Chapter 13: Judgment

Her tear-filled gaze stared off into the distance. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving shiny tracks against her ashen skin.

Her eyes were red and swollen, with dark circles underneath, which was evidence of her sleepless nights.

Her trembling lips quivered with the weight of her emotions, but no cries escaped them.

Genevieve held her breath as she tried to suppress her sobs, her shoulders shaking with each silent sob.

"What had I done to deserve such a merciless ordeal?"

Genevieve knew that her tears would not solve anything, but what else could she do? She was tired of being strong.

"Look who's here, looking like a pathetic homeless dog?" Suddenly, a familiar taunting voice sounded in her ears.

She lifted her eyes and locked gaze with Evelyne's pitch-black orbs, shimmering with intense hatred.

Summoning her strength, Genevieve spoke up, "Why, Evelyne? Why did you set me up?" She at least had the right to know why someone could be so heartless.

"What difference will it make if I tell you? You'll die tomorrow anyway." Evelyne's nonchalant response fueled Genevieve's frustration, but she said nothing.

"I never did anything to harm you, Evelyne. Why would you do this to me?" She tilted her head to one side as she asked.

"You never did anything?" Evelyne's voice dripped with venom. "Your mere existence is wrong. Because of you I can't marry lord Aldric, because of you my father left me!" I exclaimed.

"I can not let you become Luna. What other reason do I need to get rid of you?"

Evelyne's angry outburst caught Genevieve off guard.

Impossible! Genevieve couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"My father was going to step down and let me marry Aldric, I was going to be Luna, I was supposed to be the queen. Father treated me well, but everything changed when you entered our lives!" Lady Evelyne paused and started pacing.

"His attention shifted to you. You acted innocent while secretly seducing the king. Since your arrival, he's been treating me differently. I thought I just needed to be patient, afterall he is my father, and when that time came, I would revel in your downfall as he discarded you like the worthless garbage you are. But no, he kept getting closer to you."

Genevieve's mouth was open in a wow.

She felt her heart sink further as Evelyne's words became more venomous.

"It seems I underestimated your powers. You wormed your way into his bed and became Luna. I didn't give up. Every time I saw you two being affectionate, it made me want to scratch your face. I tried my best to be calm and waited for my father to reject you but then you seduced lord Aldric too!"

Genevieve was stunned by Evelyne's confession. The true extent of Evelyne's jealousy and malice had been unveiled, leaving her to grapple with the harsh reality.

"You think they love you? They are only using you. Hahaha" she laughed.

Evelyne's dark orbs transformed into a terrifying shade of red as she continued to laugh maniacally. Her face exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down Genevieve's spine.

"You are sick in the head," Genevieve concluded, finding no other explanation for Evelyne's twisted actions.

Genevieve couldn't fathom how any sane person would believe that a mate would reject their other half.

Didn't Evelyne understand that such rejection could weaken both parties involved?

How could she claim to love her father and yet desire to subject him to the pain of rejection just to fulfill her own far-fetched fantasies?

"Oh yes lady Genevieve! I am sick in the head. In fact, I am crazy,"

Evelyne admitted it with a twisted smirk.

"But my madness stems from seeing you live so happily with everything that was meant to be mine. After you're sent to the afterlife tomorrow, I promise to take good care of my father and your ex-lover. I will be the perfect Luna this pack has ever desired after lord Aldric becomes king… we'll have our eternal happiness." She paused and looked at me.

"As for you, you'll be rotting in hell, where nobody like you deserves to be." Evelyne's words were filled with venom as she relentlessly mocked Genevieve.

"You just have to wait and die tomorrow."

"Anyone who dares to covet what is rightfully mine always ends up miserable," Evelyne gloated, relishing in her despair.

"You should have known better than to meddle in my life. You should have thought twice before trying to separate me from the people I love. Now, deal with the consequences." With those final words, Evelyne turned around and left, leaving Genevieve alone again in her desolation.

As Genevieve lay in my cold, damp cell, I knew that her time had finally come. She could only await her execution and now, with the sun beginning to rise, she knew that her wait was over.

And in the blink of an eye it was the day of judgment for a crime Genevieve didn't commit. Two guards came into the cell and harshly bound Genevieve's hands with chains.

She was escorted to the judgment hall, accompanied by the same guard who she had spoken to back in the dungeon.

"I'm sorry this is happening to you, Lady Genevieve."

He said with his voice filled with concern.

Genevieve smiled, if she really was going to die she was happy someone showed her concern.

"Lady Genevieve, the situation is not looking good for you," the guard whispered again. "I might be able to help you run away." He said and Genevieve closed her eyes, not wanting him to continue. I could not see another person who cared about her getting hurt.

"Do you want to escape?" The guard muttered and she turned to gaze at him.

She could see the worry in his face and couldn't bear to put him in trouble.

"No thank you." The guard was flabbergasted at her words.

Of course, anyone in her condition would seize the opportunity, but maybe she was different. Genevieve just couldn't risk dragging the guard and his family into danger.

"That would put your family in jeopardy,"