CHAPTER 4: Stepping Into The Unknown 

(Isabel’s POV)

I could feel the echo rattling in my bones as the gates slammed behind me. Darkness engulfed me, and a cold, sharp wind ripped at my flesh. I had nothing to protect my feet, no lantern to guide me, and neither food nor warmth... Just me, naked and broken, pushed into the icy woods outside the kingdom I once called home.

I was destined to be Luna. Rather than being respected, protected, and honored, I was abandoned to wander aimlessly; my body was moving, but my soul faded with each step.

 Every stride was painful and filled with regret, serving as a constant reminder that I had been banished and that nothing would ever be the same. My muscles screamed with each ragged breath, and my ribs ached, but I forced myself to move forward. I had no plan, no destination, and nothing mattered anymore. I wasn't walking to stay alive but to bury the emotions. 

After hours of walking, I had traveled a considerable distance and the pain in my legs became so severe that it outweighed the ache in my chest, reducing the mate bond that had once burned with heat to nothing more than icy dullness. My tears froze on my cheeks, sharp and salty, and mixed with the frost that bit at my skin, bringing me closer to numbness.

I fell to the ground by the river's edge, where the moonlight reflected cruelly on the water. I lay there for hours, possibly longer, letting the cold seep into my bones and the weight of everything crushed me. My mind replayed every mistake in vivid detail, and questions flooded my mind. Why had I gone into the cellar? Everything seemed suspicious from the start, just as Lucy had warned, but I hadn't listened.

Why did I drink the cursed wine? Perhaps none of this would have happened if I hadn't. 

And Lucy... What did Camela have against her that prompted her to be so cruel to me? I was furious with Camela for what she had done and with myself for being so gullible. 

My life had become a cruel joke, and somewhere, some callous god was undoubtedly laughing at my downfall, at how completely isolated and powerless I had become, and I kind of wished I had passed away that night. 

My entire being ached from the weight of betrayal and loss, which drew me to it. However, in that moment of despair, a spark of determination ignited within me. I realized that the only way to reclaim my narrative was to rise from the ashes and confront the challenges head-on, refusing to be a mere spectator in my story. But the moon had different plans for me. Relentlessly and stubbornly, its cold, silver light poured over me, clinging me to the world I wanted to leave behind.

----

I woke up to a strange heat pressing against me; it wasn't the sun or fire, it was a strong, unfamiliar arm that held me in place. My chest tightened with fear as I jerked upright, my heart racing and every nerve screaming.

"Easy..." said a deep, gruff voice that was tinged with authority and had a touch of humor. "...You would have died by now if I had intended to harm you."

I blinked in an attempt to get rid of the fog that was obscuring my vision. 

He sat a short distance away, tall and broad, with a dark cloak hanging over him and snow catching in his jet-black hair. A jagged scar ran across his cheekbone, sharp and warning, as if daring anyone to confront him.

"Who are you?" I croaked with a raw throat. "The name is Lucian," he answered in a steady, composed tone. "I share your werewolf identity." With stiffness and pain in every movement, I attempted to push myself upright.

“Why did you help me?” Still frightened, I asked. 

Lucian gave a shrug as though the threat didn't exist. "You might have passed away if I hadn't. The wild does not abide by the rules established by your pack. Aside from werewolves, there are other hostile creatures out here." 

A tangle of emotions coiled inside me as I stared at him. One part of me wanted to be grateful for his assistance, while another was outraged that I needed to be rescued.

He gave me a flask of water, which I drank lustily, feeling astonished by how dry my throat had become and the cold liquid putting out some of the fire within me.

We sat in silence for a long time, with the world around us muffled and still. Then he spoke, breaking the silence.

"I think we should move. There is no safety here; anything could happen at any moment."

He stood tall and steady and held out his hand to me.

"I have no idea what you've been through...or how you got here. But I can take you to a safer place. What do you say?” With my heart pounding in my chest, I hesitated, my fingers lingering over his extended hand. Every ounce of caution in me struggled against the pull of trust. I took a deep breath and finally let my hand slide into his; perhaps this was my chance to live, to start over. 

