CHAPTER 2

The dark sky becomes the full moon’s stage to ramp its beauty as it shines down everything beneath it. There is this old story about the full moon that always fascinates me. It is about the Moon Goddess who often comes down to earth during the full moon to take a bath. 

It is said that there came a time when the lone wolf patiently waited for the Moon Goddess to descend to earth. The lone wolf instantly got fascinated by the Goddess’s beauty that he prefers to distance himself from her out of shame.

Until one full moon when the lone wolf finds out that humans are sneaking nearby to peek at the Goddess’s body. The lone wolf defends the Goddess' purity by killing those humans who made an attempt to defile the Goddess’ purity.

The Moon Goddess is moved by the courageous did of the lone wolf. And the lone wolf took the opportunity to confess his admiration towards the Goddess, however, the Goddess can not reciprocate the lone wolf’s affection for it is forbidden. 

What the Goddess did, however, is that she made a promise with the lone wolf that she would find him the Luna Bride on the first full moon of the following year, and she really did.

After that, it became a tradition across the packs that lived in Anacortes to believe that finding a mate on the first full moon of the year will be blessed by the Moon Goddess. 

But that is quite the opposite in my case. It makes me feel like instead of being blessed, I am actually cursed to be humiliated and rejected by my own mate.

Now, I am here together with Senry, as we immediately walked out of the party and ran immediately into the nearby forest. 

I actually don’t have enough time to think whether I should go with him or not, my mind is still completely blown away by what has just happened at the party.

Even though I have been anticipating that party for months, I actually have no idea that it will turn out like this. It is all ruined now, thanks to Chelsie’s treacherous plan to frame me up.

I just can’t believe that Matteo fell for it quickly without even taking into consideration that I am just framed by Chelsie. Suddenly, I can’t help but have a nagging feeling that Matteo didn’t care for me. 

It must be too taxing for him to be the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack that what seems to be the only thing that matters is the company affairs. He isn’t less bothered that his mate just had been interrogated by low-rank wolves. 

I have always believed that an Alpha will always stand by his mate’s side, I am such a fool to forget that even an Alpha is capable of rejecting their mates. And that is how Matteo ends things with me, to be humiliated and rejected.

The venue of the party, which is at the backyard garden of Alforque manor, is connected with Anacortes’ forest. And across the forest lies a cliff. 

As we are about to head our way there, Senry suddenly stops as we both sense an unfamiliar scent chasing from a little mile behind us. I have a strong feeling that this is all part of Matteo’s orders.

I can’t help but suddenly feel that there is an underlying hunch in me that says this is exactly what Matteo wants, to frame me up and once he rejects me, he can finally do whatever evil plan he has for me.

What I just don’t understand is why Matteo must do that to me? Didn’t he really love me? That's why it is so easy for him to discard me from his life?

All of a sudden, Senry then pushes me forward as he said, “My car is just on the other side of those trees. Go ahead and wait for me there, I’ll distract your usurpers for a while.” 

“It’s dangerous to stay behind, Senry.” I immediately made a sly protest to hold him off from his plan. It will be dangerous for him to face these usurpers alone.

From the scent the two of us are catching, I can very well tell that these are not just a few wolves that are after us. I am catching about five different scents, and even with that, there is no guarantee that Senry and I can stand up against them. 

We will, for certain, be outnumbered by them.

Suddenly, Senry looks at me, “Odessa, look. If we stay together, they’ll certainly catch us both. And I can’t afford to have you harmed by them.”

“Why are you doing this, Senry? Shouldn’t you be mad at me as well because I stole money from your company and I cheated on Matteo?”

However, Senry playfully knocks on my temple and answers my query, “I don’t believe any of those, of course. I know you are not the kind that would do such things. Besides, I know those pictures too. I am the other guy they believe you’re cheating on, right? So I feel partly to blame for why you are in that position now.”

“Senry…”

“That’s why I can’t afford letting them catch you. After we escape here, I will make an arrangement with Matteo so that the two of you can settle this with just the two of you alone.”

I appreciate that Senry is doing all of these for the sake of me and Matteo. He is such a caring and compassionate brother to me and Matteo. How I wish that Matteo can show me this kind of treatment too, especially now that I need it the most. 

“But how are you planning to distract them?”

Senry then pause for a moment to think. The next thing I knew, he took out a butterfly knife from his inner coat and asked me, “Could you please let down your hair for a moment?”

“Why?” I ask, curious as to why he wants my hair to go down from the bun so suddenly. In the end, I still obey his instructions anyway.

“I’m sorry that I’ll have to cut a portion of your hair. I need this so that they’ll believe you’re still with me.”

I trust Senry’s suggestion, and so, I allow him to cut some portions of my hair with the knife. 

In the end, Senry cuts almost half of my hair, leaving the length above my shoulders. This isn’t even the time to worry about that, so I just let it be.

After Senry cuts my hair, he then swiftly shifts into his wolf form and makes a quick sniff into my hair. It is possibly his signal that I should head on first. And so, Senry and I immediately took our separate ways.

I also made a shift into my wolf form. I don’t shift too often since doing it is very painful. I find it remarkable that other wolves find shifting seem too easy to do, just like Senry and even Matteo.

Of course, Matteo is the Alpha after all. He is very used to that.

As I am taking on for a quick sprint towards the location of Senry’s car, I am suddenly caught by surprise after hearing a low rumbling from a distance.

