Chapter 5 ~Alpha of the North
TARA:
Death by hanging, seven times, was one of the worst punishments you could give to anyone. The worst was being burnt alive.
This punishment meant that, for the first six times, you'd be hanged but not enough to kill you. But in the last lap, you'll die for sure. It meant you have to relive the near-death experience six times before you die. No one deserved that kind of punishment.
Could I protest? No. I had no family to speak for me.
I was sure they came to that conclusion without looking into the murder. Ellie would have defended me if it were someone else. She was too blinded by rage to think clearly.
"Enjoy your stay while it lasts. May you rot in the deepest pit of hell." I heard her retreating footsteps and just sighed. My fate had been decided and I had no say in it.
All my life, I had always done what people wanted me to do. Death was my only redemption from this world.
I waited for the day of my execution painfully. I was anxious but a bit relieved and hopeful that someone might come to save me. Just like the novels Ellie had secretly given me.
The door was opened and a little light flashed in.
"It's D-day. Death day." One of the guards announced. I sucked in a lot of air. I was scared and my heart pounded faster than usual. I was about to lose my mind. I thought I wanted to die but there were lots of things I hadn't done in my life. Suddenly, the will to live enveloped me.
I was pulled up from the ground, unchained from the wall, and dragged outside the prison. Surprisingly, there was no hanging rope anywhere.
"Did they change their mind?" I muttered, still scanning the environment.
"You will be hanged in the community center." I was told. Another humiliation, another crowd.
The chain that was attached to my neck and wrists was long enough to be pulled from a distance. And like a dog, a criminal, I was dragged on the street of the Red Moon pack to the community center. I would fall occasionally because of my unhealed sprained ankle—omegas didn't heal quickly like other ranks— and would still be dragged while on the floor. Not even an animal deserved the kind of treatment I was getting.
"Kill her! Kill her!" Those were the only words I heard. Words of hate and condemnation. When would this hatred end?
All manner of items were thrown at me. Eggs, fruit, water from trash, and trash itself. I was the stinkiest version of myself.
Finally, we got to the community center where all the elders were seated, Alpha Nolan and Christine sat beside each other, and the citizens of the pack stood, awaiting my death. If this many people cared about me, then....
"We're all gathered today because of the evil act of this young lady. After much investigation, she was found to have killed the head maid of the pack house, threatened our soldiers, and even tried to run away."
Liars! I screamed in my head.
Of course, they would twist the story to suit their narrative.
"She has been found guilty by the court and is sentenced to death by hanging, seven times."
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Some were happy, like my former colleagues, while some pitied me.
I caught a glimpse of Ellie standing in the crowd amongst the other maids. She appeared cold and emotionless. It was funny how people changed after being struck by tragedy. I couldn't blame her. It was her mother who was unfortunate.
Alpha Nolan stood and approached me, his eyes not leaving mine, a smirk tagged on his lips.
"You killed a person. Shouldn't you show remorse for what you did and beg? Maybe the elders will be kind enough to reduce it to five or even three."
"Why should I beg for something I didn't do?" I asked, defiance laced in my voice.
"You've still got pride, huh?" He grabbed my chin painfully, causing me to grit my teeth.
"Let's see if that pride is still intact after the first round." He shoved me aside roughly and made to address the people.
"Here today, we will end the life of someone inconsiderate and inhumane. Madam Cassandra wasn't just killed quickly. This girl..." He pointed to me. " stabbed her with a silver knife, twisted and turned it, buried it deep inside her chest, and then pulled it out. Tell me, does she deserve to live?"
"Nooo!!" The crowd echoed in response.
"You're lying! I did no such thing!" I yelled in defense. It was bad enough that I was accused of murder but recounting a false event was the height of it. I should have known they would go this far to make my death inevitable.
"Say the truth to the people, you coward!" I cursed as they began to drag me toward the hangar.
"I'll make sure you all pay for this!" I remarked bitterly. "You will die very painful, slow deaths," I swore. My face was wet with hot tears as I watched the people cheer for my death.
Through blurry lens, I made out Christine's victorious smile.
"I swear, I will burn down this pack and everyone in it."
I knew I couldn't do anything. Heck, I was too weak to even defend myself. It was just my fear and desperation speaking.
I was taken to the rope and my head was slipped through the loop. I shut my eyes, waiting for it all to end. Seconds later and I could feel myself gasping for air. The survival instinct in me forced my body to writhe and kick, even though it was futile. I could feel the darkness closing in and the ringing in my ears.
When I thought it was going to be over, I was released. I took a long gasp for air. I was unable to stand on my feet, so I just fell to the ground.
I had almost forgotten that I would be going through this five more times before the final one.
From the second to the sixth hanging, I felt like I was being burnt alive, quenched, and set on fire again. All for a crime the Alpha knew I didn't commit.
It was finally the last time.
'Let it all end, please.' I sobbed. 'Maybe I can finally ask my parents why they abandoned me in this terrible place.'
I didn't know what happened but as I was about to be looped in, Alpha Nolan told the men who held me to stop.
I began to hear confused chattering from all over. I couldn't phantom what was going on until I saw a man's hand raised. He sat close to Christine, his gaze on me cold and ruthless. How had I not noticed him?
The man rumored to be death himself. The Alpha of the North. And he said,
"I want her."