Episode3
1089 Words
Elaine's pov
A strangled scream escaped my lips when they all came for me and a few moments later, I was running barefoot through the chilly forest.
My body ached with each step as I ran. I wanted to give up. I wanted to stop running but echoes of howls filled the air telling me I needed to run like my life depended on it.
My feet pounded the earth with so much intensity I felt it would fall off. My legs hit a heavy log and I stumbled in pain.
I let out a scream, clutching my broken leg. I was done. I couldn't move anymore.
Painful sobs escaped my lips and I curled on the ground.
I was going to die.
They were going to kill me.
I closed my eyes, accepting my fate.
I had expected a rough growl overhead and a painful s***h across my body when I heard a gentle yet powerful voice.
“Elaine…”
I turned and saw the woman. She had silver hair flowing behind her, her eyes were so golden I winced as though I was looking at the sun.
She stepped closer and knelt before me.
That luminous white dress, glowing skin, and the moon sigil on her forehead.
My eyes flickered with recognition.
She…
She was the Moon Goddess.
She reached out a hand to me and smiled. “Do you want to make them pay?”
****
I was dying and I knew it.
Blood seeped from my wounds and darkness seeped in from all sides.
The cold was bone-chilling and the pain, excruciating.
My pulse rang in my ears and I shut my eyes.
Suddenly, a voice rang out. “Do you want to make them pay?”
I turned towards the sound and there she was — silver hair flowing behind her, eyes so golden I winced as though I was looking at the sun. That luminous white dress, glowing skin, and the moon sigil on her forehead. The Moon Goddess.
“I will make them pay.”
Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain drowned its depths into me and I gasped, reaching out.
But as I lifted my hand to touch hers, the world shattered around me and pulled me into nothingness.
It was dark until it wasn't.
I awoke.
My breaths came in ragged gasps and I clutched my chest, feeling my beating heart hammer against my ribcage.
Then my eyes flickered to the walls, rich velvet draperies hung from the walls – clearly not mine. The sheets beneath me were soft and the air was too perfumed. This room clearly wasn't mine.
I turned my head sharply, eyes darting across the lavish space, picking up on the expensive furniture, velvet drapes, massive oil painting on the far wall. The room bloomed with reality and the morning sun made it look like something that came out of a museum.
My stomach twisted when I squinted my eyes to look at the painting. It had my face on it. The painting was me. At least, the woman in it did.
She had my green eyes, red painted lips, and the same shape of my face but the expression was foreign. This version of me was untouchable, confident, regal.
And I like her. Only where the hell was I?
Suddenly, the heavy double doors swung open and a wave of uniformed maids flooded in.
“Lady Aurora, you're awake.” One of them said in a humble voice.
I froze. Lady who?
Before I could process anything, the maids rushed forward, opening the walk-in-closet.
Wait. What was happening?
“We must prepare you, my lady.” Another maid said, pulling at my arms.
“Prepare me?” I panicked as they lifted me to my feet. “Prepare me for what?”
“For your meeting with Alpha Damien of the SilverMoon pack.”
Everything froze.
Damien? It was Damien. My Damien.
That name hit me like a knife to the heart.
He was the man who once swore to love her, the same man who turned against me, the same man who had ordered my execution.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
The maid who had spoken earlier touched my shoulder lightly. “Are you alright, my lady?”
I exhaled softly. Her hand was soft against my skin. This… this wasn't a dream. It wasn't a nightmare. It was real.
I… I had been reborn.
A slow, eerie calm settled over me as the realization took root.
I had been reborn.
The Moon Goddess had given me a second chance and I was going to use it.
****
The Maserati arrived at the packhouse. Apparently, the place was more grander than I had remembered.
The halls gleaned from the golden light from the chandelier, the floors were polished to its finest. I never realized they'd go to this extent to prepare for my entrance.
As I sauntered through the hall, werewolves my age and older, bowed humbly, my name leaving their lips with admiration. I had never been revered like this before.
At the top of the staircase was Damien and Loretta.
My eyes met hers with a glare. When her brows furrowed, I immediately made up for it by flashing her a fake amusing smile.
Even as we greeted, she didn't stop staring at me. The look on her face told me she was puzzled — as though she was looking for something. But each time she stared, I never flinched. Damien ordered his maids to take me to the guest room and something flashed in Loretta's eyes. And just like she did me in the past, I walked past her.
At dinner, Damien wouldn't stop shoring me with praises. It made me curious as to who this Lady Aurora Bernadi really is.
Our conversation was light but I could notice tension hanging high in the air. Loretta kept drilling holes into me with her stares throughout the dinner. I turned to her and she flinched. There. That's the look I was waiting for – shock, fear.
My lips curved into a smile and I nodded at her. “Nice dress.”
Loretta's blue eyes brightened up. “Than–
But I didn't wait for her to complete her sentence before I interrupted. “It's so very last season.”
Silence followed.
Then soft chuckles erupted in the room, bleeding full-blown laughter.
Loretta's face tightened, but she smiled a forced, brittled smile.
I simply sipped my wine.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
- Writer
