Chapter One
Sophia’s POV
I watched, heartbroken as Albert held and kissed his first love, Tiffany, so intimately. I was disgusted and felt an immense pain that I had never felt before.
I mumbled bitterly to myself, regretting the day I had accepted to follow him to this hell that should have been my home.
Even though I know he despises me so much and he doesn't want me anywhere close to him or the palace, he should at least respect our bond, the only thing we had in common. I was weakened and felt betrayed now it dawned on me that Albert only needs me to fulfill his desires whenever there is a full moon. But I had expected that he would respect and not betray me, I approached him with tears trailing down my face and so much grief in my heart, to know why he would do something like this to me openly without any regards to my feelings.
He paused, looked at me with a devilish grin and said, “what do you even want from me you filthy thing? You left me with no other choice than to bring you to this palace after seducing me and now you want me all for yourself”. Everywhere was calm for a minute as I stood, looking at Albert, I quickly wiped the tears off my face.
“Don't worry soon enough I'll get rid of you and I will no longer get to see your disgusting face ever again.” His response was cold and harsh without any form of remorse. I held myself, gathered enough confidence and said to him, “you don't have any right to treat me in this manner, I deserve to know why you chose to humiliate me this way, if you don't love or consider me your mate why bring me to the palace to make fun of me?”
I was still talking when the werewolf officers came up to seize me accusing me of being a thief, Great! first it was Albert's betrayal now I'm a Thief!!!
I looked at them in disbelief and asked “what do you mean by that?” Before I could say anything else, I was captured by the officers. Albert showed no pity or cared to intervene as I stared at him and struggled to free my hands from the huge officers. He stood there watching with a cold expression as they took me away. I felt so bad, this was the height of betrayal.
***
The werewolf officers stopped at my cell and stared with disgust. “Are you ready to confess, Sophia? Or should we continue from where we stopped?”
I glared at them as I struggled to sit up. My sides ached due to the few kicks the officers had thrown my way in the morning. “I already told you I didn’t conspire with the witches to steal the moonstone.”
“Of course, a half werewolf and half witch would do anything to prove their innocence including lying!”one of the guards snarled as he took out a water bottle-I swallowed hard and allowed tears to flow as he dangled the bottle and chuckled. “You haven’t drank water since we were arrested yesterday, right? Poor little thing. Well, if you want it, confess to your crimes and you will be set free.”
I sniffed as he emptied the bottle on the floor. “I already told you the truth. I didn’t steal the moonstone nor connive the witches.”
The officer opened the cell and walked in-I quickly moved towards the wall. “You are a half witch, Sophia. We know you will do anything to help your kind including stealing and covering up for them.” The officer bent and glared at me. “ You will be doing yourself a great favour if you just confess!”
I watched him as he stood up and closed the cell gate. I had to think fast if I wanted to get out of here alive. If only I could get Albert here. He was the only one that could convince them of my innocence.
“I demand to speak with Albert right now!” I said, sniffing hard.
The officer scoffed and replied. “Okay, I will gladly deliver your message even though you didn’t ask nicely.”
I bowed mockingly and returned to my makeshift bed. Being a half breed, my bond with Albert was stronger than a normal werewolf mate bond and if I die, Albert’s power would diminish. He wouldn’t want that. He had feelings for me.
I glanced at the entrance and counted slowly as tears pooled again. I couldn’t stop myself from crying because I knew I was going to die if Albert didn’t show up. He wouldn’t let me die, I assured myself as I sniffed hard.
The officer showed up suddenly as I stopped counting. I glanced around but there was no Albert beside or coming after him.
I rose and glanced around, trying to blink away the tears. “Where is he?”
“He was disgusted at your request. You should have seen his face!”the officer howled, enjoying himself. “It was like he was told to come see a troll. He also mocked your hopes. Called you a delusional freak who would do anything to deceive everyone. You shouldn’t have requested to see him, honey.” the officer chuckled loudly.
