ADRIANA

I dropped the tray in the kitchen and sprinted to my room. As soon as I closed the door, I let out the tears I had been holding back, collapsing to the floor in defeat.

"Yara! Yara!" I called for her but there was no response.

I would take any comfort I could receive right now but there was none. The pain was too much to bear. The people I had thought would be by my side were happily planning against me behind my back.

Lisa, my own sister. She may have never acted like it but she was still my sister.

My father.

My boyfriend. I had trusted him more than anyone.

And now, Yara. Had I really thought someone I had met just today would be faithful to me when the people I'd known all my life hated me?

They'd all left me, to deal with life myself.

The only person who could have helped me was long gone.

My mind flashed back to the last time I'd spoken to mum, just moments before she passed.

"Always be yourself, Adriana. Never shed tears for unworthy people. Your heart would tell you where to go, it would lead you to the right place."

Sometimes, I wonder if my mum knew how much I was going to suffer and cry but her words were enough to get me on my feet.

If they could plan, so could I.

I have had enough of Lisa and her evil doings. This was the last straw. I stood up from the floor, brushing the dust off and looked at myself in the mirror.

Lisa and the rest weren't worthy of my tears.

I reached under my bed and pulled out my small bag of money. I'd been hiding it for a long time, hoping for the day I'd be in an emergency and get to use it.

Today was that day.

Quickly stuffing the few things I had into a bag, I put together essentials that would help me on my mission. I was finally going to take the bold step and run away.

I won't let Lisa's bitterness ruin my life as she saw fit. In the meantime, I mapped out my escape route, taking into account every factor that may try to ruin the plan.

I heard footsteps in the hallway.

"Adriana!"

Lisa's voice, shrill and angry.

She must have found the abandoned coffee tray in the kitchen.

My heart hammered in my chest. I looked around frantically. I paused when I saw the window. I could go through the window.

The footsteps got closer.

I grabbed my bag and ran to the window, opening it as quietly as I could. There was a tree close enough to reach.

The door handle rattled.

"Adriana! Open this door right now!"

I didn't hesitate. I climbed out the window, my hands shaking, and reached for the nearest branch. My bag made it awkward, but I managed to grab hold and swing myself toward the trunk.

I heard the door slam open.

"Where the hell-"

I didn't wait to hear the rest. I half-climbed, half-fell down the tree, hitting the ground hard. Pain shot through my ankle but I didn't stop.

"FIND HER!" Lisa's scream echoed behind me. "DON'T LET HER GET AWAY!"

Then when it was time, I made my move.

It was evening and I knew that at this time, the back door to the house would be left open because this was when the guards changed shifts.

The first thing was to pass through the living room without anyone seeing me. With that successfully done, I looked behind me one last time before stepping into the cold evening breeze.

This was it, I was finally doing it but I couldn't fully celebrate because the major obstacle was getting over the border.

I began running as soon as I gained some distance from the house. Despite being out of breath and carrying a heavy bag, I didn't stop.

It won't take long for someone to notice I was gone because Lisa was always calling for me to do one thing or the other. And as soon as she realized I was gone, she would send out every guard to look for me. I had to get away, and fast.

My breath comes in ragged gasps as my feet pound against the earth, pushing me forward through the dense forest, leaves rustling with each hurried step.

My heart raced in my chest. Fear mixed with thrill at the possibility of getting away was what drove me to keep moving.

I can hear the wind whistling in my ears, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. My muscles burn, but I ignore the pain, focusing instead on the rhythm of my stride, the thud of my heartbeat, and the sound of my breath as it blends with the rustling leaves and distant bird calls.

I feel the roughness of the ground beneath my shoes, every root and stone a challenge to overcome, but I'm driven by a force I can't quite name, something that urges me to push harder, run faster, and leave everything behind.

Night had fallen and the moon was nowhere to be found so I was basically walking in the darkness. I couldn't see the ground before me properly but I pushed forward anyway, my hand brushing against trees to guide me.

Then I tripped.

A root, a rock-I didn't know what it was. But I went down hard, my hands scraping against the forest floor. My palm split open again on a sharp stone.

I scrambled to my feet, pressing my hand against my shirt to try to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. Drops of blood marked the ground behind me.

No. No, no, no.

I kept running, but I knew. I knew they'd be able to track me now. The blood would lead them right to me like a beacon.

"Yara!" I called desperately in my mind. "Yara, please! I need you!"

Silence.

I pushed harder, my lungs burning, but my cut hand left blood on every tree I grabbed for balance. God, I was being so stupid.

My legs were giving out. I couldn't keep running like this.

I saw something. A structure. A cottage?

I didn't have a choice. I ran toward it, praying I could hide, could find something to bandage my hand with, could-

Strong hands grabbed me from behind.

I screamed.

"Got her!"

ADRIANA

I was thrown to the ground, the air knocked out of my lungs. Before I could scramble away, they were on me. Three of them. Guards I recognized.

"Stupid bitch." One of them grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Did you really think you could run? You left a blood trail a blind wolf could follow."

"Please-"

"Shut up."

They dragged me toward the cottage. One of them kicked the door open and they hauled me inside.

