003: Running away

Celeste

“A… Alpha…”

I was speechless, and try as I might, I couldn’t form a complete sentence. I could only call out to Alpha Holmes, hoping this was one big joke. Tell me this: if whatever was happening here wasn’t a joke, why would Tabitha stand beside him, and he would refer to me as his favorite daughter? 

It was an open secret in the Moon Howler Pack that I wasn’t considered part of the Alpha’s household. My room was far away from theirs, and it could as well be described as an upgraded storage room. I didn’t even have the right to sit at the same table with them, much less have decent clothes to wear. How could this be the treatment of the Alpha’s favorite daughter? Even omegas in the pack had it easier than me. 

My knees were weak and wobbly, and my ears began buzzing. I couldn’t hear anything else but the chaotic beating of my heart. 

How could it end like this? How could Alpha Holmes sacrifice me like a mere cow? 

It was okay when they tortured me just for the fun of it. I had no qualms about being treated like his dog, an eyesore he couldn’t rid himself of. Lying down for Tabitha to step on me like a rug didn’t even hurt this much.

This time was different. He wanted to throw me to the ruthless alpha who had always been out for his blood. Alpha Holmes murdered his people, for crying out loud. What peace could I possibly bring after this blatant provocation?

“Celeste, dear, I am so sorry this had to happen. I wish I could take your place, but Father had to be sincere in the offering to the Iron Fang Pack. You are his favorite, after all.” The show wouldn’t be complete without my dear sister’s performance. 

I felt the air in my lungs being sucked out of my body, and that was when I came back to my senses. The pain made me understand that I wasn’t dreaming, even though I wished I were. 

I found myself in Tabitha’s tight embrace as tears trickled down my cheeks unhindered. She wasn’t a wolfless weakling like me; hence, I could never match her strength. 

At the moment, I felt that if I didn’t stop her, my bones could be crushed at any moment. It hurt too much. 

“I… I… I can’t breathe.” I forced out those words, drawing the attention of all the people in the room. My life depended on it, and I didn’t care if I made Alpha Holmes lose face by screaming like that. His favorite daughter might have sucked it in, but when had Tabitha ever experienced such pain before?

“I… I’m sorry, sis. I got carried away.” She feigned oblivion, making it seem she was just too hesitant to let me go. Tabitha then took my hands while I stood there weakly, my already weak knees wobbly. 

I knew what she wanted to do, so, before she could squeeze my hands in punishment, I stepped away from her as if I’d be scalded if I stayed any closer.

“Tabitha, escort your sister to pack her necessities. It’s a long journey to the Iron Fang Pack.” Alpha Holmes commented casually, yet my blood boiled at his dismissive attitude. 

How could he speak as if I were just going for a walk in the park? This was most definitely a journey of no return. It was as if he didn’t know the dangers that awaited me in the Iron Fang Pack. 

Tsk! Who cares if he knew? Alpha Holmes wouldn’t give a damn if I was shredded to pieces on my arrival.

No. I have been a coward all my life, and I wouldn’t accept this anymore. There was no way in hell I would willingly walk into the devil’s territory. Before anyone could tell what was happening, I quickened my pace, distancing myself further from Tabitha. 

Tabitha and her mother were not just going to watch me slip through their hands without doing anything. Hence, I picked up pace and ran out of the council building. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me until I reached my secret hiding place in the training ground. 

If I could wait till the soldiers left, there was a secret passage here that led to the woods. I would run away from this pack and never come back. Running was my only chance of survival, and I wasn’t ready to let it go.  I was willing to stake everything on this tiny bit of hope. 

It was already frightening that Alpha Horres was widely known to be a beast among beasts, and the people who wronged him and lived to tell the story could be counted on one hand-my father being one of the lucky bastards. 

However, this time around, I was the daughter of his nemesis, who caused the death of so many warriors from his pack-that too, unprovoked. What sort of welcome would I expect from such a person?

I didn’t know how long I waited, but it was quite a while. Maybe about an hour or two. I didn’t really take count. However, the sound of numerous footsteps running helter-skelter didn’t escape my ears. They only reduced over time.

“Luna, I don’t think she’s here. We searched the whole training ground, but there’s no sign of her.” I picked up a frantic voice belonging to one of the guards.

Of course, they couldn’t find me. I discovered this hidden room and always kept it a secret from everyone. They should be leaving this place soon, seeing that they couldn’t spot me anywhere. Or so I thought, until I heard the smug voice of my stepmother.

“Celeste Holmes, I know you are here. If you don't show yourself in the next ten breaths, the blood of this wench will be on your hands.”

Oh no! 

I couldn’t tell what they did to the hostage, but the person whimpered in agony, causing my heart to be pierced by a thousand invisible blades. 

”I won’t force you to come out, but I guess both of you can just die together then.” My stepmother knew very well what my bottom line was.

Nanny Zelda...