As we stood there, an unspoken promise hung in the air between us, igniting a spark of hope. I could feel the warmth of his grasp enveloping me, urging me to take that leap into the unknown.

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Lucian guided me along the untamed, meandering trails of thick woods, high hills, and even a chilly, swift river. I followed despite not knowing where we were going, holding onto the shaky hope that perhaps, just possibly, this journey would bring me to a place where I could start over. 

We came across a few creatures along the way, their eyes gleaming in the darkness, but Lucian guided me to hiding places before they could see us. He moved with ease, almost like a guide, describing the perils of this wild world and explaining the monsters we encountered, including ghouls, wendigos, and others whose mere names made my skin crawl. I had never seen such creatures before, and their forms and movements were more terrifying than I could have imagined.

The experience made me realize how difficult it would have been for me to get through this on my own. I felt a surge of gratitude for Lucian, even though I didn't express it. We didn't talk much, and my mind was still caught up in the dark web of my exile, reliving all the treacherous choices and betrayals that had led me to this point.

We traveled a long distance and eventually arrived at a camp tucked away in the woods.

My stomach twisted with unease the moment we stepped inside. I noticed wolves, humans, priestesses, and other creatures shackled in cages and chains. The majority of them were men, and they fixed their gaze on us with intensity. The strange glint in their eyes appeared sharp and calculating, leaving me unsettled and wondering what kind of place he had led me to. 

"Hello, Jabor. "I was surprised to see you so quickly," one of the men said as he came toward us. 

Jabor? I felt my stomach tighten. I believe he mentioned Lucian as his name. I courteously watched them while he whispered to the man who was still staring at me. Everything about their conversation seemed strange, and I began to feel uneasy.

"Thank you for bringing me this far, Lucian, but I believe I should continue my journey from here," I said, turning to leave without waiting for a response.

 After only one step, I felt a strange impact that caused my skull to explode in pain, and I fell to the ground. I struggled to get up, dazed, but a rough hand grabbed my hair and jerked me to my feet, and my wrists were bit by the cold, jagged chains. I tried to summon my wolf powers but failed, leaving me weak, exhausted, and terrified.

"preserve your strength. The chains have been enchanted." "You won't be able to shapeshift," Jabor warned.

You, traitor!" I screamed furiously while staring at him.

 A rough hand yanked my hair and dragged me to the floor. I screamed and struggled, but a sharp slap took my breath away. He bit me with cold metal, treating me like livestock, then slammed me into a cage and tightly locked the door. The sound of the metal clanging echoed and I could feel my heart racing as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.

"Be careful. Don't ruin the goods," one of the slavers warned. 

"So, how much for her?" The slave owners asked.

Jabor tilted his head as he spoke, his eyes glimmering with greed. "Ten devil stones."

The slave owner snorted."She isn't worth that." Four should be enough.

"Too low," Jabor countered, remaining composed. "Eight."

"Six, final offer," the slave's owner declared.

Jabor gave a nod of agreement. "Deal.” 

They bargained over me as though I were a commodity to be bought in the marketplace, and I felt nauseous when one of the slavers handed him the coins to seal the deal. I was sold, and I had a price.

"As always, it's been a pleasure doing business with you," Jabor told the slave owner in an unsettlingly calm tone.

He looked at me and said, "As promised, I've brought you somewhere better. "Isn't it lovely?” He chuckled and turned to leave, but then stopped.

"I'm not the villain, Isabel; this is the way it is out here, and you will eventually die anyway, so making a little profit beforehand isn't so bad, is it?” He said and left without looking back, leaving me trembling and filled with humiliation and anger. 

The realization hit me like a cold wave, and the faces of my captors faded into a haze of fear, causing me to wonder what awaited me in this new and uncertain life. My freedom was no longer mine to claim, and I was desperate to find a way out of this nightmare.