There was an old wooden chair in the middle of the room.

"Tie her up."

"No! No, please-"

One of them backhanded me across the face. Stars exploded in my vision.

"I said shut up."

They forced me into the chair. Rough rope bit into my wrists as they tied my hands behind the chair back. More rope around my ankles, binding them to the chair legs. I thrashed and fought, but it was useless. No wolf strength. No Yara. Just me, weak and helpless.

"That should hold her." One of them stepped back, admiring their work. "Alpha said to bring her back. He didn't say she had to be comfortable."

They laughed.

The door opened again and I knew who it was before she even spoke.

"Well, well, well." Lisa walked in, that cruel smile on her face. "Look at you now."

I didn't respond. Staring at her with a blank expression. I didn't want to believe I was actually related to her.

She walked closer, circling me like a predator. "Did you really think you could run? Leaving a literal blood trail behind you? You're even more stupid than I thought."

"Let me go, Lisa."

"Let you go?" She laughed. "Oh, Adriana. You still don't understand, do you? You're mine. You've always been mine to do with as I please."

She stopped in front of me, leaning down so her face was inches from mine.

"Do you know what Father's going to do when we bring you back? He's going to give you to the Lycan King just like we planned. And that monster is going to use you until there's nothing left."

"At least I'll be away from you."

The words were out before I could stop them.

Lisa's eyes flashed with rage. Her hand moved so fast I only felt it when the slap cracked across my face, snapping my head to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek.

"You ungrateful bitch!" She slapped me again, harder. "After everything I've done-"

"What have you done?" I spit blood from my mouth. "Besides torture me and take everything from me?"

Another slap. This one split my lip.

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!" She was hitting me with every word now, open-handed slaps that left my face burning. "You took everything from me! Mother loved you more! Everyone always loved you more! Poor little Adriana, so sweet, so perfect-"

"That's not true-"

"YES IT IS!" She grabbed my face, her nails digging into my cheeks. "And now you have a wolf, don't you? I can smell it on you. You finally got your precious wolf while I had to work for everything!"

How did she know? How could she tell?

"I... I don't know what you're talking about."

She slapped me again, this time with the back of her hand. I felt my tooth cut into my inner cheek.

"Don't lie to me!" She hit me again. And again. "I can smell the change! You finally shifted and you thought you could run away? Thought you were strong enough now?"

My vision was blurring from the pain. My face felt like it was on fire. But I refused to cry. Refused to give her that satisfaction.

"I'm going to enjoy watching the Lycan King break you," Lisa hissed in my ear. "I'm going to enjoy knowing you're suffering. Maybe I'll even visit, just to see what's left of you."

She raised her hand to hit me again.

A growl echoed through the cottage.

Lisa froze, her hand still raised.

The growl came again, closer this time. The windows rattled with the force of it.

"What the hell-" One of the guards started.

The door exploded inward.

It actually splintered off its hinges as a massive black wolf burst through it.

The guards didn't even hesitate. They shifted and ran, crashing through windows in their panic to escape.

Lisa stumbled backward, her face pale. "No, no, no-"

The black wolf's eyes locked onto her. She ran.

The wolf let her go, his attention turning to me.

I pressed myself back against the chair as much as the ropes would allow, my heart hammering. He was huge. Bigger than any wolf I had ever seen, including my father. His black fur shone even in the dim light, and his eyes were focused and lethal.

He circled me slowly, taking very slow steps, studying me.

"P-please don't k-kill me. Please." I didn't know when the stuttered words left my mouth.

I had never had to beg for my life before but I was sure I was doing a very lousy job. I froze and even stopped breathing when he moved closer to me and sniffed me.

Maybe if he knew I was a werewolf just like him, he would let me go.

"I'm a wolf too. I'm the Alpha's daughter."

He moved back a little, his head tilting as if considering this.

Then he shifted. And whatever I was going to say next got stuck in my throat because I could see everything.

His perfectly shaped body, his outlined abs, every muscle and every vein and then also him, down below.

I turned my head away quickly, my face burning despite everything. That was the biggest I had ever seen, not that I had seen my fair share.

He must have noticed my plight because he shrugged.

"I thought you said you were a wolf? No wolf minds being naked. You should be used to it by now."

I fought with my eyes to stop them from going down there as he moved behind me.

I felt his hands on the ropes binding my wrists. One sharp tug and they snapped.

"Who really are you?" I asked as he moved to untie my ankles.

"Someone who heard you scream." He finished with the ropes and stepped back. "Can you stand?"

I tried. My legs were shaking, and between the running, the beating, and the fear, I barely made it upright before my knees buckled.

He caught me before I hit the ground.

"Easy now." His voice was surprisingly gentle. "You're safe. They're gone."

"Who... who are you?"

He looked down at me, those green eyes intense.

"My name is Elijah."

ADRIANA

Elijah. His name sounded nice. It fit him.

He cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up and he pointed to my leg.

"It is bruised badly. I think you dislocated the ankle. Why were those wolves after you anyway? What's going on?"

