Chapter Four

{Two days Earlier}

Elissa

The air is thick, putrid, and suffocating. The only source of light is the leaking broken pipe; otherwise, it would be completely dark down here.

Gamma Worin opens one of the cells in the dungeon and throws me inside. I fall onto the wet ground, my head hitting the wall as a whimper escapes my lips when pain shoots through me.

I break down when the loud clank of chains and locks echoes through the space, followed by the sound of receding footsteps.

I am alone.

I am hated by my own pack.

Tears blur my vision. My heart feels like it has been shredded and discarded for the vultures to feed on, and my whole body trembles as the cold in the rotten cell seeps into my skin through my thin, torn dress.

What did I do to deserve this?

How could I have been so carried away that I didn't notice the Beta...

Lucian...

I sob for what feels like hours until my voice breaks, lying on the disgusting ground as I reflect on all the times I missed the signs. Those subtle clues that they never liked me as much as they claimed or pretended to.

Even Candice.

My throat is sore.

So is the organ in my ribcage.

I try lifting my aching body off the ground, but I can't even move.

I don't have a wolf.

I shut my eyes and let the tears flow.

It's useless.

I shouldn't try fighting.

They're going to kill me anyway.

Mom's words echo in my head.

"Whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation, pray to the Moon Goddess. She sees all. She hears all."

Can she see me right now, being stripped of my title?

Can she hear me crying now?

Everything hurts like hell. I manage to crawl to the wall, though resting my back against it is a huge feat in my current condition.

The sound of approaching footsteps catches my attention, but the moment his smug face comes into view, I turn the other way.

"Come on, aren't you happy to see me, baby?" he mocks.

"You should be ashamed of yourself. You and your father, trying to take what isn't yours," I grit out, trying to control my emotions, but seeing him only makes me even more heartbroken.

Lucian laughs, running his fingers through his shiny blond hair. He gives me a sinister smile. Unlike the one I used to know, this one is darker.

I was completely fooled.

"You poor thing. I've always wanted to see you like this. Broken and forgotten. It was satisfying to watch the pack turn against you in the blink of an eye. Their princess of the pack. They didn't even try to question my father. All we had to do was control what they saw." He tilts his head, his eyes tracing my exposed skin.

"Don't worry. There's still time to fuck you. If I'd known you would throw a tantrum like that when you saw me fucking Candice, I would've done it sooner," he tuts.

Rage simmers inside me.

But his words still make tears stream down my cheeks.

"You're a monster. I should have known." My voice breaks, and I look away.

"You were too busy playing with flowers and staying locked in your tower. While you smiled at the people and waved, I waited. I plotted. Waiting for this day was excruciating. I wanted us to act immediately, but Father insisted on taking our time and gaining your trust. Clever man, I'll give him that. And that look on your face when the pack rejected you... it was worth it. I wish I could go back in time just to see that look again. Broken. In pain. Dejected."

He sniffs the air, his lips curling into a scornful smirk.

"And those tears... I can't wait to rip those clothes off you and see what's underneath. Will you make those pretty noises for me while I take you apart? Or will you fight? I'll take what I want either way. Maybe I'll make Candice watch too."

To say I'm disgusted is an understatement.

I'm even more disgusted by the fact that I was in love with him.

"I can't believe I wanted us to be mates. You are beyond heartless," I spit.

"Oh, don't be sad. Your wolf refused to come out. It would've been fun if you were my mate. I wouldn't have even bothered going through all this. I would've married you and rejected you after taking over as Alpha. But you're not my mate. Candice is. You were just a placeholder. A means to an end. You're useless now. Weak. Unfit to be Luna."

He counts my defects on his fingers.

"Are you done?" I glower at the bastard.

"Not yet. The ritual has been delayed. I'll take my time with you before then because you won't survive it. We'll have so much fun. Maybe I'll even let my friends join us too."

He winks at me.

What used to make my heart flutter now makes me imagine tearing him to pieces.

He leaves cackling, and I weep for the stupid girl who thought life would be easy with this beast as her partner. The girl who was grateful to the Beta and his wife, thinking they cared for her like their own.

The girl who believed in love, who believed her pack would always adore her and stand by her. The girl who befriended her maid and treated her like a sister. The girl who was living in her own delusions.

The girl I was.

I don't even have anyone on my side, no one to count on. I had only kept Candice close, along with Lucian and his family.

I thought they were all I needed. My boyfriend, his parents who looked after me, and my best friend.

How foolish of me.

I don't know how I managed to fall asleep, but I wake up to the faint sound of footsteps.

My heart skips a beat.

Whoever is coming doesn't want me to know they're here.

Are they going to kill me before the ritual?

Did they change their mind?

I sit up, trembling with fear as the footsteps get closer, my mouth dry when I see who it is.

"Your Highness," Espen calls in a whisper.

I'm stunned to see one of my old maids outside my cell. She isn't carrying food or water, but a bunch of keys.

Hope blooms in my chest.

"What's going on?" I gulp.

"I'm going to get you out of here," she says as she unlocks the cell, the rattle of chains echoing through the dungeon.

What?

"How did you find me?" I ask, confused.

"I know these dungeons like the back of my hand. I can get you out of the pack through the tunnels. Make sure you run as far away as you can. I already took care of the Beta and his family. Everyone is fast asleep," she replies, and a surge of relief and gratitude floods through me.

She is risking her life for me, and I feel guilty for never acknowledging her before. I only ever paid attention to Candice.

She unlocks the door completely and rushes inside to help me up. I wince, ignoring the pain in my ribs.

We make our way out of the stinking cell, and she leads me down an unfamiliar path instead of the one leading outside.

"I got you supplies that will last for some time. I need you to go far away, somewhere they won't be able to find you. When I overheard the horrible plans they had for you, I just couldn't..." She trails off before continuing, "You were always so kind to me. I couldn't let them torture my Luna like that. Your parents took me in, and I owe them my life."

I nod, emotion clogging my throat.

"Thank you. I owe you my life, Espen."

"No, it's okay. What they're doing isn't right. I saw the signs. I wanted to tell you, but..."

"It's fine. I should have known."

I was just stupid.

We reach another door. I have no idea it is even here in the first place. A bag lies beside it, and she steps away to pull a dress out of it.

I change out of the filthy, torn dress and thank her as she helps me clean my wounds and wipe away the dried blood. After drinking some water, I can finally breathe properly again.

She opens the door, but a sound echoes from the direction we came.

Her eyes widen.

"There are healing salves in the bag. You need to go now. Live among humans if you can, just don't let them drag you back," she pleads before pulling me into a hug.

"Why don't you come with me?" I offer, knowing she's going to be in so much trouble.

I might never see her again.

"I can't. I need to stay. Just know that I'll do anything to help, and I'm always going to be on your side. I am, and so are the others. Come back stronger someday to claim what's rightfully yours."

We exchange our farewells. I wave one last time and begin my journey while she stays behind to lock the door.

Maybe the Moon Goddess is listening after all.

How am I going to survive the wild?

The rogues?

Will Espen's sacrifice be for nothing?