That land belonged to an orphaned son of a legendary farmer. It was the last asset the man left behind and the only asset the boy had to his name. Sadly, Corinth wasn't the first to eye it.

Hans remained silent, his face expressionless. It was hard to tell what went through his mind at that moment.

“How do you sleep at night?” Hans finally spoke, exhaling smoke from his nostrils.

Corinth scoffed inwardly. Pot calling kettle black, his mind screamed. “I didn't mean to offend you, Alpha.” He smiled weakly.

“If I heard right, you called that land ‘abandoned’. Really?”

“Pardon my choice of word, Alpha. What I wanted to say is—”

“Well, if you must know,” Hans said, cutting him off. “I’m not in the business of oppressing my subordinates, especially not for a petty fav… obligation. So, whatever you said or wanted to say doesn't matter.”

“But y-you owe me,” Corinth quickly replied, trying to salvage the deal.

“It seems you're forgetting something.” He gazed at the old man sitting nervously beside him. “I am Alpha, and with that title comes great privileges. I can do and undo just anything. Henceforth, keep that mind.”

Corinth dipped his head. “My apologies.”

“You’re lucky I'm in a good mood. You have one last chance to make this conversation worth the while.”

“Well, I-I and my wife would really appreciate if you could give us a living quarter in your mansion. It's not safe out here for me and my family.”

The car fell silent once more, his words settling in the air.

“I’ll get back to you.”

“May I know when exactly?” Corinth asked impulsively, and the Alpha's glare landed on him.

“Have you lost it?” Hans growled. “Get out. Now!”

“Please, forgive me. I’m so sorry,” he apologized a second time, hurrying out.

“Your ambition precedes you,” Hans commented in annoyance before driving off.

He normally came out to town without the formality of an escort or chauffeur for obvious reasons.

The time read 23:22. Hans drove to a stop in the long driveway where he normally parked.

Rasmud stood at the main entrance, clearly awaiting his return.

“It seems you'll be more useful as a watchman,” Hans sneered.

“I called your phone but you didn't pick up. Where were you?”

“Who am I to you, Rasmud?”

“I don't understand.”

“Do I look like you're wife, or rather, a pup? I’m curious.”

“As your Beta, I’m accountable for you, Hans. I wouldn't be intruding if you weren't so sneaky.”

“In that case, it's about time I get you replaced,” Hans said walking past him.

In no time, he reached his bedroom, stopping just by the door inside.

“No one saw when you left. Where were you?” Giselle interrogated, standing in his way.

“At the woods. What’s the worst that could happen?”

He took off his watch, placing it on the nightstand with a soft click.

“I was worried sick.”

“As what? My Luna?” Hans snapped, startling her. He went to door and held it open, rubbing his forehead. “Goodnight.”

Giselle stomped out, and he slammed the door behind her.