Framed

Part 1

The clearing was deathly silent as my pack and I stood, waiting for the Elder's verdict. "Ruth Blackwell," Elder McLoughlin spoke. His deep voice thundered across the clearing like thunder. "You stand before us, your pack and your family, accused of murder. We, the Elders, have found you guilty of this crime."

My pack mates that surrounded me started to whisper loudly. They all knew that I was innocent of the charge that our poor excuse of an alpha had laid on me. And we all knew that it had been Alpha Whelan himself that had killed my fellow warrior in cold blood, not I. But Whelan was the alpha, and a very powerful one at that. It was I that had been charged and convicted of a crime that I did not commit. So, in the end, it did not matter what the truth was.

Just the thought of my alpha alone had my blood boiling with hate and rage. He had murdered a very dear friend of mine to hide something that he did not want getting out. What secret could be worth the life of a warrior? Then, he laid the blame at my feet, making the evidence point to me as the killer to cover his tracks.

My wolf growled loudly in my head as I strained at the silver handcuffs that bound my wrists together. The silver burned my skin, making it almost unbearable to stand there silent. But I just pushed the pain to the back of my mind, ignoring it as I had everything else.

Even though I stood bound like a rogue before my pack, my family and friends, I stood with my head held high, a firm set to my jaw, and my shoulders square. I had done no wrong, committed no crime, and there was nothing to be ashamed of. My eyes locked with one of the Elders as I grit my teeth. "Your alpha asked that you receive the death sentence..." Uproars of angry yells and growls drowned him out. He held his hands up and the voices slowly fell silent.

"However, after a very long consideration, the Elders and I have come to the conclusion that death would not be the right punishment as a warrior of Ruth Blackwell's talent and strength." Something flashed through his eyes briefly, but I ignored it. I knew that he was in league with Whelan, and I knew that I would never be able to trust another Elder as long as I lived.

A growl from Whelan told me that he wanted me to submit to Elder McLoughlin. The old me would have without thought, but the new me, the old me that had been betrayed by my alpha, did not. Instead, I just flashed Whelan with a cheeky smile and winked at him. I almost laughed when fury washed over his face. Whelan was so easy to mess with.

"The punishment that I'm about to deliver is our final ruling and no one can change it." His voice was very somber. "Ruth Blackwell, you are hereby exiled from the Golden Moon pack for the rest of your life. If you return here for any reason, you will be killed on sight, no questions asked."

A sob from my mother tore at my heart. I was her eldest child, and I knew that her heart was breaking for me. Elder McLoughlin nodded and two warriors that I had grown up with, fought side by side with, stepped forward and grabbed my arms. They gave me a look and I knew that they were only following Whelan's and the Elder's orders. I nodded slowly to let them know that I understood.

The emotions that I saw swirling around in their eyes told me that they did not agree at all with Whelan. "The second part of your punishment is to be branded as all that cross your path will know that you betrayed your pack." He gave Elder Moran a nod and she quickly brought him a branding rod so hot, it looked white. My body tensed at the sight of it but I didn't fight against the warriors' hold on me.

McLoughlin tore the sleeve off my right shoulder, exposing my shoulder. In plain sight stood the tattoo that all pack members get when they first shift; a bright gold G.M. As the Elder brought the rod closer, my face became blank of every emotion. I bit my lip hard as it was pressed deep into my shoulder, over the tattoo.