Chapter Two

Daciana's pov

“Come!” Dad yelled in urgency. He held my hand and I hurried after him. He led me to his room and not mine.

My face was filled with fear as I tried to understand the situation.

“Stay in here and don't come out till I say so, is that clear?” No! I want him to stay with me!

“No, Dad. Please stay” my voice shook terribly.

Dad held my shoulder as we stood by the door. “Listen, sweetheart. I'm the Alpha of the pack, I can't hide. Instead, I'll end things over there quickly and come back to you”

I blinked. That sounded like a promise, but my heart ached and believed it was empty.

“Dad….” I croaked, tears blurring my vision.

“Lock the door behind you now, sweetheart, don't open the door for anyone” He kissed my forehead and ran out.

Reluctantly, I locked the door like he had insisted but my heart wouldn't stop aching and tears started spilling through my cheeks.

He'll be back…. He just said it. He promised.

I moved towards the bed and sat down, waiting anxiously but soon, a hot searing pain radiated in my chest. I fell to the floor, letting out an anguished scream. I hit my chest to soothe the pain but it didn't work.

It felt like I had just lost something. The pain intensified and my tears kept pouring.

Dad…..

“Can anyone hear me?!!” I screamed into the mindlink. Silence. Panicked, I screamed again, calling everyone before I felt a connection.

“Ciana?! Where are you?” That was Wulf!

“I'm in Dad's room. What's going on?”

“I'll be there soon” Wulf arrived shortly and wrapped his arms around me.

“Ciana?” He called, his voice low. “I'm sorry”

What does he mean by that?

“What's wrong?” I sniffled but Wulf avoided my eyes. Suddenly, the door was kicked open.

“Drag her out” One of the elders commanded, making my eyes widen in shock. What's happening?

Guards stood at the door, approaching me slowly. Wulf's twin, Wuana, also stood with her dark gaze on me.

“Take the murderer!” Wuana shouted, pointing her hands at me. “Stay away from that witch!”

What? A murderer? A witch? I was confused, needing an explanation but these people were not ready to tell me what's going on, not even Wulf.

“Take her out!” Someone else screamed.

At this point, I was losing my mind. I ignored the pain searing through me and took a few steps forward.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on? Where’s my dad?”

“Take her to the pack hall” One of the elders commanded. Two guards tried to hold me but I pulled away. I can bloody walk!

“I asked you all where my Dad is!” I screamed.

Wuana laughed. “Your Dad? He's not here, no one will come to save you!”

“Run, Ciana” That moment, my mind screamed at me and my legs took over. I dashed out running out of the house and into the woods, my heart thundering. My breath echoed through the woods as the wind ripped through me.

Branches pierced into my skin but I didn't dare slow down. I completely ignored the branches that were poking into my feet. With every step I took, I could hear the sound of their feet pounding into the ground behind me. My stomach tightened when I heard the loud cracking of bones and loud howls. I was being hunted.

Chills ran down my spine as I sprinted across the woods. I don't know where I'm heading to, I don't even care. I just need to escape.

Where was the Alpha? Why was he letting them treat me this way?

He had always shown up when I needed him. Something must have gone terribly wrong. I could feel my throat close as different thoughts ran through my head.

Every tree I passed only made the chase more intense. They are well trained warriors and I am just me, how do I escape this? That didn't stop me, I only kept running.

A growl ripped through the air behind me and I panicked, it was too close. I was about to jump over a fallen tree when my feet got caught and I crashed hard. Pain shot up my side as I tumbled down into the dirt. I tried to get up and run when heavy paws slammed down on me, tearing into my skin.

They hauled me up, steel grips digging into my arms. I was pinned down and powerless.

“Let go of me!” I cried but they only held me tighter, leading me back to the pack like a criminal.

Outside the hall, the pack members gathered. Pain ripped through me but I tried to remain bold.

“Where’s my father?” Only he could stop them.

“Shut up, you murderer! You should've thought about that when you killed him!” Someone from the congregation shouted.

Killed him? I laughed but even to me, it wasn't funny.

How could Dad die? Was this a cruel joke?

“What are you saying?” I laughed again with trembling lips.

“Silence!” Hunter shouted and everyone fell quiet.

I couldn't hold myself back from eyeing him. I knew that he played a role in whatever was happening, but I just couldn't prove it yet.

“Since the Alpha is dead and the enforcer is also the Beta, he would be taking over the throne in the absence of an heir. The trial will now begin.” one of the elders continued.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He put me in a room. He said he was going to come back. Tell me where he is, Hunter!”

I watched as Hunter sat on my dad's chair. He looked satisfied, like this was what he was waiting for all along. I didn't miss the twinkle in his eyes, and the smirk on his lips.

“As we all witnessed tonight, the peace we had endured with the Lycan's for decades ended tonight. All because a wolfless daughter of the Alpha decided to poison one of a Lycan child who was here for the ceremony.”

Killed a kid? I scoffed.

“What nonsense are you spewing, Hunter?” I groaned. “I saw no child! I killed no child! Just tell me where my father is!”

Murmurs arose among the crowd, everyone pointing to me as the liar like all these were all planned.

Why won't they believe me? Why won't anyone believe me?

“I saw you, Daciana!” Hunter growled. “You filled a cup and handed it to the boy. If only I knew you were poisoning him, I could have prevented the attack!”

I shook my head, tears clouding my eyes. “No, that is not true. I didn't kill anyone”

“Stop lying and just admit your faults!” One of the elders yelled.

“It’s a lie! I would never do that. Hunter had made a pass at me while I was leaving and I rejected him.” The crowd gasped from shock. “That's why you are trying to frame me up, isn't it?”

“If he had truly made a pass at you why didn't you mention it? You were once the daughter of an Alpha, you know the pack laws better than anyone. She should be sentenced to death!” Wuana shouted.

I turned to Wulf, a tear sliding down my face. Why wasn't he saying a word?

“Wulf? Please say something! Tell them I didn't do it!” I whispered but was met with the greatest shock of my life when he turned his face away from me.

“You killed the young boy!” Wuana continued. “Your cruelty brought death to the Alpha who died while protecting the pack!”

“You should also be killed!”

My jaw tightened and I refrained myself from snapping. I couldn't bring myself to accept it, Dad can't be dead. He just can’t.

“Banishment is too quick a punishment for her, take her away. Her fate would be decided later,” One of the elders said. “We all expected this to happen anyway. We warned the Alpha that his wolfless daughter was going to be the end of him.”

The words stung, but I was barely given the chance to react as they dragged me away.

They didn't take me to the prison, I would’ve preferred that. They locked me up in dad’s room, like they wanted me to see what I had done. Even though I didn't do anything. I looked around the room, inhaling the scent of Dad's clothes.

A reminder that he is dead. That I killed him.

I fell to the floor, paralyzed. I shook my head as my lips trembled and tears fell freely without restraints.

“Leaving me like this wasn't part of the plan, Dad,” I screamed, tears pricking the back of my eyes.

Once again, I felt the pain, the final seal that told me he's truly gone, and I would never get to see him again.

Footsteps approached outside the door, and from the way the person walked, I could tell who it was….. Hunter.