CHAPTER 1— Death And Escape.
~Rowena~ "No!" A helpless scream tore out of my throat as a sickening slashing sound pierced through the air, sending shockwaves of terror down my spine. "It can't be real," I choked out. Tears flooded my eyes, blurring my vision with each bitter drop that fell. I blinked uncontrollably, trying to stop it because they reminded me of a cruel reality. My father, Alpha of the Shadow pack, crumpled to the ground like a twig. His once strong body was now limp and his vacant gaze bore into mine. How could I be so useless? I wondered, glaring at my trembling arms. I yearned to lash out at those responsible for my parents' deaths, but I knew I was outnumbered and outmatched. No matter how hard I fight, I wouldn't change the outcome of my death and their freedom. I approached the scene gingerly, clamping my hands over my mouth to stifle the second scream that threatened to explode from within me. It was reduced to pathetic whimpers that did nothing to hide my anguish and pain. My heart pounded furiously as I caught sight of my mother being dragged to the front of the pack. Her hands were twisted to her back for the pack to see. For someone who just witnessed the death of her husband and mate, she looked at the crowd dead in the eyes, unwavering. In a twinkle, her red veiny eyes met mine. Run! Rowena, run! Her voice echoed through our mindlink, her way to desperately plead for me to escape. But before I could respond through the link, her blood curdling scream stopped me. When it died down, a heavy blanket of silence covered our connection. I felt numb. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the faces of those responsible. Their backs were turned to me. I didn't exactly expect the moon goddess to hear my plea because I turned just in time to see the person who murdered my parents. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched my best friend, Aaliyah, walk up to a man and plant a kiss on his cheek. When the man turned, my legs wobbled. He was unmistakably Liam, my mate, the guy I had known all my life and grown to love. My eyes glistened with tears. It hurt so much to see them betray me like this. I couldn't believe Liam would do this to me. He was supposed to be loyal, the future Beta of our pack. Why would they do this, I don't know what I was more mad about, for the fact that those two have been together right under my fucking nose or the fact they had betrayed their pack and their Alpha. I watched them set my parents corpses ablaze and I couldn't hold it anymore, I screamed my lungs out, and let the tears of pain and anger roll down my cheeks. My screams alerted them and they all turned their gazes towards me. "You shouldn't have returned," Aliyah said, smirking. "I will kill you all, I will make you all suffer before your death" I snarled in anger and my wolf clawed to get out. "Get her!" Luca, the beta ordered the pack warriors, and they all began to run towards my direction. I am their future Alpha, yet Luca has managed to sway them to his side. I was no warrior with exceptional skills, and being the only child of my parents, they wanted to protect me, like my father would say, he wanted to shelter me from such a kind of life. I really wished that I hadn't listened to him. My legs chose before me. They wobbled, carrying me out of the pack with the warriors hot on my tail. I ran like a damn coward. But deep down, I promised myself that I would come back one day, to avenge my parents' deaths and the betrayal of those who had once been my pack. I ran without knowing where I was going, driven only by the need to survive. I made a mistake of looking back, almost tripping when I saw that they were catching up to me. "Lupa!" I yelled through our mindlink, letting myself go so that she could take over. And she did, transforming into her form. A white wolf as white as snow. She always took pride in being called a 'Snow wolf.' She was the last thing that reminded me of my parents who were both snow wolves. The last of their kind. Snap! A sharp pain washed over me. It didn't take long for me to realize that the red line that connected my mind to the back has snapped. It was now a broken line that publicly displayed the severance to my pack. I, Rowena Wilson, daughter of Alfredo Wilson, was now a rogue snow wolf casted out by the very people I had once called family—by Luca Martins, my father's friend and Beta. Saved by Lupa's feral agility, I safely crossed the pack border's into unknown land. They couldn't follow me there unless they risked being rogues themselves.They could only stand and do nothing as Lupa let me gain control. "I will be back!" I screamed at the werewolves growling and snarling helplessly at me from the border. "Tell Liam and Aaliyah that I will be back for vengeance!" I added, panting uncontrollably. I was about to say more when one of the wolves dared to cross the border. I ran deeper into the claimed lands. I had never been to this side of the land before. lost and alone. I didn't even know the name of the place I stumbled into. Suddenly, I tripped over a branch and fell on my face. Fat tears gushed out of my eyes, not from the pain of the fall, but from the overwhelming weight of everything happening. I should've listened to Mom and stayed home today. If I had, maybe I could've been there to help them. If only I had known what was coming, I would've never left their side. "I'll make them pay for what they did to you, Mom and Dad," I vowed into the darkness. With night falling fast, I perched on a large tree branch. