Chapter 1

I dashed through the thick forest, grimacing at the cut I felt on my hands and legs. My feet felt filthy as I ran barefoot in the muddy terrain. The sounds of his ponderous footsteps pursuing me echoed loudly in my ears, making me realize he was closing in on me too quickly. My heart thumped heavily against my chest, and my lungs felt heavy and parched as I gasped, completely out of breath.

A surge of relief flooded over me upon catching sight of streetlights and brake lights a few meters away from me. I could definitely hitch a ride and flee from this town. They would probably never find me.

A short scream escaped my lips when I felt hands roughly shove me to the ground, holding me tightly as we stumbled hard against the dirt ground, thorns piercing painfully into my skin. As soon as I regained my balance, I carelessly swung my fist up to his face, forcefully colliding with his nose. With sheer terror radiating from my body, I pushed him off me and quickly crawled backwards, scrambling to my feet before he could pounce on me again.

With a furious snarl, he turned to me, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Where do you think you're going?" He scoffed, taking a step closer to me.

"Do I need to inform you?" I retorted with an eye roll, rolling my eyes and defiantly crossing my arms with a scowl.

"Huh?" He huffed at my temerity to talk back at him, unlike the weak girl I've always been. "You always seem to forget who you're talking to."

"Gregory, the alpha's son. So what?" I retorted sarcastically, feeling a surge of anger welling up within me. If I was going to run, I might as well give him a piece of my mind.

"You'll regret this, weakling," he growled, blood dripping from his clenched fists, making me realize his claws were out.

I knew I was running out of time. Backup from the pack would be here soon, and I would have no chance against them. I turned my head and listened to the distant sound of music, a glimmer of hope resonating within me.

"Let me go, besides you have no business with me or my messed up family." I snapped, ignoring the fear that gnawed at my insides at the thought that he might never let me escape and take me back to the hellish pack. I would rather die than let that happen.

He huffed, shaking his head in disgust. "You're stupid to think I'll let you go. You've been nothing but a wanker to the pack and you need to suffer the bad deeds of your stupid deceased parents." He spatted out hatefully, his voice laden with so much venom. With disdain in his eyes, he scornfully scrutinized me from head to toe, a smirk forming on his face. "Besides, you've been useful to me and the other guys at the pack. We still need you, bitch. Now return to the pack or I'll have to do it the hard way and you would not like it."

I tried so hard not to submit to his orders. He was the Alpha's son who would take over the pack soon, and he had the power to make anyone succumb helplessly to his orders.

Yet, I let my claws extend; the desperation making me reckless. Although I knew I had no chance against him alone, I refused to go down without a fight.

Gregory chuckled, shaking his head at my feeble attempt to defend myself. My heart skipped a beat when he half-shifted into his wolf form, and lunged at me. His palm connected hard with my face, sending me tumbling through the thorny underbrush. Before I could get up, I felt claws dig into my side, a strangled scream escaping my lips as his claws sank into my flesh, his grip unrelenting as he flung me like a rag doll, my head banging painfully against a thick log of wood.

My breathing became labored, and I could feel black spots starting to cloud my vision. I groaned and slowly pulled myself up from the ground, ignoring the pain and numbness in my body. A sudden scream escaped my lips as he stepped hard on my ankle and twisted his legs with a smirk, obviously enjoying as I howled in agony. Unbearable pain tore through my ankle, as the sounds of bones breaking filled the air. I let out another howl, feeling my stomach churn at the feeling of my bones being shifted. The back of my eyes burned with tears and I was forced to scream out begging.

"Please, stop!" I was too weak to stop him. I could feel blood trailing from my head to my neck. Knowing he wouldn't stop, I used my left leg to kick him hard, making him stumble away from me but not fall and I hurriedly crawled away from him, sobs after sob escaping my throat at the excruciating pain smearing through my legs.

When he walked toward me slowly like a predator, I knew I had to do something else or he might make me lose all of my limbs. I clenched my teeth tightly, summoning the little strength I had left in me and rolled to the side swiftly when he leapt forward to attack. He fell to the ground at my sudden movement, and before he could react, I pounced on him, screaming as I raked my claws across his face roughly, ignoring the pain radiating through my waist as his claws sank deeply into my flesh, trying to push me off him.

I then sent my claws to his chest, ripping off his shirt and blood splattered around at my brutal yet satisfying assault. The sounds of cars honk and faint music increased my urgency to get done with it and get the hell out of there here. Then, without thinking, I plunged my fingers into his chest, pulling out his heart.

Breathing heavily, it took just a few seconds before what I did registered in my mind. My heart sank into my stomach as I watched his body go limp and his eyes pale.

No! No!

Oh shit!

I killed the alpha's son.

Panic seized me immediately as I quickly crawled off his body. All forms of adrenaline already disappeared into thin air as I stared at his blooded chest and heart lying on the ground beside him. No, no! What have I done?!

A heavy lump formed in my throat, and my fingers trembled. My mind repeatedly whispered to me that I had just killed somebody. And not anybody, but the alpha's son.

The sounds of footsteps from afar immediately brought me out of my trance. They must be coming for me! They must have felt his link break. They must've known he was dead.

I took to my heels immediately, disregarding the excruciating pain in my legs. Stopping once when I got to the border, I said between gasps. "I, Lyla Falon Orhena, reject the RedMoon pack and understand by doing this, I have become a rogue." A sigh of relief escaped my lips when I felt my link to the pack snap, but it only lasted for a second before I realized it wasn't the right time to revel in such brief relief.

I hastily fled, running into the deserted streets, avoiding the lights. I scanned the area vigilantly, making certain that no one saw me as I approached a tavern. I promptly spotted a van and rushed to the rear, not wasting a moment before I clambered inside and slammed the doors shut. I slid down onto the floor, resting against the walls, and let out a deep breath as dizziness overwhelmed me.

My survival instincts kicked in again when I heard the front doors swung open, followed by the boisterous, incoherent babbling of men. I felt a sense of relief when they continued talking, failing to notice me before starting the engine. Once the van began moving, I closed my eyes and rested my head against the walls, finally surrendering to the obscurity that threatened to consume me.