Chapter 3

"Contribution? Watching?" I almost laughed, choked by immense sorrow. Was my duty, my honor, so easily taken away? Lucas finally spoke. "The elders’ decision benefits the Pack. Selena saved my life, her devotion unquestionable. Sophia, you..." He paused. "You’ve been troubled lately, in a bad mood. You need to rest. The intricate sacrificial rituals are laborious to perform. Handing over the ceremony to Selena is for your benefit." His gaze held no guilt, only matter-of-fact certainty. Troubled? Troubled by whom?! A deep sense of helplessness and icy despair engulfed me. Standing there, I felt like an intruder in a sacred place, utterly redundant. "Okay... I understand." I forced out those words. Voice hollow, devoid of anger or questioning, just dead silence. Any further words would be self-degradation. I turned and walked out of the council hall. The heavy wooden door closed behind me, coughing violently, blood trickling from my lips. Revived for three days, I had only three days left. One more day remained. The sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps echoed from afar. "Someone come quickly! Something terrible has happened! The sacred relic, the Tear of the Moon Goddess, is missing! It's the most important artifact for tomorrow's ceremony!" My heart sank violently, a strong sense of foreboding gripping me instantly. Soon, the light from torches illuminated the square as bright as day. Lucas, his face ashen, strode forward surrounded by elders and guards. "Search! Search thoroughly! Turn over every stone until you find the relic!" Lucas's voice was like ice, filled with thunderous anger. His gaze swept across the square, finally locking onto me, curled up in a corner. "Sophia?" His brows furrowed deeply. "What are you doing here?" I opened my mouth, trying to explain but was interrupted. "Alpha! We found it!" A guard ran breathlessly from the direction of my quarters. "It was found in the flower bed outside Sophia's window!" All eyes instantly focused on me. "No, it wasn't me..." "I didn't!" "Evidence is clear! You still dare to lie?!" An elder scolded harshly. "Sophia! How dare you steal the sacred relic! This is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess, deserving of death!" "Was it because you were stripped of your role as the main celebrant that you harbored resentment and wanted to ruin the ceremony?" "How wicked!" Selena let out an incredulous sob. "Oh my God... how could you do such a thing?" "Lucas, it's all my fault… if I…" She threw herself into Lucas's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Sophia..." His voice was ominously low. "I underestimated you. Were you so jealous that you fell this far! Stealing the sacred relic, ruining the ceremony. What’s your purpose? Do you want to destroy the entire Pack?!" "It wasn't me..." "There must be someone framing me!" "Framing?" Lucas took a step towards me, towering over me, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust. "The evidence is right here! Who else are you going to slander? Selena? She is so kind, enduring your provocations for the sake of pack’s peace, what more do you want?!" He refused to believe me. In his eyes, I was already a poisonous woman consumed by jealousy. Totally worthless. Cold despair coiled around my heart like vines, tightening relentlessly. He issued his cold order, his voice resolute, leaving no room for argument: "Guards! Lock this sacrilegious, thieving, unrepentant woman in the deepest part of the dungeon immediately!" "I didn't!" I vehemently denied. The dungeon, dark and cold. On what might be my last day in this world, I just wanted to go home.