Chapter Three

Daciana's pov

Morning came and I was dragged out of my room. The air hung heavy with hatred. The trial was to be held with every pack member present as that was customary to the law.

Hunter sat on the Alpha's chair and glanced towards me with a murderous glare. The ghost of his smirk was enough to send me into turmoil. A chair was brought beside and Wuana sat on it.

I didn't want to think that things might have been different if I just accepted Hunter in the first place.

Wulf didn't look at me throughout when I was dragged into the hall. Not once.

“Wulf,” I whispered. His ignorance hurt more than anything.

“Come forward,” Hunter called out.

I bit my lips as everyone turned and stared at me. I forced myself to step forward, keeping my spine straight even though my knees were about to give up. I was led to stand at the center of the moon paint and took a deep breathe in a bid to keep calm.

“We all know that Daciana has been found to be a murderer and a traitor.” There was a commotion and Hunter cleared his throat to continue. “Hence, she would be punished justly.”

There was nothing just about what they were about to do.

My jaw clenched, I got up in an attempt to kill him with the knife I collected from under my bed and hid it carefully in the gown I was wearing.

I noticed the way Hunter's eyes narrowed at me. “Search her!” He ordered.

All hope was being ripped off as the guards put their hands into the gown, immediately finding the knife. I didn't even know what I was supposed to be angry about. The fact that I was being touched like I didn't matter, or that these people were about to do what they wanted to me.

“I, Alpha Hunter of the Shadow Fang pack, hereby exile you from the Shadow Fang pack with immediate effect. You are to be gone before sunrise and never to be seen in and around the pack boundary” I gasped as I felt all the ties with the pack cut off. I fell to the floor.

Cheers erupted around the pack.

Exiled? Where would I go? All my life I've been in the pack. My father never let me out, because he thought he was going to take care of me.

I glanced at each and every one of them, taking in each face. The ones who cheered more than the others. Nobody went unnoticed. My eyes fell on Wulf again.

A blond lady was in his arms. He must’ve found his mate. His lips were curled in disgust as he looked at me. Wulf must think I did those things. He knew me more than anyone. That was the motivation I needed to move.

“Isn’t this what you all wanted?” I asked, swiping my hand across my cheek to stop the tears that were about to fall. “I would never forget any of it.” Boos came from the crowd, almost making me turn deaf.

Slowly, the pack members dispersed and I was left alone, left kneeling. I got back to my room and reached for the bag dad had gifted me once when he came back from a trip, packing the little I could.

The pressure of what was happening was suffocating. Memories ran through my mind. Memories of how I'd giggle and run into his arms whenever he came back from a hunt and how he'd pick me up and throw me into the air as I giggled.

How he'd tell me I was beautiful and perfect even when no one would take me to the pack dance. Sulking I had ran into the woods, that was where I met Wulf. He was staring at the fireflies. He brought me back home and we've been inseparable. Well, until yesterday.

I zipped the bag and swung it over my shoulder, turning to leave when the door closed behind me. Hunter had a smirk on his face, glancing at the guards beside him.

“You didn't think I would let you leave that way, did you?”

Before I could even react, I felt something sharp hit my head, and I collapsed on the floor, groaning as my world went black.

***

The aching I felt in my head was enough to force me to open my eyes. I felt sore all over, like I had been ran over by a truck.

I had stopped counting the sunrise days ago.

My thoughts came to a halt when I heard footsteps. The clatter of keys followed, and then the twist in the lock. The door was pushed open and someone stepped in. Too tired to turn, I stayed on the floor.

“You've refused to die, I see.” he chuckled and kicked my stomach with his boot. I wheezed in pain as blood gushed out from my mouth.

“If you're still alive when I come again, I'll let you go.”

“You know that you should have let me go a long time ago. I did nothing to you!”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You still have that sharp tongue, don't you?” he asked. “I honestly thought you would have known that this would get you nowhere by now.” He clicked his tongue as he turned on his heels.

He walked out and I was left alone again. Cold bit into my skin and my body curled into a fetal postion instinctively. An attempt to keep warm. Even my clothes were starting to feel like strings.

How long have I been here?

5 days? 6? Or a week?

It was hard to even turn because of all.the bruises on my skin. Hunter and his guards had come once everyday to beat the hell out of me.

“You didn't think they would listen to you, did you? Hunter had asked on one of his visits. “Funny, how much trust the pack has for me. Even when I made your dad lock you up in that room, he didn't think twice about it.”

Some days, the pain was unbearable that I had slipped into unconsciousness. It didn't help that I didn’t heal fast. The nightmare continued each time he would visit.

I had craved for death, beg for it even. Even death had rejected me. It was almost like the moon goddess wasn't even listening.

The next time he came, he wasn't alone. The guards dragged me out and left me at the border with a three days ultimatum to leave.

“Kill me. Please.” I had begged but they spat on me and turned away. Hunter stared at me the longest.

I could hardly move, my limbs were stiff and shriveled. He wanted me this way.

It was the second day and i knew I had to leave. With a resolve so small, my lips trembled. I forced myself up as my legs shook violently, I thought I would pass out. I dragged myself forward, my breathe coming out in laboured graps.

One step after the other. That was all I needed.

I had to leave this forest and go to another, anywhere I could find shelter. Even if it was human land.

The Shadow forest belongs to my pack, I would die a horrible death if they caught me lurking around. I walked for a long time and stopped when I came across a trap. I had been so occupied with surviving that I had forgotten I hadn't eaten in over a week. I felt lifeless and empty.

I walked to the trap when I caught a whiff of rogues, they must be around. I needed to hide.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” I turned and they were two of them, smirking right at me. It was too late.

“Weren't you told to not wander out here alone?” The other one questioned.

“She's a pretty one, ain't she?”

“I don't want any trouble. Y'all can just pretend to not see me and go about your day.”

“Fiesty. I like that. She's curvy as well. Are you lost, pretty?”

I stepped back from them looking around the area for a way out, in case I needed to run when I found one. I took off running as fast as I could away from them.

I could hear them right at my heels. They were wolves. I couldn't outrun them. If they didn't kill me, I didn't know what would.