The Accused
The sun sets behind the horizon, casting a warm glow over the pack house.
The slaves' wails echo through the air, their fear palpable, slaves lined up in packs, flinging their hands in terror, their eyes reddened and their mouths pale. The red sun pack, was known for varlor and feared by other packs. They had skilled swords men and visibility.
The slaves were made to sit under the scotching sun, meals placed on their laps as they devour every bit of it, Kihara stares intently at her meal, touches it and look away, she places her fingers on the bars with her back resting on it, her eyes shut, her stomach grumbling, she ignores it and journeys to the dream land.
The world she knew wasn't terrific nor painstaking, her lips widened curving into a smile, forgetting her pains and embracing her before life, something she thought never existed. The cloud above their heads was pure and snowy, everyone with their rights acting up. As a child, she was flinged in the morning haze–cheerfully.
She flocks her eyes open as a whip landed on her, she lifts her fingers off the bars, examining the spot.
"You!" One of the pack soldiers yelled.
"Your meal is untouched, you imposter!"
Kihara rolls as she's being kicked, he walks away chuckling, the other slaves gathers round her, each staring straight at her. She raises her head "I'm alright," her joints cracking and arching, she sits up. A loud roar of laughter erodes, startling her, they made advances as though, to devour her, she steps back breaking the formed circle, her eyes widened, she savors the scent of the meal kept for her and falls with a thud, her back down, the earth rotated right before her.
"You are alone, Kihara. Let her be." One of them said, each retreating. Kihara layed like a log, she placed her hands on her chest and held her breath, she heaved a sign of relieve, just then, she heard something pounding, her head was arching terribly, she tore off a portion of her dress and made to stand, she staggered and fell on her knees, she placed her right hand on her head and crawled towards the water bowl, she dipped the pieces in water and placed it on her head. She signed, crawling back, she placed her back by the bars, shut her eyes but dare not sleep.
Soon, the pack soldiers arrived and bundled them up, Kihara felt dizzy but kept moving, a towel was standing right in front of them as they were being dragged. She felt a knot in her belly and nauseated, she felt empty and soon, the knot in her belly disappeared as they were made to sit outside the Luna's court.
"The slaves are here." The head pack soldier annoced, the hall door opened and the slaves were led in, the Luna, Diva stepped in, her head up, they all fell to their kneels, each acknowledging her.
"Enough!" She yelled and there was serenity.
Kihara looked round nervously, her heart racing.
The Luna, Diva, looked over with a stern expression. "Welcome to my pack house," she says. "As new slaves, you will be assigned duties to help maintain the household. You will be expected to work hard and follow my orders without question."
Kihara and the other slaves nod nervously, eager to please the Luna and prove their worth, Kihara stares up, examining the decors before fixing her gaze on Luna Diva, who was still talking.
The Luna assigned each of the slaves a task, based on their skills and abilities. Kihara was assigned to work in the kitchen, preparing meals for the pack. She was shown to the head chef, who examines her and starts teaching her, all she needs to know. Kihara made sure, she picked the details and prove her worth.
"You can call me, Ms." The chef instructed adjusting the table sheets.
"Thank you, Ms. Can I get something to eat Ms? I'm famished and haven't had anything to eat for days. Please, Ms." Kihara pleaded looking alluring, her palms rubbing against the other.
"Here, you work before you eat, no one is permitted to eat before they work. I'm sorry, I can't help you," she said and made to leave, Kihara holds her back and falls on her knees, "Please Ms," her eyebrows teary and ready to drop.
"Alright! Fine, you mustn't tell this to anyone," she places a plate of food on Kihara's palm and rushes out, Kihara devors it, "this is tasty," she heaved.
As she began her duties, Kihara was careful to be attentive and obedient. She didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to herself. The head chef, was always there to direct her.
Kihara worked hard in the kitchen, trying to prove herself to the Luna and the other pack members. She was determined to do her best and earn their trust. The head chef made her serve the court meals, the other slaves who were assigned same post with Kihara felt, she was too lucky.
As she went about her duties, Kihara felt a sense of unease. She've heard rumors about the Luna's temper, and she didn't want to do anything to anger her.
Despite her fears, Kihara managed to avoid any major mishaps in the kitchen. She prepared meals that are both tasty and satisfying to the pack members.
While Kihara was working in the kitchen, she overheard a conversation between the Luna and one of the other pack members. They were discussing a valuable piece of jewelry that had gone missing, and the Luna was convinced that one of the slaves was responsible for the theft.
Kihara's heart sinked when she realized that she could be in danger. She had no idea who might have stolen the jewelry, she knew the Luna too well and pitied the victim.
Kihara redoubles her efforts in the kitchen. She worked harder, hoping to earn the Luna's favor and avoid suspicion.
The news spread like a wildfire, the head chef was asked not to feed the slaves till the imposter appears. Kihara wasn't left out, she knew the Luna would suspect the slaves even if, they weren't responsible. She kept her tasks on, hoping the Luna would change her mind, but instead, more pains were inflected on them.
The head chef dashes in and meets kihara, making the court meals, "Kihara. You're here? There's an ongoing announcement, I'll finish this up," kihara hands the long wooden spoon over and dashes out to the main floor, she met a few slaves there and one of the pack soldiers standing on a podium, reading the announcement, he stretches his neck exposing his Adam's apple. Kihara swallows hard as the announcement ended.
The next morning, the court hall was packed full of slaves and alphas. The Luna stood above them sending shivers down their spines, "For the last time, who stole my jewelry?" She yelled. Murmur eroded and one of them spoke up, "I know who did it."
"Speak up before I cut your tongue off!"
Kihara was pointed at and all eyes fell on her, "me?" She questioned doubtedly.
"She was the only one, who served the court," one of them voiced. "Yes!" They yelled in unison.
"I didn't do it, believe me." She cried reaching to the wall, they drag her to the center of the pack, her face down, she fell on her kneels.
"How dare you!" The Luna yelled starting the werewolves around, they dash in and meets the scene. Their eyes fixated on kihara and they advanced towards her, she tried to step back but, got caught up.
"So, you were the criminal and you kept mute all these while!" The alpha of the red sun pack yelled.
"I didn't, I didn't.." she stuttered, shivering.
Kihara was surrounded by angry werewolves as the Luna, Diva, towers over her, her eyes narrowed in accusation. "You stole from me!" she snarls, her voice dripping with venom.
Kihara shakes her head frantically, her eyes wide with terror. "I didn't do it, I swear!" she pleads. "I would never steal from you, my Luna."
But, the other werewolves didn't believe her. They start hurling insults and objects at her, their eyes glowing with anger.
Kihara tried protecting herself, but she was outnumbered and outmatched. She could feel the fear and desperation welling up inside her, threatening to overwhelm her.
"Murder her!" The alpha of the red sun pack instructed sternly.
"No, please...I didn't do it. I'm innocent!" A whip landed on her back, she fells on her knees and wails.
Just when it seemed, things could get any worse, Alpha Rohan appeared and puts a stop to the chaos. He pushes his way through the crowd, his face grim.
"What is going on here?" he demands, his voice echoing through the pack house.
The Luna points an accusing finger at Kihara. "She stole my jewelry!" she cries. "She must be punished!"