Escape my ruthless past.

Chapter Sixteen

* Mauve's POV *

I woke up from what I thought was a peaceful night's sleep, only to discover that I had, in fact, been asleep for hours. Disoriented and unsure of my surroundings, I took a mental note of the cabin's location so that I could find my way back if needed.

After taking a leisurely stroll through the woods, I stumbled upon some intriguing old ruins encircled by a pattern of giant stones. My curiosity piqued, and I decided to investigate further. As I got closer to examine the runes etched into the stones, I felt a sudden jolt of electricity run through my body. Weird, indeed.

As I explored the ruins, the sun began to set, and I quickly realized that I was lost. I tried to reorient myself by closing my eyes for a brief moment, but when I opened them, I was surrounded by a group of hooded figures, each holding a torch. I attempted to communicate with them, but they seemed oblivious to my presence.

Suddenly, the hooded figures slipped off their garments, revealing their naked bodies. They began to chant and dance around the stones, creating an eerie and otherworldly atmosphere. Unsure of what to do, I decided to sit back and observe the strange ritual unfold.

As the sun rose, the figures disappeared just as mysteriously as they had appeared. Exhausted, I attempted to rouse them once more, but to no avail. I was left alone, bewildered and overwhelmed by what had just transpired.

Just as I was gathering my thoughts, I heard a growl in the distance. I braced myself, pulling my knees up to my chest, hoping to become invisible. To my surprise, a man approached the ruins, his bones seemingly cracking and crunching as he transformed into a wolf right before my eyes. The wolf howled and sprinted off, followed by a chorus of howls from a group of wolves in the distance.

One wolf, however, ventured towards me. I sat in terror, unsure of what to do. The wolf approached, sniffed the air around me, and then ran off. I was left alone, shaken and utterly baffled by what had just occurred.

My eyes started to grow heavy, and before I knew it, I was sound asleep. The last thing I remembered was the sound of the wind howling through the ruins, leaving a chilling whisper in its wake.

When I woke up, the sun was rising once more, casting a warm glow over the now empty landscape. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Surely, I must have been dreaming, but it all seemed so real, too real, in fact.

I tried to make sense of what was happening before my eyes. The ancient ruins and stones that once stood tall and imposing were now nowhere to be found. The ground was bare, as if they had never existed at all.

I got up and walked around, checking my surroundings, but there was no sign of the ruins. I couldn't understand what was happening. I decided to head north, hoping that I would reach home at some point. After walking for a while, I saw a familiar sight. It was a shoddy building, but it was a sight that I recognized.

I headed inside, unaware of what was about to unfold. As I stepped inside, I saw that everything was just as I had left it. The furniture was in the same place, and the curtains were drawn.

I started to question my sanity. Had I imagined the entire thing? It seemed impossible, but there was no other explanation. I decided to go to bed, hoping that I would wake up and everything would be back to normal.

When I woke up, I was back in my own bed, in my own house. I looked around, and everything was as it should be. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was not right.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze, trying to make sense of what had happened. I couldn't focus on anything, and my mind kept drifting back to the ruins and the stones.

*Brett's POV *

Two months have passed since the day in the woods, the day we realized our enormous mistake, and the last time we saw Mauve. I remember that day like it was yesterday, and the regret and guilt still weigh heavily on my conscience.

I glanced over at Miles, who looked back at me with remorseful eyes, knowing exactly what I was thinking. "How could we have been so selfish?" I asked him, unable to hide my frustration and sadness.

"I don't understand. Where did she go? She had nothing with her and hadn't spoken to anyone," Jax said, frowning in confusion.

"I'll check the woods again. I'll take some of the warriors and scout the area," Miles offered, determination in his voice.

"We've tried that every day we've searched, but there's nothing. No scent, no sign of her," I said, feeling hopeless.

"It's time we move on and get on with our lives," I said sternly, trying to hide the pain in my voice.

A month later, we had returned to our normal lives and routine as if she had never come into our lives. I decided to give it another go with Poppy, even though I knew she wasn't my mate. Jax was dating Kele, and Miles, well, who wasn't he taking to his bed.

But no matter how hard we tried to move on, we couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt and sadness that consumed us. We couldn't forget about Mauve, the mysterious and enchanting stranger who had briefly entered our lives and left an indelible mark on our hearts.

We searched for her for months, but there was no sign of her. We scoured the woods, called out her name, and left offerings at the spot where we last saw her, but she never returned. We couldn't understand how she had vanished without a trace, leaving no clue as to where she had gone.

It's that time of year again when the halls of our school are filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and just a touch of nervousness. For most students, this time of year means prom season - a chance to dress up, dance the night away, and make memories with friends. But for our kind, it means so much more.

We call it the "mating ball," a tradition that has been passed down through generations of our people. It is a time for us to come together and find our mates, the ones who we will share our lives with and, for some of us, our future lunas.

The mating ball is an important event in our community. It is a time for us to connect with one another on a deeper level, to form bonds that will last a lifetime. It is a time for us to celebrate our culture and our traditions and to honour the generations that have come before us.