CHAPTER TWO

Violet’s pov

I didn't stop running until I reached the first town I could find.

It was a smart move but it was also very stupid. I was over exhausted and sleep-deprived and my stomach wouldn't stop growling.

My bare feet scraped against the ground as I trudged towards the smell of warm bread.

The bell clinked as I pushed the door in. It was warm and filled with lots of people but it reeked of sweat, desperation and liquor! 

Liquor? I panicked. Where did the smell of bread come from? 

Did my mind play tricks on me? Nevermind, it did. 

I heaved a lazy sigh and turned to leave when a voice hollered at me.

I turned back and my eyes locked on green ones. It was the barmaid and she was smiling. 

“You look like you could use a drink. Come on in.” She said,

I looked around the bar for who she was talking to but she pointed at me.

“Yeah. I'm talking to you, Blondie. C’mere.” She smiled.

I gulped nervously. This wasn't exactly the kind of place you could ask questions or get attention but my feet hurt and I was tired and hungry. Here was a lovely lady offering me a free meal. If it was poisoned, at least I would have something in my stomach before I meet my maker.

I slipped into a stool at the farthest corner of the counter, my hands trembling. 

“Hey, Blondie.” The middle-aged brunette passed me a bowl of freshly made soup and a piece of bread. My mouth watered at the sight. 

She caught me drooling at the food and added a mug to the side. “There you go. You can dig in.”

Without hesitation, I tore at the bread and ate to my heart's content. When I was done, I asked for seconds and the lady gave them to me. I was happy I was being fed but a part of me prayed she wouldn't put it on my tab.

“It's on the house.” She said, as though reading my mind.

“Thanks.” I said with a mouthful.

I finished the rest of the meal and sipped a glass of beer. Wasn’t exactly my first time taking one but my first time not stealing it to take it.

The barmaid leaned in closer. “You’ve come a long way, haven't you?”

Images of the cannibals and the armed strangers flashed through my mind and I shook my head. I reached out to another glass and downed it all in one gulp, welcoming the burn.

It was whiskey.

“It's okay, kid,” The woman patted my head. “It isn't my first time meeting runaways. You're welcome to stay here for the night if you don't have a place to stay.”

Runaways? That was clearly what I was but for her to spell it out for people to hear infuriated me.

“I'm not a runaway!” I hissed.

“Bartender, whiskey!” A customer called out.

“Here.” The woman passed me another glass and went to take the man's order.

I sank in my seat, nuzzling the glass of whiskey in my hand when a man sat down beside me.

I felt his eyes on me and shifted uncomfortably to give him a sign to stop ogling but that didn't put him off.

Instead, he was still staring at me. This time with amusement in his eyes.

I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to it.

“You look like you've been through hell,” he said.

“And you look like you belong in it.” I shot back.

He chuckled. “Fair enough.”

I turned slightly to look at him, sweeping my gaze over him. He had dark brown hair, sharp features and body any woman would drool over. One thing was certain: he was a lady's man. I could tell from the accessories he had on him .  The silver ring in his index finger, the dark tattoos on his exposed arms and the silver necklace…

I picked my eyes. Where had I seen that necklace before? 

He cleared his throat. “Checking me out already?”

I coughed. “You wish.”

“Ah. That's what they all say.” He smiled and my heart skipped a beat.

He was dangerously handsome and I didn't want to stop staring at him.

I told myself I should've ignored him. 

I told myself to leave him alone.

But I didn't listen.

Maybe, it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the weight of everything crashing down on me but when his fingers brushed against mine, the pain I felt earlier numbed and all I felt was butterflies.

The man, I'll call him black shirt, drew me closer and murmured behind my ears. “One night, no names.”

My heart pounded in my chest. This was stupid. It was reckless but…

When we pulled away and I stared into his eyes, I told myself for once in my life I wanted to feel something other than pain. 

I nodded and told him to take me somewhere away from the noise and he did.

*****

I've heard Alpha King Logan mention something about “Regret comes in the morning” when he was advising Mira. Like her, I thought he wasn't making sense but now, I've fucked up, I now know regret comes in the morning.

Sunlight streamed through the transparent window, bruning against my closed eyelids. 

My head pounded and my body ached. 

“Ah.” I winced as I shifted.

That moment when I moved, I felt it, a familiar warmth behind me.

My eyes flew open and I feared they would get any wider. 

Horror stared back at me – sheets, bare skin, a man lying behind me, his face relaxed in his sleep.

Panic surged through me.

Holy shit!

What the heck had I done?

I scrambled out of the bed as if it was on fire. 

My body moved on autopilot, grabbing my clothes and bolting out the door.

No names. 

No freaking second thoughts.

I had to get the heck out of there. 

And fast.

I did. I retraced my steps back to the pack.

The packhouse was quiet when I slipped in. Thank heavens.

I punched my dress at my side and turned to the stairs. My feet had barely touched the stairs when a loud voice cut through the quiet.

“Well, well, well… if it isn't the little night wanderer.”

My stomach flipped.

It was Mira.

How did she find me?

“Turn around!” She yelled.

I nearly shushed her but remembered what happened last time I did that — she had hit me dead in the face with her fist. 

Slowly, I turned to face her. She was standing behind me with her arms crossed over her chest. 

Beside her were her four ever-present followers giggling with their hands  over their mouths as though my presence was some kind of joke to them.

Mira stepped closer. “Where did you sneak off last night? And..” She swept her gaze over me. “Why'd you crawl back like a stray dog?”

My fists tightened at my sides but I kept a neutral look on my face. Responding to Mira would only give her more ammunition.

Before I could answer, Mira wrinkled her nose. “Ew… you smell like the woods?”

“Yeah. She does.” One of her followers said. 

Mira narrowed her eyes on me. “Do you roll in the dirt or something? Or…”

She dropped her voice to a low whisper. “Were you out there looking for your real parents?” 

My chest tightened when she mentioned my parents. How dare she! 

A smirk curled up her lips when she got an irritated look from me. “Keep up.with this attitude and no Alpha will ever claim —”

A howl echoed through the air, cutting her off.

Suddenly, everything stilled for a brief second before the packhouse suddenly came alive. Footsteps began above us and doors began to creak open.

What was happening?

A voice boomed from outside followed by the blow of a loud horn. “His Majesty and Her Highness have arrived!” 

Alpha King Logan and Queen Madeline. Here?

My gut-feeling told me this was the beginning of something bad.