Chapter 1 – The Witch's Execution

SERENA

"Serena Ashwood," a deep voice boomed. "You stand accused of murdering the Alpha King's Luna. How do you plead?"

They dragged me out like I was nothing. My knees scraped against the cold stone as two big werewolves yanked my arms behind my back.

The chains bit into my wrists. Thousands of eyes stared at me from the packed square. Werewolves everywhere, their growls mixing with the wind.

I lifted my head and looked straight at him. Alpha King Kael stood on the raised platform, his face like stone. Tall, broad shoulders, eyes burning with pure hate. He did not even blink.

"I did not kill her," I screamed, my voice cracking but loud enough for the front rows to hear. "I swear on everything I have left. I was locked in the cells that night. Someone set me up."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Someone shouted, "Witch liar!"

Kael raised one hand and everything went quiet.

"The evidence does not lie. You were found with her blood on your hands. Take her to the stake."

They pulled me harder. I stumbled but kept my chin up.

"Wait," I tried again as they tied me to the thick wooden post. Rough ropes cut into my arms and legs. "Kael, listen to me. I would never hurt an innocent woman. Please. Someone is playing you."

He stepped closer, close enough that I could see the dark circles under his eyes. His Luna's death had broken something in him. "Save your breath, witch. You die today."

The executioner stepped forward with a burning torch. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it would burst. This was really happening. They were going to burn me alive.

The first flames touched the wood at my feet. Heat rushed up my legs. I screamed as fire licked my skin. Pain like nothing I had ever felt before. Smoke filled my lungs. I coughed and thrashed against the ropes.

"Why won't you believe me?" I cried out, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. "I am innocent!"

Kael just watched. No mercy in his face.

The fire grew hotter. My dress caught. The pain swallowed me whole. I thought this was the end. I would die hated, alone, for something I did not do.

Then the sky changed.

A blood-red moon burst through the clouds, bathing everything in crimson light. Gasps rose from the crowd. The flames around me suddenly felt different, like they were feeding something inside my chest instead of burning me.

I screamed again, but this time it was not just pain. Something cracked open in my back. Sharp, tearing agony. Then pressure. Then... release.

Huge ancient wings exploded from my back. Dark, leathery, powerful. They stretched wide, knocking the flames away from me in one powerful beat. The ropes snapped like a thread. I hovered a few feet above the burning stake, wings keeping me up.

The entire square went dead silent.

I stared at my hands. They were glowing. My back felt heavy with the new weight of the wings.

What the hell just happened to me?

One by one, the werewolves dropped to their knees. Heads bowed. Whispers of fear and shock spread like wildfire.

"Dragon..." someone breathed. "The Forbidden One..."

Thousands on their knees. Bowing to me.

But not Kael.

He stood there, eyes wide, fists clenched at his sides. The only one still standing. His gaze locked on mine, full of shock, rage, and something else I could not name.

My heart pounded as I hovered there, wings beating slowly, the blood-red moon shining above us.

What have I become?