CHAPTER FORTY THREE

CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Silvana's Point Of View.

It's been two days since Morgana visited my cell. Two days of gnawing hunger, bone chilling cold, and the growing fear that clawed at my insides.

I hadn't heard anything since then. Julianna's words kept swirling in my head, making me go crazy. The guards remained impassive, their faces like stone masks. They refused to answer my question, or even acknowledge my existence. I was all alone in this damn cell.

The silence was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. My heart leaped with a flicker of hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the grim faces that appeared in front of me. Lachlan was among them, he stood before me, flanked by two guards.

He stared at me for a moment, a flicker of pity in his eyes before he quickly looked away, as if ashamed to meet my gaze. "Take her." He commanded.

The heavy iron door creaked open, and the guards stepped inside. I inched back, but they grabbed me roughly making me yelp out in pain. "Stop," Lachlan's voice sliced through the air. "She deserves her last respects. Let her be."

My breath hitched at his words, a cold dread gripping my heart. Last respects? What did that mean? The reality of my situation crashed down on me with a brutal force. 

W-were they going to execute me?

My hands started trembling and tears started welling, I didn't want to cry, I wanted to be strong...but it was hard. 

I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure, and walked out of the cell with the guards walked behind me quietly.

As we passed through the hallways, I heard hushed whispers from the maids that scurried out of our path, their eyes filled a mixture of fear and curiosity. Some threw dirty glances at me, their faces twisted with contempt, while others looked at me with pity. When I raised my head, I saw Betty standing at the staircase, her eyes red and swollen from crying but she kept a straight face. When our eyes met, she bowed her head, I managed a weak, grateful smile in return.

When we got to the entrance of the throne room, Lachlan stopped and turned to face me, his expression grave. He bowed his head, then raised it with a sad warm smile. "I think you deserve this atleast, Luna Silvana."

Hearing him say my real name with the title broke me. The tears I had been holding back threatened to burst. His face then fell, his brow furrowing with remorse. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"No," I shook my head. "It's okay," I managed to say. "You're just following orders."

He said nothing and turned his back on me, nodding to the guards that the door. They pushed it open, revealing the scene within. The sight that greeted me was like a punch to the gut, stealing my breath away.

Garrick sat on his throne, when his eyes landed on me, his face became cold, devoid of all emotions. Morgana stood behind him, her eyes gleaming with a smug, triumphant satisfaction. Alpha King Jaxon stood in the middle, flanked by the oldest elders from various packs. My eyes trailed to the other side of the room, I was shocked to see Alpha Eryk present, he sat on a throne to the side of the room, his expression unreadable. I looked at the other side, and the scene that I saw broke me completely. My parents were behind held captive, my father looked battered, his long hair falling over his face, my mother looked so frail and thin. Alpha Darius stood beside them, he looked untouched, but judging from his attire, it seemed like he had been locked up too. They were all surrounded by guards who held their spears so high.

"Dad-" Before the words could roll of my tongue, I felt a sharp sting as I fell to my knees. It then occurred to me that I was kicked. I looked up, my eyes landing on Garrick who looked away, as if I were something he didn't want to look at.

His gaze had changed towards me.

My heart shattered, and I looked away, facing the ground. No- this wasn't the time to grieve about my pathetic love life.

"Alpha Garrick," I heard Jaxon say, his voice booming through the hall. I looked up to see him now standing before me, his back on me. "Today is the final judgement," he said, his gaze still on Garrick. 

Garrick said nothing and just nodded. Jaxon then turned and faced me, his eyes filled with disdain. "Your crimes are many, Omega. But one of the worst is impersonating a Luna, but what's more disgusting is the fact that you're an Omega. Your blood is tainted, and now you have stained a scared throne. You're a disgrace to us all and yourself."

I said nothing and just lowered my head. His words did not only pierce my heart but my soul. I heard Jaxon sigh. "Alpha Darius," he spoke up, I looked up to see all his attention now fixed on Darius. "I'm more than disappointed. For an Alpha as might as you, you stood so low, to allow an Omega to become Queen, just because of your greed and cowardliness. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Save the girl," Was all Darius said. "And her parents. You can do whatever you have with me, I don't care," he wanted to take a step closer, but the guards blocked his path, his eyes then fell on me, and his face softened slightly. "Silvana is the most innocent,"

From above me, I heard Jaxon sigh, this time, it was a weary sigh. "You're not getting the point of your crime Darius. You failed to bring her to me at birth. You know what happens to Omega in this realm, but not only did you hide one, you dared to trick us all! Her kind has never reached the age of 10 before they were killed or banished, but she is a full grown adult!"

I lowered my head, unable to look at their faces. I waited for Darius to say something, but he didn't.

I guess that explains it.

That explains why I was always kept in.

Why my parents treated me differently.

The legends were worse than I ever imagined.

I knew I was an Omega...but what I never knew that I might be the only one alive.

And now, my parents just sealed my fate. The secret they tried so hard to protect, they used their own hands to announce it to the world.

I heard Jaxon suck in a deep breath. "I don't have the luxury of time, and these people don't deserve any of my pity or a chance to explain themselves. I find them all guilty, unless you have something else to say, Alpha Garrick,"

At the mention of Garrick's name, I raised my head. He stood up and walked down the aisle, towards the Jaxon. Morgana trailed behind him, her eyes now fixed on me- her hatred clear.

How come I never noticed it? How come I never saw through her all along? Was she really this horrible or had this incident ran everyone mad?

Garrick stopped a few feet away me, his posture radiating a deceptive calm. He met Jaxon's gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Alpha King Jaxon, I understand what you have said. However, I have my own judgement for them,"

An elder behind Jaxon stepped forward. "And what would that be Alpha Garrick? These are criminals,"

"Agreed," Garrick said without batting an eyelid. "However, in Alpha Darius's fault, I understand. Same as Morgana's parents. This whole issue started because of Morgana's disappearance," fro. Behind him, I heard Morgana wince. "But," Garrick's face hardened as he spoke. "Like you said, an Omega is a shame to us all,"

Jaxon nodded and folded his arms. His interest seemed piqued by Garrick's words. "Just to be direct, you're insisting we free Darius and Morgana's parents,"

"Yes,"

I let out a sigh of relief. I couldn't imagine my parents being killed nor Alpha Darius.

"But," Garrick's cold voice made me snap my head up at him. "I reject Silvana, not just as the Luna but as the mate," he then turned to face me, my eyes fell to his hands that were now intertwined with Morgana's. "She should be banished from this realm, and never to be seen again. If she ever shows up, she will be killed at sight."

I stared at him in shock and disbelief. My lips parted but no words came out, he then turned to Jaxon who had a smile on his face.

"I really cherish you Garrick. And I agree to your decision. It's fair enough." I heard Jaxon say, my mind was still reeling from his words. Everything was slowly dying around me. Jaxon's voice, the rest of the crowd disappeared. I could only see Garrick. But he wasn't looking at me.