EPISODE 9: POISONED

Serra's POV

She looked over her shoulder.

“Alpha, they will be such lovely boys.”

******

The woods were getting creepier, and the night was darker than I’d ever seen. I had never felt so scared before. The only time I ever came close was when I thought Kael would leave me.

“Lauren,” I called to my wolf. I had never called out to her in a moment of danger before. I always handled things on my own—but not this time. This time felt different. Delicate.

I’d never even shifted before. Never once set my wolf free. I didn’t know why. Maybe she didn’t want to be seen. I used to wonder if there was something special about us… but the more I thought about it, the more foolish I felt.

A lowly Omega, thinking she might be special? What a joke. I clamped my lips together, frustration simmering. She still wasn’t answering. Was she asleep?

It was just me, my wolf, the woods, and the carriage driver and that man gave me the creeps.

He hadn’t said a word since the ride began. Just sat there, stiffly riding the horse, silent. I wanted to peek outside, but the darkness, the howling of wolves—it all terrified me.

I hated the dark. It wasn’t something I wished on anyone, i didn't choose it, it chose me.

It reminded me too much of things I didn’t want to remember, things of the past.

But I was almost raped at seventeen, he still scares me, the male's voice.

It was echoing, and the dark I couldn't see a thing, it was the time I worked in the Alpha's home, and a pervert had taken liking to me.

On an event, he had lured me to his room, I had heard my sister was forcefully taken in, so I went in... but on getting there, the room was dark, I still shiver at the thoughts, it was a memory sacred in me.

She wasn't there! just a pervert, he had hugged my from behind and I felt it, his length poking me, was he naked?

I had tried to push him off but he was holding me too tight, he called a name, Mira's but I was too scared to dwell on it.

Finally I could free myself off him but then he became violent, slapped my cheeks when I resisted and dragged my legs on the floor, pinned me down and torn my dress, I had shivered, screamed at the top of my lungs for anyone to help....but nothing.

He wanted to rape me, and go scott free with it, men like him made me feel disgusted, and I reached out for the nearest object.

It was a bottle and smash, I cracked it on his head. He froze, and blood dripped.

He was now pissed off, his eyes darkened, his wolf form! he was changing, he had already freed me from his hold and like that, I rushed from the floor to the door.

He was done changing, the running of paws and claws on the wooden floor, 'Help' I cried inwardly.

He rushed towards me and I reached for the door, but then his claw seized my legs, I let out a painful scream, I would have been killed, but....

His gnwashing teeth raged at me ready to pounce, but.... then I felt nothing only a bang.. I looked up and there Kael was.

It was the first time I saw him, the first time I fell in love with him, things kicked off from there but here I was running and broken as always.

My thought snapped back to reality when the carriage suddenly stopped? Was happened, what was wrong?

I glanced around the carriage. Still nothing. Just the eerie silence and the driver’s quiet presence. He felt… off.

I called out, trying to mask the tremble in my voice. “Umm, are you there? Dri…ver?” No answer.

I swallowed hard. My heart pounded like a drum inside my chest.

“Hello?” I called louder. Still nothing.

I wasn’t even near the border of Red Moon Pack. I was far away. Too far. I shivered. This was bad.

The only sounds were hissing snakes, owl hoots, and distant wolf howls. What was going on? My instincts kicked in.

I wanted to run. Every bone in my body screamed at me to bolt. But my legs—goddess, they wouldn't move. They were stuck, frozen in place.

Then I heard it.

The sound of the driver stepping off the horse.

His footsteps approached the carriage slowly. I turned toward the side, peering out the curtain.

Why had he ignored me earlier? Why was he only moving now?

Something about this wasn’t right.

My body begged me to run, but I couldn’t move. My limbs were stiff and useless. Could it be a rogue attack? No... I would’ve heard growling, snarling—something animalistic. But all I heard was heavy, deliberate human boots.

Then I saw him. A strong hand reached for the curtain—

And that was my cue.

I jumped out and ran.

I could hear a low growl behind me, but I didn’t care. My legs took control. I didn’t know where I was going—goddess, where was the path to Red Moon Pack? Everything-my map, my food, my only supplies-was in the carriage.

I was running from a cursed past only to land in another disaster.

No. I wasn’t going to die out here. Not like this.

I had too much left to do. I had to make Kael feel the pain he put me through. I had to make my sister pay for her betrayal.

But my body was giving out.My legs started to slow. My pace faltered.

Then I heard it. From miles away—branches snapping, leaves crunching under fast-moving paws. Wolves. Several of them. Maybe a whole troop.

“Lauren, please snap out of it!” I screamed in desperation.

I was too weak. I couldn’t outrun them. And I didn’t even know who they were. But they weren’t rogues. Their movement was too synchronized, too clean.

My knees buckled beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground. My vision blurred. No. Not now. I couldn’t pass out. Not now.

Shapes emerged from the trees—wolves. All rushing toward me.

Then I heard her.

‘Serra… I’m weak. I can’t transform. I think someone poisoned us before we left…’ Lauren’s voice echoed in my mind, faint and strained.

Poisoned? My thoughts spiraled.

The chocolate. I had eaten some before I got into the carriage.Who would do this to me?

Was I going to die here… like this? No. Moon Goddess, please. I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t go. Not until I got justice.

Just before my eyes shut, I saw it—a boot.

A man’s.

And then, faintly, my wolf whispered:

“Mate.”

And I passed out cold.