Chapter 2

• Chapter 2
• Elysia
• “Wow, what just happened? Did they really just end the engagement party and leave us all here?”
• “Apparently. They could have given a proper announcement before running off like that, though. This must be so embarrassing for Elysia.”
• “Right? It looks like Alpha Jaxon doesn't like her at all. He literally just chose Lexa over her.”
• “Same thing with her family. Lexa has practically replaced her.”
• These were the words the guests murmured amongst themselves as I stood frozen, my fists clenched at my sides. I couldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me get affected by their words.
• “Elysia!” a familiar voice screamed as someone ran towards me.
• I looked up to see my best friend, Alana.
• “Are you okay, Elysia?” Alana asked worriedly as she pulled me into a hug.
• I nodded slowly. “I am. Where were you?”
• “I'm so sorry! I went to use the restroom, and when I was coming back to join the party, I saw some of the guests leaving and asked what was going on. I came running as soon as I found out,” Alana narrated, and I sighed.
• “I can't believe they all left like that simply because Lexa was foolish enough to touch silver. Why the hell is Jaxon the first person she called? Are they having an affair or something?” Alana's voice was filled with anger as she continued holding onto me.
• I could understand why she was so angry. She knew what this arrangement with Jaxon meant for me. It was a way for me to regain my place in my family, a way for them to take me back as their daughter. But it was ruined now, all because of Lexa.
• “I'm not surprised. I've had enough of them,” I murmured with a calm voice, and that was when Alana broke the hug.
• “What are you going to do…?” Alana asked tentatively, and I smiled.
• “Nothing. I'm done with the engagement, I'm done with Jaxon, and I'm done with the people who are supposed to be my family. This evening has made me realize there is nothing I can do to make them see me as their daughter again, not when Lexa is there,” I responded, a determined look in my eyes.
• “Are you sure? That's a big decision to make.”
• I nodded. “Yes, I am. I've been trying so hard for three years now. I've had enough.”
• Right as those words left my mouth, my phone pinged. I took it out of my pocket and looked at the message on the screen:
• “I will always be the first choice. You come second to me.”
• I laughed when I saw the text. It was from Lexa.
• “Wow, she's absolutely insane.” I released a breath when I looked up from the screen.
• I was more annoyed than angry.
• I found out the type of person Lexa was as soon as I got back, but it seemed like she had everybody else brainwashed.
• Lexa wanted every single thing that belonged to me.
• My family. My life. My fiancé.
• But I was done fighting for people who didn't want me as much as I wanted them. Lexa could have all of them.
• There was no love involved in my engagement to Jaxon, anyway. The marriage was simply to strengthen the bond between the Ironclaw Pack and the Bloodfang Pack. I was only going to marry him because of my family.
• “Elysia…” Alana called when she saw the furious look on my face.
• I didn't respond. Instead, I took off the engagement ring, and without thinking about it twice, I threw the ring as far as I could.
• I had a satisfied grin on my face after doing that.
• Doing that felt so good.
• “Did you just throw your ring away?” Alana gasped loudly.
• “Yes. I'm well and truly done!” I screamed, spreading my arms around as I twirled.
• “Wow, she must have lost her mind,” I heard someone say, but I only giggled.
• I couldn't care less if they thought I was insane.
• I ran out of the clearing, and Alana followed me.
• I smiled as soon as I was away from the party, staring up at the full moon as the cool night air wrapped around me.
• “It is a very beautiful night,” I uttered, my smile widening.
• From the corner of my eye, I could see Alana looking at me worriedly.
• “Are you sure you're okay, Elysia?” she asked.
• I bobbed my head in response. “Yes, Alana. I'm perfectly okay,” I responded and paused for a second. “Don't you think this is the perfect night for a run? The moon is so beautiful. I would love to take a run in the forest.”
• Alana smiled slightly. “It really is. If a run is what you want right now, let's do it. It's been a while since we ran together.”
• I perked up at that, and we walked towards the forest together. We shifted into our wolf forms once we got to the edge of the forest, and we howled in excitement when we started sprinting.
• We had only been running for a few minutes when the forest went eerily quiet—the air felt weirdly colder, and the sounds of crickets and other animals around us suddenly quieted down.
• We stopped running and looked at each other. We were on alert as we looked around, wondering what was going on.
• And that was when the smell hit my nose—burnt fur, old sweat, and decay.
• Rogues.
• Three haggard-looking wolves appeared in front of us when we caught their scent. They were big and menacing, and as soon as I saw them, I knew they were here to attack us.
