Chapter 61: CHAPTER 61

ALINA

Night came too quickly. Jaime had made sure that the execution was really going to take place tonight. I had tried everything I could. I spoke to every person I could, and thought go anything I could do to make sure this did not happen, but it was fruitless. It was going to happen because he had already set his mind on it. If it did not happen, the pack was going to think he was not capable, and that was Jaime's worst nightmare.

As I joined the rest of the royal family at the execution grounds, I felt like I had failed Kai. The air was heavy with dread, and every step I took felt like I was being pulled deeper into a nightmare. Around me, the pack members had gathered, their faces pale with fear. I wasn't the only one terrified. Everyone knew that Jaime was going to cross a line today, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. They all loved Lily. She was an awesome person. I remember when she was nice to me even if I did not reciprocate it.

She did not deserve to have this kind of ending. No one did. I stood with Nina, Maria, and Aunt Arya, trying to hold myself together. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of helplessness. How had it come to this? How had Jaime become so consumed by power that he was willing to execute Lily just to prove a point? Just because she spoke the truth, that his sister had used magic? I never truly knew him, so I did not even know if it was had the right to say that.

As Elder Gideon, who was usually composed and confident, stepped forward to announce the execution, I noticed that even he seemed shaken. His hands trembled slightly as he raised his voice to address the crowd. I hoped he finally realized that this whole thing was a

mistake. He should have crowned Kai as the alpha, then maybe he would not have gone out to find me then and he would not have been killed by a skin walker.

"Today," he began, his voice faltering for a moment, "we are

gathered to witness the execution of Lily, the almost-former beta of this pack, for the crime of treason."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, but no one dared speak up. Everyone was too afraid of what Jaime would do if they challenged him. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, like the entire pack was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable. Jaime came out next, his face twisted into a cruel smirk as he strode to the center of the platform. He looked out at the crowd with a sense of pride, as if this was his moment of triumph. It made my stomach turn.

I wished someone in the crowd was brave enough to kill him. That was the only ending that he deserved for being such a wicked bastard.

"I, Alpha Jaime," he announced, his voice booming, "will execute Lily for daring to betray this pack, for daring to challenge my rule, and for framing my sister for something so disgusting when she knew it was Kai who was capable of using magic, not me. Bloody fools." He spat.

Elder Agnes stepped forward. I guess she was not afraid to speak to him because she was the oldest of the elders. I was sure he would not hurt her... but I also wouldn't be shocked if he did. He was a bad person so there were no limits to what he could do. She looked frail, her hands trembling as she clutched the staff that supported her. Despite her age, her voice was steady as she spoke.

"Alpha Jaime," she said softly, her tone filled with reason and caution, "this is not a wise course of action. Killing a woman for something this trivial will only sow fear and distrust for you among our people. You must reconsider."

Jaime's face twisted with anger, and he pointed his sword at her. " Shut up, old woman, before I decide to kill you too. You know nothing."

Gasps erupted from the crowd, but Elder Agnes held her ground, her eyes filled with disappointment. She knew, as we all did, that there was no reasoning with Jaime now, so she went back and sat down in her seat.

The guards were summoned, and they dragged Lily out of the holding cell. My heart clenched painfully at the sight of her. She looked so small, so terrified, but even in the face of death, she held her head high. They forced her to the ground, pushing her toward the wooden block where her head would rest and be subsequently chopped off. My body immediately locked up as I waited for a miracle. Any type of miracle.

"Lily..." I whispered, tears burning in my eyes. I wanted to scream, to run to her, to stop this madness. But I couldn't. I was powerless.

"Any last words?" one of the guards asked her, his voice low and formal.

Lily lifted her head as much as she could, her eyes locking with Jaime's. "Fuck you, Jaime," she spat, her voice filled with venom.

Jaime threw his head back and laughed, a maniacal sound that echoed through the execution grounds. He looked like he was enjoying this far too much, like this was just another way for him to have fun for his sad pathetic life.

"Well, well. Goodbye," Jaime murmured, his voice cold and

merciless. He lifted the sword high above his head, and for a brief moment, I couldn't breathe. I wanted to look away, but my eyes were glued to the scene unfolding before me. The sword glinted in the moonlight, and then it came down with a sickening thud.

The silence that followed was deafening. I watched in horror as Nina and Maria leaped into Aunt Arya's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down their faces, their hearts breaking at the loss of their friend. Aunt Arya held them tightly, her own face twisted with grief, but she stayed strong for their sake.

Jaime, on the other hand, looked pleased with himself. He stepped back from the block, wiping the blood from his sword as he

addressed the crowd.

"This," he announced proudly, "is what happens to those who dare challenge me. Let this be a warning to all of you."

But then, something strange happened. One of the guards standing beside the execution platform gasped, his eyes wide with shock as he pointed toward Lily's body.

"Alpha Jaime!" he shouted. "Look! Look at the body!"

Jaime turned, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to the block. His face twisted in confusion, and then in rage. "What the hell is this rubbish?"

My heart skipped a beat as I looked down at the platform. Where Lily's body should have been, there was nothing but a human- shaped dummy, dressed in her clothes. The crowd murmured in shock, disbelief spreading through the pack like wildfire. I stood frozen, my mind racing. How was this possible? How had Lily's body disappeared? We had all seen her and heard her when she was about to be executed. Then how was this even possible?

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. The woman from before the one who had teleported me and Kai back to the pack- was standing in the crowd, a sly smile on her face. She caught my eye and bowed slightly, a knowing glint in her gaze before she disappeared into the throng of people. A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Lily was alive. She had been saved. Somehow, some way, she had escaped this fate.

I had an inkling she was a witch, and this had just solidified my guess. I nearly smiled, but then I remembered that I couldn't let my relief show. I couldn't give Jaime any reason to suspect that I had anything to do with this. I forced myself to maintain a neutral expression, pretending to be as shocked as everyone else. Jaime, on the other hand, was furious. His face turned red with anger as he barked orders at the guards, demanding that they search the area for the real Lily.

But I knew it was too late. She was already gone, far beyond his reach. As the crowd began to disperse, I remained still, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know where Lily had gone, but I hoped she was safe. For now, that was all that mattered. I just had to keep playing my part, keep pretending that I was loyal to Jaime, until I figured out what was going to happen next.