Alpha Rohan stares intently at Kihara, his eyes lingering on her face and hair. "What is your name?" he asks, his voice soft and gentle.
"Kihara," she answers without a blink. Her hazel green eyes are fixed on his, unyielding and unafraid.
The Alpha smiles, his lips curving upward. He seems to be intrigued by Kihara, and he takes a moment to examine her long black hair before facing the Luna, who has been watching him with a look of disgust on her face.
"This is the thief you are accusing, Diva?" he asks, his voice dripping with skepticism. "She doesn't look like a criminal to me."
The Luna scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Looks can be deceiving, Rohan," she says, her voice laced with contempt. "I have no doubt that this girl is responsible for the theft."
Alpha Rohan sighs and rubs his forehead. He seems to be torn, his loyalty to the Luna at odds with his own instincts. Kihara watches him nervously, her heart racing.
She knows, he is her only hope, but she has no idea if he will be able to save her, "I will have to think on this matter further," he says finally. "Kihara, you will be locked up in a cell until I come to a decision."
Kihara is relieved, but she knows that her troubles are far from over. She will have to find a way to prove her innocence if she wants to avoid punishment.
"This matter has been adjourned to tomorrow by sun dawn, I will present my evidence to you all," the Luna said, leaving the scene. The pack soldiers drags her off, as Alpha Rohan stands watching till she was out of sight.
The slaves were led out to their respective activities, each discussing Kihara. "She indeed had the guts to do that," one of them voiced.
Kihara stood with her hands akimbo, tears streaming down her cheeks, she wipes them off. She stare round as though, expecting the worst, the cell was made of strong bricks and floored with grasses, she felt uncomfortable, holding the iron stripes, she sobbed, sliding down. The night air came and the earth was tranquil again.
That night, as Kihara sat alone in her cell, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up, hoping against hope that it might be Alpha Rohan.
To her surprise, it was him. He stood at the bars of her cell, his eyes soft with concern.
"I wanted to check on you," he says, his voice gentle. "I know you must be going through a difficult time."
Kihara's eyes fill with tears. She is overwhelmed by the Alpha's kindness, and she couldn't help but feel grateful that he believes in her.
"Thank you, Alpha Rohan," she says, her voice shaking with emotion. "I don't know how I can ever repay you for your kindness."
The Alpha smiles and reaches through the bars to wipe off her tears. "You don't have to repay me," he says. "I just want to see you through this difficult time. I know you are innocent."
Kihara nods, her heart overflowing with gratitude. She has never felt so comforted and supported, and she knew, she had the Alpha to thank for that.
For the rest of the night, the Alpha stayed by her side, talking and comforting her. Kihara feels like she has found a true friend in him, and she knew, she wiould always be grateful to him.
"Kihara?" He called gently. "No matter what happens, I won't let them hurt you." kihara nods affirmatively, wiping her tears off.
Alpha Rohan handed her a wrapper, she spreads it on the rough grass and lays on it, facing Rohan's direction, she could feel how concerned he was and the fact that, someone believed her, elated her. She slept like she never did, Rohan sat watching and thought of touching her from the bars, which was impossible. He stands and leave, knowing fully well, Kihara was sleeping soundly.
Kihara woke up to the rays of the sun, coming right through the cell's window, it appeared sharp and blurred her view at first contact. She flings her hand, blocking the rays before opening her eyes gently. She had never slept so soundly, she stood for a while, "Alpha Rohan!" She voiced, "he was here last night, could it be him?"
Rohan appeared from the bars startling her, "Rohan!" She cried out.
"You were thinking about me, weren't you?" He smirked, Kihara felt an irritation, her stomach grumbling.
"Here! Have this," Rohan hands over a plate of beef to her, "eat up." Kihara accepts it, "thank you," she said," placing the food plate down.
Rohan nods and mades to leave, "Rohan," she called out, he stops at a line, his back to her, "thanks for last night, I've never slept like I did last night."She added.
He turned, his lips curving into a smile, he nodded and walked away, Kihara heaved, airs escaping her lips. Staring at the food in front of her, she devors it, leaking both fingers.
She lays down, hoping to be swept off, her eyes shut until she got carried away. A bang at the bars and she flocked her eyes open immediately, "it is time," one of the pack soldiers announced, inserting the keys, the cell door opened, her hands chained, she was led out.
She fell on her kneels, facing the Luna, "We are here again today, to prove kihara's guilt and make her pay for it," she said sternly, "here are my proves." She added pointing at the three witnesses by the bars.
The Luna presents her evidence, including testimony from the other servants who all accuse Kihara of the theft. Kihara tries to defend herself, but her words fall on deaf ears.
"This girl was seen sneaking around the Luna's chambers the night of the theft," one servant says, his eyes narrowed in accusation. "She had a motive and the opportunity to take the jewelry."
"I saw her with the jewelry in her possession the next morning," another servant says, her voice shaking with fear. "She tried to sell it to me, but I reported her to the Luna."
Kihara's heart sinks as she listens to the accusations. She knows that she was in deep trouble, and she had no idea on how to prove her innocence.
The Alpha listened to the testimony, his face impassive. Kihara couldn't help but feel like he is the only one who might be on her side. He stares at her, she shakes her head innocently, wiping the tears off her eyes.
Finally, the Alpha spoke out "I understand the evidence against you is strong, Kihara," he says. "But I also sense that you are not guilty. I believe that you are being set up by someone else."
The Luna scoffs at the Alpha's words. "You can't seriously be considering letting her off the hook?" she says, her eyes flashing with anger. "She must be punished for her crime!"
The Alpha looks at Kihara, his eyes softened. "I will give you a chance to prove your innocence," he says. "If you can find the real thief and bring them to me, I will spare your punishment."
Kihara's heart races with hope. She knows that this is her chance to prove her innocence, and she is determined to take it. She vows to find the real thief and clear her name, no matter what it takes.
The Luna waves it off, "No more witnesses! She should be punished." Kihara falls pleadingly on her knees, " I never stoled my whole life, please my Luna, I prove my innocence."
"I know, so you could collaborate with your fellow thieves right?" she smirked.
The alpha Oswald towered round her, tapping his hands gently against the other, " I will sure punish her accordingly."
Kihara eyes widened, she turns at Alpha Rohan's direction, he is standing by the bars with his hands akimbo. Kihara looks away, to her, it seemed Rohan could do nothing.
The pack soldiers drags her off, the head chef rushes to meet her, she hugs her passionately, they drag her off, she falls with a thud. Kihara was pushed back in the cell, her face down, she wiped till her head ached, she layed down sobbing silently.
"Kihara," someone called, "Kihara." Her name echoed, raising her head, she saw Rohan, he was standing close to her, not by the bars, she sits up while he grabs her chin gently, "your wails won't solve anything," he said, wiping the tears off her eyes, she nods.
"But, Rohan, how did you get in here?" Kihara asked bewildered. She flocks her eyes open, Rohan is standing by the bars, "are you alright?"
She nods, then she knew, she had been dreaming, "There is something about this cell." she said more intently. Standing up, her head spinned, "it is true, my wails can't solve anything, it would only worsen my situation." Rohan chuckles.