STORMY WEATHER

RIONA'S POV 

Tree branches slapped and scratched me, searing my skin as I ran through the thick woods. 

I was never so sure Luna Stacy wanted me dead. Or worse. To have me ruined by the slaves.

I dared not look back. The wild laughter and howlings of my hunters were getting closer. It took everything I had to force my legs to keep moving, but my vision grew blurry. Each breath tasted of blood.

“Riona, you can't hide from us!” one of the men dragged his voice, taunting me.”

“Where are you, little puppy?”

“Let me show them the puppy they are looking for!” My wolf roared in me, fighting and scratching to come to the surface.. 

“No! Stay low! Elara!” I jumped over a frosted rock and slipped while struggling other push her down. The last thing I needed now is for them to know I wasn’t wolfless. 

The fact that I was never wolfless. 

Having this wolf was worse than being wolfless. She was a killer, a beast out of control, the beginning of all my misfortune. Elara must have heard my blame, for she whimped and finally shut up.

The woods seemed denser and darker as I ran. This is a good thing, which means it would be more difficult for them to find me. I would find a trunk or some place to spend the night, and hopefully, survive the night. 

I will be alright. I tried to comfort myself. See? The footsteps were no longer behind. The wood grew quiet. I slowed my pace and listened warily. Too quiet. No more food steps or taunting laughs, even the wrestling of the leaves turned into whispers.

I could feel my heart pumping in my chest.

Snap. A branch gave way somewhere like a gunshot in the silence.

“Run!” Elara roared, and I jumped to run as fast as I could. 

A large paw slammed on my back, I was smashed to roll in the cold, damp mud.

I hit the ground hard, “Argh!” The air in my lungs vanishing in a single, brutal gasp.

The sound of bones crackling behind me, and a rough hand grabbed my ankle.

“No! No! Let me go!” I kicked and screamed. Then a huge paw pressed on my back and squeezed the last draw of breath out of me.

I struggled to look up in tears and saw a filthy grey wolf. His breath, hot and humid, blasted against my face. I squirmed, trying to wiggle my way out.

He groaned, what like a mocking laugh, and then buried his sharp nails into my back, tore up my clothes like its made of paper, and cracked my skin as well.

The man who grabbed my ankle giggled, traced all the way up to the slit between my legs.

“No! Get off me! You can’t do this to me! You will be banished!” I screamed and kicked. The wolf on me shifted and slapped me across the face. 

“Shut up you bitch! Luna rewarded you to us.” 

My world spun with burning pain on my chin.

I curled in a fetal position, clinging to the remains of my clothes like the rags could shield me from the men.

“Strip yourself or we will fuck you with the sticks!” The men slapped and kicked, forcing me to spread up.

I cried and held myself tight. I could taste blood in my mouth mixed with tears. Darkness slowly crept in, and I knew I couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Mom,” I muttered hopelessly when Elara surged forward again, and I didn’t have the strength to hold her back this time.

“Enough!” A familiar feminine voice pierced my ears, snapping me out of the realms of shifting.

My pupils dilated and turned back to normal. “Mother!” I managed, in a shaky voice.

“Your mother was dead. I’m your Luna.” She said coldly, sizing me from head to toe, her lips straightened in a straight line. ” The corner of her eyes crinkled in a deep frown. Luna Stacy turned to stare at the man. “That’s enough for today.”

Elara growled, then buried herself deep. She can't face this woman, whose children she killed. I couldn't as well. But I forced myself to sit up, bared my neck to her, and looked at her boots. “Gross.” Her voice was soaked with disgust, seeing me no more than a curse.

This is how my pack sees me, how my father sees me. 

I was to be blamed for the miscarriage of her child, the heir of our pack.

“Alpha wants to see you in his office now. Clean up and go,” Luna Stacy stared down at me, “Don't try to play pity in front of him you slut.” 

“I won't,” I murmured. 

I struggled up and tried to cover my body with the rags on me. She dragged me up by the hair, and my body was exposed to the men around. 

I tried to cover myself while answering her, but she was not happy with it. She grabbed the hem of my clothes impatiently and ripped them off. Malice dripped off her tongue when she took my hair and pushed me to our pack house as if I were livestock, “Why bother? Scamper on, the Alpha hasn't got all day to wait for you.” Luna Stacy seethed through clenched teeth. 

She escorted me out of the woods, along with the naked slaves. They darted back to their clothes on the brink of the woods while I had nothing.

I was lower than a slave.

Being displayed like a whore in front of the whole pack.

That was when I saw it.

A menacing convoy of black SUVs I had never seen before was packed in front of the pack house. I froze. I wasn't just being paraded in front of my pack.

I was being displayed, like a whore. For the guests. For the outsiders.

Luna Stacy had me ruined.