CHAPTER SIX

OLIVIA

“Come on Via, you should calm down. Leaving the pack isn't the best option.” Lily said calmly, trying to talk me out of packing my things to leave the pack. 

“So what am I supposed to do now? Stay back and continue to see Rowan every other day?” I asked in a mean voice, as I continued to pack my stuff, not even throwing a glance at Lily. I picked only the necessary things, I didn't have much stuff anyway. 

I honestly would not like to remain here when Luna Claire finds out that I rejected Rowan last night. Although I have no place to go to, I still needed to get as far away from this pack as possible, now that they were still unaware of what had transpired in my room the day before.

The door opened to reveal Lisa walking into the room. My heart did a flip as I got up to my feet, showing respect to her as the Luna of Cold Moon. Bella took a stance as she hovered at the door. 

“Look who's trying to run away, the alpha's precious little mistress.” Lisa taunted, her eyes glittered mischievously. 

I began to feel a sense of unease, Lisa rarely smiled this sweetly unless she was up to something really evil. What did she plan to do this time? I already felt sick to my stomach as I expected one of her cheap tricks again. 

“Lisa, shouldn't you be acquainting yourself with your Luna duties?” Lily sneered. 

“Sure. I'm here with respect to that, trust me.” Lisa said with a wide grin plastered on her face. I studied her face in uncertainty. Maybe she found out that I rejected Rowan. So what? Was that not what she wanted? 

“And what do you mean by that?” I fired. 

Whatever it was she wanted to do, I was sure it was no good so she could as well get done with it as fast as possible.  

“Search her room!” She ordered the two warriors with her. “Her bags, her closet, including her. Search everywhere!” 

I watched silently as they searched the room. 

“We found it, Luna.” Kane, one of the top warriors in Cold Moon, held up a shiny object. 

My eyes widened in alarm as I recognized what was in his hands. This was the Luna's golden tiara. It was a representation of the office of authority passed down to every Luna of the Cold Moon pack. 

“What… what's going on here?” I stammered. My heart dropped in my belly with realization dawning on me. I tasted the rising bitterness in my mouth as I recalled the feel of someone's presence around my room last night. 

This person had taken the opportunity as I showered in the bathroom to plant the heirloom in my room. I either did not perceive the person's scent because he or she masked it or because Rowan’s scent lingered heavily in the air. 

Whoever it was, did not want me to see the light of the next day. The person was well aware that stealing a symbol of authority was considered a challenge to the rightful owner. It was a threat to one's position and its punishment was death. 

The warriors yanked me out of my moody thoughts, dragging me out of the room. 

“To the backyard!” Lisa ordered. 

A groan slipped out of my mouth as I landed on the ground with a thud. I crossed my arms over my chest rubbing my hands on the spot where the two warriors had grabbed me. My body was sore from its collision with the earth as they threw me on the hard ground. 

Just at that moment, the former Luna appeared with Rowan. Her features tightened in a frown as she dashed towards me menacingly. 

Smack! My head whipped to one side as the slap thundered in the air. 

“Disgusting hag.” Luna Claire blared.  

I slowly lifted my head, my eyes met with Rowan's in a soft plea for him to say something in my defense. He scoffed at me. He was still angry at my rejection, even though he did not seem to look like it. 

I am curious to see how you would survive on your own. Rowan said to me via the mindlink.

Rowan's cold gaze at me made my eyes water. Was he really going to watch me die because I refused to be his mistress? I thought bitterly.

Rowan please, you know I do not have a hand in this. Please say something as the Alpha of the pack. I pleaded with him via the link, fearing for my life. 

His lips curled upwards in a small smile. He moved closer, and scooted down until his eyes locked on mine. 

“I, Rowan Blackthorn, Alpha of the Cold Moon pack hereby accept your rejection. You will be properly punished for whatever crime you have committed. You are free to leave the pack if found not guilty of the crime you are accused of.” He spat, his eyes gleaming with hatred. 

A fresh bout of pain seared through my whole body, this time, it was more intense. The bond between Rowan and I had severed completely. He scanned my face, looking for traces of pain on it. I pursed my lips tightly, not giving him the satisfaction he desperately desired. 

A dangerous glint flashed in Claire's eyes. “Did she reject you first?” she asked in a mean tone. 

“You bitch!” Another slap rang in the air splitting my lower lip. I felt pathetic for myself at the force with which the former Luna hit me. 

“You rejected him and still went ahead to steal his Luna's symbol of authority.” I winced as she hit me again. “How despicable can you be?” 

A malicious grin played on Lisa's lip as she slipped her arm into Rowan's who continuously  shot me a spiteful look. “It’s okay darling. I think your mother would handle her just fine. I really appreciate your efforts in retrieving the heirloom. You deserve a proper rest darling.” She stroked his ego. 

Rowan's face brightened up at Lisa's words, she was insinuating that he had worked hard to retrieve his Luna’s golden tiara. With a sneer, his eyes averted my tear filled ones, and softened as soon as it locked on Lisa's. 

"Rowan please.." I cried out. 

“Rowan!” I called again. Fear gripped me all of a sudden.

“Rowan!” I screamed this time in panic as Lisa took him away. Lisa was leaving me in the hands of her predecessor. Lisa was entitled to punish me herself since she was the rightful owner of the tiara that was found in my possession. She also reserved the right to permit anyone who was once in her position to carry out the punishment which was what she just did. She knew the former Luna would be more brutal in dealing with me. 

A cold feeling of dread washed over me,  weighing down on me with each breath I took. I suddenly preferred dying in the hands of Lisa to Claire. 

Crack! My jaw broke with a sickening sound as Claire lunged her fist at me. I spat out the blood in my mouth. 

“You should have gone missing just like your useless mother.” she snarled with an evil gaze and slammed my face on the hard ground. 

‘Rowan please save me.’ I begged via the link again. ‘Do not interrupt me again, Olivia.’ his voice came out huskily. Ava whimpered, receding to the back of my mind.

My chest burned with hurt, Rowan was having intimacy with Lisa while I was at the mercy of his mother. He obviously did not care one bit what was going to happen to me. Why then did he want me to be his mistress so badly? 

Smack! Another slap jolted me back to my current situation. I cried out when her fingers dug into my scalp pulling on it harshly. I let the tears stream down my cheeks and with a bitter smile forming on my lips, I accepted my fate resignedly. I was sure I would die any moment from now. Maybe I would finally get rest this time. 

She raised her hands to hit me again, this time drawing out her sharp claws. Just as I closed my eyes ready to receive the pain that would follow, a loud growl reverberated through the air causing everyone to snap their heads in that direction.