Chapter 2 of THE CURSED ONE

Weeks had passed. I was getting used to the pain. Melody would come to the dungeon and beat me to her satisfaction. When she felt angry, she would vent her frustration on me. I was slowly becoming a shadow of myself.

Even though no one came to visit me, I strangely developed a strong will to live. I didn't want to die anymore; I wanted to avenge myself. I want revenge for what I had to go through: the humiliation, the sorrow, the pain, all of it. I will make them go on their knees and beg me. I wouldn't rest until I'd given them triple the punishment they'd given me.

---

 The sound of heels echoed in the prison cell. I knew Melody was coming to get her daily dose of enjoyment. "Stay calm," I told myself.

"Hello, twin, how are you today? Oh, you look absolutely disgusting-bleh. Oh, Moon Goddess, what a wasteful creation you've made, anyway, useless as you already know you have been accused of stealing the royal seal so that you will be tried in court, I mean, it's the least we can do for your sorry ass".

  Oh Goddess, they were taking me to court!! No, I know they want to humiliate me more, I just know it, goddess, please help me with this

I don't want to suffer like this.

    "The trial date is in three days. Get ready to face judgment. Now back to the routine, let's have some fun." She said as she whipped me, even though I was used to it, it still hurt. "Please stop," I pleaded, but she just laughed. Goddess, please help me.

---

The day of the trial came. They pulled the chains and yanked me like a dirt dog. The trial took place in the packed stadium, where everyone had gathered to watch me get humiliated.

Even my own family was there. You might think that being a Gamma's daughter was a good thing, as it places you in a high position; you see it as a blessing, but when you're in a position such as mine, you tend to see it as a curse.

I looked toward the Gamma Beta and Alpha families and saw them looking at me with disdain. I still remember when my father, Gamma George Gilbert, told me how much he hated me and that he would have just killed me when I was born if he had known I would bring shame and disgrace to him. He called me a stubborn stain, and my mother, Diane, told me how she regrets having me as her child, how much she wants to dispose of me, and even threatened to sell me as a slave to the rogues.

 I looked to see Ryan and Melody seated together, occasionally kissing. If you didn't know them, you would think they were a loving couple, but they're just demons with angelic faces.

---

The council members were present, and everyone had taken their seats. The trial began. I was made to sit on the ground with chains on my arms and legs in my torn clothes. I looked haggard. I looked like a rogue who was about to be hanged. I was so hungry that I didn't eat properly. I was only given half a loaf of dry bread and dirty water. On good days, they give me clean water.

The council member Boris asked, "What is this lady being charged for?"

"She is being charged for theft and betrayal, in fact, also treason. She stole the Silvermoon pack Royal seal, tried to run off with it, and sell it, who knows to whom she planned to sell it off to. Maybe a pack of enemies, maybe the rogues. They might issue an attack on the pack and kill us all, and even make us slaves. She wants revenge on us; she thinks we are the reason she doesn't have a wolf. We caught her before she could accomplish her devious and wicked plans."

He lied so smoothly I would believe him without question.

I wanted to speak for myself, but I couldn't. The council member Boris passed a verdict," Laura Gilbert, you have stolen an important item and tried to sell out your pack. Putting your pack in danger is treason. You're to be hanged for your crimes."

---

"Please don't hang her, Council Member Boris, please. I know my twin sister committed a grievous crime; in fact, it's a sin, but please, killing her is a bit too harsh," Melody begged with crocodile tears on her face.

"I understand you love your twin sister, but she has committed a huge crime. This is the punishment for treason."

"I agree that she betrayed the pack, but it's only because she has always been jealous of me, it's only because Ryan chose me as his luna and not her. Laura has always been a jealous child. She gets jealous when she can't have something someone else has; that's why she went this far. But I'm sure that's not why she went to the mountain witch to cast dark spells on Ryan, making him think he was her mate. I mean, she doesn't even have a wolf. So it's easy to deceive Ryan with black magic, making him think of her as his mate; it's highly possible. And she couldn't handle the fact that Ryan had found me, his true mate, so she decided to take an important treasure of the pack to make Ryan's reign bad; it's all because of jealousy, nothing else, sir."

Melody keeps on painting Laura as evil.

Gasps erupted. People picked stones and threw them at me. It hurt so much. What did I do to get a twin like her? What did I do to be born into such a disgusting family? People who listen to one person's perspective and judge without giving the other party a chance to defend themselves.

---

They kept throwing stones. I saw my family smiling. Melody wore a triumphant smile, as if she had just conquered a kingdom.

"Stop, Order Order, stop at once."

They stopped stoning me, but they didn't stop cursing at me.

"Melody, these are serious claims. Do you have evidence to back up your claims?"

"Yes, I do. This man, Mr. Augu, saw her as she was smuggling the crest into her backpack and running away. He was the one who alerted us to her escape."

"Tailor here is the son of the farmer Reginald. He saw her when she was sneaking through the forest, he followed her and saw her meet with the witch and collect the charm she used on Ryan."

"Caitlyn, our servant, saw her entering the house at 2 in the morning. She said she looked suspicious, so she told me about it, but I didn't want to accuse her, so I just waited for everything to unfold."

---

   Melody kept on lying, lie after lie. Fake stories.Fake witnesses. Everything was a lie. I was in so much pain physically, mentally, and emotionally that I couldn't even say anything; I could only grunt in pain.

"You said your maid told you about what she was doing. Why didn't you report to your Alpha or even confide in your parents?" Kate Morgan, the only female council member, asked Melody.

"I didn't have evidence or witnesses to back my claim, so I just waited for the moon goddess to take charge of everything. I prayed every day for the moon goddess to set things right."

 Melody and her fake witnesses produced a charm wrapped in a white cloth, stained with blood. Everyone believed her words; no question was asked.

---

"Council members, you have heard and seen evidence of the crime committed by this vermin. Please permit us to get rid of the whore." The Alpha Keagan Reese spoke with his Alpha tone, and everyone bowed their heads in submission.

"As Melody here said, death will be a harsh but just punishment. Instead, let her suffer for her crime by selling her off to the slave traders."The councilman Boris decided the verdict.

The pack, out of loyalty to their Alpha, agreed to sell Laura.

Slave Traders.** My eyes widened with horror. Moon goddess, how long will it continue? When are you going to help me?