EPISODE FOUR.

CHAPTER FOUR.

I felt reverberating shock pulses through my body when Gwen's imprisonment reached me. I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

He was locked up in the cell with no food or water. Blood seeps from the bruises on his skin. He looked deathly pale, his once bubbly eyesreflected the agony of the torture Theo's sentinels made him gogo through.

"My lady."

"Oh,"Oh, my God. Gwen!" Sobs racked through my throat.

Why do they keep doing this to the ones I loved because of the sins I committed?

Can't I just be tortured alone?

"It isn't your fault; don't you ever blame yourself for it." He said his voice was firm but gentle. Gwen placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his sunken eyes filled with compassion, etched with uncertainty and regret.

"It is my fault. Don't you dare try to vindicate me from this." I warned, tears streaming down my eyes. He enveloped me in a comforting embrace immediately.

"I'm sorry. I'm very sorry, Gwen. I will make sure I get you out of this place." I assured him softly that even though I'm on the verge of breaking down too, I just can't bear to see him this way. It's too painful.

"I should be apologizing, my lady. I'm very sorry. Please forgive me." He shook his head and flashed me a shooting smile.

Why's he apologizing to me when I'm the reason he's in this problem?

Is there anything else going on?

"I will go talk to Theo. I will make sure he listens to me." I took my hand in his.

He managed to nod before resting his back on the moldy, dirty floor of the cell. I bit my lips back in tears and scurried to his room.

**********

The guard took such a long time in searching and violating my body in the process before I was granted permission to enter his room.

Even though none of the pack members ever treated me well, I can't help but feel the intensity of the hatred they nurse towards me in their expression. They look at me with eyes full of disdain and hatred because they believe I betrayed their Lycan king.

It even got me wondering how outrageous and unbelievable the accusations are. Why should I cheat on Theo?

Even though I've never earned his affection and love before because of the forced proximity, I would never stoop so low to fuck another man behind him.

I knocked on the door of the room aggressively in such a way that my knuckle burned in pain because of the anger, but there's no response.

I can hear some incoherent words that indicate that Theo is there, but why's he not opening the door?

I barged inside just to see Theo and Tessa on the bed, unclad and having a good time together.

My eyes widened in horror, masked with shock and disbelief. I had a hard time struggling to comprehend the betrayal.

Why's he so brazen? Why are they showcasing their romance when I haven't divorced Theo yet?

I stared at him with a look of utter devastation, discerning the tears I tried to fight back.

"Why are you doing this to me, Theo? Don't you care how I feel?" I voiced out desperately, tears burning the back of my eyes in intense force.

My heart feels so heavy and overflowed with grief that I don't know what to do to escape from this gut wrenching situation he threw me into.

"Get ready for the meeting. It's coming up in a few hours." Theo said he lounged against Tessa, who was not bothered about the whole situation, even though their clandestine is now raw and exposed to me. She doesn't care.

Theo shrugged in a relaxed slouch, his eyes glinting in nonchalance, which got me pissed off.

"Why did you lock Gwen up? He did nothing wrong."

"There is evidence, and I'm sure you don't want me to show you that." He said it with a lopsided grin.

"You know they are fabricated," I defend.

Any evidence that they're going to show in the council meeting tonight is surely fabricated because there's no way that I did such a thing.

"Whether it's fabricated or not, everything will be revealed tonight. Now,get out!" He roared, pulling up the cover to conceal his lower body.

He pointed his finger audaciously to the door, ushering me out in a harsh manner.

I glared at Tessa, whose expression had changed into a malevolent grin that spread across her face, her eyes gleaming with a fiendish delight.

She's obviously enjoying the underserved torture on me so much, as if she's the one who orchestrated it.

"Guards!" She suddenly called in a reaching voice, her lips curled up in a gloating smile.

They rushed inside the room within a split second.

"Lock her up until it's time for the hearing. I don't want to see her around me."

"You will regret messing with me, Tessa. I will make sure I haunt you to the end of the world; you have my words." I cursed, my eyes glistening in burning tears and strife. I hate them so much; every inch of my body despises them.

I can't wait to get out of this sickening place. They've worn me out enough.

*

And just like that, as time crawled by, the sun rose over the metal bars of the dungeon where I'm locked in, casting a pale light on my bleak reality. Each second ticks away like a slow drumbeat in my mind. It's time for my final hearing in the presence of the council of elders. I will be asked to explain the rationale behind my actions and debunk the evidence available.

Somehow, the look of despair and bleak hope refused to wear off my face. I know this won't end well; condemnation by the filthy and arrogant elders who have always gnashed their teeth at me all my life will increase, but I will never be broken more than this. I will not admit to the accusations. Not even in my next life.

The pack maids came with one of the prisoner's clothes; I changed into it, and a long rope was worn across my body, caging my hands and legs together.

"It's time." One of them announced and they made an attempt to drag me, but Elsa stopped them from afar with her tiny, shilling voice.

"Elsa!" I called in relief. I've been darting my eyes around in search of her.

"I will take her to the courthouse, she told the maid, making them back off me.

"Where did you go?" I asked worriedly.

"I wasn't sent on an errand."

The walk to the courthouse was so painful and agonizing that stones were being thrown at me from different directions. I can't dodge them because of my tied legs and hands, but Elsa managed to control a few of them.

Getting to the courthouse, every member of the court was already present, including Theo and Tessa, who were sitting on a distinct podium, making their presence known.

Tessa glares and grins darkly as I'm being forced to kneel.

"Gwen!" I shouted as they bundled him beside me. He looks so much better than earlier because he's already healing.

"Are you okay?" I asked, mopping his face with the hem of my dress.

A wild gasp erupted in the crowd at this feature of mine, making me regret doing it.

"I'm fine." He answered curtly, with no emotion in his voice, making me wonder if he's annoyed by the elder's hypocritical reaction to it.

"Are you guilty of the infidelity you were accused of?" One of them threw the questions at us.

"No, I never did that." I defend myself vehemently.

"To the man." The man points his hand at Gwen, making him raise his head.

"Are you guilty of the accusations?" He repeated.

A long moment of silence followed after the question. I got confused for a moment. Why's he not denying it? Why's he taking time?

"Gwen." I nudge him by his sleeves impatiently.

He shot me a stare and swallowed dryly. Then he rose to his feet and marched forward. He faced the elders and kneeled down again, soberly.

"Yes, I slept with Luna. I'm guilty of the accusations."