Betrayal and Escape

Zara

I ran deeper into the forest, heartbroken and struggling to breathe. My wolf Nova was furious - not only because Marcus, her fatal mate and heir to a billion-dollar werewolf empire, had cheated on me with another wolf, but also because of my mother's shocking response.

Instead of comforting her daughter, my mother suggested that I agree to become Marcus's concubine, sharing him with his new chosen mate for the sake of their pack's alliance with his wealthy Sterling Industries.

I didn't stop until I was deeper into the forest, my lungs burning from lack of oxygen.

My wolf Nova was furious.

At first, she was hesitant about Marcus, but eventually she was convinced. She thought he was our mate, too. While I was heartbroken and fighting back tears, Nova was seething.

Nova wanted revenge on both Marcus and my mother, but I begged her not to hurt them. I closed my eyes and let her take over, making her promise not to go and hunt Marcus, my mother, or his mate.

The betrayal cut deeper than the bond of a mate—my mother choosing pack politics and money over her daughter’s dignity.

Nova carried us deeper into the forest, and I let myself be drawn into the deepest recesses of her mind. My mind was still racing over what had just happened, wanting to shut everything off for a few moments. I couldn’t handle it.

Hours had passed, but I barely noticed. I dozed off while Nova hunted and kept running.

I finally came to my senses as soft grass tickled my bare back. The familiar scent of herbs filled the air. Basil, lavender, and mint invaded my nose and soothed my aching heart.

We ran for hours until we found ourselves at the Moonstone Warrior Academy, an elite supernatural academy hidden deep in the mountains, far from the corporate politics of the werewolves. I had heard of this place, where broken wolves were sent to be forged into weapons, where the weak became deadly.

The wolf commander led me into the academy and sat me down by the fireplace.

“Tell me what happened?” The commander sat down next to me, placing clean clothes in my lap.

And I told him. I poured out my heart to him for what felt like hours. The commander never once threw my mistake in my face, the way my mother would have.

“I don’t want to go back. I can’t face them.” I sniffled.

“Then you’re not coming back. You’re staying here with me.” When the Academy’s director, Commander Steel, saw my tear-stained face and heard my story—the betrayal, the concubine’s proposal, the choice between love and money—he accepted me immediately. “You will train here,” he stated grimly. “We will make sure no one makes you feel powerless again.”

A year later:

“Haha!” I laughed, flying into the air. I dodged the muscular arms that reached out to grab me.

I fell to the ground, dodging the limbs and throwing my blows as I went.

“Good Zara, don’t let me throw any punches,” Steel’s tired voice cried.

“Just a few more seconds. He’s getting tired,” Nova encouraged.

I continued to dodge Steel’s every move, throwing my blow at me. I could feel him breaking, tiring, and throwing everything he had at me.

“Now!” Nova screamed in my head.

I suddenly jumped on Steele, his eyes widened in shock before he could defend himself. He turned away as if he was going to run. I landed on his back and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing on his windpipe.

After a second or two of hesitation, I jumped off his back and beamed at him.

"That was a good job, kid." He nodded approvingly.

"Thank you," I smirked, finally getting the better of him.

He rolled his eyes and frowned at me, "Don't get cocky. You still need to work on your strength."

"I know, I know. Just give me this win." I sighed, smiling at my wolf. I lived at the Moonstone Warrior Academy for a year, undergoing the most brutal supernatural combat training.

I trained daily in advanced werewolf warfare, tactical combat, supernatural weaponry, and psychological warfare. Under the tutelage of Commander Steele and the elite instructors, I transformed from a brokenhearted girl into a deadly warrior.

I became stronger, faster, and deadlier, channeling the pain of Marcus' betrayal and my mother's cruel suggestion into an unstoppable force.

Life at the academy was amazing. I spent my birthday at the academy. I barely interacted with my family - my mother constantly pressed me to reconcile with Marcus, insisting that his billions made him worth sharing. My father supported my choices, and my brother Ryan was barely in touch, busy with pack matters and politics.

"Zara, dear. Your brother is waiting on the line for you!" Steele said, placing a sandwich in my hand as I walked into the house.

"Hello?" I said, my mouth full of a sandwich. Why would Ryan call me?

"Zara? I have news." His voice answered from the other end, much lower than usual.

"What happened?" I frowned, sitting on the arm of the couch, munching on a sandwich.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

“Mom’s dead, Zara,” he answered, his voice hoarse.

I felt my face twist in confusion. How could Mom be dead? Everything had seemed normal when Dad called me every week.

“W-what? How?” I demanded.

“Our mother died, apparently in a car accident during a business meeting with rival werewolf corporations. Just… Just come home, Zara.” He didn’t explain much, just said that our pack was in crisis and our father needed me home.

“Okay.” I sighed. The last thing I wanted was to go home. The thought of running into Marcus or his mate left a sour taste in my mouth.

I told Steele the news. As much as he disliked my mother, he was still sad to hear about what had happened.

“What happened to your mother?” He said sadly.

“He said he wanted to explain in person. He said my father needed me.” I frowned at him.

I didn’t want to go back, especially knowing Marcus and his mate were still prominent in their social circles. But Commander Steele insisted I go, saying I was ready to face my past as a trained warrior. “You’re not the weak girl who ran away anymore,” he told her. “Show them what a year at Moonstone Academy makes.”