Chapter Two

What have I done? I felt so guilty looking at my father being punched by Alpha William. He didn't have to do that. He could have just let me die. I don't know why he's acting like a superhero right now. I don't know why I am so important to him when all I did was disappoint him.

But the duel didn't end that way. My father stood up and responded to Alpha William's attack. This time, he got the alpha cornered and did the same to his face. He looked so eager to kill him. Everyone was shocked by what happened or how it turned out this way.

“Get him! Get him!” They shouted.

In the end, both Alpha William and my father got knocked down the platform, their bodies full of wounds and covered in blood.

Everyone's attention turns towards me. Their eyes filled with rage, as if telling me that it was my fault why this happened.

It was indeed my fault. My father wouldn't endure such pain if it weren't for me. I didn't only kill the Luna of our pack but also brought great trouble to everyone, especially my father. I know I deserve to be executed just like what Alpha William said.

“Let's get out of here.” My mother suddenly grabbed my arm, and we made our way through the crowd. The pack was growling on our sides, wanting to kill me and my mother, but hesitated. Thanks to her, they didn't hurt me.

“Melina, I hope you know what you're doing,” Gamma Leonardo said, stopping us. His underlings, other gammas, flanking on his sides.

“Let us go, Leonardo!” My mother growled. “Henry won the duel. It's our right to decide what to do with my daughter.”

“I don't think you see it right, Melina,” Gamma Leonardo said, slipping his hands inside the pocket of his jeans. He's wearing a black leathery jacket with an open front, showing his hairy chest. He reeks of menace. “Your husband didn't win at all, but you're acting so confident. It wasn't even a tie. We saw everything, Melina, how your husband cheated just to win and save your acting-brilliant daughter.”

“Cheated?” My mother seemed to laugh. “Do you hear yourself, Leonardo? You must have been blind. You can mock my husband, but not my daughter.”

Gamma Leonardo laughed out loud. “You are so overprotective of your daughter, who failed to keep her position. Defending her only makes you appear as the one who killed Luna Asfara, or maybe you and your family really planned it all, didn't you?”

I know what Gamma Leonardo was trying to say. But we are not like him and his underlings. Despite how bad Alpha William and Luna Asfara rule the pack, not once in our lives did we plan to kick them out of their positions.

My mother gritted her teeth. She clenched her fist and was about to throw a punch to Gamma Leonardo's face, but I stopped her. “Mom…”

Mom took a deep breath, calming herself down. “I don't care whatever you say, Leonardo. You can accuse us however you want, but you're not in the position to tell us what to do. You're just a lowly gamma who can't even move on your own without your underlings. I hope you know your position and stop being so boastful.”

Gamma Leonardo seemed to have lost the will to play his game. Mom forced our way out of the place.

I could almost feel their eyes on our backs as we walked away. I heard Gamma Leonardo cursed under his breath, probably because he tasted his own medicine, and instead of humiliating us, he only made a fool out of himself.

We went back home. I know I'm already dead if not because of my mother. Those eyes show how much they want me to disappear. They no longer treat me as a member of the pack, and I can’t stay here anymore, or I'll die.

“I'm sorry, Tricia.” My mother wrapped me in a warm embrace. “But you have to leave as soon as possible. Your father did everything he could to save you, but you can't stay here and be treated as usual. You've ruined your belonging by killing Luna Asfara, so run, run as fast as you can, and go away before Alpha William wakes up and kills you.”

“But how about you? How about Dad?” I asked.

“Don't worry about us, darling. We can handle ourselves. What's more important is that you're safe, and there's only one way for you to become safe: go far away and never come back no matter what happens. You're going to live a long life, so don't waste it.” She kissed my forehead.

“Here. Take this with you for protection.” She gave me a necklace with a glowing sapphire pendant, and pushed me away. “Now go! They are coming!”

I didn't even have the chance to pack my things up, as everyone was coming to kill me. I had to run away as fast as I could, with nothing but the necklace my mother gave me and the robe. I ran through the dark woods, away from the place where I grew up. The pack were chasing after me with their torches. They were going to kill me, tie me up to a tree, and burn me down like I'm a witch.

I tripped more times than I could count, but I stood up and ran. It was a full moon, and the pack had probably transformed to their beast form, but I couldn't transform myself. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself again.

Tears streamed down my eyes as I ran. The surroundings blurred, and I didn't see the tree stump in front of me and stumbled hard. I heard the wolves howling. They are close. They are going to kill me. I have to run. I tried to stand up, but the bone in my leg was aching so hard. Then I heard harsh laughter and the leaves rustling.

“Look who's here,” a deep and gravelly voice said.

I looked back and saw Gamma Leonardo. Half of his body was in beast form, and the lower part was still human. He looks more terrifying than I expected. His eyes were red and filled with menace. He laughed harshly as he walked toward me.