Chapter 1 (Framed)

CHAPTER 1 

 (Freyja’s pov)

The heavy scent of metal filled my nostrils, so heavy and familiar it forced me to stir up, rubbing my eyes open, I stared in confusion wondering where I am, having no recollection of where and what is happening. A heavy toad on the door followed by forceful entering. It happened so fast that I couldn't comprehend immediately.

A man fitted in a guard attire, I watched him closely trying to figure out the emotions in his face, my head spinning at the same time making my vision blurry.

“My lady!!!” I finally was able to hear him, his face filled with confusion, his eyes weren't resting on me even though I was the only one in the room. My brows arched in confusion. My eyes followed the direction of his gaze with a frown, my confusion slowly turned into horror at what I saw. My head disheveled in confusion followed by delayed panicking. My knees failed me as I stumbled back in fear at what I was seeing.

"Wha…" even my own words failed me as I raised my hand to my face. 

"What have you done!" The man in front of me screamed in Horror, panicking I shook my head in disbelief. 

"No…no, this can't be.." I cried, shaking my head. The heavy metallic scent is now very evident in the air. The smell of blood.

“Blo…Bloo…Blood,” I struggled to say the word, blood in my hands and a lifeless body in the pool of blood.

Bloody hands I have no recollection of how it came about. He approached, his steps slow and deliberate. I watched as he walked past me to touch the body laying behind me.

I immediately recognized the body to be Lucius's mother. My mouth fell agape followed by my heartbeat hesitating and tightening. The cloud of darkness descended around me. He released his voice and raised an alarm. I held my chest remembering myself to breathe.

"What have I done?" the question escaped my mouth as I went closer to the lifeless body of the woman in the pool of her own blood. Nothing's making sense. My wolf has curled itself in, to the extent that I can not feel her presence within me.

"My…lady" I managed to say, tears streaming down my eyes. What happened? Why can't I remember a single thing? Have I killed a person? No. Again I shook my head in disbelief. It's not me. It can’t be.

"Move aside!" A voice screamed entering the room followed by more guards.  Slowly the noise around me began to fade away as the voices in my head began to consume me.

Deep I searched my being for my wolf, 'Help me' I cried within. She was supposed to be my eyes when I could no longer see. My shade in times of trial and tribulation. My comfort. Where has she gone? 'Aliya!' I called within. The name which she answered no matter what but again she was quiet.

Naked I felt as I began to take notice of the accusing eyes on me. It was obvious they were pointing at me. My heart refused to take in anything as I shook my head vigorously "No!" I screamed my tears accompanying me. I have done nothing… right? Why are they looking at me like that?

“I have done nothing!” I cried seeing their accusing faces.

In my hands is a dead woman whose blood I have in my hands but still I have no recollection of the situation. The woman in question is my fiance's mother. Immediately like a bell I finally remembered a thing.

"Yes, I remember," I muttered under my breath, focusing on my disheveled memory. Today was supposed to be my engagement ceremony.

"Grab her" The voice was low but still sharp enough to send a message. With trembling hands and shaky breath, I looked towards him for a bit of understanding. 

"Lucius" I called out to him with tears in my eyes and in my arms was his dead mother. His eyes were cold. His green eyes glinted with anger. I shook my head hoping to communicate somehow but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. 

He walked towards me with malice in his eyes, his claws visibly stretching out, his veins popping as he went for my neck pulling me away from his mother's body.

"Please," I cried, streams of tears rolling down my cheeks as his hands continued to tighten around my neck making it hard for me to breathe. His sharp claws sinking into my skin, I held onto his hand my feet hanging in the air as I cried kicking my legs around.

"You….you killed my mother?" His question is more like a declaration.

"ple…. please Lucius," I cried, my voice cracking but the man who is in front of me is no longer like the Lucius I know. The same man who once mended my wounds, the same man who would smile everytime our eyes met, how my body always tingled in joy every time he would caress my face with so much fondness in his eyes. The same man now has his claws on me with no single gentle emotion in sight.

"I am Inno ... innocent," I managed to force a sentence through the little air I got from gasping for air. He finally let go of me, throwing me across the cold floor. My hands reached for my neck as I tried to massage the pain.

"Innocent?? Innocent you say?" The tempo of his voice was rising, every veins on his body were visible. Without my wolf I am weak compared to him, slowly I crawled backwards in fear my tears accompanying me. He was nothing like I remembered. I watched a dangerous smirk appear on his face as he pointed at me.

"Freyja!" My father's voice filled the room as I turned towards the voice, behind him was my older brother, both worried at the sight prevailing. 

"Father!" I screamed rushing towards him. 

"I don't know what happened, I swear I didn't kill her, I don't know what is wrong with my memory and my wolf," I rushed my words not leaving anything off. He was confused but still held onto me. He can help me. He is still the Beta after all.

"TAKE HER AWAY!" Lucius' voice came sharp and clear. Before I could even process I was grabbed.

"We can sort this out" my father tried to interfere only to be grabbed as well.

"Freyja," I could hear my brother's voice as I was dragged away.

