Wolf under an oak tree.

Iris Hendrix

“They said that grandma died in a car accident which was attacked by a group of rogues, and they accused me of staging that attack because I was the only one who knew that she left the house. And I begged and pledged with them, but they didn’t hear any of it. But what hurt me more, is the disappointed look that I saw on my brother’s face, and I can still hear the words that he uttered that night, he said “You killed the one person who loved you more than anything. And I hate you.” I couldn’t take it anymore.” Elana was sobbing at the moment, and she was hugging me. My heart was burning and beating rapidly, and the tears that were rolling down my cheeks wouldn’t stop.

“A few minutes later, Alpha Emerson summoned the guard, and they dragged me to the dingy dungeon where they keep all the rogues and traitors. I felt betrayed, tired, heartbroken, and most of all, alone. No one believed a word I said, my mother, called me a disgrace, the luna who believed that I didn’t do such a thing, didn’t even come to see my trial, but I knew that she didn’t have any power to help me at that moment.”

“Do you know, Iris, I was kept in that dungeon for two days? It was a very small room, which was constructed with stones that made sure to keep the room chilly, and there was no light, so I couldn’t even clearly see what was crawling next to me at night, and the worst part was that the rogues who were in prison that time were all crude men and they kept calling me names and suggesting explicit things.”

“No one came to visit me except the luna and Mike. The Luna reassured me that she is doing her outermost to clear my name, which brought me a spark of hope, but that soon went down the drain on the day of my trial. Mike too came to see me, and he looked very worried and tired, and he promised that nothing will happen to me, and he is trying to get me the least punishment that he could.” when she spoke of her mate, a small smile graced her face which is now stained with mascara and salty tears. I gently patted her back before I went and took a seat.

“Even back then, before we knew that we were mates, he cared for me. It was not how a brother cares for his sister, but it was something more, and two years later, now I know why he felt that way,” she said, and I nodded my head.

“I don’t get one thing, Elana, how did they get to know about something that only you knew?” I asked. And that is when her smile turned bitter, and her face darkened.

“There was one more person who came to visit me in the dungeon, Jennifer. And she told me that she overheard what grandma told me, and she went and ratted me out the moment grandma left.” She said with venom and disgust.

“But, why did she do such a thing, and what did she exactly tell them for everyone to turn against you?”

“She told them that she heard what grandma was telling me, and she also added that as soon as grandma left the house, I called someone and told them about grandma’s whereabouts and that she was carrying a precious gem.”

“But how could they blindly believe her like that? Didn’t they launch an investigation?”

“Oh they sure did, and they found out that I have called an unknown number and talked with that person for forty seconds and when they traced the number, the last location that the number was active was the place of the crash. So you see how all this was perfectly framed so that I became the victim here?”

“That is so cruel. You could have told them that she tried to frame you?”

“When she ran to tell them this fabricated story, she had a few scratch marks on her face, and her left cheek was swallowed, and she claimed that I hit her and threatened her to not utter about this to anyone. I couldn’t do anything, so I silently embraced my fate in the trials, they charged me with high treason, and they wanted to send me to the werewolf prison, which is the worst prison in the world, but upon Mike’s and Luna’s resistance they banished me from the pack and labeled me a rogue.”

“I lived on the run for two years. And it was the worst two years of my life, and if I get a chance to erase those memories from my mind, then I would do it in a heartbeat. And, I don’t know but last year, I was compelled by my heart to come back here. And that is why I came back, and I think that is the best decision of my life so far.” Elana had a smile on her face and a faraway look.

“I have been thanking the moon goddess every day for giving me a mate like Mike,” Elana said and looked at me, her eyes were glistening from the tears, but there was a content look on her face.

“And the third person who openly supported me and believed that I was innocent is you, Iris. And I will forever be grateful for that,” she said, and I smiled at her.

“I think, I want to thank you for standing strong among this storm and coming out alive and stronger, you have proved something that many of us suffer in this world, Elana. That bad days are only temporary, and we should never lose our hope in that situation.” she got up from her place and came over and hugged me. It felt warm, and I know that I have made yet another friend in life.

“Anyway, enough of all this emotional roller coaster ride that we just took. So tell me, how is Mike doing now? And where is he?”

“He is as good as new. And he has gone to talk with Walter and Jace about me. He wants to stay here with me or he wants to leave this pack with me.” I didn’t know why but I felt like a dark cloud formed over my head. Even though I haven’t talked to Mike much, I don’t think this pack will be normal if these two leave.

“I hope everything works out according to our wish,” I mumbled, and she nodded, and then she didn’t speak anything, and when I looked at Elana, her eyes were glazed, and her forehead frowned, that is when I realized that she must be communicating with someone.

“Iris, we got to go, Now!”