Madness

Veil.

The scent of antiseptic hit my nose.

I’m dreaming…

It has to be.

My eyes twitch, fluttering open and pinning on the white ceiling above me. My body aches terribly.

Am I in the other realm? I can’t help but wonder.

However, the distorting sound of machines in the background and the pain I feel crush the theory forming in my mind.

I flit my eyes nervously around me, and everything makes sense.

I’m not on the other side, but rather in the infirmary. The place that has become my home for the past few years.

But how did I end up here this time?

I struggle to rise up, but to my shock, my right hand is shackled to the bed with a handcuff. Dread pools through me.

What’s going on?

I wrack my brain for answers, and slowly, the memories flood back into my mind.

Ryder’s betrayal, the rejection. His open affairs with his omegas. The pain he caused me.

My wolf, goddess.

I reach inside me for the bond I’ve with my wolf, but it’s not there. She’s gone.

Tears sting the back of my eyes, the loss weighing heavily on me.

How is it possible that I’m still alive if my wolf is gone?

This doesn’t make sense, and the more awake I become, the more tears pelt down my face.

I’ve suffered many losses just because I cherish my bond with Ryder because I want to remain with my fated mate.

It was during my first pregnancy that Ryder started showing his true colors. He’d whoop me before the pack until I passed out. He called it his ‘evening drill,’ and his pack members would pay and gather around to watch the show.

They’d ridicule me and encourage what Ryder’s doing.

I had my first miscarriage then.

I had hoped things would change if he found out I was with his child, but it was lame of me to think that.

Ryder didn’t change; he got worse.

He used me to make money despite everything I’ve done for him. I handed over my properties to him, the ones I inherited after my mother married Alpha Moon of the Moonbloom pack.

All that and yet, he remained a beast to me, feeding off me until there’s nothing left.

I don’t even know why I’m alive. I’d rather be dead than be here for these things to continue.

It already has, given the way he has imprisoned me in this hospital bed.

I huff, wringing my hand shackled to the bed just to see if I can free myself, but that doesn’t work.

The door creaks open, and I look, hopeful for some intervention, but instead, Ryder comes in along with the doctor.

A dark smile lit up his face upon seeing me awake.

“Ahh, finally. It took you seventy-two hours to wake up. What a bad behavior!” He clicks his tongue, appearing displeased.

My hope thins, morphing into fear. A powerful one.

Ryder inches further to the bed, his hand tucked into his pocket as he examines me.

“Lunas are meant to be powerful, Veil. But you? You’re a far cry from a powerful Luna…”

Anger bubbles inside me. I writhe my shackled hand more as I watch him. “You already rejected me.” I grit out through the sweat gathering on my pores.

His eyes roll. “Yeah, my best decision ever. I don’t even know why it took me so long to do that.”

“Then let me go!” I hiss, my heart galloping just as my breath.

A crease forms between his brows. He inclines his head toward me. “Let you go? No way. You’re still very useful to me. In fact, more useful to me than anyone else in this pack.”

What is he talking about?

He notices the confusion on my face and barks a laugh. “Oh, you possibly don’t know what you are, do you?”

My face reddens. I don’t care what he’s talking about. I just want him to let me go.

I want freedom.

“You’re not going to get anything from me, Ryder. I won’t give you anything again!”

That earns me a snort.

“Ah, I expected that.” He waves aimlessly at me. “Regardless, I’ll take all I need from you, Veil. That’s why Diego here is preparing something special that will keep you tied in this pack forever…”

I swallow thickly, unsure of what he’s talking about.

What does he mean he’s going to keep me here forever?

He cuts through my thoughts, adding proudly. “And you won’t be in your right senses.”

“No…you can’t do that.” I let out, my eyes darting to Diego. “He’s joking, right?” He can feel the desperation bleeding through my voice, and Ryder feeds off it.

“I wish I were, Veil. Diego and his team developed a new compound that drives wolves feral. Guess what? You’ll be our first prototype. After that, you’ll remain in this pack forever, serving your purpose.”

I squirm on the bed, not just from fear but from frustration.

No!

I can’t let him do this to me.

I need to run.

Ryder notices and drops his next words like a bomb. “You can’t escape, Veil. I’ve made sure of it.”

He pulls away and faces Diego, looking down at his umber-toned face. “Finish up with the compound, Diego. We’ll experiment with her by Sunrise.”

“Yes, alpha.” Diego bows respectfully to him and leaves.

Tension weaves inside me as Ryder looks back at me. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Veil. It’s the last moment you’ll ever be in your right mind. By morning…” a sinister smile appears on his face. “You’ll become feral. A mad woman.”

“Ryder!! Nooo!! Please, don’t do this to me!!” I yelp through dreadful tears.

He ignores me, striding to the door.

“Ciao, Veil.” He winks, waves his fingers at me, and walks through the door, slamming it shut; it rattles my veins.

A sudden gloomy wave hit me.

What have I done to myself?

I should’ve listened to my mother. I shouldn’t have chosen my mate over Alpha Moon’s family.

But it’s too late.

Love blinded me, and now I’m paying a huge price for it.

Regardless, I pull harder on the handcuff, the movement hurting my wrist. I’m going to run mad by dawn, and no one is coming to save me.

The situation on the ground robs me of sleep.

I’m wide awake, watching the clock ticking like a time bomb on the nightstand.

It’s twelve a.m., completely dark outside. My head slumps between my shoulders as I sob, feeling wounded. Broken.

Several hours passed, my face soaked, my dress soiled.

However, by four in the morning, the door flutters open. My body trembles, already certain it’s them.

I try to scream, but someone clamps a hand over my mouth, muffling the sound trying to escape from me.

“It’s me, Luna.”

My eyes flutter at that familiar voice.

Gabe, Ryder’s younger brother and gamma.

“Don’t talk.”

I do as he says, holding in my breath while he removes his hand from my mouth.

Gabe rounds the bed until he’s facing me.

He pulls out a bunch of keys, selects one in particular, and begins to work it into the handcuff.

“Gabe?” I whisper, a surge of warmth in my chest.

Gabe and I were never really on talking terms since I came to this pack. He’s always distant and focused on his duties. So, I’m surprised he’s helping me.

“You need to leave before Ryder wakes up.” He whispers, pulling the shackle away from my hand. I rub at the ache in my wrist, watching him. “This is your only chance at escape, or else you’ll become a victim of his…madness.”

Adrenaline courses through me at his words, and I lunge to my feet, eyes on him.

Wordlessly, Gabe checks the hallway, and when he notices it’s clear, he beckons me forward.

Together, we make it out of the hospital discreetly, diving into the darkness outside as it provides me the cover I need to escape from the Ghostriver pack.

There’s only one place in my mind— the Moonbloom pack. The place that was once my home until I chose to turn my back on them in the name of love.

Maybe they’ll take me back if they see me, or maybe not. I just have to try. Whatever the outcome, I’ll face it.

Hence, I head south as the pounding of paws and howls of Ryder’s men resonate in the air.

He has found out that I’ve escaped.

Tbc.