2. Abandoned and arrested

[Layla’s POV]

I could hear the chirping of beds and as the sun rays hit me, my eyelashes fluttered and I opened my eyes weakly feeling a throbbing ache in my head. I groaned as I sat up, stretching out as I looked all around me, still feeling numb as I had just woken up.

Of course, he was gone. Though he had saved me, it was only a passionate night and I already knew that it would all end after that one time because nothing good ever seemed to last in my life.

But, somewhere in my heart still ached a little because he wasn’t there. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to the man that had given me the most wonderful night I ever had.

I looked around, and forced a small smile on. At least, no rogue or wild animal had gotten away with my clothes, much to my delight.

Hurriedly, I put on the clothes as I kept on yawning repeatedly, feeling really weak. I had come all the way here just to get mushrooms for my stepmother in order to escape from her wrath, and I had only succeeded in landing myself in more trouble. I was in for it, and I strongly believed that this was the day I would die.

I didn’t even get to know his name. I fiddled with my fingers as tears clouded my eyes, then I felt it. It was a gold ring, encrusted with diamonds. It had the Shadow Pack’s symbol engraved on it, and could only be possessed by someone of a high rank in the Pack. Maybe he had stolen it or it was a fake of the original and had just used to lure me to have sex with him. Why then had it felt so real? So genuine?

Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand. Now wasn’t the time to feel sorry for myself. I needed to get home immediately to avoid being in more trouble than I already was.

I took to my heels and quickly ran to where my house was located, trying hard not to think about the heavy punishment I was going to receive from spending the night outside the house when I had a ton of house chores that I had left undone.

Even if my stepmother didn’t succeed in killing me, one of my stepbrothers was certainly going to. However, to my surprise, when I got home, no one seemed to pay me any attention as they were all busy packing their belongings in a hasty manner.

I looked around, unsure of what was going on. “I am sorry I came home late,” I said, after about one minute of no one noticing my presence.

They practically ignored me as they kept on packing their things in a hurried manner, looking out the window every now and then as if they were scared that someone was coming after them.

“What’s going on?” I asked Koss, the youngest of my stepbrothers when I didn’t get any attention.

“Pack up your stuff and come along with us now if you don’t want to be in trouble,” he replied.

“What? What trouble?” I asked, panic seated right in my voice.

He didn’t say a word as he went to take his box of books from the drawers, leaving me standing there. I looked around, knowing that I had no other choice than to leave with them. Something must have happened for them to be in so much of a hurry, and they’d probably give me a logical explanation when we arrived at wherever it was that we were going to.

I didn’t own a lot of things, and the few things I owned were mostly old and worn out. I threw them all into a small bag and hung the bag over my shoulders, still wondering what was going on.

“We have to go now,” my father said, looking at each and every one of us.

“Come on, kids. Let’s go,” my stepmother said, and immediately, we all left with them.

They didn’t even bother to lock the door and while I was still in a daze as to what was going on, I knew better than to ask any more questions. I followed them closely behind until we came to a field I had never seen before. It seemed like an escape route. Where were they going to that they so badly didn’t want anyone to know?

We weren’t walking anymore. We were running through the fields, until we came across a big forest filled with wild animals. I didn’t say a word and just continued to walk behind them.

“Careful,” I heard my father yell. “There are hunter traps ahead of us,” he said, and they all began to tread carefully, as well as myself.

“Your father’s plan might not work. We need a bait,” my stepmother said in a voice that sounded more like a whisper to her eldest son, Brody.

I didn’t understand what they were saying, but the next thing I knew, I had successfully jumped over a trap, when my eldest stepbrother turned around and pushed me in the chest, making me fall back and get caught. I was hurled into the net trap which rose and hung in the air.

I shook the net vigorously as tears welled up in my eyes. “Why are you doing this? Let me go!” I yelled, tears streaming down my cheeks.

They pretended as if they couldn’t hear me and hurried ahead of me.

“Dad! Dad!” I yelled, but he was too far in front and engrossed in his own thoughts to hear me call unto him in desperation.

Though I knew they never loved me, I never thought they would leave me to die without any hesitation like this.

I was panicking and I searched my bag frantically for a sharp object I could use to tear the net. It was way too hard and too thick for my baby fangs to cut through, and my teeth chattered in fear as my family... so-called family disappeared from my sight.

I kept on struggling to be set free, but soon, I gave up, knowing that it was of no use. I just sat right there in the net, accepting my fate and waiting for the hunter who had set the trap to come and do something about it.

About an hour later, I could hear the sound of wolves running. I peeked out of the hole in the net, only to see a herd of guards and trackers marching through the forest. They smelt of danger, and my heart raced unusually as they came closer to me.

The one that appeared to be their leader stopped and the rest came to an abrupt halt as well, as they were directly under the net where I had been held hostage.

I covered my mouth with my hands as I tried not to breathe, but I knew they would discover me. Even if I made no sound, it made no difference as they were werewolves and they could track me by scent.

The leader looked up at me, his cold dark eyes emitting fear in me. He transformed into his human form, but he still appeared evil and dangerous.

“Looks like they forgot someone. Seize her,” he commanded.

“What - - what did I do?” I asked, my teeth chattering.

That question lingered on in the air as it wasn’t answered, but I would find out the reason for it all soon enough.