Moonlit Deceit

Chapter 2

Valerie’s pov

I stood in shock as I watched the men disappear into the house. I can’t remember telling them my name, so how could they know it?

A bad feeling settled in my stomach; wanting to know who they were and what they were here for, I decided to follow them and eavesdrop on their conversation with Alpha Ryder.

I risked placing my ear on the door, hearing the quiet talk between Alpha Ryder and the three men. My heartbeat increased when I heard my name being mentioned. My heart sank as I placed my ear further on the door as if possible as I understood what they were planning. I felt sad, scared, and disgusted after hearing what they said.

Alpha Ryder's words felt heavy and hurtful. Was he planning on selling me? But Luna Rachel's words hurt me the most, “How do you like the dress on her?” “She loved it just as he said.” So the gift wasn’t from her then. But who was the man they were talking about? It felt like a big betrayal. I felt so disgusted in the gown that I couldn’t wait to take It off. My eyes were filled with tears threatening to fall; I was filled with pain and betrayal at what I had just heard.

I couldn’t stay here anymore; that was the last straw. They had taken everything from me, and I can’t let them take away my freedom to choose who I can be with. My heart pounded as I silently slipped away from the scene, my determination pushing me forward despite the fear that threatened to consume me.

I hurried to my room to pick up whatever belongings I had left, changed into something else, and dumbed the gown on my bed. Using the door wasn’t an option, so to avoid being caught, I used the window. Luckily for me, it wasn’t far off from the ground. I looked at my room one last time, a place which had become a haven for me.

My breathing was hard as I hurried through the woods and towards the pack border, praying I wouldn’t encounter any of the guards on patrol. But as usual, the moon goddess has always been against me.

“Who’s there?” I heard one of the patrol guards call.

I quickly hid my bag by the tree, hoping he hadn’t seen me with it. “It’s me, Valerie,” I said as I walked towards him.

He folded his arms over his chest as he watched me approach him. “What are you doing out here so late?” he asked, staring down at me.

My chest beat so loudly that I hoped he hadn’t picked up on it yet. “I’m out on a run,” I replied, smiling.

He raised an eyebrow at me suspiciously. “You never go for a run.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I just needed to clear my head after today’s event, not finding my mate and all that,” I replied.

He looked at me with what I could only describe as pity. “Well then, don’t stay out too late,” he replied, shifting into his wolf and taking off in the other direction.

I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding, retrieved my bag, and took off, making sure to be careful this time.

Running through the dense forest wasn’t easy in human form; I’m sure most of you would wonder why I didn’t shift into my wolf to make it easier. Well, you see, I’m not like the rest; I haven't shifted since I came of age making life more miserable.

My nose picked up a new scent, alerting me to the fact that I was in the freelands. But it’s not as free as you think; it’s called the freelands because no pack owns the area, but rogue wolves inhabit it. Rogue wolves were probably exiled from their pack or left willingly.

My senses heightened as I began listening for any sound that would alert me to rogues because I was sure if they are any around, then they would have picked up on my scent by now. Branches scratched my skin, leaving faint blood trails, but I pushed forward, determined to reach the human town where I could easily blend with the humans.

I could hear the distant howls of rogues echoing through the night. I had to keep moving to find sanctuary beyond the reach of Alpha Ryder.

Suddenly, I saw a figure emerge from the shadows blocking my path. A rogue wolf, fur matted and eyes filled with feral hunger, snarled at me, forcing me to stop. Running wasn’t an option as it could easily outrun me.

I watched as it shifted into his human form. He had blond hair and green eyes that had mischief written in it. “My, My, My, what is a beautiful lady doing out here alone?” he asked, coming forward.

I took a step backward. “Please, I don’t want any trouble; I just want to get to the human town,” I said, trembling.

“No need to be in a hurry, my dear”. He said, smiling. “We have all night.” He took another step closer.

I shivered in fear, hearing his words as I searched for a way to escape this. Just as I was about to run, the wolf lunged at me and pinned me to the ground, his hands wrapped around my throat.

“Thought you could escape. Did you? Fancy yourself a clever female?” he asked as he slapped me, causing blood to spill from my mouth.

He began pulling down my shorts, and realizing what was about to happen, I began struggling with him, making him hit me. I couldn’t shout for help because of his hand on my throat.

He held one of my hands and twisted it. I screamed in pain, and this brought joy to his face. I was tired of struggling and just laid down, ready to let him have his way. Just then, I remembered the silver dagger on my waist. I removed it while he was too distracted in kissing my neck and plunged it into his neck.

He shouted in pain and began convulsing, blood spilling on my body. He trashed for a moment before falling still beside me.

With all the strength I could muster, I stood, tore an article of clothing from my backpack, and made a makeshift bandage for my hand. I removed the dagger from the wolf's neck and left with it, too tired and in pain to carry anything else.

Hours turned into eternity, my muscles aching with exhaustion as I kept pushing on. Finally, as the first rays of dawn began to break through the horizon, I heard the distant noise from the human town, alerting me that I had reached the border. Fatigue took hold of my body as I was about to take my first step into the city. The physical and emotional strain I had endured throughout the night caught up with me, causing me to stumble and collapse onto the ground. I tried fighting against the coming darkness, my vision blurring as my eyelids closed.

I whispered a silent plea for help just as I gave in to the coming darkness.