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to for help. I couldn't risk going back to the pack, knowing there could be a trap set by Luca. I gently released Lupa, for comfort and warmth as she folded into a ball for the night. Tomorrow, I would find a shelter and figure out how to make those traitors pay for their betrayal.CHAPTER TWO—- Betrayal. ~RYKER~ I was on the training ground when an immeasurable amount of pain hit me, I couldn't stand, I couldn't understand what could have gone wrong, what was happening. The pain was so unbearable, that it felt like a knife had been plunged deep into my chest and was continuously twisted. After some minutes, the pain subsided. "You okay?" Bradford's concerned voice reached my ears. "I'm not sure, I just..." I tried to answer, but another wave of pain crashed over me, stealing my breath. I doubled over, clutching my stomach. "What's wrong, Alpha?" A gruff voice inquired. Scattered footsteps reached my ears, and I knew the concerned faces of the pack warriors surrounded me. I forced out a breath to push down the pain. I gritted my teeth. "It's... nothing. Keep training," I managed to choke out. I knew that something was wrong so I decided to tap into Bradford's mind. "Something is going on, Brad but I'm not sure." I decided
CHAPTER THREE— Unconcious ROWENA'S POV The sounds of footsteps made my ears perk up and I quickly stood up in alert as I prepared myself to fight. Did they follow me out here? I thought I had lost them after I had crossed the border, I guess Luca had permitted them to cross the border. "Alpha, why did you ask us to leave all of a sudden?" A man asked, I sniffed quietly and from the awful smell that met my nose, I didn't need a genius to point it out to me that they were rogues. What had they done though? What are they discussing? This isn't their territory, it has been known to all that troubles always go wherever rogues go, I guess I am one of them now. I stood still and tried not to alert them and not give out my hiding spot. "We were on their territory, it wouldn't be long before the beta or a pack warrior came across us." the man who I now recognize as the Rogue Alpha spoke. I held my breath as I properly hid myself while also listening in on their conversation. "What
CHAPTER 4 Rowena's POV Dark. Stuffy. Choking. That was all I could think of when my back slammed hard against the stone walls of the dungeon. My head thrummed in pain for minutes, and I squeezed my eyes shut in resonance with it. Lupa whined in a very low tone, and I could tell she's just as weakened as I was. "How did I get here?" I wondered aloud. Images of my parents in a pool of blood flashed before my eyes, and it only made the ringing in my head worse. I needed to get out of here. My fear was slowly turning into rage. "Hey! Let me out! I'm innocent!" I yelled, but the damp air remained still, the cold stones doing the honors of reverberating my cry into an echo. My ears didn't twitch; I didn't pick up the sound of a whisper or the shuffling of feet. I was all alone. I was trying to channel my anger, let it course through my veins, but my bruises were triumphant. Lupa whined again, telling it was futile to do what I was thinking. I had to think! I had to
Chapter 5— A deal. Rowena's POV "I will have so much fun with you once Bradford is done with you." One of the guards growled while I rolled my eyes. I dare him to come forward and say shit to me again. A proud smile settled on my face remembering how hard I slammed my head to his. It hurts like a bitch but I was glad it had the impact I wanted. "Maybe I will be the one having more fun with you." A cold, strong voice came from the door. My head jerked towards the intruder and I saw the male I saved. "A... Alpha, I didn't know you were awake already." The male muttered, bowing his head. I could see his fingers trembling. Alpha. He had the aura of an Alpha and I remembered someone had referred to him as that. That could also explain how someone who had been fully injected with silver was back to their feet in a day. Two? Fuck! I had no idea how long I had been locked here. My eyes narrowed on him and I was sure that hatred and anger were very evident in my eyes. "Yo
