Chapter 4: And Then She Was Gone

“Where the fuck have you been, Evadne?”

Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack, my father, immediately greeted my morning with his old-fashioned slap and hot-as-coffee scolding.

I lifted a hand to my face and rubbed my cheek. “I fell asleep in the forest.”

“You fell asleep?” he scoffed. “You ran away, Eva! You ran away from your own party and humiliated your own sister in front of the entire Moonflame Pack!”

“Elodie deserves it! She took my mate away from me and begged him to reject me. She even burned down my cottage—she tried to kill me last night, Father!”

            I didn’t hesitate to answer back to my father. Even when I know what will become of me, what it will result in.

Indeed, Alpha Marcus grabbed me by the hair and forced my head out the window, where it overlooked the entire packgrounds. The snow was no longer falling but the morning cold lingered. “You’re lucky the Alpha King didn’t show up and witnessed your fucking attitude last night!”

            A chuckle invaded the room.

“Well, what else do you expect from that woman, Father...” We both turned to the owner of the voice. I didn't see her when I entered my father's office. Elodie was sitting on our father’s throne-like chair as if she’s sure of it that she’ll inherit the title. She poured herself a glass of champagne and lifted it to me. “She killed your wife. Why should you be shocked that she humiliated your entire pack?”

I pointed a finger at her, “You. Bitch, shut up—”

Alpha Marcus whacked my hand that pointed at my sister and held his grip on my hair tighter. “Enough now, Evadne. You’ve done too much damage to this pack and family. You should be thankful the Alpha King wasn't here last night. If he was, all of the packs would know that you ran away from your own awakening party!”

“Well, I don’t care!” I roared.

My father sighed as he ran a hand on his hair and briefly let go of my hair. “Elodie is far stronger and more suitable to be Alpha Gregor’s mate and Luna than you, child.”

Child. Of course, that’s what I am to my father: a child to ridicule and beat and maim.

My sister suddenly stood from the chair and walked up to me. “I met him last year—on my eighteenth birthday. Alpha Gregor met me first, Eva. He fell in love with me first, not you. Most of all, he promised me to be his Luna first!”

I shook my head and spit on my sister’s face. She bared my teeth at me.

I shouted with all my heart, “If that’s the case then why did the Moon Goddess arrange us for fated mates?!”

“How should I know? Perhaps you bewitched, Alpha Greg,” Elodie drawled, “or perhaps he just joined whatever nonsense your mouth spewed out of pity. Perhaps you’re just drunk, Eva. Perhaps it was the wine talking and you mistaken him as your mate!”

“Did you really think that my wolf, Mara, is drunk too?” I bared my teeth at her.

“How should I know? You’re always weak.” She flashed me a mocking grin. “Who knows? You’re too weak to know the difference between a drunken stupor and a heartbreaking reality.”

“At least I didn’t whore myself around like you,” I countered. “Who knows? Perhaps you’re fucking father too.”

My father slaps the other side of my face. “Get out,” he whispered, his voice dripping with lethal calmness.

“I’m just pointing out the truth. Elodie always takes away the things that are rightfully mine like—like your love, Father...”

“Love?” Alpha Marcus choked on a laugh and grabbed my chin, his huge hand was one motion away from my throat to strangle me.

I swallowed as I gazed into the depths of his eyes, fear and anger swirling in my heart. I’ve made Alpha Marcus angrier today than any of the past weeks. I’m as good as a carrion now.

“Get out of my house. Get out of my pack.” There was a finality in his tone, and I didn’t dare fight him further.

“Father, I just want you to know—”

“Get out of my life and never return. Do not bother returning to my pack or life—not even in your sister’s life—ever again!”

The door opened with a couple of servants bearing my things as if they had planned this beforehand. It seems they really have a plan to remove me from their life the moment I turned eighteen.

“Fine, Father,” I spoke the last word with such disdain. “Goodbye.” It was a farewell to a daughter to her father and not a packmember to her Alpha.

            I didn’t bother throwing Elodie a look, whom I’m pretty sure is smirking as hell.

Sighing with a heavy heart, though part of me was quite relieved, I gathered my things and vanished through the door I know I will never step again.

***

The air felt heavier and colder here in the Moonflame Pack's borders, as if the heat and the warmth didn’t dare accompany me further beyond the borders.

I was about to set foot in the White Forest when a female voice interrupted my thoughts.

“I’ve told you, Eva girl. I always win.” Elodie’s victorious evil laugh echoed in my mind.

“You really mind-linked me to tell that?” I snorted. “How pathetic of you not to brag right in my face.”

A few moments of silence spanned between us. It seems she broke a few glasses in a fit of rage at my words before replying to me.

“Whatever, bitch. I still won. Alpha Gregor is mine. Our father chose me. You’re now gone from the pack, Evadne. And guess what? Our pack says you’re prettier than me but your little lovely doll face won’t save you this time. I hope you die in the cold and rot in the forest that even the Rogues won’t bother to fuck your corpse!”

I put my things down and screamed at that remaining mind-linked bond between me and my sister. Every anger and pain and fury all those years ago, I shouted down at that mind-linked bond towards her.

“You’ll pay in blood, you bitch!” I mirrored her hair-raising laugh. “You’ll pay in blood, Elodie. I’ll make you pay in blood even if you’re my sister, you fucking ugly whore!”

With that, I, Evadne, formerly from the Moonflame Pack, stepped into the snowy forest—and never glanced back behind me.