Chapter 3

• Emily
• “Emily? What’s on your mind, my dear?”
• Aunt Jamie gently tapped my back and stared at me. I got lost in my own thoughts for a moment. I took a deep breath and shared with her what I had in mind.
• “I will leave tomorrow, Aunt Jamie. I just couldn’t stay here anymore after what had happened. ”
• “What do you mean?” she asked, her forehead creasing.
• “I want…I want to leave Red Moon Pack and live freely,” I uttered with certainty.
• “No, I won’t let you!” Aunt Jamie stepped back and massaged her head. “I won’t allow you to live as a rogue. You’ll die!”
• “But I am already dead!” I retorted. “And I will continue dying if I keep seeing Viktor and Bella together. How can I move on from my mate’s rejection if I keep being reminded that he didn’t want me?”
• I felt like something had blocked my throat while saying those words. My knees wobbled. Finally, I gave in and slowly descended to the ground.
• My Aunt Jamie didn’t speak. Instead, she scooched and threw another embrace on my shaking body. But this time, it felt different. She didn’t have to say anything. That was enough for me to understand that she already agreed to my plan.
• “Thank you, Aunt Jamie,” I whispered as I pulled away. “I promised to keep you updated. I will never forget you. You are the person I most love in this world.”
• Aunt Jamie touched the side of my face and hugged me one last time.
• That night, I secretly packed my things in my room. After that, I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a letter intended for Dad.
• Dear Dad,
• I won’t blame you for not believing in me, but I just want you to know how much it hurts that you chose to stand with Bella without truly understanding the truth. As I write this letter, I long for freedom from this pain. I no longer belong here. But I still love you, Dad. Please take care of yourself."
• I saw the picture on my desk. Dad and I looked so happy together. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at how great things were in the past. Too bad everything was not the same anymore.
• I folded the letter and left it under the frame.
• I turned my back on the homeland I had once lived in my whole life. Without looking back, I made my way toward the pack’s borders, ready to live a new life as a rogue.
• It wasn’t easy getting past the pack’s security. They were strict. But thanks to the crowded entrance gate, I managed to slip through the crowd.
• In no time, I was beyond the borders. I began to wonder whether I’d be fine on this new journey I had chosen.
• Did I perhaps make the wrong decision? Or is it worse to stay at home, dying in the pain of my mate’s betrayal?
• Whether I was right about either of these two things, all I could say was that I am not alone.
• “Yes, Em. I will always be here for you.”
• Clementine’s voice encouraged me. I smiled as I took steps that seemed much lighter than when I left the pack. A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I dashed toward the unknown.I just ran until my feet could take no more.
• After a while, I heard the distant sound of streaming water.
• “Perfect…”
• I followed the sound until I reached the riverside. I kneeled to sip some water using my hand. The water from the river not only quenched my thirst but also gave me unexplainable peace. I have never felt so close to nature in my entire life.
• Suddenly, a loud shout was heard from behind the tall bushes.
• “Help!!!”
• My senses heightened once it reached my ears.
• “Help! Anyone! Help me!”
• A crying voice was sent to my ears again. I knew I was not imagining things. Somebody was in trouble!
• My body just froze for a moment. There was a part of me that stopped me from getting into it. It wasn’t my business after all.
• I gripped my hands and tried to ignore the pleading voice. I began to pack my things and leave. But another desperate cry echoed behind my ears.
• “Please, somebody help me.”
• Before my mind could even think, I threw myself toward the cries. I just couldn’t turn my back on somebody who might need my help. I slowly approached as the sounds grew louder. Crawling through the bushes, I peeked through the thick leaves and branches.
• Then, I saw them.
• “These vile creatures!”
• I couldn’t bear the sight before me. A pack of rogues was ganging up on a weak she-wolf. All three of them pinned the badly beaten woman to the ground.
• “Scream all you want. No one will hear you here!” one of the rogues mocked.
• Their faces twisted with disgusting desire. They had lost all reason, driven by nothing but primal lust.
• There was no law here. This horrific sight made me realize the harsh reality of this place.
• “Can you just shut your mouth?! My ears are starting to bleed!” another one complained. He struck her with his fist. Heavy blows landed against her already bruised face. Her screams faded into muffled cries until she lay motionless. Blood was trickling down her features. The other rogue chuckled darkly. He pulled at his pants and traced her broken form with sick excitement.
• I clenched my fists with rage surging through my veins. How could anyone commit such atrocities without hesitation? My body moved before my mind caught up, and suddenly, I was no longer hiding.
• The nearest rogue turned and sneered.
• “We got another visitor, folks!”
• The other two turned to face me. One of them licked his lips. His eyes raked over my body with unrestrained hunger.
• “Another fine piece of meat sent right to us. And look at those chests! Much better than this one.”
• In a split second, he shifted mid-air and launched himself at me, catching me off guard. I barely had time to react before his body slammed into mine, sending me flying into a massive oak tree. The impact rattled my bones. It left me gasping for air. The pain paralyzed me for a second. I struggled to stand. But before I could, another rogue landed a brutal kick to my ribs, knocking the breath out of me.
• “Not so tough now, are you?” he sneered before grabbing a handful of my hair and yanking my head back. I winced as the other rogue struck me across the face. My vision blurred for a moment.
• “Let’s see how much fight you have left.”
• Before they could land another blow, a powerful growl ripped through the air. The rogues froze, and their heads snapped toward the sound.
• Then, out of nowhere, a massive black wolf lunged into the clearing. His eyes were burning with fury. The beast tore into the nearest rogue with his fangs sinking deep into the rogue’s neck. Blood sprayed as the rogue let out a gurgled scream before going limp.
• The remaining two rogues barely had time to react before the black wolf was on them. One tried to shift, but the wolf was faster. He slashed through flesh with brutal efficiency. A second later, the third rogue attempted to flee, but the black wolf caught him with a crushing bite to the throat, ending him instantly.
• The bodies fell around me, but my strength was failing. I barely managed to keep my eyes open as the black wolf turned to the woman. It looked like she was checking her for injuries. Then, he turned to face me. My vision blurred, but I saw him shift back into his regular form. He knelt beside me as darkness threatened to take me.
• “Don’t worry. You are both safe now,” he whispered.
• And then, everything went black