THE AWAKENING

7. Fatal End

A triggering scene is coming up.

Penelope

After the morning incident, I got down just in time for breakfast. I didn't spend a lot of time preparing. The Alpha didn't like it when pack members were late for meetings. Getting into the kitchen, I found Jason and Zayn deep in conversation as they had sandwiches for breakfast.

"Where is mom?" I asked.

"She went out early this morning, something about meeting up with dad before the meeting," Jason responded.

I nodded.

I made my sandwich and began to eat it. I sat quietly trying to listen in on the conversation the two were having.

"I have been hearing some rumours," Zayn spoke up.

"What kind?" I pleaded that something was up.

"Meghan has gone missing," Zayn replied.

I couldn't hide the shock on my face. I felt bad for her. We were not the best of friends, but I truly felt bad. I hope someone finds her soon.

But then I was curious because I was with her the day before.

"Hmm, that's unusual," Jason remarked. He looked surprised too.

A short silence was bestowed upon us and the only sound that remained was of the water from the kitchen tap hitting the kitchen sink, creating a soft tap sound.

Both Zayn and Jason seemed to be deeply in thought.

I couldn't help but admire and envy their friend Zayn. He may not have found her yet, but she sure would be lucky.

Even as he chewed his sandwich, he did it with elegance.

Having done with breakfast, we all left the house and headed for the grand clearing.

There was a clearing within the pack where important announcements were made, and it had a platform at one end. We may have been more than 300 within the pack, but space accommodated each one of us. We mostly came here for either a big celebration or a fatal incident. It was hard to guess which one. The Alpha was usually secretive.

I know! An Alpha is supposed to be transparent with his members, right?

Oh well, not ours.

We got there just in time; the meeting was about to start. We stood on the ground close to the high stage, where the Alpha was currently sitting on one of the luxurious seats provided.

He was silent, his gaze sweeping past everyone until it reached me. His face contorted in anger and he shot me a glaring stare.

What's up, mister?

I glared right back.

He scowled and was taken aback for a while. I couldn't help but smirk.

It comes to your rescue!

The crowd was alive, and mutterings were all over. We were all curious as to the reason for this meeting.

Some members kept whispering to themselves. As for others, I could tell they preferred the mind link.

"Zayn, what's going on?"

After such a long time of not using the mind link, I decided to open it up. At first, voices filled my head, but I blocked them out and focused on Zayn. I had used it in a situation like this before because Zayn was on the stage standing next to the Alpha.

Using my phone wouldn't have been the best idea.

I turned to look at Jason, only to find he wasn't standing next to me like I thought he was.

Weird!

I was sure he was standing next to me. How did he just suddenly disappear?

The crowd even got wilder. Those that were whispering weren't even doing it anymore.

I am also trying to find out about Pen, but it should be about Meghan's disappearance. Only the alpha and beta know the real reason.

Alpha Lucian stood up, croaked, and got quiet. He walked to the centre and stood, his gaze cast at us. We had his full attention. His hair glistened under the beaming sun. His golden eyes shone even more. They were more vibrant, signalling that his wolf was partially present. His powerful aura engulfs us all. He cleared his throat and then spoke up.

"Well, there have been a lot of events going on that most of you may not know about." His deep voice boomed. completely silencing us. His face was passive. He was not letting any of his emotions slip, so it was hard to guess what the real problem was.

"One of our pack members was found dead near the lake last night." Voices boomed once more, but the alpha's stern look silenced everyone.

"That pack member happens to be Meghan Freeman of the Freeman family."

The f**k!

I was in great shock, and so was everyone. We were all too quiet. You would hear a pin drop. Not quite fully registering what was going on

Poor Meghan, we did not get along, but I didn't wish for her to die like this, and I hoped the person who did this would get punished. "

My beta and I did some investigation and we already know who murdered her. The person happens to be Penelope Cruz. "

If I was shocked before this time, I was pale.

I was too stunned to say a word. I gapped, opening and closing my mouth like a fish gasping from being out of water.

