Fated hearts

Chapter Ten — The Claim and the Escape

LUCAS

We arrive in Moonsville. I insist on following Ava to her pack, against her wish.

“It’s not safe, Lucas. They’re not happy with you and can kill you. I know my pack,” she pleads.

“What sort of male will I be if I abandon you and run away like a chicken after taking you away from your pack?” I ask her. “I’m going with you, and just like you always say: I can take care of myself. We’re all wolves… superior or inferior.”

Seeing there’s nothing she can do to dissuade me, we both arrive at her pack.

The whole pack seems deserted. Ava’s dad is just stepping out when we arrive. He squints his eyes at us. Ava runs to hug him.

“Dad,” she cries as he holds her tightly. Then he quickly releases her and walks toward me.

“You really have some guts to come here,” he tells me coldly.

Ava rushes to stand between us.

“No, Father,” she pleads. “Not now.”

“Just go,” she turns to me. “We’ll meet as planned,” she whispers.

“Be careful,” I tell her tenderly. As I turn to head back to Wolfsgate, a strange heaviness settles in me—an abrupt premonition that something terrible is about to happen.

My arrival at my pack is unexpected. Only Henry knew I was coming, so it becomes a pleasant surprise for my family. My mother looks well, despite the recent fight.

“You shouldn’t have almost killed her mum,” I tell her.

“So I should’ve allowed her to kill me first?” she retorts. “It’s because of you that we suffered all that humiliation,” she blames.

“Well, stop the blames, you two,” my dad interrupts.

“Lucas, my son,” he begins. “You’ve made a mistake, and thanks to the Moon that you’ve realized it and brought the female back. Now, we’ve got a young beautiful luna for you. Your mating will take place this night.”

I stare at my dad as if he’s developed horns. Then my mum. Then Henry.

“What’s he talking about?” I ask Henry.

He shrugs, clearly unsure what to do.

I turn back to my parents. “You’re joking, right?” I ask my dad.

“Joke? Is that what you call it? Do you know what we’ve been through because you chose to involve yourself in a forbidden union?”

“I love Ava, and she loves me,” I say calmly, trying to control my rising emotions.

“You need to snap out of that illusion. Lyric will be your luna. She’s a member of our pack,” he says sternly.

“You need to stop this nonsense, Dad. Ava and I only came here for her to see her wounded mum, after which we leave immediately,” I explain.

“Your marriage ceremony has been scheduled for tonight already,” Mum says.

I shake my head helplessly and walk toward my room. I need to rest, breathe, think… anything but explode. Exhaustion soon drags me into a deep sleep.

I wake suddenly to someone’s hand caressing my body. My eyes fly open to see a young beautiful female sitting beside me.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“Oh! For Moon’s sake, don’t you remember me, Lucas?”

Through my sleep-fogged eyes, I look closely and recognize her.

“Lyric!” I remember her—our fathers are both blacksmiths.

“What are you doing in my bedroom?” I ask her. We weren’t close; barely more than acquaintances.

“Oh! You’re not aware of our ceremony tonight?” she asks, truly confused.

Now this has gotten out of hand. I get up from the bed.

“Listen, Lyric. There’ll be no ceremony tonight, okay? So go back to your parents’ house and tell them what I said.”

She looks at me, nonplussed, not budging.

“Now!” I order.

She springs up. I almost feel sorry for her—almost. But not now.

I quickly dress. I have to get Ava. We need to leave tonight. She must have spent quality time with her mum now.

I reach Moonsville, only to be told that Orion, on hearing of Ava’s return, has forcefully dragged her to his house. Furious, I race to his pack. The guards try to block me from entering. I push against them until Orion emerges after hearing the commotion. Ava is nowhere to be seen.

“You old Alpha, where’s Ava?” I shout.

He looks at me as a lion would at an ant.

“What are you waiting for?” he barks at his guards.

A fight erupts between his two guards and me. I manage to escape, but not before I beat the mean Andre to a stupor.

AVA

I’m worried about my mum. She looks so feeble, but I know she’ll heal. She’s a strong wolf. I’m shocked at how bare our house is. There isn’t a single piece of furniture left, and most of our antiques are gone as well.

“Orion,” my dad mutters when he sees me looking around.

“He’s a beast,” I say with disgust. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“It’s good you ran away, my daughter, than living with that… that…” Dad sighs, unable to find a word awful enough to describe Orion.

I’m trying to persuade Mum to eat something when sudden commotion erupts outside. Dad rushes in, terror written all over his face. I don’t need to be told—Orion is here.

I step outside to behold him and his two guards.

“So you finally decide to return,” he bellows.

I look at him in disgust. “What do you want from us again? You’ve practically stripped our house, you evil beast.”

He seems to stutter before replying.

“Your dad is still owing me… and till he pays back all he owes, you belong to me.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you!” my dad shouts, rushing in front of me.

The two guards shove him aside roughly. He nearly falls.

My heart constricts, filling with hatred for Orion.

“Get her!” he shouts.

Before I know it, they’ve grabbed me. I fight, but they overpower me. I arrive at Orion’s house fighting and scratching. I manage to give both guards deep scars on their faces. I’m thrown into a room and locked in.

“You’ll stay there until you calm down,” Orion says.

I sit on the wooden floor, refusing to touch the bed, fury burning through me. The windows are secured—escape seems impossible.

Hours pass before I hear Lucas shouting my name. Then sudden silence. What happened? Did they kill him? Panic knots inside me. If anything happens to Lucas, I’ll personally kill Orion.

Midnight. A key turns in the lock. I stand, ready to die before letting that beast touch me—but to my surprise, it’s Zara. She enters quietly and closes the door.

“I put some drugs in his food. He won’t stir from sleep until tomorrow morning. Come with me. I will help you escape,” she whispers.

I stare at her, distrust tugging at me. But at this point, I’m ready to trust anyone who can get me out of here.

She throws some clothes at me. “Dress up in these,” she commands.

I hesitate, confused why I must wear them.

“Just do as I say if you want to escape,” she insists.

Soon, we’re slipping through the passage and out of the house. I worry about the guards. She must have noticed.

“Everyone is deeply asleep,” she assures.

“Do you know what happened to Lucas?” I ask once we’re outside the gates.

“He escaped,” she whispers. “I leave you here. You must find your way out of Moonsville. And I never helped you.”

I have an urge to hug her, but I don’t.

“Thank you,” I whisper and start running.

I reach the main road where travelers usually find transport out of Moonsville. There’s no vehicle in sight. I stand panting, breathless from running so hard. After about thirty minutes, headlights appear. Without thinking, I jump into the middle of the road, forcing the car to stop suddenly.