Chapter 5

• Setting: Starfall Pack
• Melody Reese
• The moment Lilith presented a small, clear bottle of a boiled, deep brownish liquid, my whole body froze. That was it—my goodbye to any hope of ever breastfeeding. I didn't want to admit that it was a rushed decision, a path that I was forced to take to preserve my sanity.
• "Are you sure about this?" We were in her basement, where she hid her most dangerous herbs. Despite it being dark, I could see everything clearly. There were stacks of boxes everywhere, small bottles arranged on dusty shelves, and so many other things I had no idea what they were. I finally looked at the older woman, wiping my wet cheeks with the back of my shaky hand.
• "I have to." My voice was thick with emotion and barely a whisper, even though I had tried to make it as firm as I could. With a single nod from Lilith, I said thank you before exiting her basement.
• I took the first sip the moment I got to the living room, clearing my throat when it burned. I couldn't stop the sputter of coughs that followed. Determined to free myself of the monster, I drowned the remaining contents, my eyes tightly shut.I dipped the small bottle in my pocket, then left for Nathan's office. I couldn't wait to look at his face as I dropped the news and the bottle on his desk. The minute I opened the door and stepped outside, however, Mason stood there, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
• "I thought you left." I cleared my throat, wiping my mouth with the hem of the maroon sweater I was wearing.
• "I did; I just came back to make sure you're okay. Plus, I have a job to follow you, remember?" He laughed nervously, pocketing his hands in his gray shorts.
• I descended the steps on the front porch, walking faster before the effects of the herb kicked in. I wanted Nathan to witness everything; it was my desire to look at his face as I relayed the shocking news to him.
• I didn't make it far, however. Two warriors emerged, walking straight toward me from either side. I looked at them in confusion before looking at Mason, who wouldn't even meet my eyes.
• "Am I missing something?" I squinted, throwing my head back slightly.
• "The Alpha wants to see you," Richard, one of the warriors, answered before fishing out the cuffs from the waist of his combat cargo trousers.
• "Put your hands behind your back," the other instructed, making me take a step back.
• "What the hell? What are the cuffs for?" The day was getting worse and worse for me with every passing minute.
• "You'll soon find out," he simply stated before dragging me across the pack grounds toward the Alpha's office. Mason followed behind, assuring me that everything would be okay if I told the truth. I had no idea what he was talking about until we got to the office.
• "You fucking whore!" Nathan screamed at me, adding a resounding slap to my face. My head was whipped to the side by the force of his palm as it connected with my cheek. The taste of iron filled my mouth as the inside of my lower lip stung from being busted.
• "Where is it?" he roared, grasping my chin tightly. My whole head throbbed, the pain spreading from my cheek around my neck and up to my head.
• "Do you have it?" he pressed further, letting go of me forcefully. The guards and Mason stood on one side of the office, watching as everything unfolded.
• "Wh-at?" I managed to ask, wincing as nausea washed over me. Lilith had said that nausea would hit first, followed by severe cramps that would then lead to bleeding.
• "The herb, where the fuck is it?" My brows furrowed, my heart leaping just once.
• How the hell had he known about it unless…Mason had followed me to Lilith's place without me noticing. I was sure as hell that Lilith hadn't said a word to the Alpha. I turned to Mason, trying so hard to comprehend his betrayal.
• "I'm sorry." He mouthed at me before staring past me as if he hadn't just betrayed my trust.
• "I'm fucking talking to you!" The rage written on Nathan’s face and almost tangible in his voice drew a dry laugh from me.
• "Why don't you check in my pockets?" I spoke in a sweet, teasing voice, letting out another laugh.
• He dipped his hand inside my pocket and fished out the bottle. All the blood drained from his face the moment he looked at the empty bottle.
• I would have laughed at his eyes as they bulged out of their sockets, but a forceful single cramp in my lower pelvis brought me down to my knees.
• "That's right. I drank all of it.” I spat on his shoes when he stepped closer and held me by my hair. I writhed on the floor, but the pain couldn't compare to the joy I felt as he became speechless. I could hear gasps from Mason and the rest, but I couldn't care less.
• "Fuck, untie me!" I screamed, the need to squeeze and rub my lower abdomen consuming me. Cramp after cramp hit, making me crawl on the floor.
• "You, take her to the pack square," he ordered the guards to lift me up and leave with me.
• "And you, mind-link the adults and have them assemble at the square. Is she there already like I ordered?" he asked.
• I could hear Mason's yes from afar as I was literally dragged. The pack square was only five minutes from the main pack's administration office, yet it felt like it was so far away.
• The pack members were already rushing there, some in human form and others in wolf form. Murmurs and whispers began to spread amongst them, but I couldn't care less as I was pushed into the middle of the crowd.
• I had no idea what Nathan had in mind, but I hoped it was to announce to the pack that I was no longer fit to be his mate.
• Despite the cramps, nausea, and murmurs from the pack members, I could make out low whimpers and moans of pain. I lifted my face from the kneeling position, and that was when I noticed Lilith tied to the punishment pole a few feet from me.
• "Lilith!" I cried out, attempting to drag myself toward her.
• "Don't cry for me, child." Her voice broke as she forced a smile.
• "What did you do, Melody?" My mother's shrill voice pierced my ears as she parted the crowd to pass, my father behind her.
• "She just drank the infertility herb,” Alpha Nathan answered, drawing gasps from the pack. He walked forward, two guards by his side.
• "It was given to her by our trusted healer," he added, making my eyes roam in search of Mason—the fucking traitor.
• "For her crime, Lilith’s hands will be cut in front of all of you. You will witness her punishment," Nathan commanded, his powerful aura almost bringing everyone down to their knees.
• "As for you—" He bent, holding me by my chin yet again. I could feel the inside of my lips swelling with every minute while the cramps subsided.
• "For the crime of denying this pack an heir, for your selfishness and the hunger to murder my pups even before we could create them…" He trailed off, looking me dead in the eyes. My gaze didn’t waver as I managed to smile victoriously despite his grip.
• Then he spoke, curling his upper lip,"I, Alpha Nathan Grant, hereby sentence you, Melody Reese, to death by beheading."