‘But how?’ I ask myself. I can’t believe they easily find out that I am not with Senry.

I have been thinking that this plan will eventually be successful. I should have guessed that whoever is behind this must have thought about hiring more assassins than just those who are after Senry now.

Afraid that I might get caught, I am now compelled to make a complete halt from pursuing to get to where Senry’s car is. And before I can even know it, the usurper's scents are already surrounding me.

All of them hiding behind the large trunk of trees bear different scents from those who were chasing us earlier. Now I realize that my earlier hunch is right. 

And I will only guess that the only one who can pull this thing off is no other than Chelsie. My current hunch is proven correct once more upon the sudden appearance of Chelsie out from one of those trees.

“And where do you think you’re going, Odessa? Trying to escape?” she immediately said. There is a treacherous grin painted on her face. 

I know she is behind all of this. She is a cunning wench that is always after everything that I own. I have no doubt that she is only doing this so that she can take Matteo away from me.

“I knew it was you.” I have to communicate through my mind since I can’t just shift back into my human form. It will be to my disadvantage if I do that now and they instantly attack me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she denies it quickly.

“I knew you were behind all of this just to frame me.”

“Now you’re putting the blame on me. After all the evidence that proves your sins, here you are still trying to make excuses.”

“I am not making any excuses. I didn’t do any of those false accusations you’re claiming.”

“Then how will you answer the financial records that speak of how you stole the missing funds from the Alforque company? And most of all, how will you explain how you have been caught cheating on Matteo. Much worst, it was Senry whom you are having an affair with.”

“You’re telling complete lies. I could never steal nor cheat on Matteo! You’re only doing this because you are jealous of me and that you wanted everything that’s mine!”

“I had enough hearing all your rants, Odessa. It’s time to pay the price for the sins you committed to this pack. Get her.”

With her quick order, the pack of wolves assigned to capture me begins to charge forward. I immediately sprint fast enough to outrun them, but since they appear to be some kind of elite hunters, it isn’t too long for them to catch on to me quickly.

I instantly tried to track Senry’s scent quickly. Out of my impulses, he is the first one who came to my mind to ask for help. However, I soon realize that he may still be running away from his own usurpers too.

And so, this situation left me no other choice but to make another quick run from them. The forest near the Alforque manor isn’t that big enough to be the perfect place for hide and seek. 

If these wolves are truly among the elite hunters of the pack, it will certainly  be easier for them to find me too quickly. And just as I fear, one of them quickly jumps on top of me.  The wolf pins me on the ground with his robust paws that I can’t even move any of my limbs. 

I howl for help while also growling on the wolf. Yet, it never fears my presence. Of course, they won’t. I am now a rejected luna bride after all. What gains do they get for following me when their alpha has already abandoned me in the first place?

The wolf shut me off when it gave a strong and fearsome growl in my face. His teeth are tainted with a shady concept of killing. 

And before I knew it, all of them began to attack me one by one. I can feel bites from my legs and my ears. Blood spews from my mouth as I try to fight them back, they were all too stronger than me to defeat.

If Senry is only here, at least, I know someone will defend me. 

Another bite from my tail caused me to growl in pain. Even though I try to fight them back, it is futile. They outnumber me. And at this point, I can tell that they are serious about killing me without hesitation.

I end up getting heavily wounded by their attacks. And just when I am about to be clawed by the strongest among them, Senry immediately came out from the bushes to push that wolf away from me.

“Senry…” 

I can’t even bring my mind to think of what to say. I feel very weak and sore from all the wounds I got from their continuous attack. 

Senry seem to feel apologetic from the way I see through his eyes. He doesn’t need to feel sorry. It isn’t his fault. Senry immediately licks my forehead. 

“Go now, Odessa. I’ll follow behind you.” Senry communicates with me through our minds.

“I can’t, Senry. I’m too weak.”

Since I really can’t manage to stand up again, Senry immediately attacks the five wolves in an instant. Because of how strong Senry is, he is able to take down two of them in an instant. 

The three of the wolves turn out to be so cowardly that they flee the area to regroup with the other wolves. After the coast become already clear, Senry take me in his back and ran towards the woods. 

We were almost close to his car when we instantly fell into an ambush. Senry is pushed down towards the hard rock that knocks him unconscious. It made me worry that Senry almost fell off the nearby cliff.

Suddenly, a new pack of low-rank hunting wolves sorrounds me. At this rate, I will certainly die since I am too weak to even move a muscle. 

“You poor pathetic wolf.” 

Suddenly, I hear a voice. Perhaps it is because of the wounds that I have that my consciousness is slowly dwindling. I can’t even recall whether the voice was from a female or male because of the vibratos and echoes plus the deep tones blending in with the voice.

“You are so naive that you lost everything, and now you are going to die because of that stupidity. If you are looking for the person who draws out all of this plot, open your eyes and look at the mastermind.”

I tried to open my eyes and saw who it was. For the last time, rage triggered my wolf seeing the person behind this treacherous act, and the remaining energy that is left with me forces my other arm to drag that person with my sharp claws into the cliff.

However, it is already too late before I am even able to do it. Since before I can even do it, I have already been pushed by that person and is now already falling off the nearby cliff. 

I hated them all, I loathe every single one of them who have done me wrong and betrayed me. I can never forgive all of them for this, and I knew my death will haunt them for eternity.

After that, I immediately shut my eyes, as I was about to kiss hello to my unfortunate death.