Chapter 3 Trying To Escape

• Janelle's Point of View
• The moment I realized I had been brought to the Red Blood Pack—and that the man standing before me was Lucas—the truth crashed down. Maggie brought me here as her replacement. I am now the unlucky bride of the cursed rogue.
• “L-Lucas? You’re the CURSED ROGUE, aren’t you?!” The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them, trembling as I faced the man before me.
• He was tall, with dark hair that framed his sun-kissed skin and eyes sharp enough to pierce through my soul. He’s handsome. I had to admit that. But the appearance did only little to soothe the fear in my chest.
• ‘I will die. Those who stayed with the cursed rogue were fated to face death!’
• I was thinking of pleading – begging him to let me go. However, I caught a glimpse of his expression. Anger wasn’t one of them. Pain, perhaps? It seemed he felt sad after I called him the cursed one. And oddly, I felt guilty.
• But, should I really feel bad for a man like him?
• “Who are you? You’re not my mate.” His voice broke through my thoughts.
• My legs trembled as if the earth beneath me was crumbling away. ‘Janelle, this wolf knows you’re not his mate!’ my wolf, Genie, warned.
• Would I be punished for disappointing a wolf like Lucas? Would I even live to see another day?
• “Grrr.”
• The growls came suddenly. But they weren’t from Lucas, but from the wolves outside.
• Lucas moved with alarming speed and he grabbed his knife. “Stay here,” he commanded. “Don’t you dare come out.” Then, he leaped out the nearest window, disappearing into the night.
• The cabin fell silent. My heart pounded, and for a moment, I was frozen.
• ‘Wait. Isn’t this my chance to escape?!’
• Without wasting any time, I bolted out of the cabin. My hurried legs carried me out into the dense, shadowy forest.
• ‘No! Don’t go, Janelle! It’s dangerous!’ Genie protested. But I ignored her. Survival was all I could think about.
• The air felt thick and suffocating, wrapping around me like a heavy blanket. I struggled to breathe, each inhale coming out in sharp, uneven bursts as I pressed on. “Haa… Haa…”
• My wolf were screaming for me to turn back, but I couldn’t. But I refused to give up.
• “I’m not dying here. Not tonight!”
• But soon, fatigue took over. My legs buckled, and I crumpled to the ground. The quiet was overwhelming in the middle of the forest. And because of the sprint, my throat felt like sandpaper. Hopeless, I gazed into the pitch-black forest.
• All I wanted was to go home—to feel my dad’s comforting arms around me. But deep down, I knew Zack and Maggie would do something to prevent it. THEY WERE THE PEOPLE WHO ABDUCTED ME AND SENT ME IN THIS PLACE.
• “I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to be a rogue.”
• Tears welled in my eyes, slipping down my cheeks as Genie let out a mournful howl in the back of my mind.
• “Heup… Heup…”
• Through my tears, I tilted my head to the heavens, seeking answer in the glow of the Moon Goddess.
• “Why?” I choked out. “Why me? What have I done to deserve this?”
• But the moon goddess didn’t answer. Instead, I heard growls from behind me. They were deep, guttural. At the sound, my body froze. Every hair on my skin standing on end.
• Tak.
• Tak.
• Tak.
• The noise of footsteps got louder, crunching on the forest floor. Shadows danced between the trees, bending and swaying in the moonlight.
• I jumped up, my heart racing like crazy. Every part of me was telling me to bolt, but just as I was about to take off, figures stepped out of the shadows.
• A pack of wild wolves closed in on me. I WAS CORNERED.
• “Looks like we’ve got a lone female wolf here,” one of them sneered.
• “What’s a lost pup doing out here at this hour?” another chimed in, his tone mocking.
• “And look at her. She’s tasty,” a third growled, his grin revealing sharp, yellowish predatory teeth.
• My breath hitched as I took a step back, only to feel another menacing person behind me.
• “Wow, so this is where that amazing smell is coming from. So tasty, the closest guy said, taking a big whiff.
• “And she’s stunning,” another one chimed in.
• Panic shot through me, and my muscles tensed up. I looked around, searching for a way out, but there was none.
• Rogues. A whole pack of them.
• Rogues don’t usually stick together, but when they do, it’s dangerous. They love chaos, teaming up just to wreak havoc. And here I was, a lone wolf, right in their sights.
• “Hey,” one of them said, suddenly grabbing my arm.
• “Ahhh! No!” I yelled, struggling against his hold, but it was no use. “Let me go!” I shouted.
• The leader smirked and asked me, “What pack are you from?”
• I tightened my jaw, not giving in. There was no way I’d let these monsters hear the name of my pack. Even if Zack had turned his back on me, it was still the pack my dad loved.
• “Maybe she’s just trying to escape,” one rogue suggested, leaning in way too close. His stinky breath made me want to gag.
• “Why don’t you join us? We’ll treat you right,” another one chimed in, grabbing my wrist and yanking me closer.
• “Get your hands off me! Please!” I cried, tears rolling down my cheeks.
• "Fighting back is useless, babe. Your scent… it’s just too tempting. Why not just give in and enjoy it?" He flicked his tongue, brushing the air close to my cheek.
• ‘That’s disgusting!’
• “She’s got a slim figure. But her face? That’ll work just fine.”
• My thoughts were racing, spiraling out of control. I fought with every ounce of strength I had, but their grip was like iron. They had me pinned to the ground, and my heart was pounding like a wild animal trapped in a cage.
• 'No! I can't let them get what they want!' In desperation, I used all of my strength to free one leg and kicked out. My foot hit one with satisfying crack on his head.
• “Argh!” The rogue staggered back.
• Once I saw the opening, I bit down hard on the arm of the one holding me.
• “Damn it!” he yelled, letting go just enough for me to make a run for it.
• I didn’t think twice. I just took off running.
• “Where do you think you’re going?!”
• Before I could get too far, a third rogue caught up to me, his hands gripping my shoulders like a clamp.
• “Ahh!” I yelled as his hold tightened, his nails digging into my skin.
• “Stop struggling. You know you want this!” he taunted, his other hand wandering where it shouldn’t.
• “Ugh! Get off me!” I shouted, twisting and fighting with every bit of strength I had left. But the ground gave way beneath me, and I fell hard, my leg twisting painfully.
• Pain shot through me, sharp and relentless. When I looked up, the rogues were towering over me with their wicked grins. The evil beam that could seal my fate.
• ‘This is it,’ I thought. ‘This is how it ends. Alone. Violated. Forgotten.’
• But then, out of nowhere, a voice boomed.
• “What the hell is going on here?”
• The rogues froze as they turned toward the voice.
• I followed their gaze, Emerging from the shadows was a tall figure.
• It was… Lucas.