THE MOONLIGHT DECEPTION

CHAPTER 4

The Plan in Motion

CLARA POV

I picked up my phone and called Julia. My hands were shaking so badly that I almost dropped it. The moment she answered, I whispered, “I found it. Julia, I found the scroll, I’m sure now. Adrian is planning something terrible, and I can’t stay here anymore. I’m scared, I want to leave.”

Her voice was calm and steady, the way it always was when I felt like I was falling apart. “Clara, breathe. Do you want us to execute the plan tonight?”

“Yes,” I said without thinking. My chest was tight, but my mind was made up. “I can’t stay another day in this house.”

“Good,” Julia replied firmly. “Then listen carefully. I’ll repeat the plan so nothing goes wrong. My men will come to your place. They’ll act like rogues. You’ll walk out casually, as if you’re just strolling, and when you get to the backyard, they’ll grab you. You’ll scream Adrian’s name—make it real, Clara. He will come out, and he’ll see you being dragged away. He won’t be able to stop it, and they’ll all believe you were kidn*pped. And if you don’t return, they’ll think you’re dead. That’s how you escape.”

Hearing her lay it out like that made my stomach twist. It sounded simple, but it wasn’t. One mistake and everything could fall apart. Still, I forced myself to answer. “I understand.”

“Good girl. Tonight is your night,” Julia said softly. “After this, you’ll be free.”

When the call ended, I sat frozen for a moment. My breath came too fast, my palms were sweaty. But then I stood up. There was no turning back now.

I pulled out a small bag from under my bed and packed only what I could carry on me—some coins, a scarf, and a pair of shoes. Nothing too obvious, nothing that would raise suspicion if anyone searched my room. My heart pounded as I crept to the back window. I checked the hall, making sure no one was watching, and then threw the bag into the backyard. It landed softly in the grass. I prayed no one would find it before I got there.

Then I changed into a plain dress, something simple and casual. I tied my hair back like I always did when I was just walking around. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself, You are only going for a stroll.

I stepped into the hallway, my knees almost giving way. And of course, fate made Adrian appear right then. He stood near the stairs, tall and sharp-eyed, like he always noticed everything.

“Clara,” he said, tilting his head. “Where are you going?”

My throat went dry. I forced a smile. “Just a walk because I feel restless. I thought I’d take a stroll around the compound.”

His eyes studied me for a long second. I was sure he could hear the wild beating of my heart. Then he gave a faint smile, one that almost looked genuine. “Don’t stay out too long. It’s getting late.”

“I won’t,” I said quickly, lowering my eyes.

He leaned down, kissed my forehead lightly, and whispered, “Be careful.”

I nodded, my body was stiff, then I walked away before my nerves gave me away.

When I stepped out into the night air, I pulled out my phone and called Julia again. My voice was shaking. “I’m outside now.”

“Good. Stay calm,” she said. “My men will be there in a few minutes. Just act natural.”

So I walked slowly across the compound, pretending to admire the flowers along the path, pretending I was just stretching my legs. But my heart was pounding so loud I thought the guards could hear it. Every shadow made me flinch, and every sound made me jump.

Then I heard heavy footsteps behind me.

I turned, and five men emerged from the darkness. They wore black hoods, and their movements were sharp and aggressive. My stomach flipped even though I knew it was supposed to be part of the plan.

Then their rough hands grabbed me from behind. I screamed on instinct. “Adrian! Adrian, please help me!”

One of the men clamped his hand over my mouth. I bit down hard, forcing him to let go, and screamed again, louder. “Adrian!”

The door burst open. Adrian came running, his eyes were blazing with fury. “Clara!”

He launched himself at the men, swinging his fists. The impact was brutal—one of them stumbled back, groaning. But two of them dragged me toward the backyard. I kicked, struggled, screamed his name again. Adrian and his guards fought the other 3 like wild beasts, landing blows and snarling in rage, but they were no match for them.

“Let her go!” he roared, his voice shaking the night.

They didn’t let me go. One of them struck him across the face with a heavy fist, and another kicked his leg out from under him. He staggered, still fighting, but they pulled me farther and farther away.

“Adrian!” I cried, reaching out as if I could touch him. My chest burned with fake terror.

His eyes locked on mine, desperate and furious. He tried to push forward, but the men held him and his guards back while the third dragged me into the shadows.

I could hear his voice, low and savage. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her!”

The men didn’t answer. As we got to the backyard where I left my belongings, I picked them up stylishly.

They shoved me into a waiting cart at the edge of the forest. My body slammed against the wooden side, and the cart lurched forward. My hands shook as I held onto the edge, trying not to faint.

At first, relief hit me. The plan worked. Adrian had seen it, and he believed it. He would think I was taken, maybe even killed. That was what Julia promised. I told myself everything was going according to plan.

But then we passed the spot Julia had described. My heart skipped. We didn’t stop. The cart kept rolling deeper into the forest.

My mouth went dry. “Stop,” I whispered. “This… this isn’t the plan.”

The man closest to me turned his head, his grin sharp under the hood. “What plan?”

My chest squeezed. “Julia sent you!” I shouted. “You’re her men!”

He laughed, a sound that made my blood run cold. “We don’t know any Julia.”

Ice spread through my veins. These weren’t Julia’s men. These were real rogues.

Panic clawed up my throat. “No… no, please, you don’t understand—”

One of them struck me across the face, silencing me. Pain exploded in my cheek, and the world tilted.

They drove me farther into the woods, rough and careless. When the cart finally stopped, they dragged me out and threw me onto the dirt. My bag spilled open, my few belongings scattering. One of them snatched the coins, pocketing them with a sneer.

“Pretty little thing,” another said, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Too bad you belong to the wrong Alpha.”

They kicked me when I tried to crawl away. My breath left me in a gasp, and I curled up, covering my head. Every strike made me weaker; my vision was blurring.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Please, don’t.”

They didn’t listen. They laughed, covered my head with a black cloth, tied my hands behind my back, poured water on me, and slapped me.

My body felt heavy, and every bone ached.

The last thing I remembered before darkness took me was the taste of blood in my mouth and the cruel laughter of men who were never supposed to be part of the plan.

And then everything went black.