Six

“No! Not them!” I screamed with every ounce of strength I had left, my voice cracking under the pressure of my anguish.

“I’ll go. I’ll leave the pack. Just—just leave my parents out of this,” I pleaded, finally giving in to the crushing weight of defeat.

“No, sweetheart,” my mom whispered through sobs, her face already streaked with tears.

I tried to stand, my legs trembling beneath me, and reached out to my father’s arm for support. Disoriented, I clung to him as though he were the only thing tethering me to this world. Nathan’s expression softened, and although he had released Dave, his son stood stiff and silent, watching me with cold detachment. There wasn’t even a flicker of empathy in his eyes.

“I’m going to find a way to come back. I won’t stay away from my family forever,” I sobbed, my voice thick with emotion. “I love you all so much.”

Father looked conflicted, his voice choked with emotion as he said, “I can’t let you go, my dear. If you leave, we all go.” He glanced at my mother, who nodded, clutching my arm with desperation.

I shook my head, fighting back more tears. “No. It’s too dangerous out there. My siblings—they need you here. If I go, it’s to keep them safe.” Father’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for a moment, it looked like he might argue, but the weight of my words sank in. His lips trembled as he finally nodded, defeated.

“I’ll find a way to bring you back,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Be strong, honey.”

Around us, the pack members had gathered silently. There was no cheering, no joy in the crowd. Even Eudora, who I knew had wanted this for so long, merely smirked in the background, her face half-hidden by the shadows. Yet, there was a gleam in her eye—a cruel satisfaction that she didn’t even try to hide.

Dave’s father, Nathan, clenched his jaw as he commanded, “Dave, let her get dressed and pack her things.”

Dave didn’t move, his expression stony. It was clear he wasn’t finished with me yet.

“Be grateful I’m not killing you on the spot,” Dave sneered as he walked toward me, his cold gaze sweeping over me. He grabbed my arm roughly, dragging me toward the door. I stumbled slightly, and behind me, I heard my mother break into hysterical sobs. She reached for me, but my father pulled her back, holding her tightly as if letting her go would mean losing her, too.

As I crossed the threshold of our home, leaving behind the only life I had ever known, I felt my heart break into pieces. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light on the pack houses that stood dimly lit. From the corner of my eye, I could see some of the older pack members turning their heads away from the scene, unable to watch, while others wore expressions of deep pity.

One of the warriors led my younger brothers away, shielding them from the painful scene, though I could still hear their confused cries echoing in the night.**

The weight of judgment from the rest of the pack pressed heavily on my shoulders as I followed Dave into the dark woods. We walked in silence, the tension between us palpable. After what felt like an eternity, we reached the boundary between the Wheatstone pack and the rogue territory.

At a point, I felt like pleading with him to let me go back to my home. But I just knew it was worthless. Dave couldn’t care less about me.

I took a deep breath, fear gripping my heart. I was a warrior, but without my wolf, I felt powerless. How was I supposed to survive in a world where strength was everything, and I couldn’t even shift?

“This is the boundary between the Wheatstone’s pack and the rogues world. Leave and never return to my land, Esmeralda West”, Dave commanded.

Taking a lump, as tears ran down my cheeks, I began to turn away. But then, Dave grabbed my arm, yanking me back. 

“You know, Esme, I’m sorry,” he said, his tone hollow.

I was really confused as to what Dave was up to. Has he suddenly forgiven me? But what was the sudden change all about?.

I was still, lost in my thoughts, when I noticed the lust that filled Dave’s eyes. He really was a disgusting fellow.

I scoffed bitterly, not believing a word he had said.

“Fuck you.”

“I really am,” he said, his voice softening for just a moment. Then his face twisted into something dark. 

“Sorry I won’t get to see just how good you are in bed.”

Before I could react, he pressed his lips to mine, his kiss rough and unwanted. Rage boiled in my veins, and without thinking, I grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling his top lip between my teeth. I bit down hard until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, my teeth, now stained with his disgusting blood. Dave jerked back, using his palm to cover his lips and cursing as blood dripped down his chin. He was really in severe pain, but I couldn’t care less 

“I, Esmeralda West, accept your rejection and today reject you, Dave Wheatstone, as my mate and alpha,” I spat. “I break my bond with the Wheatstone pack.” I wiped my mouth and spat his blood onto the ground in disgust, stepping away from him.

Without another word, I crossed the border, never breaking eye contact as I left the useless excuse of a mate, now writhing in pain on the ground. I had crossed the boundary with so much courage and less fear, perhaps because of the rage that was currently boiling within me. Just hope I would be safe in the outside world.

The forest was cold, darker than I had ever imagined. The towering trees blocked out the moon’s light, casting the forest floor into an eerie darkness. My body throbbed in pain, and my wrist ached worse with each passing minute. I stumbled over roots and stones, barely able to stay upright.

 Usually a rapid metabolic healing process would have kicked in, but for no reason it wasn’t. I couldn’t even feel the connection between my wolf and me. I figured out that it has to be the reason my hand wasn’t healing. I knew there was no way I would be able to shift with no connection to my wolf. I was trapped in human form.

“Alaric?” I called to my wolf, my voice trembling. But there was no answer. “Please, Alaric. Say something.”

Nothing. The bond between us was silent, and the fear of being truly alone settled deep in my chest.

Since birth, I had never been this far away from my territory the Wheatstone park. Not only was I being unable to shift, my wrist left me on the disadvantage of protecting myself. I could hear the forest life moving around me. 

I wandered in circles, unsure of where I was going. My legs trembled, but I kept moving forward, driven by sheer will. Birds flitted overhead, their wings a haunting whisper in the night. Small animals scurried in the underbrush, their eyes glowing like tiny orbs in the darkness, running around in search of food

Hunger gnawed at my insides, but I had nothing. Nothing but the cold mud that now clung to my clothes as I trudged onward, aimlessly.

I dragged my body through dirt’s and muds for miles. Peaks of light began to breakthrough the coverage and hit my skin. I followed the dim light of the moon, and trailed on for hours, until I couldn’t take another step. 

Finally giving into exhaustion, my legs gave out. I collapsed against a tree, sliding down its rough bark until I hit the ground. Exhaustion weighed heavy on my eyelids, and I let them close. I pulled my knees under my chest, and was a victim of the violent blowing winds. My eyes became heavy as I didn’t have the strength anymore to keep them open, so I let sleep take me.

 As I was about sleeping, a deep bellow filled the night air surrounding me, startling me to the bone. A deep, guttural howl echoed through the forest, snapping me back to consciousness. The ground trembled under the pounding of hooves. I scrambled to my feet, fear coursing through my veins.

I decided to get up, out of its path, so I stood on my weak legs. An antelope crashed to the ground before me, a massive wolf latched onto its neck, blood spilling across the forest floor. The wolf’s pack emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming as they tore into the kill. They were trying to devour the innocent antelope. Which was been thrown upside down on the ground, as it was struggling to escape the wolf. 

I stood face to face with small pack of wild wolves, a total of five wolves. Their heads buried inside a male antelope. Their pelts stained red from the antelope’s carcass as they devoured it.

My stomach growled audibly, and the wolves turned their gaze toward me. My eyes locked to who I assumed the alpha as he growled a low warning, daring me to move closer.

But I didn’t care. I was starving, so I took another step towards it. And then the alpha growled again.