Chapter 1 The Beginning of Death

Kaelia

My wrists bound by cold iron handcuffs, I was escorted by two men in uniform into the courtroom and towards the stand. Dressed in orange overalls, messy hair, skin stained with dust and dirt, and eyes dim with light. 

The moment I stepped into the courtroom, the noise swallowed me whole. 

Judgmental eyes stared back at me. 

Whispers, curses, fingers pointing at me—

Everyone—

None had pity, let alone love. 

Not even his. 

Steven Gabriel, my husband—married to him for three good years. 

He was seated in the very front row—with him were a few men from the council. I felt another sting in my heart—more like an arrow piercing through my heart. My jaws clenched as I turned my face from them. 

From him. 

Yet, his voice echoed again in my head for the umpteen time. 

“I saw her." He whispered, standing in the witness stand with fake tears, “I saw her kill my father, the alpha, in cold blood!" 

My heart froze. 

His words pierced me sharper than any dagger. My eyes blurred, ears deaf to everything else the moment I heard those words come out from the lips of the one I called the love of my life. 

From that day on, I gave up. 

In love. 

In this case. 

And in myself.

“He never cared." That was all I could tell myself. 

“Today she meets her doom!" This statement pulled me back to reality. 

“The penalty for killing the Alpha is death. She should die!" 

“After death here, I pray the moon goddess curses her with eternal condemnation!” 

I stood there, head down, listening to the curses laid on me from every angle. 

It didn't matter anymore. 

Nothing did. 

Then, the doors opened. 

Everyone suddenly became silent. 

The judge walked in. 

High Judge Jerry Sinclair.

A no-nonsense man— he walked in with a cold aura, in his eyes I could already see his verdict. A cold chill ran down my spine. 

My eyes went shut in defeat. 

He didn't look like he cared about my life. He was one of the Alpha's closest friends. So the news of the death of his friend had hurt him more than a lot of people in society. 

He took his seat behind the bench. 

Everyone sat as well, except me, who stood in front of the court. 

The room was silent. 

Then—

“There are crimes that shake the foundation of our laws… and there are crimes that demand blood. Today, we stand to judge one such crime—the murder of Alpha Gabriel.” High Judge Jerry’s icy voice rang all over the courtroom.

I shut my eyes to steady my breathing. 

The silence stretched like the longest quiet sea. 

“The accused has been presented before this court.”

People nodded. 

“Testimonies have been heard.”

“Evidence has been laid bare.”

Fake evidence. But no one listened to me.

He paused, his gaze lowering to me.

“For the murder of Alpha Gabriel, the court of Blue Blood Pack sentenced Kaelia Joshua to death by hanging.”

He brought down the gavel and hit it hard against the sounding block. The sound echoes all over the courtroom.

My heart stopped. 

My knees threatened to buckle and give way. 

“I didn't do it," I whispered. Tears dropped. 

No one heard. 

My voice was covered by their loud murmurs and curses. 

The men in uniform came to drag me away. I watched as my husband shook the hands of the men seated with him. And how my step-sister rushed towards him and cried, her head on his chest. 

He held her so gently, trying to coax her. 

How did she get into the courtroom? 

Was she here all along?

I felt anger. Pain. All sorts of emotions oozed out of me. 

Against my husband. 

Liar!

His actions towards my sister fueled my anger as something erupted from within me and out of my throat, 

" Liar! Bloody fucking liar!” I yelled, " Victoria, stay away from that bloody liar!” 

I pointed at them-- as if I could push Victoria away from that devil. 

" Move, you idiot!” One of the guards pushed me aggressively like a goat to the slaughter. 

The minute the doors opened, flashes of camera light from every angle. Microphones from everywhere appeared in front of me. 

" Mrs Kaelia, what do you say about the judge's final verdict?”

" Do you now agree that you actually killed the Alpha?” 

" If you were asked to give your last words, what would they be?” 

Reporters came at me. The guards helped me through the crowd. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I hid my face. 

I was taken back to my cell. I'd be executed the following morning. 

I was going to die. 

For a crime I didn't commit. 

I requested to speak to my only sister, my stepsister, Victoria, one last time. 

She was the only one who didn't give up on me, even when Father and Step-mother turned their backs on me. 

They granted me my last wish. 

Victoria came to visit. But I wasn't allowed to sit with her in the visiting room like before. Instead, through a transparent wall and telephones, we spoke. 

" Don't trust him, Victoria,” I said in haste since I was given only ten minutes with her.

" Who?” She asked, confused.

" Steven.” I replied, " He lied. He is pretending to care for you. Do not trust him!” 

Victoria tear up. Her lips quiver as she bursts into tears, " I warned you, Kaelia. I told you, just accept it. Just agree you did it, so they could give you a lighter punishment.” She sniffed. 

" You're just too stubborn. Father and Mother were ready to forgive you if you had just come clean.”

" I didn't do it!” I hissed trying not to get upset at her for not believing me. 

No one believed me, but I wanted Victoria to.

She was my baby sister. My everything. She looked up to me, and I didn't want to break her heart. I would accept it if the whole world didn't believe me, but my little sister… I just couldn't. 

" I swear, I didn't.” My voice broke. 

Victoria stood to her feet weakly, " It doesn't matter anymore, sis. It doesn't matter who believed you or not. You'd be executed anyway.”

She dropped the telephone. 

" Victoria,” I called once, twice, but she didn't respond. I watched her retreating figure as she left, 

" I'm sorry,” I whispered. 

I was taken back to my small, sickening cell. 

I couldn't sleep; I cried all through the night. I wished things were different.

I wished I didn't have to go to the Alpha's room to give him his medication that night. I wish for a lot of things, but it wouldn't change anything. 

Morning came. 

At first, I heard footsteps, then the sound of the gate opening, and then my cell as well. I sat up. It was time. 

As much as I tried to be brave. My heart was pounding in my ears. 

I walked with the two guards. 

Very early, in a very spacious area, a strong and rough rope was circled around my slender neck. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, waiting for death to take me. 

This was it. 

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, despite the cold air of the day. Yet I felt the strange calm crept in. 

Within seconds, the stool slipped away beneath my feet.

Snap. 

No scream.

Just darkness.