Chapter 6 Third person's POV Liam paced around the training room as he awaited his guards who were out in search of Rowena, the only daughter of the former Alpha. "Did you find her?" He asked as soon as Ethan, the chief head guard walked into the training room. "I'm sorry, Liam, we couldn't get a hold of her. She was faster than we had imagined." Ethan mumbled, his head bowed showing his regret. "How could a mere woman be faster than you?" Liam, out of annoyance, threw a punch at Ethan. The sound of the crunch from Ethan's nose resounded in the training room. "I'm sorry, Liam, we must have underestimated her." Ethan apologized. "I don't care about your apologies!" He bellowed. "I want you to find her. I don't mind if she's dead or alive, I just need to be sure of her fate." He growled and Ethan bowed his head as he nodded quickly. An attempt to rescue his neck from being broken. "I will do my best, Liam. We won't rest until we find her." He promised. "She wouldn't
Chapter 7— A strange feeling. Rowena's POV It was a few nights before the day of the Luna ceremony, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional. My mind drifted to when Liam and I had first found out we were mates, and how excited I had been. Liam, Aaliyah, and I both grew up together, I grew up having a little crush on Liam and when I found out that he was my mate, I was more than happy. I could remember how I had screamed into the night thanking the moon goddess for making him my mate and how lucky I was... well, I guess I was wrong on that part. I sighed as I let my eyes wander at the serenity through my windows. Staying in this pack and getting myself an ally was a good thing but in the way I have chosen? Well, that wasn't but I had no choice. A short knock on the door pulled me back to reality, I cleared my throat in an attempt to clear my thoughts. "Come in," I called and the door knob turned slowly, and in, walked in my soon-to-be baby's daddy. "Hi," he greeted.
Chapter 8— Second mate. ROWENA'S pov "Well, glad to see that you both finally met" Ryker smiled then turned to me, the hardness in his eyes softened as we held gaze. "Rowena, this is Elly, the former Luna of my pack and soon-to-be former mate" he introduced and I smiled. I wasn't a bi**h but I guess I have learned the hard way. "Hi, I'm Rowena, the soon-to-be Luna of the Blue moon pack, nice to meet you" I smirked. If anything, I was glad with satisfaction when the smile she initially had on her face came off faster than I could say, Jack Robinson. "Ryker, look... I shouldn't have—" Ryker raised his hands halting her from speaking. "Spare me the pity me essay, I should have you thrown into the dungeon but I won't instead, you will walk out of here quietly and peacefully" he warned. The way he spoke quietly and calmly if I didn't know better, then I would have thought he wasn't mad. "Fine. I will, But don't think I've given up" She glared at me and with one final ple
Chapter 9— Blabbermouth.Ryker's POV"You've found your mate" Rowena beamed as she walked towards me and I froze. Goddess! It was like I was seeing her in a different light, the way her eyes twinkled as she smiled, a one sided dimple on her left cheek.I swallowed, quickly averting my eyes away before I let these feelings overcame me."This is good news. Is it someone I know?" She bugged. She asked with genuine curiosity and happiness that for a moment I was almost tempted to tell her that it was her. That the moon goddess had made her my second mate."You must have misheard." I cleared my throat as I answered her with a straight face. Enzo kicked against my answer. After the betrayal from Elly, I wasn't ready to have a mate yet— a real mate."You didn't?" She frowned and I nodded.The smile wipe off from her face and her hold on me instantly slackened before she moved away from me. "But I heard—""—You heard wrong" I cut in."Besides, you shouldn't walk into my office without knockin
Chapter 25– Tell me the truth.Rowena's POVI glanced at my bloodied legs. I could see my bones hanging, some in pieces and the only thing still connecting my knee to my feet was a piece of flesh. I groaned as I tried to adjust and sit in at least a little more comfortable way.My body was on fire. I thought Ryker was bad but Aiden was a full on evil monster. I had lost at least three nails while I was being tortured. I had to come up with a lie, a believable lie before I was left alone well if you considered fainting. I hadn't fainted, I'm pretty sure I would have been worse than this.I could feel my eyes swollen from all the hits I had taken, perhaps from the never ending tears that had run out of my eyes since I have been locked up in this cell. I shut my eyes as I felt a load of tears threatening to fall again.I thought I was strong. I thought I could overcome whatever they threw at me but I was wrong. I didn't even last a day. I sighed as I let the cold floor seep into my skin.
