Chapter 3

ANARA’s POV

"Seraphis! Seraphis!" I called; my heart was throbbing, and I could hear it beat so loudly in my head.

I couldn't afford to lose her; she wanted me to run away, but to where exactly? Where was I supposed to go? I have basically lived my life hidden, as a maid. I've barely seen the pack at large. Where was I supposed to run?

"Seraphis, if you can hear me, I really need you," I called to her again. Tears started to fall freely as I said, huddled up on the cold floor. I hit my chest repeatedly, hoping the

throbbing pain would stop, but it didn't. I was just rejected by my mate, and now my only companion won't respond to me.

"Run Ana, you're in danger; leave the Nightveil pack!" This warning echoed and I sprang up, immediately wiping my tears and grabbing whatever tangible thing I owned and shoving it into a dusty old sack at the corner of the room. I owned absolutely nothing, so packing took less time than I predicted.

My eyes welled with sadness and grief. I grabbed the bag and placed it over my shoulder, softly opening the door so I wouldn't make any noise that might lead me to getting caught. As I followed the path with my eyes on the floor, a shadow was cast over me.

at once, robbing me of whatever little light the tiny bulbs in my room brought me from.

“And where are you going, witch?” lyra screamed, and I fell to the ground. The beat of my heart instantly tripled.

"I don't think that's any of your business." I whispered (it was the first time I'd ever spoken to her or anyone with that much courage), never said them with that much courage before. I was really proud of my undetectable source of bravery.

I scrambled back to my feet and I staggered for a few seconds from how weak my legs where and the pain on my head. Our drooping eyes locked with her fiery ones; she was probably going to kill me once and for all.

"You are rather taken with forgetting your place," she sneered, keeping just the right amount of distance between us. "What gave you the impression that you could talk to me like that?"

I remained silent, not knowing what to say next. I just wanted to get out of there before the guards came looking for their perfect, pretty princess.

“Out of my way Lyra!” I snorted, and she giggled, her eyes wide in disbelief, completely taken aback by my brazenness.

"After attempting to steal my mate?" She began to close the distance between us. My fists and jaw tightened at the mention

of the word "my mate." The only thing I could call my own was taken away, and I couldn't do anything about it.

I was running out of patience; I had to get away from the pack. I tried calling Seraphis again, but there was still no response.

"So you finally got your wolf, huh?" She paced.

"At least something good can come out of your existence," she announced. Normally, I would be pained by her choice of words, but I've heard those harsh words too many times to be bothered.

"You don't need me; you don't care if I live or die, so why not just let me leave and be out of your life completely?"

"I swear by the moon goddess and the guardians above, if you dare as much as step out that door, there would be bloodshed, and it would be yours!" She roared, her eyes glistening in the poor lighting. Shivers ran down my spine as I saw her mischievous smile.

"Do you think our parents would be happy

with that?"

"Brave of you to assume that they are still your parents. After killing mom with your witchcraft? She couldn't care less about whether you live or die, and I'm sure dad has always despised you," she smirked.

My eyes watered, and soon it was a show of tears; I couldn't hold it in. My mom was the most precious thing to me; she was the only one who actually cared for me. Being accused of murdering her caused unexplainable pain.

"You would become a murderer," I sniffed.

"Well, let's see who they believe—a dead, unwanted, miserable pauper or the harmless, gentle princess." She smiled,

and I shook my head as more tears fell. I could never win against her—maybe not in this world.

There was no need to stand there going back and forth with her. I took a deep breath and narrowed my eyes. She rapped on about how irrelevant I was. When I saw the chance, I seized it and bolted.

I ran like my life depended on it; in fact, it did. My heart was racing, and the growl I heard behind me made my heart drop into my stomach.

"She turned into her wolf just to catch me? Why???" I thought as I ran.

I didn't stop running out of the house into the fields; there was no one in sight, and

that gave me an advantage. I kept running as fast as my legs could carry me, increasing my speed whenever it looked like she was catching up to me.

I was completely out of breath by the time I got to the border, but I couldn't stop; she was still following me. Why did she want me to stay so bad?

Out of panic, I ran into the border of the neighbouring country. Immediately, she halted; there was no use following me into the neighbouring country and endangering herself.

I watched her retreat, and as she did, my body began to give in to the bruises and the blood loss from all the injuries I

sustained from running. My heavy eyes began to close, and I fell to the ground.

Embracing the solace I found in the darkness.

I thought I had died, but the flickering light over my head brought me back to reality. My vision zoomed in and out of focus, and I swear, I thought I was dreaming when they finally gained clarity. It was the most luxurious room I'd ever seen.