Chapter 4

~Harper's POV~

“You already know my name is Harper Rae. I was born a member of the Foul Moon Pack. They are a growing mass of the most vile and dishonorable horde of wolves. It is not a rumor; they are recognized to be hate-filled and ruthless. They are nasty and take what they want. It is not beneath them to kill, steal, burn, and destroy anything and everything for their own nasty barbaric pleasure. Alpha Thane Kago took his father’s place as the leader of Foul Moon Pack nearly six months ago, and it has been my living hell ever since.

I was among the only decent members left in Thane’s pack when Thane took over. Women were raped and taken as slaves. Children were sold, most likely forced into hard labor. Husbands were murdered unless they submitted to Thane’s evil cause. Even still, they had to give up their mates and prove that they were willing to do unthinkable things to innocent packs and families. The Foul Moon Pack is already a large pack. It took a while, but he combed through members picking out the “liabilities” who he decided would weaken his despicable army. If members of his pack show any kindness or pleasant traits, they would immediately be slaughtered. No member was able to leave on their own terms. My parents were strong and honorable warriors. They refused to burn down villages and the killing of innocent wolves. My parents’ beliefs and kind ways are what ultimately lead alpha Thane right to our doorstep. When Alpha Thane made his way to my childhood home, his sick mind decided that he would take me against my will to be his mate.”

I paused to take a breath and even my breathing. I could have sworn I heard Gabriel growl. Maybe I am hearing things. I continued with my story.

“I pushed back against Thane’s demands, but to my horror he attempted to humble me using fear. Thane decapitated my mother and father in front of me. I heard every cry; I saw every tear. I begged Thane to stop. I cried to the Moon Goddess as my father fought to get to my mother. Thane made my father watch as they tortured my mother. First cutting her hair, then breaking out her teeth. She tried to hold her screams back… I know because of me. My mother didn’t want me to see what was happening. I told Thane I would do whatever he wanted. I know his plan was to kill them the entire time. He was just playing with me.

Once he finally beheaded my mother, he moved to my father. He first told him about all his sinful plans that he had for me. Including using me for his own sick pleasure. Even though he planned to make me his mate, he didn’t plan on having a Luna. That didn’t matter to me though, I would die before I agreed to submit to this monster. Thane then grabbed a knife and slowly cut into my father’s flesh. It was as if all his screams were my own. My heart was dying right along with him. Thane took pleasure in the torture. He skinned my father with slow knife strokes just to prolong the pain. When he was done my father was nothing but read flesh and muscle, but he was still alive and awake. Blood was pooled at his knees where he was knelt on all fours still holding himself up. Pain had overtaken his once strong and loving features. My father breathlessly said to me ‘never forget who you are. You are strong and a fighter. You will live through this. Remember that your mother and I love you so much…’ Before my father could finish what he was trying to say, Thane looked at me with a wicked grin then turned back to my father and slit his throat right in front of me. His body still trying to take breaths filled the room with sounds of gurgling from the blood filling his lungs. The look on my father’s face at that moment is forever branded into my mind.

I watched until my father’s body went limp. The smell of blood was overpowering. Little did Thane know; I am and have always been too headstrong to lay down to such a sick monster. I pretended to submit, even though pretending was still nauseating. I knew it was my only chance to escape my prison. Thane was planning to mark me on my eighteenth birthday. I planned and packed a small pack with essentials. I negligently forgot food of all things. I knew Thane was starting to trust me. I forced myself to allow him to grope and kiss on me to make my act seem more convincing. Because of this, I never had an appetite to eat. Knowing I needed my strength I had to force feed myself the whole time I was his prisoner. He never went further with his dirty acts. He always told me he had big plans for me on my eighteenth birthday.

I had to remind myself that I had to do everything to get away. I was planning to kill myself if I was caught, so I needed to try my hardest to be successful during my escape. Revenge for my parents drove my desire to reach freedom. I plan to kill Thane if I am ever given the chance. For weeks I was mean to servants, pretending to be just as evil as Alpha Thane wanted me to be. I would yell at them, and break things then demand they clean it up. When I was alone, I always apologized to the servants, and they soon figured out my plan. They supported my escape. About three nights ago, a few servants stood watch for me as I slipped from my bedroom window. I never skipped on training, so navigating the shadows quietly was second nature for me. My only light that night was the full moon. I wanted to believe that the Moon Goddess was lighting my way to freedom. I ran as fast as I could into the woods. Before I lost sight of my childhood home, I turned to bid farewell. Taking with me pleasant memories of my parents that were threatened become overshadowed by my agonizing last memories of them. Refusing to cry or take too much time I started running.

Once I couldn’t run anymore, I walked, and I walked unsure of where I was going. My only direction was away from Alpha Thane. I would stop to rest only a moment before continuing in the direction I was going. I knew that if I slowed down Thane would find me. I knew if I was caught, that I would be living in a nightmare. I realized all too late that I forgot to bring food. My body was growing weaker by the hour. I thought I was never going to make it to freedom. At that point I was welcoming death, I was numb from the heartache of losing my parents the tragic way that I did, and the thought of knowing I was now alone in this world with no one left that cares about me. It is such a lonesome feeling… I don’t know how far I traveled, or when I fell asleep. I just know I woke up to your guards asking me questions. They were strong but polite, even though I was a stranger. It was in the middle of the night, but your people were so kind to me. Once they realized I wasn’t a threat, they offered me a warm bath and a comfortable bed for the night. That is when I met Kelly, one of your Omegas. She gave me some clean clothes and made me feel welcome right away. I could have told you more about the torture and vial things that I went through, and the things that were done to my family. If it is okay with you, I would like to end my story here.”