Chapter 24— Once an enemy, always an enemy.Ryker's POVI paused. My claws suspended in the air as his words rang in my ear. Was this some kind of joke?I forced Enzo to the back of my mind despite how hungry he was to harm Aiden, I needed to know if what he was saying was a lie. I shifted back into my human form, with the situation at hand I didn't realize my nakedness nor did I care."If you are joking with me—" I growled, leaving my threat hanging in the air."I swear I'm not" Aiden wheezed as he tried to stand from the floor to his feet."When did you find out about it?" I asked, my gaze unfocused as I thought of what might have happened. The only thing I came up with was that someone had helped Amelia escape, someone who was related to the sleeping potion and I came to one conclusion, the Shadow pack but something wasn't making sense, how had they taken Amelia but yet left Rowena in the cell?"As I was torturing her, I—" my glare shut him off, he didn't complete his statement but
Chapter 23– BrawlRyker's POVI just wish you would snap out of it and act like the Alpha we thought you were. There was that word again. I sighed as I closed my eyes, I have let a lot of people down. I have been letting a lot of people down and now my best friend. Bradford doesn't say anything most times when I fucked up unless he needed to say it and he just did. That means I was spiraling out of control. I needed to fix this, I needed to make things right.I slid out of the bed, my head spinning but I have a place to be. I have to set things right, maybe, just maybe, I will be able to regain the respect that has been lost.I sniff the air trying to find Bradford. My nose caught his familiar smell at the training ground. I headed in the direction to speak with him."Hey," I said softly as I approached him. His fist connected to the punching bag at a faster speed and harder the moment he heard my voice. I knew he was wishing it was my face he was hitting."Bradford," I called as I p
Chapter 22— HOW COULD YOU?Ryker's POV"You've got to be kidding me!" Aiden growled as he stared at me in disbelief.I could feel Enzo slipping away from my grip. "Just stop" I gritted, digging my feet into the ground as I tried to restrain Enzo.Maverick and Bradford came close to me as they tried to hold me, if Enzo should take over, their strength meant nothing as I would tear them down to get to Aiden.Aiden glanced at Rowena who was writhing in pain as she stared at her bloodied legs."Get your hands away from me" I shrugged off Maverick and Bradford and I walked towards Rowena, my nose in the air as the metallic smell clouded my senses.I was tempted to touch her, to soothe her pain and tell her I was here but I refrained myself and stood straight. I mind-linked Bradford and Maverick and told them to take care of her injury."Should I take the collar away from her? She needs to heal without it" Bradford asked and I shook my head."No, let her be like that, until she speaks the t
Chapter 21– Shadow's CrestRyker's POV"I believe you know what this is, Cousin?" Aiden voice was taunting as he kept on shoving the crest in my view. Now I was tongue tied, I have never been this humiliated in my entire years of life. Not even when Father had lashed me in front of the whole pack when I had caught the smallest game at a hunt."Of course, it belongs to the Shadow Pack," I replied. My voice was cold, the once understanding person I had tried to be when I had stepped into this cell was far gone, pushed at the end of the hole as I returned my gaze on Rowena.I watched as her eyes widened. I shook my head, I am so stupid for almost dismissing her as a suspect right now. I had let sentiment in and didn't look beneath the facade. I had been here for minutes questioning her and Aiden hadn't been here for up to five minutes and he had gotten a lead. An answer to our ever burning question.Aiden took some steps towards Rowena, he glanced at me and then back at her."Who is sh
