CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3

Autumn’s pov

My face burned in embarrassment as I hurriedly tiptoed out of Kavan’s tent back to mine. But before then I made sure the coast was clear before stepping a foot outside.

The thought of bumping into Kavan or the lieutenant at such an early hour was dreadful! How was I supposed to explain how I found myself in his tent?!

As I got to my tent, I noticed there were only a few wolves remaining, and to my dismay they were discussing how Kavan had left with the lieutenant and the captives that decided to travel back to his pack with him.

A feeling of sadness washed over me immediately. To think I couldn't even get a chance to see him before he left, not even an explanation for what happened between us last night.

Sighing deeply, I touched my wounded arm only to feel a rough patch on it. My brows furrowed as I looked more closely at my arm to see it all cleaned up, there were no blood stains, no pain, just a little bandage wrapped around the sore area.

I could tell it was Kavan’s doing, he was the only one I was with all through the night and even late into the night.

A smile tinted my lips as I stared at the bandage arm. It was the most care someone else other than Lyka had shown me since I took my first step. It was a pity that I would never see the Lycan King again.

Soon, the rest of the wolves started leaving one after the other and I knew I had to leave too.

The Crescent Night pack was less than a day from here. By car, it was about two hours, but on foot, I knew I would arrive home just before dark.

Just as I began walking alongside the rest of the wolves out of the thick bushes, one of the she-wolves who was in front of me stopped and asked.

“Do you know how long Crescent pack is from here?”

I tried to respond, but all that came out was a croaky whisper. "I...th-think...it's...close." My voice was barely audible, and I cleared my throat, trying again. "I mean...a few...hours...walk."

Because I was certain she wasn't going to make any sense out of what I had just uttered, I slowly began demonstrating with my fingers.

But her next words stunned the wits out of me.

"Oh great! I didn't know that until now.” she murmured, looking at me with kind eyes.

I touched my lips, widening my mouth countless times to be sure I wasn't dreaming. Did I really just speak?!

I cleared my throat and tried again, “It’s…nothing…really.”

The words were still rough but my voice was much stronger. I could feel it in my veins!

And by the lights the lady smiled at me again! She muttered out a thank you before continuing to walk ahead.

I set out on my journey, screaming at the top of my lungs whenever I felt like it because a miracle had happened last night. I was no longer mute! My voice had returned to me after my one night stand, it was still so hard to believe!

It made me wonder if it had something to do with Kavan. Maybe the Lycan King had special powers. He wouldn’t be the first one to have such.

With excitement coursing through my veins, I called out Lyka, “Lyka, did you see what happened? I can speak and scream as much as I want to!”

“I’m sorry for my mistake last night. I had just felt that the matebond was near and I didn’t know it would be a cruel man,” she changed the subject which was weird, but I wasn't about to let it get to me.

“Well, if Alpha Rafe hadn’t rejected me, I would have never come to this camp and gotten my voice back.”

She went silent before I heard her say, “I’m happy for you, Autumn.”

The rest of our conversations were just casual until I arrived at the pack house just before dark as I had expected. Everyone’s eyes latched onto me when I passed. They wanted to know where I had been throughout the day after being rejected by their Alpha.

I ignored them and walked towards my foster family’s quarters in the pack house. If Bessie and Catalina or anyone else knew about my voice returning, they’d conjure up things about me and harm me worse than before. I knew they would.

“Nnn!” I gasped when a car ran right into me from behind and I was raised in the air and flung across the driveway of my home.

I couldn’t move while I laid on the ground, tears falling down my eyes to the sand underneath it. My vision blurred, but I watched Catalina come down from the car her father got for her eighteenth birthday last week.

“Oh, my Goddess! Autumn! I didn’t realize you were standing right there,” she shrieked and Bessie and Zane immediately rushed out through the door.

Zane’s eyes filled with fear when he saw me lying right there, body twitching and unmoving. He dashed to summon the pack doctor while Bessie approached.

The smile on her face was no mistake. I bet she wanted me to die right now and get the hell out of her life for good. I moaned in pain on the floor and she covered her mouth, laughing.

“Why didn’t you come home last night, you stupid fool?!” She sneered at me and her daughter mimicked the look on her face.

“Did you run off into another man’s arms just because the Alpha had rejected you?” Catalina mocked me.

Instantly, I remembered Kavan and the night we had spent together. He told me a lot about himself while we soaked in his bathtub. He never once complained or insulted me because I couldn’t speak. His eyes shined with an emotion I couldn’t decipher whenever he smiled at me.

I paid no heed to Catalina and cried until my eyes got swollen. My mind kept wandering back to last night when I was with Kavan in his tent until I eventually drifted off to sleep.

Three days later, Catalina barged into my bedroom, hands on her hip. “Get up, Autumn. You’re coming with me to the Crescent Fest that the Alpha is hosting at his quarters.”

I shook my head, begging her silently that I didn’t wish to go anywhere or see Rafe again, but Catalina just snarled at me. She grabbed me by the scruff of my nightshirt and plucked me out of my bed using her wolf’s strength.

It was either I agreed or let her drag me all the way there in my nightwear. I moaned louder to call her attention, nodding my head like a lizard.

“Good girl.” She smiled like a snake.

I was ready a few minutes later, limping down the stairs to join Catalina. There were about three heavy bags on the floor at her side. As I glanced at the bags, I noticed a small tearing on the bag’s leather only to peep through and see stones filled to the brim inside the bag.

“Carry them all. The Alpha wants to see them tonight.” she commanded, snapping my eyes away from the bag.

As she started moving, not even waiting for me to react. I picked the first bag, slinking the arm over my shoulder and doing the same for the second while holding the third.

Sweat poured down my face. My bones shook as I limped behind Catalina, walking pathetically to the Alpha’s grand quarters. People laughed and mocked me as I passed them on the way but I didn't budge. As far as I was concerned, I was no longer the mute omega they all thought I was.

When we arrived, Catalina turned to me and said, “And what's those things you're carrying Autumn?! You had better throw them away right now!”

I hissed at her and paused for a moment before tossing the bag of stones away, thankful for the relief on my bad leg.

She disappeared the second we walked in while the crowd parted for me like they had been waiting. I stood at the center of the room now, right in Rafe’s line of sight much to my dismay.

“And what is that thing doing here?!” Alpha Rafe growled and I stepped back in fear, glancing at Catalina, who simply smirked at me.

He stepped down from his throne room, advancing towards me like a predator about to launch on a prey. I lost my balance and fell, crawling on my back away from him.

“Who brought you here?!” he growled, his voice much more loathing than before.

I pointed at Catalina and his rage doubled. “Liar! You lie, you sneaky mute omega! How dare you?” he yelled.

I shook my head, but it was too late. He kicked me to the door of the room and I slammed against the wood in a loud thud.

“Please,” I whispered out loud, but there was no way he could have heard me because I was already rolling out of the building and down the tall porch staircase.