Chapter 3 Into The Darkest Part Of The Forest

• The dark forest is definitely not the best place to run crying to. Certainly, not the best place to seek fresh air either.
• Rogues live here. They roam here—
• And I just stepped inside their home uninvited.
• The air here is thicker, denser. And the darkness is as unsettling as how it smells.
• But even when I hate this forest, even when my father has warned me many times to never set foot in here, I still found myself resting at the bulgy roots of a giant tree sprouting from the ground.
• Finally, I let my tears fall freely. I never want this place. But this forest is the only place that I guess will not judge me even if I cry my heart out.
• No Omegas to gossip about me. No Beta’s daughters to roll their eyes at me.
• Just me and the trees and the sense of feeling empty even when you’re being seen by everybody.
• No one cares about me. My own father sees me like some brooding mare to be given away at the ripe age. My brother...my brother cares about me, yes. But he wouldn’t dare stand up against our father. Regardless of whether he’s his heir, Alpha Dorian is still our reigning Alpha. Our father.
• And then there’s Beta Homer, who broke my heart on the day that’s supposed to be the anniversary of our first kiss. And Lazel...the elegant daughter of the richest Beta proved to be a snake who should’ve belonged here in the forest crawling for eternity.
• I rested my chin atop my fist, musing on how to react to father’s request.
• Truth be told, it wasn’t so bad to be Alpha Azriel’s Luna. But...
• I want to be a Warrior like other Alpha’s daughters. I don’t want to be just a pawn for a political marriage. I want to be Beta Homer’s wife. I’ve loved him since I was in my early teenage years. He was the one who made me realize I want to be something more. I want to be someone more than what my father sees me to be: a she-wolf only designed to carry an Alpha’s pups.
• I sighed and fixed my hair, letting the forest breeze caress me. My tears have dried out, but the trail where they fell remained stark against the bright moonlight above.
• But perhaps my father is right: he never forbids me to be a Warrior. He just needs my help in the meantime.
• “You must help me save our pack, Rhian. You and me.” His words echoed in the heart of my mind, clawing its way to my conscience.
• Right. I can be both after all. I can be something more without sacrificing what my father expected me to be.
• After all, once I become Alpha Azriel’s Luna, I can talk to him about this. Surely, he’s not some traditional male who always holds the leash of their females—
• I shot to my feet at the sudden thought that struck me.
• What if he is? He wouldn’t be feared if he was just some good Samaritan that even humans think they can manipulate him—
• Something suddenly rustled behind me. I just hope it wasn't someone.
• I swallowed and slowly turned around, willing my footsteps to be silent. Compelling my sight to watch out for twigs at the same time focus on the origin of the sound across the forest clearing.
• I looked back to the path I’ve taken. I shook my head, panic rising in my throat. I can no longer remember my way back.
• And this makes the cascading of my tears from my eyes start again, my sweat racing along that unnerving feeling of being watched.
• “Well, well, well. Look what I’ve found...” The stranger purred, as if delighted to come across a sumptuous dinner.
• I exhaled a sharp breath and asked calmly, “Who are you? Are you one of my father’s pack guards?”
• The stranger smiled. No, he grinned. Wolfishly. Baring his fangs at me as if any minute now, he’ll tore a piece of skin from my neck.
• “What is an Alpha’s daughter doing here in the forest?”
• He ignored my question because he knew—we both knew—he’s not an Alpha’s guard.
• Nor does he have an Alpha.
• ‘I told you we were being watched!’ I scolded myself, bile now settling on my throat. I think I’ll definitely vomit on the stranger.
• A retching sound escaped from my lips. The Rogue sniffed the air. “Fancy, princess. You’re alone.”
• I was about to turn on my heel and run in the opposite direction when I tripped—in front of him.
• And in a heartbeat, we just remained rooted to the ground. Eye to eye. Staring at each other, waiting to see who will strike first.
• I blinked, and as if it was his signal to strike, the Rogue lunged at me.