Chapter 20– What's that?Ryker's POVMaverick, Bradford, and I all went to the pack house. I wanted to believe it was a way to get me away from Cami knowing that Bradford wasn't in support of me and Cami but there was this little bug at the back of my mind telling me it was not.I kept my face rigid, my expression stoic as I walked towards the pack house. My heart was literally beating hard in my chest full of worry but I didn't let it show.We got to the quiet pack house and I glanced around watching as my pack members were all in a deep slumber. "What in the name of the moon goddess happened here?" I asked."I don't know, we came back from patrolling duty and found them like this" Bradford answered."This can't just be happening without a reason," I muttered. Whoever did this had a reason."Where is the cook?" I asked. The food must obviously have been lazed with a sleeping potion. There is no way the entire pack was fast asleep right now.Maverick pointed in a direction, I squinted
Chapter 19– Cheating pain.Rowena's POVI groaned as my eyes flickered open. My body was burning, the spot where the hot rod imprinted on my skin burned, and the silver collar on my neck refrained me from shifting, if I had shifted, my skin would have healed properly.I shifted on the floor and scoot backward to let my back rest on the—"Fuck!" I groaned as the pain hit me below my abdomen. What the fuck! I tried to scoot backwards again but I couldn't.It was like someone was ripping my heart, twisting and turning it. I couldn't breathe, my eyes became watered and red as I struggled to breathe. I held my abdomen as tears leaked out from my eyes.What's happening to me?I couldn't communicate with Lupa because of the silver collar in my neck, I couldn't tell what was happening to me. Another wave of pain hit me and I groaned. I lay on the floor as I allowed myself to get cold but the more I tried the more painful it was. The place I was marked on my neck began to heat, what I was feel
Chapter 18– You still owe me.Third person POVElly sat on the cold hard floor. She shivered lightly as the cold penetrated into her skin, as a werewolf, she wasn't supposed to be cold. She was supposed to be resistant to it but the cell she was thrown into was no ordinary cell.She closed her eyes hoping that the woman did as she was told. Soon, William would walk into the pack to save her, that is if Ryker didn't change his mind about her yet.A grin crept up her face, her plans were really working out as she planned. It was a shame that the current Alpha of the Shadow Pack who she had informed about Rowena hadn't taken a step like she had thought he would, but it didn't bother her. She had her plans too and she wasn't going to wait for someone else to do it for her. "Soon, really soon." She kept on mumbling, hoping it would soothe her.The silver cuff on her wrists was really eating deep into her skin, reducing her capability to heal quickly but she didn't mind at all. She was goin
Chapter 17– A sudden intrigue.Ryker's POVI watched as Rowena lay motionless on the floor. If it wasn't because of her steady pulse which of course I had checked, I would have thought she was dead.The spot where I had placed the rod on her thigh had an angry red, the scar looking ugly but I wasn't done with her yet. I have never been this irrational but Rowena had pissed me off. Lying to me was one thing, but teasing me and daring me like she hadn't lied to me, stringed me along. It inflamed the fucking inferno in me."You know you can't continue with the torture when the captive is almost half dead. You need them to be alive to feel it" Aiden's annoying voice met my ears and I groaned inwardly."What are you doing here?" I hissed. A pesky fly isn't one I was looking forward to right now."I heard you had a new prisoner, I wanted to see who it was" he replied as he paused behind my back, his gaze flitted to Rowena who was still lying on the floor passed out. I knew the pain would