The next thing I knew, I was being dragged to the front of the stage by two of the pack warriors. I recognized their faces, but I didn't know their names.

The shock had left me so weak I couldn't even fight back. I couldn't believe I was being accused of something I didn't do. I felt I was framed, but I couldn't guess who did it or why.

By now we had reached the stage. I tried to resist, but I was thrown onto the concrete floor like a rag doll. I was crushed hard, bruising my legs and arms. The blue shorts and black t-shirt I wore could only protect my torso. I could feel the pain on my face too. I was sure that there were some bruises there too.

Everything hurt like a b***h. But I needed to stay strong and stand my ground. I won't be weak at a moment like this.

Everyone watched as I picked myself up and I smoothed the wrinkles on my t-shirt.

I glanced at the crowd watching. I couldn't help but shake I was afraid my legs could give out anytime soon.

The pack members had angry faces; others were in shock. Those angry kept shouting,

"Hang the heartless b***h!!"

"She doesn't deserve to die."

I was surprised they thought I was capable of something like that.

"Penelope, the verdict for your crime is death."

The crowd howled in glee.

I tried to stay strong earlier, but now I had completely crumbled like a falling snow mountain. My eyes were a waterfall.

My emotions were everywhere.

Do I get to die like this for something I didn't even do?

"I..I.I swear I am not the one who killed her." I stuttered, my voice was hoarse, and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

"Why should I believe you? Meghan was your enemy and just the other night you got into a fight with her and all the evidence points to you." He was very angry as he questioned me. He couldn't even hide it.

"I may not have been good friends with her, but I didn't do it!" I felt hopeless, utterly and completely hopeless. I couldn't help but shake and cry aimlessly. Alpha Lucian's word is the law; my life is already over.

"But you can't deny all the evidence found; that is enough to summon your death. And you know the murder of a fellow pack member, by law the verdict is death, so if I were you, Penelope Cruz, I would begin to recite my last prayers. " He smirked, finding this situation amusing.

What a heartless b***h. I can't believe I crushed on this fucker.

The pack kept cheering me on to my death. I was like a mad person. I couldn't even think straight. I glanced around, and I spotted my mum and dad. If this was a normal situation, I would have smiled upon seeing Dad, because I had not seen him in a while.

Mom was sobbing uncontrollably, and Dad was holding her right hand to keep her from collapsing. He had a very disappointed look. If only he spent more time with me. I looked more trying to spot Jason, but still no sign of him.

I had not yet registered what was happening when I felt two strong arms grabbing my forearms. Two warriors grabbed me, each on either side of me.

I tried to resist, but their grip only got tighter and it was painful. I wailed in pain.

I was dragged to the hanger.

"You will regret this!" I screamed at the alpha.

"There is nothing to regret. " Alpha Lucian replied impassively.

"No!!!!!" It was Zayn.

I looked at Zayn, who was just a few feet away from me, and he was also restrained back by some pack warriors. He had bruises all over his form. Some blood was even dripping from his nose and mouth. His face was swollen. He tried to fight for me, but he was beaten up badly. They could only do that by outnumbering him.

I writhed even more as we got closer to the hanger. The Alpha was trailing right behind us.

"I hope you have said your last prayers," he chirped from behind me.

How could he mock me at a time like this?

We got to the alter that beheld the hanger in no time. Even with the crowd around us, I could hear Mom's cries and that broke my heart. We may not have gotten along most of the time, but I loved her very much. What broke my heart, even more, was the fact that my family didn't try to fight for me or even defend me, as I know I would even if I died trying.

I felt the tightness of the rope around my neck. I would never wish this on anyone, except maybe for that heartless man.

I looked at Zayn one last time. He was kneeling on the ground, his bloodshot eyes trickling with tears. I gave him a reassuring look that meant everything would be okay. I couldn't stand seeing him broken, as he was right then.

"Any last words, murderer?" Alpha Lucian smirked. I wish I could wipe it off his face.

"May the moon goddess see me through."

And after that, everything went blank.