CHAPTER 4

...

Despite Paula's fury, I strained my ears to listen to Natalie's voice again but I could no longer hear it. Her smell was gone too. 

"Get back to work, there's so much preparation to make for the Alpha's ceremony--

Disinterested, I brushed past her and bolted to the exit again but her warnings brought my steps to a halt. 

"If you step out of here, I will report you to your father and make sure you're severely punished." 

I froze, turning to her.

I rushed back to her and fell on my knees, 

"I just want to save my friend, why won't you just let me go? They're going to kill her, Natalie is going to die if I don't save her right now." 

Paula heaved a sigh, stepping away from me. Her fury stare dissolved into one that depicted boredom, "you can't save who is already dead, Omega." 

"W-what?" My gaze snapped at her, "what are you--

"Natalie is dead, I saw the guards execute her just now. Now, they're setting her body on fire. Get over it and return to your duties, you don't want to annoy Derek again." She revealed heartlessly and walked away. 

My body grew weak and the next minute, I fell to the ground. I listened for Natalie again but there was nothing. No smell. No words. No connection.

My jaw dropped but no words came out of my mouth. My heart wrenched tightly and I desperately clung to my chest, gasping for air. Tears trickled down my face.

"No, no please no."

I cried helplessly until my head started to ache. The one person that cared about me in the world was dead. Gone for life. I couldn't imagine life from here without her. 

The whole twenty years of my life had been spent serving the pack but none of my efforts were appreciated. 

What was so bad about being an Omega? Why was my life so different and unfortunate? I concluded that my curse was the reason no one wanted to associate with me but Natalie proved me wrong. 

We had just one day! One day left before we get out of this hellhole!

Now she was gone, just a day to our freedom. 

What did I ever do to deserve such a disaster? Why did the moon goddess create me to solely experience bad luck? 

Why did she have to allow Natalie's death and keep me alive? Am I just meant to suffer for life? 

As I pulled myself up from the floor, my head banged heavily with an ache. Miserably, I returned to my duties, forcing the last of my strength to work. My hands trembled as I scrubbed the floor with a brush, recalling all the happiness I had with Natalie for the entire five years of our friendship. 

Natalie was more than just a friend to me. She was like my mate, my father, mother, and sibling put together. She was every positive thing that I never had for the past fifteen years of my life. She was the only one that sincerely looked out for me and showed concern when I was being mistreated. 

She was the one always ready to go all fight mode for my cause. She would never stand me being bullied. Because of her, I saw a cause to live. The suggestion to leave the pack actually came from her. Her step-family weren't exactly nice to her too but her life was way better than mine, also she was a very strong wolf so no one could bully her. I had thought she was my savior, my chance to a better life. 

But she was gone. 

They were right. My father, Derek, Brittany, and every other member of the Crimson Pack, they were all right. Hanging out with me is bad luck, I was a cursed wolf and anyone who hung around me would partake in my curse. I used to doubt it until now. Natalie would still be alive if she hadn't gotten involved with a misfortune like myself. 

  

I wondered how I was going to survive without her. I had gotten so used to her company and protection, I never imagined life without her. I stared at the unfinished work in front of me, my soapy hand moving to my face to wipe the tears off my cheek. 

I was going to leave the pack tomorrow. It would be a little difficult without Natalie but I was willing to take the risk. I was positive Natalie wouldn't want me to remain here too. I wouldn't spend another night in a pack that took everything away from me and derived joy from my pain. 

I would start life anew somewhere far away, I would be happy not just for myself but for Natalie too. All our efforts and struggle cannot be wasted. 

Fully determined, I continued my work, leaving the tears to continuously stroll down my face. 

It was exactly ten in the night when I was relieved from work so I grabbed my bag, stuffed my daily pay into it, and head out of the hotel. 

I was glad knowing it was the last time I would be working here and my last night in the Crimson Pack. 

Tiredly, I dragged my weak body home. I tried not to let the thought of Natalie's death weigh my mind too much, I try to let my thoughts be positive and dwell on the fact that in a couple of days, I would be free. 

"Thank you for making my dream a reality, Nat," I mumbled into the night, a slightly bitter smile finding its way to my lips. 

Soon, my eyes were filled with tears again, and my vision blurred. 

I paused when I sighted a daffodil, Natalie's favorite flower. I plucked one and sniffed it, my bitter smile growing. 

Slowly, I kissed the petals. It was the time of the full moon so my strength gathered quickly. Wiping my tears off, I sniffed. 

I held the flower to my chest, stood up, and continued my journey home. Somehow, I felt a sense of my best friend beside me, I felt a sense of her subtle encouragement. 

My grief was relieved a little before I got home. I went behind the building and arrived at the basement that contained my small crowded room, dimly lit only by the moon. 

Flipping the switch to activate the light, I started to take my bag off and get myself ready to wet my pillow, when I perceived a presence. It was strong, evil and familiar. At this point, I looked around my room, scanning the small, suffocating perimeter with my eyes and realising I skipped that routine before turning the lights on.

 My gaze landed on my bed and my body went limp with shock when I found Derek on it. His cold gaze was on my packed luggage and a stoic expression rested on his face.