• “These rogues look so scary! What should we do?” Alana sent me a mind-link, fear dripping from her tone.
• I didn't stop looking at the rogues as they stalked towards us. “We can't run, they'll catch up to us and we can't let them get to the Pack. We have to fight them.”
• “Can we take them?” Alana asked.
• “Yes, we can. It's two against three. We'll handle it,” I responded confidently.
• I knew I could take on the rogues. Fighting was a part of me.
• This should be easy.
• Before Alana could answer, the largest rogue lunged at us. I met him halfway, my wolf slamming into his side with enough force to send us both rolling across the dirt. He snapped at my throat, missing by inches, but I dug my claws into his ribs and kicked him off with a vicious shove.
• Alana didn’t hesitate. She launched at the second rogue, jaws clamping around the back of his neck. The rogue howled, twisting and bucking, trying to throw her off. She held on like a vice, refusing to give him an inch.
• The third rogue barreled toward me, but I pivoted sharply, letting him overshoot. Before he could turn, I pounced on his back, sinking my teeth deep into his shoulder. The taste of rot and old blood hit my tongue as he screeched and collapsed under my weight.
• The one Alana was fighting staggered, bleeding and wobbling. One more hard shove from Alana sent him crashing headfirst into a tree, and he didn’t get back up.
• The rogue I was fighting tried to stand, but I struck again—fast, brutal. A swipe to his throat, a bite to his flank, and he crumpled, breathing shallowly, barely clinging to life.
• The largest rogue, the one I'd first tackled, lunged at me from behind. I whirled, slammed my shoulder into his chest, and drove him into the ground. My claws hovered at his throat, my growl low and cold.
• “Leave him,” I sent through the mind-link, even as Alana approached. “He’s the only one still conscious.”
• Alana stood beside me, panting. “Fine. But only because we need answers.”
• The rogue snarled weakly beneath my weight, burnt-fur stench choking the air around us. I pressed my claws in just enough to make him freeze.
• “Who sent you?” I demanded, voice edged with steel.
• “We work alone!” the rogue snarled, and I growled.
• “Answer me or I will rip out your throat!”
• The rogue whined, a helpless look on his face as he responded, “It was a woman. I don't know her name, but she said she was going to give us money if we abducted you and took you away. She said she didn't care about whatever we did to you as long as you were not around her.”
• My mind immediately went straight to one person, but I didn't want to believe it.
• “Can you describe what this woman looked like?” Alana asked.
• “She looked young, and should be in her early twenties. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was of average height,” the rogue replied.
• There was only one person who fit that description.
• Lexa.
• “That fucking bitch!” I seethed.
• I hit the last rogue hard in the head, making him pass out.
• I began to run out of the forest, and Alana ran behind me.
• “Wait a minute, Elysia! Where are you going?”
• “I'm going to confront Lexa! She will pay for this!”
• “Are you sure about that?” Alana asked.
• “I am! Can you please take care of the rogues? We can't just leave them there.”
• There was a pause before Alana spoke again. “No problem. I'll take care of them! Bye!”
• I didn't respond as I dashed out of the forest. Rage coursed through me, and I wouldn't calm down till I saw Lexa.
• Ten minutes later, I stormed into the house, breathing heavily as I walked inside.
• Jaxon was nowhere to be found. My parents and brother were gathered around Lexa, watching her like she was some fragile thing.
• My eyes immediately fell on Lexa, who looked perfectly okay besides the bandage that was wrapped around her left hand.
• Shouldn't she be at the pack infirmary if she was so badly hurt?
• Lexa's eyes met mine, a cunning smile playing on her lips.
• The smile enraged me, and without thinking twice, I walked closer to her and slapped her hard across the face.
• Lexa's face whipped to the side, her blonde hair falling forward to cover her face.
• “Elysia! What the hell do you think you're doing?!” Calden asked angrily. Still fueled by anger and adrenaline, I slapped Calden across the face, too.
• “What has gotten into you, Elysia? You are acting out of character! Why would you slap your siblings?” my mother demanded, fuming.
• Lexa raised her head, and I could see the red imprint of my hand on her cheek. Tears trailed down her face as she stared at me. “Why did you slap me, sister? I didn't do anything to you—”
• I cut her off, glaring hard at her. “I am not your sister! And you know damn well why I slapped you. The rogues told me what you did!”
• My father stood up immediately he heard that. “What rogues are you talking about?”