A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 5

The cells were cold, damp and dingy, with little amenities. Only a bed, toilet and basin were given to me, a single blanket being the only thing to warm myself. There was minimal space, each cell having three stone walls and bars along the wall where the door was.

 Seven days had now passed and so today, finally, I was set to stand trial before the pack for my alleged murder. I knew the evidence was stacked against me. In fact, it would be almost impossible for me to win this. The only hope I had left was that Sophie was still alive. If she could testify saying she had witnessed firsthand how I’d been inside my chambers all week, therefore making it impossible to have poisoned Thea, then they would be forced to open the floor to the possibility I was not the culprit.

 “Get up,” a guard gruffly ordered from outside my cell.

 I recognised him. His name was James and I had visited his family on multiple occasions on behalf of the ranked members over the years.

 Shakily, I stood up per his request, having not eaten properly the whole week from stress, and made my way to the side.

 James came in and pushed me up against the stone wall, forcing me to wince from the pain. But I knew the bruises would just blend in with the others I’d received already. Due to anxiety and lack of food, my injuries were not healing as quickly as a werewolf normally would.

 “Will Sophie be at the trial?” I asked once he had shoved me out of the cell.

 He didn’t reply, instead choosing to remain completely silent as he continued to push me towards the exit. I couldn’t tell if he had been instructed not to talk to me, or if he just genuinely hated me now.

 We were walking past the other cells and, as we did so, my eyes checked each one through the bars, desperately searching for Sophie. I needed her to be there. I needed her to prove me innocent.

 However, once we passed the fifth cell, my eyes glanced across a man with familiar silver hair.

 “Father!” I cried out, struggling to move towards him against the strength of James.

 “Aria?!” he gasped. “What are you doing down here?”

 I struggled some more against James, but his grip was far stronger than mine. He kept trying to shove me towards the door and I realised that I was not going to be able to win this by strength alone.

 “James! Please!” I begged, turning as best I could to face him. “If I die today then please let me talk to my father one last time. I know you may not believe me but I truly didn’t hurt anyone and I would especially never hurt a baby. If I am wrongly executed today then please don’t deprive me of my last chance to say

to be unreadable, but I could see the uneasiness in his eyes. His jaw clenched as he

to say goodbye. Please.” Tears began to well up in my eyes. “Please… Please… Please just give me this one thing. I promise to cooperate fully on the way to the trial grounds

me a stiff nod in agreement. I sighed in relief, eternally grateful for his compassion. “Thank

cell who was already waiting for me at the bars, his expression holding a mixture

“I wanted to, really I

didn’t try to rescue me. I accepted the consequences and knew what I was doing. But why are you down here anyway? Did you say that you’re on the way to the

 I grimaced at the

all think I poisoned her with some sort

the child? But that’s insane!

searched my room too. They apparently found the herb in question under my bed, even

sorry.” His eyes were watering at the sight of my tears. I’d never seen him show so much emotion before, so much

our family,” I cried, looking up to the ceiling

look at him. Everything I’d done had brought shame

could you ever.” His voice

“But you’ve always looked at me as such. When my infertility was announced, I saw how you were. You looked as though I’d brought

chosen you for one of our highest ranks, only to let you suffer so much. I knew how Aleric treated you, and I didn’t do anything.

powerful, was crying to me, apologising to me about how he

my forehead against the cold metal bars to be closer to him. As best as he could, though awkward given the bars between us, he then tried to wrap his arms around me and

then cleared his throat behind

maybe even difficult sight for him to watch. Not too long ago, he had served under both of us, looked up to us. Yet here we were, sobbing

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