4

A week later.

Keisha's POV

...

My eyes flung open, and I immediately sat up on my bed, a panicked gasp tearing from my throat. I placed a hand on my chest in a bid to calm my racing heart.

I'd just had a nightmare of losing my best friend. Though I wanted to dismiss it as just a bad dream, it felt way too real.

The soft, golden rays streaming into the room from the windows suggested it was already morning. A knock suddenly sounded outside my room's door, drawing my attention.

"Come in," I instructed, my voice.

My maid, Rayna, did, her hands clasped in front of her. She looked... pale.

That was quite unusual.

"Good morning, My Lady," she greeted, but her expression didn't lighten.

"Morning. Are you alright?" I had to ask. If she wasn't feeling well, she could take a few days off.

"M-my Lady... It's bad," she told me, her voice choked.

I felt an ominous feeling rise in my gut. My brows knitted together. "What happened, Rayna?"

"The Zelta... is being tried," she divulged, trying to stifle back a sob.

My eyes widened in disbelief, "For what?" I asked, my voice deeper than I'd intended it to be.

"He was accused of..." she snuffled and wiped off a tear that had cascaded down her right cheek before continuing, "...colluding with rogues. Evidence found in his residence shows that he was to allow the rogues direct entry into the pack 5 days later, using a hidden passage in his room. Letters with his signature were found..."

I didn't need to hear more. The situation was dire.

I immediately sprang from the bed, threw on a cotton gown and dashed out of the room, ignoring my maid's calls. I pushed my legs to their limits, eventually stopping in front of the throne room.

A lot of pack members were gathered outside, engaged in tense conversations. The majority of them still couldn't believe the Gamma would commit those crimes he was accused of.

"One shouldn't judge a book by its cover, though. The Alpha wouldn't try him without solid evidence," I heard someone say.

I looked around, but I couldn't find my friend. Where was she?

Suddenly, the crowd parted to form a path, not for me, but for...him, Jenna's dad. Two stern-looking guards flanked his sides, literally dragging him forward by his arms.

His skin was marred in degrees of injuries, clearly, he had been tortured inside. Everyone was silent as the guards dragged him, but I couldn't bring myself to believe he was a traitor.

I blocked their path, spreading my arms sideways.

"Greetings, Princess Keisha," the guards greeted, their expressions unchanging.

"Where are you taking him?" I inquired.

"To the pack's square. He will be beheaded as punishment for his sins," the taller of the two guards answered.

His response made my eyes widen in disbelief. "What? Isn't this too rushed and harsh?" I voiced out my opinion.

"You don't plan on opposing the Alpha, do you?" The second guard, who was bald, questioned, his tone rather unwelcoming.

"I don't believe it," I spat, standing my ground.

"Princess Keisha," the Zelta, Liam Quinn, called out to me weakly, and I turned my gaze to him.

"Sir..." I responded with a shaky voice.

Too fast.

It was happening all too swiftly.

"Don't stand in the way, dear. I did all those things. I'm guilty of whatever the Alpha accused me of," he told me, his breathing ragged and shallow.

"No," I shook my head, unwilling to accept his words. "It can't be true,"

He had been nothing but loyal during my father's and the regent's reign. Why would he turn traitor now? I suspected something was fishy.

But where would I start investigating?

There was not even time to prove his innocence.

"Princess...please, take care of... Jenna for me,"

Willing back tears, I nodded. "I will do my best," I promised him.

"Tell her I'll be reunited with her mum. Tell her... I'm thankful to have her as my daughter."

"I will, sir," I said, snuffling, internally hating myself for being unable to stop this.

"Let me... replace your daughter and give you a hug," I told him.

He nodded his consent, and I hugged him.

When I stopped the embrace, he smiled, "Now, I can die in peace." He started laughing hysterically, stunning me and the others present.

"Shut it!" the bald guard said, looking offended.

But the latter didn't stop laughing, even as he was dragged away.

"Alpha Caspian, I curse you. You won't have a good ending. You and your good-for nothing slut of a Luna can never bear offspring," He yelled to the hearing of all, sparking another round of heated conversations amongst the onlookers.

His words made many start thinking he was indeed a traitor. But I didn't believe. No matter how long it would take, I would find out the truth and clear his name.

I couldn't bring myself to head to his execution ground. Wiping off a tear, I made my way towards his house, hoping to find Jenna there.

When I got there, I couldn't find her.

I went about the pack, calling her name, and my maid eventually joined me in searching for her. I ordered Rayna to face east while I faced west.

Minutes spun into over an hour, but still, Jenna was nowhere to be seen.

I became very worried. That she would attempt something terrible.

This was a crucial time; I needed to be by her side and watch over her.

I soon reunited with my maid, who told me that she couldn't find Jenna. "She wasn't even at the pack square," Rayna added, huffing and puffing with her body hunched over, her palms resting on her knees.

'Where could she be?' I thought.

Eventually, a location popped into my mind, and I hoisted the skirt of my attire, taking off at full speed while disregarding Rayna's plea to be careful.

'Oh goddess, please let nothing happen to her,' I prayed in my heart as I picked up pace.