I bit my bottom lip as my heart shattered. I couldn’t believe Albert was ready to see me die. We were mates and were bound to be together. How could he be so heartless and be disgusted by my motive? I felt so numb that I didn’t know when my fingers began to shake. No. Impossible.
I sniffed as the tears fell. My heart felt broken as the reality hit me. “I don’t believe you. Albert wouldn’t want me to die for a crime I didn't commit. You made everything up. I demand to see him!”
The officer moved closer to the cell and held it firmly-i could feel the hate for me in his eyes as he replied. “He doesn't want to see you because you’re a low life half breed. You expect an Alpha to leave his throne to mingle and listen to you? That’s below his status, Sophia.”
I fell on the floor and cried as the officer's words hit me like bullets and reality glowed in front of me. I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it. If I was told then that one day Albert would be pleased to watch me die, I would have fought to prove them wrong.
The officer snickered as I sniffed and I glanced at his mocking smile. “You know, I first met Albert when I was sixteen years old and fell for him at first sight. He didn’t pay me any attention of course but later, after rescuing him in the forest and I discovered we were mates, things changed or so I thought. It’s funny how suddenly he feels disgusted towards me.”
The officer yawned as he stretched his arms. “Right. Your time is up, Sophia. The guards are here.”
The guards slapped me as I struggled to fight them. It was no use and I silently gave up as they tied my hands to the cross. They said to me “are you ready to give us back the moonlight gem or are you still denying it?” I was quiet and didn't know how else to defend myself, I scanned the crowd, hoping to see Albert one last time but he wasn’t there. I repeatedly called out to Albert for him to come to my aid but to no avail. Just then, one of the guards lit the fire and for the first time in my entire life it dawned on me that I was going to die, a miserable and painful death and my mate didn't care, at all.
I screamed as the fire crawled to my feet. It was excruciating. I cried louder as the officer spread the fire across me increasing the intensity.
It became even more unbearable as Tiffany, arrived and mockingly called me a thief.
“This is where thieves like you end, after stealing the king from me and now the moonlight gem? you're just too greedy and selfish and now you've finally come to your end”, she spat.
As I kept screaming, I noticed a young werewolf who I had helped treat an injury during a war a long time ago and beckoned to him. “Please, help me. I can’t take this pain anymore. Make it stop, please!!!” I cried as the burning pain increased.
The young werewolf glanced at me with pity for a minute and took a bow and arrow. “So long, Sophia.”
I smiled weakly as an arrow pierced my chest, ending my suffering and pain.
I awoke with a start and glanced around. I could feel the air and also, all my senses were heightened. I stood up and realized I was in spirit form. I was dead and not part of the living-it suddenly struck me.
I glanced around again and noticed I was in a forest covered with darkness. The only form of light was a shining star in the sky. I started walking until I reached an open space. As I was about to step into space, something hit me and I groaned as my head started banging. I knelt down as images flooded my head and I cried. There was blood everywhere and I saw the witches holding the moonstone. I cried again as I tried to control the images.
I slowed my breath and the vision began to make sense-I saw the witches use the moonstone to control and destroy the world. I saw Albert-I could feel his pains as he called my name and got struck. I opened my eyes but i couldn’t steady my breaths or my body. I was shaken. I knelt and wrapped my hands around my knees and whimpered.
I couldn’t believe it but I didn’t want to see Albert ever again. I turned my head as the leaves rustled and a whirlwind appeared. What was happening?”
“Sophia, do not be afraid. You’re safe.” a feminine voice said as the whirlwind reduced.
I scanned around but I didn't see who was taking it. I rose and yelled. “Show yourself.”
The feminine voice replied calmly. “I’m the moon goddess, Sophia. You don’t need to see me. You will be returning to the world because you are the only one that can save everyone, Sophia. The only one.”
As I started to ask for more information, I felt my soul being pulled and I yelled as I painfully fell into an unconscious state.
