Chapter Four : CHANCE AWAITS
760 Words
What is Uncle Darius planning?" I whispered, my heart pounding so violently it hurt.
No...
No.
Not Lucien.
Before I could make sense of the nightmare unfolding before me, Uncle Darius turned toward the training grounds.
"Dimitri," he called calmly. "Bring that little brat here."
My blood froze.
"What?" I looked at Dimitri in disbelief. "N-no... Dimitri..."
He had been my father's most trusted knight. He had trained me to hold a sword. He had carried Lucien on his shoulders when we were children.
"You too?" My voice cracked. "You betrayed us too?"
Dimitri didn't answer.
He couldn't even look me in the eye.
Then everything clicked.
After Mother mind-linked me, I had run to the training grounds looking for him. He told me he would send soldiers to help my parents.
He never did.
Because he was one of them.
The realization shattered something inside me.
Everything I had believed...
Every smile...
Every promise...
Every person I trusted...
It had all been a lie.
Before I could react, Dimitri grabbed Lucien by the arm.
"Let me go!" Lucien shouted, kicking and struggling. "Amara!"
"No!" I screamed, sprinting toward them. "Dimitri, don't! Please!"
He didn't hesitate.
He dragged my little brother across the blood-soaked courtyard and threw him at Uncle Darius's feet.
Lucien looked up, tears streaming down his face.
"I-I'm not scared of you."
Uncle Darius smiled.
"What a brave little prince."
He reached down, wrapped one hand around Lucien's neck...
...and twisted.
Crack.
The sound echoed through the courtyard.
Lucien's body went limp instantly.
His eyes...
They never closed.
Time stopped.
No...
No...
No...
My little brother...
The boy who used to follow me everywhere.
The one who hid behind me during thunderstorms.
The one who promised he'd become the greatest Alpha our pack had ever seen.
Gone.
Just like that.
A scream tore from my throat, so loud it burned.
I dropped to my knees, unable to breathe.
My parents...
My brother...
My family...
Everyone was gone.
Darkness crept into the edges of my vision.
The last thing I saw was Uncle Darius looking down at me with satisfaction before everything faded into black.
---
End of Flashback
A tear rolled down my cheek.
Then another.
Before I knew it, I was crying all over again.
Even after two years, the memories still felt fresh. It was as if I were reliving that day every time I closed my eyes.
The sound of violent banging on my door ripped me out of my thoughts.
"Hey, you little slave!" Emily yelled. "Open this door!"
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Maybe if I ignored her, she'd go away.
Another loud bang shook the wooden door.
"Amara!" she shouted. "The Alpha sent word! Get your lazy ass outside, you damn b***h!"
I let out a long sigh.
"Moon Goddess..." I muttered. "She's so annoying."
Wiping the tears from my face, I stood and opened the door.
Emily smirked the moment she saw me.
"Took you long enough."
I ignored her and walked past.
The servants and slaves had already gathered in the main courtyard. Several guards stood at the front, their expressions as cold as stone.
One of them stepped forward.
"Listen carefully," he announced. "Tomorrow, the Blue Moon Pack will host the Annual Gathering of Alphas. Packs from across the region will be attending."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
The guard continued.
"Every servant and slave will be assigned duties. You will clean, cook, serve food, prepare guest rooms, and attend to our visitors."
His gaze swept over us.
"You will remain silent unless spoken to."
"If any guest complains about your behavior..."
He paused.
"...you will be punished."
Another guard took over.
"And if anyone attempts to embarrass this pack..."
His voice turned deadly.
"...the punishment will be immediate execution by beheading."
The courtyard fell silent.
No one dared breathe.
The guards dismissed us, and everyone slowly began walking away.
I remained where I was, staring at the packhouse.
An idea slowly formed in my mind.
Tomorrow.
Hundreds of guests.
Dozens of unfamiliar faces.
The gates would be open all day.
Security would be focused on protecting the visiting Alphas.
For the first time in two years...
There would be chaos.
Enough chaos...
For one slave to disappear.
A slow smile spread across my face.
"I've waited two years," I whispered.
"I've endured the beatings."
"The humiliation."
"The hunger."
"The names."
"I survived all of it."
I looked toward the towering gates of the Blue Moon Pack.
"Tomorrow..."
My eyes hardened with determination.
"...I'm finally going home."
- Writer
