Chapter 3: Betrayal In The Dark
921 Words
Teresa’s POV
It was a calm night. As I trailed following my father, I could sense the odor of damp ground and pine in the forest. His lantern light wavered with every step as his towering form rushed swiftly.
"Where are we heading?" I gripped my shawl more closely about me and asked quietly. Unease twisted in my stomach as the wind cut my flesh.
He didn't turn around. Teresa, you ask too many questions. Simply walk more quickly. You must meet someone.
I felt a slight lift in my heart. Someone significant? Is it possible that he was attempting to make things better? Perhaps he still desired something better for me despite all the humiliation and anger. He might still be in love with me.
In an attempt to keep up, I accelerated my pace. Is it a member of the pack, Father? Someone who can assist us?
He grunted. "That kind of thing."
I allowed myself to hope for a moment. Jordan's harsh remarks were still ringing in my ears, and the rejection still ached in my chest, but perhaps my father was different. Perhaps this was his attempt to put things right. Perhaps he was trying to save me.
My wolf, however, whimpered uneasily. "There's a problem," she said. Take care.
I pushed the panic aside. I wanted to think he was real. At least one person in this world hadn't completely abandoned me, or so I wanted to think.
We arrived in a clearing after a few minutes. Sharp and silver, the moonlight streamed across the earth. My dad halted and lowered the lantern. His face was unreadable, but his shoulders stiffened.
"Hold on a minute," he said.
I scowled. "Why? Who are we going to meet?
Shadows passed between the trees before he could respond. With their eyes shining strangely in the moonlight, dark figures entered the area. I gagged when the smell of decay and blood hit me. Rogues.
With a surge of panic, I staggered back. "Why are rogues here, Father?"
My dad didn't approach me. Rather, he faced them with a composed tone. "She is present. As I promised.”
I gasped. "W…What?"
The largest rogue, a scar down his jaw, stepped forward. After mocking me, he threw a bulky bag in my father's direction. Coins made a metallic jingle in the air.
Money.
My chest tightened as the reality hit me hard. I had been sold by my father.
"No," I said in a whisper while shaking my head. "Please, Father, don't... This isn't genuine, tell me. Don't tell me you're…”
He refused to give me a look. He stooped to get the pouch and tucked it into his coat. "It's best that way. You were a burden forever. At least you can be helpful now.”
My vision was obscured by tears. My knees gave way. “You're handing me over to them? To rogues? Please, father. I am your daughter.”
"Enough!" he yelled, his visage as severe as a rock. "You are a complete shame to me. Everything was damaged by you. Allow them to take you.”
With yellow teeth, the scarred rogues smiled. "We'll look after her well."
The others surrounded me like wolves encircling prey, laughing, ravenous, and vicious.
Desperate, I turned back to my father. “Don't do this, please! Please! I'll improve, I'll change, I'll…”
However, he had already started to go. I was in the clutches of monsters when his lantern light vanished into the trees.
It broke my heart into pieces.
Rough, ruthless hands seized me. I thrashed and kicked while I shouted, but they were stronger. Hot blood dripped down my arms as claws slashed across them. My inner wolf screamed in fear, helpless.
One rogue screamed, his breath nasty against my cheek, "Stop fighting, little omega. You are now ours."
The dirt ground against my flesh as they pulled me to the ground. My breath was knocked out of my lungs when one kicked me in the stomach. Everywhere, pain erupted.
Another laughed, "Pathetic. It makes sense why your Alpha turned you down."
As painful as their claws were, so were their words. Even though my body was weak and damaged, I managed to whisper through wounded lips.
"Please, Moon Goddess... I no longer wish to live. Life is not what I want. Do me justice. Make them pay.”
The rogues laughed more. “Are you in prayer, little omega? She won't listen to you.”
One lifted his claws, preparing to attack. With a whimper, my wolf prepared to die. My body was too weak to resist, too bruised to move.
"Goodbye," growled the scarred rogues.
With tears streaming down my cheeks, I closed my eyes. My lips quivered as I exhaled.
Then, however, everything was different.
The atmosphere changed. The rogues' ruthless laughing was interrupted by a gentle hum that permeated the clearing. Silver, pure, dazzling light enveloped me. Weightless, my body rose from the earth, my wounds blazing with unexpected warmth.
The rogues stumbled backward, covering their eyes. That one growled, "What is this? What's going on?"
I opened my eyes. I was cocooned by the silver light that poured from the moon above. My heart stabilized, and my pain subsided.
Then I heard it…a strong, serene voice resonating across the atmosphere.
"Child," the Moon Goddess said quietly, her voice full of ageless power. "Your story isn't done yet."
Once more, the world became hazy, but this time it was light rather than blood.
- Writer
