CHAPTER 2 Blame
"Dad! Mom!!!" Athena screamed, her voice raw with panic as two warriors dragged her out of her attic room. Her parents stood in the doorway, arms crossed, faces etched with cold fury. They didn't move. They didn't say a word. They simply watched and followed them going down the stairs.
"Athena!" she heard Alton's voice from the living room as they pulled her down the stairs, her bare feet thudding against the wood.
"What's going on here?" Alton demanded breathlessly as he met them before reaching the door, eyes wide with confusion and growing alarm.
"Stay out of this, Alton," Sebastian, their father, said firmly, jaw clenched tight.
Alton looked at him, bewildered. "What are you talking about? You're just going to let them drag my sister like that?"
Sebastian's eyes darkened. "Would you dare disobey Alpha Johannes?"
Alton stepped closer, fists shaking. "What did Athena do to deserve this? Tell me!"
Marie, their mother, snapped. Her voice cracked like a whip. "That girl is the reason Luna Neda is dead!"
Alton's brows furrowed in disbelief. "That's impossible. She was in the attic all night, you knew that! You were watching her. How could she possibly be responsible for Luna's death?"
Before anyone could answer, Althea stepped forward, lips curling into a malicious smirk. "It was her eyes. They turned red."
Athena, still struggling in the grip of the warriors, pleaded. "Alton, I didn't do anything! I could never hurt Luna Neda. I loved her. She was kind to me... more than anyone else."
Her brother's heart twisted. He believed her. He always had. Ever since they were kids, Luna Neda treated Athena like her own. In many ways, she had been more of a mother to her than Marie ever was.
"I'm sorry, Alton," one of the warriors muttered, his grip tightening on Athena's arm. "But we have to follow Alpha Johannes's orders."
Powerless, Alton lowered his head. He looked at his sister, silently apologizing with his eyes. His heart raged in his chest, but he was not yet in position. Not yet, a Beta. He's not strong enough to change the tide.
But someday, he vowed, things would change. When he became Beta, he would fight for Athena. He would make the whole pack see what he knew. His younger sister was not the monster they feared. She was kind, controlled, and stronger than anyone gave her credit for.
They brought Athena to the training grounds.
There, atop a made-up altar, lay the lifeless body of Luna Neda. Her once radiant presence was now still, cold. Around her, the pack mourned with the elders, heads bowed. The atmosphere was heavy, thick with grief and accusation.
Clark stood among the mourners, rage in his eyes. Beside him, Althea smiled smugly, her satisfaction barely hidden. She had been jealous of Athena ever since, and seeing her little sister in such agony made her feel superior to her.
Sebastian and Marie were in the front row, glaring daggers at Athena. Alton stood beside them, his eyes refusing to meet his sisters'. He was ashamed of his little sister and himself for being weak and a coward.
Athena's knees buckled when she saw Luna Neda. "L-Luna..." she whispered, her voice cracking with sorrow. Tears welled in her eyes as she took a step forward, only to be yanked back by the warriors.
She had admired Luna Neda more than anyone. She had shown her kindness when no one else would, treating her with warmth and dignity despite her clumsiness and weaknesses as a child.
Alpha Johannes approached, his face twisted with grief and fury. He grabbed Athena by the hair without warning, yanking her head back.
"Look at what you've done to my mate!" he roared, pointing a shaking finger at Luna Neda's body.
Athena cried out in pain as her scalp burned, her legs trembling. "Please, Alpha... I didn't do anything—"
The furious alpha held out his hand, palm open. A warrior stepped forward and placed a long leather whip into it.
Without another word, Alpha Johannes flung Athena toward a thick metal pole. Two warriors chained her wrists to it tightly.
"Alpha, please... I swear, I didn't hurt her!" Athena sobbed, her voice growing hoarse. "I will never, ever want to see Luna getting hurt!"
"Your eyes!" he screamed, stepping closer, spit flying from his mouth. "Those cursed eyes killed her. That hair drained her strength. You're a parasite, and you will be punished!"
He stepped back and cracked the whip.
Thwack!
The sound echoed like a thunderclap.
Athena screamed, her voice shattering the silence of the mourning grounds.
He whipped her again. And again.
Ten lashes.
Each one tore through her dress, splitting fabric and skin. Her back burned, bled, and shook. By the final strike, her body was limp, slumped against the post. Her breaths were shallow, her eyes glazed.
Still, no one stepped forward.
No one helped.
"I d-din't d-do a-anything.." Athena said between breathing. Her voice was soft and cracked. She still wants to defend herself and prove that she means no harm. That she would never want anything bad to happen to the only woman who cared for her.
Alpha Johannes dropped the whip beside her, breathing hard. "No one is to touch her! If anyone dares unchain her, they will suffer the same fate!" he barked before returning to his mate's side.
The cremation began. Flames danced high into the air as Luna Neda's body was turned to ash.
Alpha Johannes is the first one to leave the ground, followed by Clark, accompanied by Althea, who is trying to soothe him for losing his mother. Then, the elders and the rest of the pack members.
No one looked back at Athena.
No one except Alton who stayed on his feet. He didn't move.
He stared at his little sister's broken body, unable to speak. He didn't move, even as his father's voice pierced his thoughts through a mind link.
"Whatever you're thinking... don't. You'll lose. And you'll drag the rest of us down with you."
Alton didn't answer.
He stayed.
When the sky darkened, and the rain began to fall, he remained soaked, unmoving, silently standing guard.
If he couldn't fight for Athena now, at least he could be there.
So she wouldn't suffer alone.