Chapter Three

Emily's POV

I woke up to find myself alone in the woods, on the night of a full moon.

“Ugh…” I rubbed my glabella as my head throbbed in pain. It was as though my brain had switched places with my heart. My skull felt heavy.

It was as I tried to lessen the pain that my nose twitched at the smell of a nice, savory scent. Still rubbing my glabella with two fingers, I dropped my head to see a small lunch box at my feet. It had a note stuck on it.

I leaned forward as I reached for the lunch box with my free hand. I peeled off the note and brought it under my weary gaze.

Even without looking at the footnote, I could instantly tell that it was from Tyler. His handwriting was unique.

Reading the note in his voice, it said:

“I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I had no choice. I thought you were dead.

“I had to take you out of the house after you collapsed and passed out. My dad was visiting. There's food in the flask. Please eat that to replenish your strength.

“And don't try to come over or contact me again.” — Tyler.

I didn't even know whether to be happy that he still cared a little about me, or sad that we won't be able to be together. With everything that I've gone through, this was the worst.

At least Jacob outwardly rejected me and I accepted my fate. But this… this was completely different. Tyler and I loved each other. We were separated by external factors.

At that moment, I was angry and filled with rage. I had had enough of crying and moping. I was angry at myself for coming to this world with a misfortuned head. I was angry at everyone who had ruined my life along the line.

There was a big difference between anger and the rage burning within me, my entire world had been thrown up and broken over and over again because I had allowed myself to succumb to the theatrics of men. I felt a ringing in my ear and I dropped to the ground. 

I could feel from within the aether- amidst my own soul a suppressed primal instinct pouring out from within me. My nails lengthened into claws and my canines grew into fangs. I could feel my vision change and for the first time, I felt in control, because I had one thing I had been lacking for a while. Power! Raw unbridled power.

I wanted to take my anger out on the world, I wanted the joy that comes from ripping warm beating bodies into bloody shreds. I could feel my rage take over me and I let it, I had no choice this was the only time I actually felt whole. 

Soon enough, my senses took over and I was driven to the scent of blood. Something humane about me paused for a moment and listened. I could hear a low growl around the corner and I glanced sideways but soon I realized I was the one emitting the low growl. It was all me, I'd given in to my wolf, so why come back? I broke through the trees and slashed through everything in my way. 

I reached the top of a hill after a long time had passed with my claws bloody and my fangs red. My tongue still had the metallic taste of blood lingering on it. I glanced at the full moon and felt it increase my anger, and with that came power. I let a howl to whoever would hear and after that I roared, I let out a roar so loud the forest shook.

…

I didn't know how many years had passed, but for the first time after a while, I could feel myself. I didn't really remember my own name but I was sure I did have one. I tried moving and I discovered my hands were bound by ropes. 

I glanced around and I discovered I was in a kind of moving wooden cabin. It had a small window and I wanted to glance and check it when I heard the neighing of horses. I was being transported. As it would seem, I have been captured by certain people. 

I tried to break the rope but then it stung a little, I glanced at the rope and discovered that something was off with it. There was a certain liquid that laced it. I looked at it again, the name dancing on my lips, at last, I came to a realization.

It was Wolfsbane. Heh. My captors must have thought me to be a wolf, lacing the ropes with Wolfsbane. Well, thank the moon goddess I wasn't, or else I would have been in torment if I was still affected by Wolfsbane. The tightness of the ropes would have made it sink into my system through my skin pores.

With this realization, came my memories and I sunk back into my usual state of depression. I realized now that seated beside me was a mean-looking man, his bare chest riddled with scars. His claws were also out — probably a show of domination. But little did he know that I wasn't intimated. I was tired of life as it was. I wouldn't curse them if they killed me right there and then, and threw my lifeless bodies into the woods.

I mean, what else did life have to offer? Nothing. Nothing but more pain and suffering.

I sighed and looked forward. There were two other men seated opposite us, scars on their bodies too, their claws jutted out and flinching.

What are you people waiting for? Just slash my throat and be done with it already!!

But nothing happened. The rickety ride continued in silence for hours. The silence put me to sleep. I was woken up by a cut to the cheek.

I rolled my eyes, retorting inwardly, ‘You should have gone for my neck.’

They pushed me down the carriage and into a wolf kingdom, with walls surrounding it. The scenery was ancient but I liked it. It was less noisy — though rowdy — and less polluted than the city I came from.

They took me to the guards by the gate, who gave them some money. Before I blinked, the three men pushed me towards the guards and left.

It was at that moment that I realized I'd been sold off as a slave.

Ah, just when I thought my life couldn't get any worse. I was assigned as a maid to the palace and I decided to live my life in this quiet solitude.