STORMY WEATHER

RIONA’S POV 

The tree branches slapped, and scratched me, searing my skin, as I ran through the thick woods. Heavy stomps of feet raced closer to me, covering the distance between me and my predators, reached my ears. 

My vision became blurry, and it took every bit of willpower in me to keep my heavy legs running through the woods filled with thorns. My lips fell slightly apart, as I struggled to drag in oxygen into my lungs. 

“Riona, you can't run away from us…” one man growled behind me before he let out a sinister laugh.

My wolf Elara twirled inside of me, fighting and scratching to come to the surface. Unlike me, she was raw, and brutal and wouldn't hesitate before her claws sliced out, and dug out their eyes.

Elara was nothing like me. She was always ready for a faceoff with anyone she perceived as an enemy. But letting her have her way, would mean shoving her as a bait to her enemies. They would easily outnumber her, and the last thing I wanted was a weak wolf.

With each step I took, my legs felt like lead was shoved into them, I could barely move them as fast. The oxygen supply to my lungs was cut off, and I was barely holding up.

“Argh!” I stumbled against a rock, and collapsed to the floor, hitting my arm hard against the rock. A loud groan of pain erupted from the corner of my lips and pierced through the thick air.

I clutched the side of the hand that had the most impact on the rock, writhing in pain. Tears leaked from the corner of my lips. I bit hard on my lower lips to suppress the sob that threatened to break from every part of my body.

Blood roared behind my ears. I shot my hands out, and pulled a tree branch for support, when someone kicked me forcefully. I collapsed back to the floor.

“Save yourself now huh! You filthy thing, save yourself,” he spat. His voice dripped with spite. He pulled me by my torn clothes, exposing half of my cleavage. I mustered the last strength and slapped his hands.

Elara whined in distaste. “Why won't you give me the express permission to show them a bit of…” I quickly shot her off, when I sensed the scary looking man was a werewolf. His face was crumpled in a frown, with a deep scar that ran the length of his face from his eyebrows made the scowl resting on his face creepy.

He pulled me closer with a firm grip around my waist, and I hit my forehead hard against the heavy metallic chain on his neck. He cackled, baring his fangs in a semblance of a smile. “Riona Lukas, you're at our mercy now…”

Suddenly, the rustling of leaves filled my ears. My gaze brushed past his shoulders, and a gasp escaped my lips at the sight in front of me.

Five other men with similar features filed into the clearing circling around us. They stared at me with lust and anger, clasping their hands. I felt like a prey waiting to be pounced on by my predators.

“Let. Me. Go!” I struggled to wriggle out from my captor's firm grip, it earned me a smack across my face.

His eyes shone red with wolf. “How dare you!” He gritted through clenched teeth. “You freak! You can't decide your fate with us now,” he pressed his grip hard against my broken arm, and I whined in pain.

The muscles in my body were cramped with pain. My head splintered with a terrible headache. My blood roared with a streak of energy, and I could tell Elara was on the brink of losing it.

He reached for the hem of my dress and tore it off, exposing an unhealthy amount of my thighs. “Gosh! Look at that skin!” One of the men standing by my right ogled.

I succumbed to the wimps of my wolf. I let out a loud howl. Suddenly, my eyes turned bright red, my claws sliced out ready to stab and tear out the flesh of these bastards.

“Leave her alone!” A familiar feminine voice pierced into my ears, snapping me off from the realms of shifting.

My pupils dilated, and turned back to normal. “Stepmother!” I managed, in a shaky voice.

She sized me from head to toe, her lips straightened in a straight line. “Don’t ever call me that…” the corner of her eyes, crinkled in a deep frown. Luna Stacy turned to stare at the man, “I bet you wouldn't want me to repeat myself again.”

Hesitatingly, he let go of my arms, a string of curse words flitting through his lips. “Thank your stars, we got to you before these men overpowered you. Not like they'd have broken a single sweat subduing a wolf-less curse like you.”

Elara growled. I curled my hands into a fist, holding her back. She's been a secret for five years and would remain so. Luna Stacy inched closer to me, and poked my arms.

“Ugh! Goodness! Not only are you a curse to the pack, you're equally a curse to yourself. Just take a look at your body, you are a mess,” Her eyes were drawn in disgust.

A curse. Doom. Misfortune.

Those were the words used to describe me by my own pack— Shadowmoon pack. I should be used to the torture by now, but Luna Stacy my stepmother always made sure she made my existence a living hell.

She blamed me for the unfortunate incident that led to the death of her pups. And the pack, my father and only family believed her.

“I wonder why the Alpha still gave you a space in this pack, you should be thrown out of this pack. After all, an Alpha blood without a wolf is useless.” She grimaced. “Anyways, the Alpha wants to see you in his office, you better clean up,” Luna Stacy stared me down, “We don't want the whole place drenched in your unfortunate stench.”