CHAPTER 3: IN THE HANDS OF THE RIVAL PACK.

one foot in front of the other as fear ripped through her. The Pure Crescent pack kept to themselves mostly. Only the Alpha and the Delta's stepped outside. Lana only went out once or twice when the position of the future fell on her. But, never alone. She always went with Deltas and Scott by her side, it felt safe.

Being out alone in the pitch-dark environment frightened her. She was from the low class, and people like her weren't allowed to train even if they qualified to. Alone, scared, weak, betrayed, and in pain were so many emotions to deal with.

Her thinking was numb, what had happened was difficult to comprehend for her. Witnessing the backstabbing and coronation of another in place? She couldn't process all that. Before her body failed her, it was best to find some kind of refuge. Out here, stories about thieves and rogues who attacked and maimed other wolves, especially one from prestigious packs like Pure Crescent pack among others had been told before.

As she kept staggering, running out of breath, she saw a bright side just a bit further from the harsh field she stood. It was freezing cold and getting to that warmth meant everything to her. As she drew near to where the source of the light had come from, she noticed fast shadows around her.

Lana went cold from fear and worry. What would she do if she was attacked? How would she save herself? Unintentionally, she began to cry. Cries that she silenced so that if something was really liking around, she wouldn't be heard.

She wasn't supposed to be here. Not at all. Alone, in the cold. Her place was next to Alpha Annik. Or, at least home with the people she loved. Why did Scott do this to her? Why did Marina lie against her? For Alpha Annik, she couldn't even begin to deal with his reasons. Thoughts crossed her mind. So many that her head became heavy.

Quietly, she continued to walk, turning around frantically here and there, trying not to be caught by surprise. She was close enough to her refuge. At last, she breathed a sigh of relief. If she kept her identity hidden, she should be safe. But, her dressing would give her away. That was another thing to worry about.

Lana, deciding to deal with one thought at a time, reached to separate the little bush that stood as a barrier between her and her refuge when a pair of strong arms grabbed her from the back.

“Who are you?” a male voice questioned her.

She hadn't heard them sneaking up on her. Neither did she notice when they got close. Lana's wolf was still not strong. That was one of the reasons she fell among the commoners. Werewolves who weren't fully transformed and those from poor backgrounds.

“I'm a traveler!” she answered, careful to not show off her fright.

“Lair!” the male voice let out. “No traveler, especially a werewolf, can afford the apparel and jewelries that adorn your body.” Her fear had come to play.

Her clothing had given her away. But, she didn't have much of a choice. Undress and walk naked? Or, continue in clothing that might expose her? It was a tough choice to make.

The man didn't wait for Lana to respond when he signaled the wolves to trap Lana and take her to their Alpha.

Roughly, they dragged her through the bushes and tossed her on the floor. “We found her prowling around, hiding behind the bushes. She might be a spy or worse. . .”

“Or worse, from the Pure Crescent pack,” the Alpha finished for his enforcer. He rose to his full form and Lana trembled at the sight of the shabby-looking man. “See the ring on her finger, it belongs to the Pure Crescent pack. A Luna at that. My. My. What a lucky day for us,” the Alpha announced. “Allow me, I'm Alpha Herrick of the Bloodmoon pack.”

At his introduction, Lana felt her stomach churn. She had heard of them. They were the worst enemy of her pack. Studying the man's face, a face she doesn't know would forever be imprinted in her memory. A face that would disgust her to remember, yet, she would be unable to forget.

Alpha Herrick had a rough appearance; his jaw held a stubble and a shadow was visible underneath his eyes. His eyes gleamed at the reflection of the lamps. They were darker than darkness and filed with mischief. He looked as if he had aged a thousand years because of how crooked his teeth were. The man smelled of sweat and alcohol. He was the few irresponsible Alphas that drowned themselves with wine and women while his pack swallowed with poverty, hunger, and sickness.

“Strip her of all the jewelries the Alpha ordered.” His men got to work. When they were done, he ordered everyone out of the tent. They came to do business, thereby building tents to shelter them until their business was over.

With a smirk, he advanced toward Lana who began to cry again. “Please, let me go. I'm. . .”

Chuckling, “I haven't even done anything to you. You know that I have to hurt you to hurt Alpha Annik's ego,” he said. “You're so beautiful. No wonder that greedy Alpha made you his Luna. I wonder why he will let you out in the open without protection. It's none of my business anyway.”

Lana felt like dying. Only she knew that Alpha Annik couldn't care less what happened to her. She was a lone wolf now. Anything done to her was to her. Nobody would be affected. But, she didn't confess that to the enemy. It will only anger him and speed up her death. At least, buy time and see if there was room for an escape.

As Lana continued to ask for mercy, help, and redemption from the hands of the Alpha, he didn't care. Next, what followed was Lana's screams and wails. It continued until she went faint and was barely breathing.

“Come take her carcass to the field. What you recovered from her, we will take back to the pack. As for her ring, wrap it and send it to Alpha Annik. That should bruise his ego,” Alpha Herrick ordered, laughing as he wore his trousers before picking his shirt.

The guards who had entered saw the used Lana, naked, tossed to the corner of the tent. They thought she was dead. She was close to death, though. One of the guards reached for a sheet to cover her nakedness, but Alpha Herrick stopped him.

“Take her naked and exposed and dump her on the far end of the field. The bother between the Rogue pack and the Pure Crescent pack would be better. Let all witness the nakedness of the Luna of the Pure Crescent pack. That's if the birds of the air haven't finished her carcass. She won't last the night.”

One of the men carried Lana's body over his soldiers. As their Alpha had ordered, they dumped her in the field.

Lana was at a crossroads between the living and the dead. The weather was harsher, her body was in excruciating pain and her strength had failed her.

Lana felt darkness slowly consuming her and managed to say a prayer. “If I have ever done anything right, give me a second chance,” she said in her mind, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto the harsh field that pricked her bare skin. “Give me a second chance, Moon Goddess. Please. Anyone, help me,” she mumbled in a weak, shaky voice before giving into the darkness.

Before she completely lost consciousness and gave way to death, she saw a face. Someone who looked exactly like Alpha Annik. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her, laughing at her predicament. Or, it wasn't?