CHAPTER 3 - BETRAYED AND BROKEN
1394 Words
JESSICA
It was the eve of my eighteenth birthday. The moon hung high and bright in the night sky, bathing the world in its glow. I sat cross-legged on my bed, clutching the delicate silver necklace Evans had given me. It felt cool against my palm, its crescent pendant gleaming faintly in my room. It was my lifeline, a symbol of hope. Evans’ words echoed in my mind, calming the chaos that constantly brewed in my heart.
“Just hold on, Jessy. Once you turn eighteen, we’ll leave all of this behind. Together.”
It was the only promise keeping me from sinking completely into despair. My eighteenth birthday was less than a day away, and with it came the chance to escape—freedom from Linda’s cruelty, from the triplets’ indifference, from the weight of being an unwanted outsider in my own home.
I ran my thumb over the pendant, the tiny ridges soothing against my skin. I had dreamed of this moment for so long that the thought of it actually being real filled me with a nervous excitement. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand—11:48 PM. Just twelve more minutes.
Each second felt like an eternity, and my mind wandered as I waited. I imagined a life far away from the pack, where no one would treat me like an omega or a burden. Maybe Evans and I could find a small town to settle in, somewhere quiet and peaceful. We could start fresh, build a life where we were equals.
The faint ticking of the clock grew louder in my ears. Eleven fifty-nine. My heart pounded as the final seconds ticked by.
Twelve o’clock. Midnight.
I grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. It rang twice before he picked up.
“Jessy,” he whispered, his voice warm and reassuring. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I replied, barely able to contain my excitement.
“Good. I’m outside. All you need to do is climb over the fence and follow me to freedom.”
I felt my heart swell with hope. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Be careful,” he said softly. “I’ll be waiting.”
I hung up and moved quickly, slipping out of bed and pulling on a hoodie and sneakers. I opened the window as quietly as I could, the cool night air brushing against my face.
The climb down was easier than I had anticipated. I had practiced this escape route so many times in my head that my body moved almost instinctively. I landed softly on the damp grass, my heart racing as I crept toward the fence.
Scaling it was tricky, but the adrenaline flowing through my veins propelled me over it. I landed on the other side, crouching low and scanning the area. There, a few feet away, was Evans, leaning casually against the hood of a sleek black Mustang.
I froze for a moment, confused. Evans couldn’t afford a car like that. He barely had enough money for his bus fare.
He saw me and smiled, waving me over. “Come on, Jessy. We don’t have much time.”
I hesitated, a nagging doubt creeping into my mind. “Where did you get this car?”
His smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he waved dismissively. “Does it matter? The important thing is that it’ll get us out of here. Now get in.”
His words soothed me, and I pushed the doubt aside. This was my chance for freedom, and I couldn’t afford to overthink it. I climbed into the passenger seat, the leather interior cold against my legs.
He started the engine and the car purred softly as he pulled onto the road. I glanced back at the house, its dark silhouette fading into the distance. For the first time in years, I felt free.
The drive was quiet at first, the only sounds coming from the hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind swept through the trees. I leaned back in my seat, letting the tension in my shoulders ease.
But as the minutes dragged on, I started to notice something strange. It seemed we were veering off course.
“Evans,” I said, breaking the silence. “This isn’t the way.”
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “We’re taking a shortcut through the woods. Trust me, it’ll save us time.”
I frowned, unease settling in my stomach. “Are you sure? This doesn’t feel right.”
“Jessy,” he said, his voice sharp. “Do you trust me?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”
He gave me a tight smile but said nothing more.
The trees grew denser as we continued, their branches casting dark shadows across the car. My unease deepened, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
After another thirty minutes of driving in circles, Evans pulled the car to a stop.
“What’s up?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
“We’re lost,” he admitted. “Come on, we need to check the map.”
I opened the door reluctantly, stepping out into the cool night air. The forest was silent, save for the occasional chirp of a cricket or the rustle of leaves.
Evans joined me, holding something in his hand—a piece of paper, I assumed. But before I could take a closer look, he moved behind me.
And that was when I felt the sharp prick in my neck.
The world blurred as I turned to face him, confused.
“Evans…” I managed to whisper before everything went dark.
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was the rough bark of a tree against my back. My wrists were tied tightly behind me, the coarse rope digging into my skin.
I blinked against the dim light, my vision swimming. Evans stood a few feet away, talking to a tall, shadowy figure.
“She’s awake,” He said, a grin spreading across his face. He turned to the man beside him. “Now, about my payment…”
The man stepped forward, his face coming into focus. He was handsome but older, with sharp features and eyes that gleamed with a predatory light. His presence radiated danger, and my heart pounded in my chest.
“Evans,” I croaked, my voice barely audible. “What’s going on?”
He smirked, his gray eyes cold. “Sorry, Jessy. But I’ve got bills to pay. Alpha Enzo here made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
My stomach dropped as I heard the name, Enzo. Alpha Enzo of the Blood Moon Pack. Everyone knew him as a monster in human flesh. Evans had betrayed me, sold me to this monster.
“Evans,” I said, my voice shaking with anger and disbelief. “How could you do this?”
“Don’t take it personally,” he replied with a shrug. “It’s just business.”
Alpha Enzo chuckled, his laughter sending shivers down my spine. “She’s feisty. I like that.”
Evans turned to him eagerly. “So, about that payment—”
In one swift motion, Enzo grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
“What—what are you doing?” He choked, his legs kicking helplessly.
Alpha Enzo’s smile was cold and cruel. “I can’t trust a guy who gives up his girl so easily, can I?”
With a sickening crunch, he snapped Evans neck and dropped his lifeless body to the ground.
I screamed, my voice echoing through the woods. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at Evans lifeless form, my mind unable to process what had just happened.
Alpha Enzo turned to me, his smile widening.
“Relax, Jessica,” He said. “He never even loved you.”
I watched, with a horrified expression on my face as he inched closer to me with a syringe in his hand.
“No,” I pleaded. “Don’t do this, please.”
But he was not listening to me. In one quick motion, he stabbed my neck with the pointed needle, and that was the last thing I remembered.
- Writer