"FATHER!" I continued to call for my father as I watched them forcefully held, while Lucius stood there. At that moment it occurred to me, this was not the man I was mated to. He is the Alpha after all. From the corner of my eyes I still could see my family. They were being dragged like me just in the opposite directions.

"Father!" I screamed for the last time, that was all I could do or say my voice was beginning to fail me. Tears freely streamed down my cheeks. Just how did it all go wrong so fast. All I can remember is being so happy and giggly, it was supposed to be my engagement party after all but all of a sudden this?

My memory remains empty. How I ended up in that room with a dead body I still have no idea.

"Did I really kill her?" The words escaped my mouth as I felt my body hit the cold rough floor of the dungeon. Quickly I rose from the floor but before I could get to the barred door it was shut at my face.

Frustrated I grabbed onto my hair letting out a loud scream while pacing to and fro the cell. 'what has become of me?' I cried within. He was my mate, I can remember the instant connection I felt upon seeing him. I can remember just how happy Aliya was upon sensing his wolf. I was happy who wouldn't be, mated to the Alpha of your pack was the dream of every maiden in the pack.

My father being the Beta to the late Alpha who was Lucius father made it easier for us to court for awhile.

"Today…Today was our engagement," Again the words escaped my mouth in disbelief, my hand still grabbing my hair. I continued to walk around trying to walk myself through my memory lane since my own wolf has abandoned me. Nothing makes sense anymore. A huge chunk of my memory seems to have disappeared.

"Watching you pace to and fro is adding to my dizziness," An interruption came, the voice was calm and collected. A tinge of joy as I paused "Aliya?" I inquired perhaps she hasn't left.

"No, although I am called Aisling," The voice repeated slowly. I turned towards the direction of the voice, it wasn't coming from my head so it's not my wolf. I was getting excited for nothing. For the first time I realized I wasn't alone. Right behind me was a girl, her tanned skin glowing in the dark as if oiled up. slowly she rose from her bunk bed. 

And right opposite my cell was another and there were other prisoners who only stared at me with little to no interest.

"I will advise you to sit down and save your energy, you might need it soon," she advised approaching me.

"Do you know me?" I asked, taken aback.

"Does it matter who you are? Even a Luna is nothing if rejected by her Alpha," She said calmly, her gaze resting on my bloody hands. I immediately hide my hands sniffing the excess mucus in my nostrils. Realizing the new attention on me I took fast strides away from her to sit at the far end of the cell hiding my hands…

My thoughts accompanied me, my hands continued to tremble with the dried blood on them, my tears ceased and my throat dried up. What have I done?

The sound of guards passing food got my attention as I finally looked up to meet the eyes of the girl I share a cell with. She picked the food and approached me.

"I don't know the offense that led you here, it's obvious you are of noble blood," she said sitting beside me with a bowl of food. 

"Food did not come for you, we can share," her words forced me to look down at the plate of food. I immediately looked away, stopping myself from throwing up at the state of the food.

"Food is the least of my worries now," I replied truthfully, turning away from her.

Voices from the opposite cell caught my attention, evidence of fear in their mumble as I immediately got up realizing what was going on.

"Is the Alpha," I could hear their panic whispers. He was here for me. Quickly I rushed toward the barred door leaning in to catch a glimpse of him approaching. Perhaps he still hasn’t completely discarded me.

"Lucius," His name escaped my mouth, and he approached his face unreadable. His eyes trailed my body up and down before resting on my bloody hands.

"What right do you have to call upon my name?" his voice filled with irritation. There was no sign of grieving in his eyes nor anger or sadness, just pure irritation towards the sight of me.

"Why did you kill my mother?" The question had no weight or impact. I began to move away from the barred door, noticing the familiar glint in his eyes. I watched in horror as he ordered his men to open the cell.

The air thickened around me as I struggled to catch a breath, slowly he matched towards me with a smirk as if enjoying the fear in my eyes. I looked around frantically to see every attention drawn at us which added to my anxiety. Unrecognizable he has gone leaning into my face as I held my breath.

"Both you and your household will pay and guess who's fault it is?" Tears rolled freely down my cheeks. I began to beg, dropping to my knees.

"Please spare my family," I began to plead. A part of me resisting to submit but I know I stand no chance. My wolf curled herself in pain, I know how much Aliya fancied his wolf, I could feel her pain coupled with mine. But why has she refused to talk to me yet? 

I reached out for the helm of his cloak only for him to kick off my hand. Slowly he lowered himself to my level, he cleaned my tears with a menacing smile on his face.

"Imagine how I felt when I found out that the daughter of a low life like you was my mate," he said, caressing my face with his rough hand. I listened in horror. What is he saying? I wondered. I? A lowlife?

"What are you say…." my voice failed me as I searched his eyes. Perhaps my throbbing heart was fooling me but no there was no fooling around in those evil green eyes.

"What? You thought we were in love?" He laughed, not caring a bit that everybody could hear him.

"Did you…" I shook my head in disbelief watching the wicked smile spread across his face.

"Did you…. Did you do this to me?" …..