Chapter 63 CHAPTER 63

Chapter 63 CHAPTER 63
ALINA

The tension in the air was suffocating as we sat together in the cold, damp cell, our breaths shallow and our hearts heavy. Jaime had finally snapped. After Lily's disappearance during the execution, he was furious, his paranoia growing by the minute. It didn't take long for him to turn his anger toward us, demanding that we explain what had happened. When no one could offer him the answers he wanted, he had us imprisoned.

Now, Aunt Arya, Nina, Maria, and I were locked away, trapped in this dark and cramped cell. The walls were damp, the smell of mildew thick in the air, and the floor was cold against our feet. Aunt Arya sat against the wall, her arms around Nina, who was softly crying. Maria was pacing, her hands wringing nervously, while I sat in the corner, trying to think of something-anything-that could get us out of this mess.

"I don't understand why he's doing this," Maria muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "We didn't do anything wrong."

"He's gone mad with power," I said quietly, staring at the barred door of the cell. "He's looking for someone to blame because he can't handle the fact that he's losing control."

Aunt Arya sighed, brushing a hand over Nina's hair. "He's always been like this, even when he was a boy. Once he feels cornered, he lashes out."

Nina sniffled, wiping at her eyes. "I want to leave. I want to go home."

I bit my lip, my heart breaking at the sound of her voice. Nina was still so young, and she didn't deserve any of this. None of us did. Aunt Arya's eyes glistened with tears as she tried to comfort her.

"I know, sweetheart," Aunt Arya whispered, her own voice shaky. "I want to leave too."

The sound of her words, the desperation in her tone, caused my chest to tighten. I wished I had something to say that could give them hope. But what could I tell them? That we would somehow make it out of this? That everything would be fine? I didn't even believe that myself. All I could do was sit in silence, holding onto the faint hope that Kai would come back.

But I couldn't say that. I couldn't risk telling them about Kai's plan. If Jaime found out, it would ruin everything. So, I swallowed my fears and tried to give them the only thing I could.

"We have to hold on," I said softly. "We can't give up hope. Somehow, we'll get through this."

Aunt Arya nodded, but her eyes were filled with sorrow. "I hope you're right, Alina."

Suddenly, the sound of keys rattling at the door broke through the silence, and we all froze. The door creaked open, and two guards stood in the doorway, their faces expressionless.

"Come with us," one of them ordered.

A chill ran down my spine as we all stood up, exchanging nervous glances. I wasn't sure where they were taking us, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good. We followed the guards out of the cell, our footsteps echoing in the narrow hallway.

When we reached the pack court, Jaime was already there, standing in the center of the room with a smug expression on his face. The pack's elders and other members of the court were seated around him, their faces etched with worry and frustration. I could feel the weight of their gazes on us as we entered, but Jaime's eyes were cold and filled with malice.

"As you can see," Jaime began, addressing the court with his arms spread wide, "after careful investigation, I've come to the conclusion that this" -he gestured toward us-"must be the work of a witch."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the court, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. A witch? Where was he going with this? "We know that witches can create powerful illusions and manipulate reality," Jaime continued, his voice steady and calculated. "That's exactly what happened during the execution. Lily's body

disappeared, replaced with a dummy, and none of you have offered any explanation for how it happened."

My stomach twisted with fear. Jaime was pulling at straws, making up this absurd witch hunt to distract everyone from his own failure. But what terrified me the most was that people were starting to believe him. Some of the elders in the room nodded slowly, as if trying to make sense of the lie Jaime was spinning. The idea that witchcraft could explain away his lack of control appealed to their need for answers.

Jaime turned his gaze back to us, his eyes narrowing as he spoke again, this time more forcefully. "Since none of you can provide me with the truth, I have no choice but to take matters into my own hands. I'm bringing in a witch hunter."

Gasps rippled through the court, the sound of shock and disbelief rising like a wave. I couldn't breathe. A witch hunter? Did he have any idea what that would mean for us? Witch hunters didn't care about the truth; they just wanted blood. Once they were called in, there was no going back. People would die. Innocent people.

"I don't think that's necessary," one of the elders, a man I recognized as Elder Gideon, spoke up. His voice was cautious, but firm. "We have more pressing matters to address within the pack. Bringing in a witch hunter will only cause panic, and with all due respect, Alpha, it's not fair to put your Luna and her family through this humiliation."

For a brief moment, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Elder Gideon's reasoning would get through to Jaime.

But I was wrong.

Jaime's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger as he turned on the elder, his voice rising in fury. "Don't you dare cross me, Gideon. If you value your life, you will keep your mouth shut."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Elder Gideon lowered his head, his shoulders slumping as he retreated into silence, unwilling to challenge Jaime further.

I felt sick. This wasn't about Lily or the pack anymore. This was about Jaime's power, his need to control everyone and everything around him. He was willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way, even if it meant calling in a witch hunter and sentencing innocent people to death.

"The witch hunter will arrive soon," Jaime continued, his voice cold and unyielding. "And when he does, he will search for any traces of magic. If he finds any-on anyone-you will be executed, unless you produce Lily."

My blood turned to ice. I glanced at Aunt Arya, who stood beside me, her face pale. Nina clung to her, tears silently streaming down her cheeks, and Maria's hands were trembling as she tried to stay calm. I wanted to scream, to tell Jaime that this was madness, that he was going too far. But what could I say? What could any of us do?

Jaime wasn't just doing this because of Lily. This went deeper. He was angry, yes, but his rage wasn't just about his sister's insult. No, this was about something else. Something darker. He had always craved power, and now that he had it, he was using it to punish anyone who challenged him. Lily had become the symbol of that challenge, and now he was using her as an excuse to lash out at anyone who stood in his way.

Aunt Arya stepped forward, her voice quiet but firm. "Jaime, you don't need to do this. We're all family. Let's talk this through."

Jaime's expression didn't soften. If anything, his eyes grew colder. " Family? Don't speak to me of family, Aunt Arya. You've all betrayed me by hiding the truth."

"There is no truth to hide," I found myself saying, my voice

trembling but defiant. “Lily disappeared, and we don't know how. This witch hunt will only tear the pack apart."

Jaime's lips curled into a sneer. "You think you can tell me what's best for this pack, Alina? After everything, you still dare to question me?"

I held his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't going to back down, not now. "This pack doesn't need a witch hunter. It needs a leader who isn't ruled by fear."

His sneer deepened, and he took a step toward me, his presence overwhelming. "Be careful, Alina. You may be my Luna, but that doesn't mean you're untouchable."

I felt Aunt Arya's hand on my arm, gently pulling me back. She was trying to protect me, but I could see the fear in her eyes too. I knew she was right to be scared. Jaime was on the edge, and pushing him any further might tip him into something dangerous.

"Enough," Jaime said, his voice booming across the court. "The witch hunter is coming, and that's final. If you care for your lives, you will stop trying to protect Lily. If she's not found soon, there will be consequences."

With that, he turned and walked out of the court, leaving the rest of us standing in stunned silence. The elders exchanged worried glances, some of them murmuring to each other. I could see the doubt creeping into their minds, but none of them were brave enough to stand up to Jaime. Not after what had just happened.

As we were led back to our cell, the weight of Jaime's threat hung over us like a dark cloud. Aunt Arya tried to offer us words of comfort, but her voice was hollow, her eyes filled with worry. Nina was still crying softly, clinging to Maria, who was doing her best to stay strong for her sister.

I couldn't help but wonder what Jaime was really after. His anger at Lily seemed too personal, too intense. This wasn't just about protecting his sister's honor. There was something else driving him, something darker and more dangerous.

And I had no idea how we were going to stop him.