The Pain of Betrayal

Chapter Two

Elsa’s POV

I clenched my fist as the sound of my mother's screams rang in my ears. The happiness that I could see my mother go through such pain because of me was somewhat soothing to my soul.

But that wasn't what scared me the most, it was the flicker in my soul welcoming the idea that my mate wanted me dead and he was finally going to help me put an end to my misery.

Once and for all, I would be gone and I would feel the silence I so much desired. Days ago I had failed to carry it out and now the moon goddess was making it easy for me to end my life. A sly smirk found its way to my lips at the thought of this.

I had finally given up on trying, I couldn't garner the strength to plead my innocence. Back in the hell hole, a hardened soul, unable to cry or gather my thoughts. I lay motionless staring into the nothingness of the air.

Since the final decree, I hadn't been tortured, just left alone to wallow in my anguish. I realize how strong my mind was to make it through the night reliving my rejection, along with the accusation and now the sentence.

The next day was the ritual, my mother snuck up to me pleading with the enforcers that guarded the door to let her see me one last time, and with a heavy heart she stared at me tears streaming down her chin, “Elsa, I am so sorry, I wish I could help.”

Why was this woman acting all-nice to me? This is so not like her, I thought to myself. “We will get you out of here, Elsa. I promise you.” She said her confidence was highly reassuring.

“But first there is something you need to know….” she says before one of the enforcers cuts her off.

“Hey, enough! Your time is up!” He ordered with a stern voice. “Wait for my signal,” she mouthed and I nodded in understanding but first she was supposed to tell me something so I yelled.

“What do I need to know, mama? Mama?” I asked but she was dragged away before my eyes, I fell to the ground as hot tears threatened to fall off my eyes but I was already done crying.

I sat there with curiosity and determination gnawing over me, and in an Instant I realized I didn't want to die here. “No, this can’t be my end. I am not better off dead than alive.”

Thankful Alpha Oscar knew nothing about the baby, I was glad I could just escape and never look back. I prayed to the moon goddess that leaving this place was a possibility.

My heart was at the thought of my mother getting caught. She would never be forgiven. This will be the first time she is supporting me, all she ever did was suck up to Dad even though I could see how much it hurt her.

At dawn, the howling of the Alpha’s pierced the air, signaling the commencement of Luna's ritual. The dungeon door creaked open to reveal a figure. I moved backward in the cell, unable to figure out what it was.

This creature was nothing like a wolf, could be mistaken but it wasn't, it was 7 ft tall and had glowing eyes. My body quivered as the strangely shaped creature moved towards me breaking loose the chains that bound the little cell. Noticing my fear, she transformed back to her human form.

My mouth widened in shock at the sight of her “Mama,” I called out with evident confusion, “What are you?” I inquired, teary-eyed, she shook her head. “You are like me, Elsa. And soon you will find out. For now, you have to run Elsa. Run!” She screams and I sift through the enforcers that lay dead in the pool of their blood, “Were my eyes playing tricks on me?” I wondered, but this wasn't the time to figure out my clogged-up thoughts.

My dried-up tears now welled up anew as I ran into the thick forest, unsure of what the thick darkness had in store for me. I dashed off, running at the top speed of a car. I ran, feeling like my hammering heart would explode any minute.

The fear of getting caught and the consequences of the unknown pushed me further even when my strength was failing, but sooner than later, recalling that I was pregnant and wasn't even as strong as the others who had their wolves out, I stopped to catch my breath.

The hot steel that was used as one of the pieces of equipment for my torture in the dungeon had left an injury making it impossible for my feet to move as they should, a constant reminder of the life I'm running away from.

After a few minutes of rest, I began running aimlessly as quickly as my feet could carry me, ignoring the rumbling in my stomach for food I carried on.

The sun went down and turned the sky into a magical painting of red and gold, maybe I was desperate for something good and my eyes had to give me that.

The forest trees were whispering something in the wind, finally making me feel like I was a part of something special, even though I couldn't understand it, I could tell they were speaking to me. “Maybe I'm just delusional.”

The dusk came, quickly giving way for the night as the darkness enveloped the atmosphere, but I needed to keep moving, I was sure that they'd soon find out I was gone and they would comb the area in search of me, I had to be out of reach.

Days came and night came but I still didn't seem satisfied with the distance, so I kept running, eating whatever I found edible in the forest.

I continued but my pace slowed, my body tired, it was nature taking its course, and I could no longer move forward, I ran fast this night blurring my vision as I slammed my body into a tree, a thud to my head, completely knocking me out, as I rolled down a hill entangled with roots and leaves.

*********

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here. A stray little lost lamb.” I heard a voice say in my daydream as I struggled to flutter my eyes open.

I caught sight of them and my breath fastened, my body shivering as sweat trickled down my face. I've heard the stories, these rogues spared no one, they were human eaters, hungry and merciless, they would devour anyone let alone someone like me who had no rank. I got up quickly to run, but they surrounded me.

“Please,” I said, my voice barely audible above a whisper, my heart kept beating at the ultimate pace. “Please, don’t” I pleaded.

Just as one of the rogues lunged towards me, a figure came from the shadows. He was tall, dressed in a black luxurious tuxedo with a domineering aura. His presence commanding and his eyes shone brightly even in darkness, a low growl rumbled from his lips, and the pendant on his neck glowed brightly with an inscription(AL)

Without a word, he attacked the rogues, taking them out one after another, his movements were fast and his strikes quiet but intentional. The rogues taken by surprise yielded to defeat as they fled the area, the ones that were not so lucky lay dead.

I watched quietly as my eyes widened in surprise, my mind struggling hard to comprehend. “Are you okay?” The man turns to me, his eyes softening slightly as he watches me quiver from fear. I was numb and unmoveable as I stared at him with my mouth open but no words could be formed.

“Are you hurt?” he asked again, his voice was deep and husky, and it sent shivers down my spine as I shook my head. The man nodded a smirk of satisfaction dancing across his lips.

“Will you be safe?” he asked me, scared of this man but something about him coursed a jolt of electricity through me.

“I’ll be fine,” I said accompanied by a nod as he winked at me, turning his back towards me. I moved a step away from him when I felt my feet and trembling body, I slumped to the ground as an unsettling stillness enveloped my unconsciousness.

Out of the shadows he rushes back to me, “Are you okay?” he asks but I am too weak to respond as my eyes let the darkness take me.

Did I run so far from Oscar Cage only to die in this emptiness?