I opened my mouth but a thought crossed through my mind. I was about to leak my secrets to a total stranger who was probably working with Lisa. Right now, I didn't trust anyone.

"It's none of your business." I rolled down my pants leg and attempted to walk away, now conscious of my situation but it didn't help matters as the pain was still there, causing me to fall back onto the floor.

Before I could attempt to move again, I felt a hand across my waist and under my legs.

"Let me help you." Without waiting for a response, he picked me up and secured me tightly in his arms.

He was so big, I immediately felt protected. Like I was being carried by a big strong teddy bear.

If it were another situation, I wouldn't have minded it but right now, I didn't even know who the man was. And after what happened with Lisa, I wasn't sure what to think.

I knew she wouldn't just give up. That's now how she is. She would want to torture me some more.

"White Crescent, huh?" My head snapped to him so quickly in shock. "What? I can smell it on you. Let's get you home. The woods are too dangerous for a little girl like you."

Home? No!

I was running from home and this person, whoever the hell he was, was taking me back. I won't let that happen.

"No! No! Let me go! Hello?" My cries fell on deaf ears. He just kept walking back in the direction I had run away from just hours earlier.

No matter how much I kicked and thrashed, he just wouldn't let me go.

"Let me go now!"

He laughed. He seemed to be enjoying this.

God, why did I always have to end up in situations like this?

I heard footsteps but didn't think much of it because he was here and whoever he was, he was dangerous.

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath and tightened his hold on me and cleared his throat.

"You don't need to be scared of going back. Don't worry, they're coming to get you. Isn't that fun?"

I could hear the smile in his words and I wanted to punch him. Except, it wouldn't do damage and I didn't want to piss him off seeing how large he was. But, how could he smile at a time like this?!

My life is on the line!

Shit, I didn't like the feeling I was getting at the pit of my stomach. Something bad was going to happen and I could feel it.

The dropped me on the floor as more footsteps approached us. Had Lisa gone back to bring more men to fight him?

As we stood waiting for whoever was approaching us, I took a quick glance at him.

I had never seen anyone so relaxed when things are obviously going to shit. He had a stoic face and looked straight ahead like he could scatter whatever it was, with his mind alone.

My ankle was throbbing badly though it was the least of my worries..

"That's them!" I looked up to see Lisa pointing right at the both of us.

No, she hadn't gone to bring more men. She brought my father, Landon, and more guards. This bloody bitch actually had some balls.

The look on her face made my stomach drop to the pit of my stomach.

"Get behind me, it's fine." Elijah pushed me behind him but he didn't need to protect me, this was my family. Or so I thought.

"What are you talking about, Lisa?"

She went to stand beside my father and held his hand.

"Dad, this is the rogue she's been seeking out secrets to and having an affair with. I told you we couldn't trust her."

My mouth hung open in shock, listening to the lies spew from her mouth without hesitation.

My father won't believe her nor would Landon. They knew me too well to believe such a stupid lie.

"Dad, don't believe that nonsense. You know better, right? You know I'd never do anything like that? This is not what you think it is. I can explain-"

"Oh shut up, traitor. Dad, I overheard her saying that she wanted to hand you over to them on a platter. You should punish her. She planned to kill you."

It was beginning to sound like a debate, a debate for whom my father should believe. The way my father was looking at me in silence and the way his eyes darted back to Lisa any time she spoke. I couldn't decipher what he was thinking.

"Dad, you have to believe what I'm telling you. She was the one who tried to kill me. She captured me in the woods and put a knife against my throat. She wore a mask and stood with some rogues! You have to believe me." He didn't move an inch but his eyes were focused on me.

I was so desperate, desperate for any witnesses to come forth and say something. From the way my dad was looking, he would most definitely take Lisa's side and as soon as that happened, I was done for.

"Listen, my name is Elijah and I am-"

"Please, please, not now. You're the center of this mess and even I don't know who you are. Just be quiet, I'll handle this."

He was a witness but he wasn't a good witness, he was the sole cause of this. If he hadn't come, Lisa would have killed me and dumped my body somewhere and my father would never know of my death. He would think I had actually run away.

And maybe that wouldn't have been so bad. At least, I would be with mum again and I won't have to deal with Lisa.

I stepped forward a bit.

"Dad, I-"

Landon came to me, looked me dead in the eye and slapped me across the face. It almost knocked me off balance but it was the confusion I felt that mostly dazed me.

Landon slapped me?

"You filthy whore, you've been cheating on me the entire time?"​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I opened my mouth to explain but words didn't come out. If anybody would have taken Lisa's side, I would never have thought it would be Landon because I thought he knew me better.

As I stared at him with tear filled eyes, I could see the rage in him as he stared down at me. I wasn't crying because Landon slapped me but because he didn't believe me.

"You have committed a taboo and you will be punished for it."

"Wait, Landon." I tried to hold on to his shirt but he pushed me away. "Landon, you need to listen to me."

It was no use, he had turned his back on me. If I didn't do something fast, I was going to be killed.

"Elijah" I dragged him to a corner "You need to tell them what happened. Leave no details out please,if you don't say something, my father would have me killed."

He looked back at my father, then at me and then nodded.