Chapter Five: To leave

“Jasmine, tell me. What are we?” I repeated myself and waited for my Wolf to respond.

“Eliza. We are more than this omega rank. We are strong and fierce, and we were born to be something special.”

I pinched myself, but I wasn't dreaming, although it felt as if I was stuck in a crazy dream.

So tonight, I've made my decision. I'm leaving the pack and starting a new life on my own. I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do, but I'm willing to take the risk. Anything is better than staying in this place where I'm constantly belittled and beaten down. I needed to process everything that had happened. From finding my Wolf to knowing today was my birthday. I had no friends or real family, so what was the big deal with birthdays?

Daniella could clean up after her party; it was supposed to be my birthday, too. But I was done being her servant. She would be shocked when she realised I was no longer there at the click of her fingers.

“Jasmine. I'm almost ready.” I whispered, knowing she was as excited as me to leave and experience a life elsewhere.

Gathering up a small bag of essentials, I felt a rush of adrenaline. I'm finally taking control of my destiny, breaking free from the shackles that have bound me for so long. I refuse to let the wolves of the Creek Pack define me any longer. They did not want me here anyway. I was nothing but a burden unless I was doing something for them.

Taking one last look around my bedroom, I lifted my window. I would not miss this place, not one bit.

As I slipped out of my window and ensured nobody was about, I held my breath and prayed I would not get caught.

I jumped onto the grass and waited a few minutes before moving to the next part of my escape.

Relief filled me as I realised I was alone. As I ran through the darkened forest, the moon casting a silvery glow on the path ahead, I felt both fear and excitement coursing through my veins. I was finally doing it. I was leaving behind everything I had ever known, but I knew deep down that this was my right decision.

I had always felt out of place in the Creek Pack like I was never truly accepted or valued. But now, as I ventured into the unknown, I felt a sense of liberation and empowerment that I had never experienced before.

The night air was cool against my skin, and my footsteps crunching on the forest floor was the only sound I could hear. I was alone, but for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel lonely. I could be whoever I wanted without the weight of expectations and judgments holding me back.

As I ventured deeper into the forest, guided by nothing but my instincts and the light of the moon, I thought about how crap my life had been. Somewhere out there was my real family, and I owed it to myself to find out why I had been left in the first place.

Once I was almost near the border, I decided it would be easier to shift and allow Jasmine to take us further out. She would be much quicker, and I was already paranoid that someone would see me and prevent me from leaving. I cringed at the thought of having to face them all again. Alpha Morgan and Luna Lara would be far from impressed. But what choice did I have?

As I made my way behind the shelter of a tall oak tree, I felt a surge of nervous excitement coursing through my veins. The decision to shift into my wolf form, Jasmine, was a risky one, but it felt like the right choice in this moment of liberation.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the shift, the power and strength that lay dormant within me. I could feel the familiar sensation of bones rearranging, muscles shifting, and fur sprouting as my human form gave way to that of a wolf.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the world through the amber-hued eyes of Jasmine. The forest came alive in a way it never had before - every sound every scent was amplified, and the moonlight painted everything in a silvery glow.

Jasmine moved with a grace and power that I had never experienced in my human form. The thrill of the hunt, the wind in my fur, the pulsating rhythm of the night - it all felt so exhilarating and right.

“Help me!” An ear-piercing shriek cut through the air like a jagged blade. Birds squawked and flapped their wings as they flew off in fright.

“That's Daniella.” I gasped as a figure in front of us, just a few feet away, stood cowering from a lone wolf. What was she doing out here when it was supposed to be her birthday party back at the pack? Something was wrong about this. However, I knew I had no time to mull over it.

“Rogues!” Jasmine growled, her fur bristling with aggression as she came to a sudden stop. Instinct took over before I could even process what was happening - she sprang forward, a blur of fur and teeth, and pinned the rogue to the ground with a fierce growl.

The rogue struggled underneath Jasmine's powerful grip, but she held him down with strength until he stopped working, and blood was everywhere. Jasmine had ripped him apart limb by limb.

As we turned towards Daniella, she stared at us in shock and disbelief, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She had witnessed the power of the Wolf unleashed, but she had yet to realise that this fearsome creature was none other than me, the one she had scorned and belittled for so long.

“Thank you, beautiful white wolf. You saved my life, but who are you?” She whispered, staring at me with such admiration. It was something I had never seen her do. Not for anyone but herself.

Before I could even process the situation, a delightful aroma of vanilla and lavender wafted towards me, tempting me to inhale deeply. My curious gaze met the intense eyes of a familiar face.

Time seemed to stand still as recognition dawned upon me, and I felt a jolt of shock reverberate through my body.

“Mate!” The word echoed through the silence, spoken with a sense of urgency and possession that made my heart race.

“Rylan. What are you talking about?” Daniella's voice cut through the tension, her disbelief mirroring my confusion.

Rylan.

But that wasn’t possible. He was the son of Alpha Morgan and one of the quadruplet brothers.

Why was he calling me his mate, and why did my wolf seem to want him? This could not be happening.