Chapter 2. Is this how I die?

EMMA 

I nodded, a small smile plastered on my lips. I understood it all very well. 

Looking away from Anthony, I turned to the crowd and quietly studied the faces that looked down on me with a sneer.

These people whose lives I had saved at different times…Them, or one of their loved ones, kids, or mates, held no pity for me in their cruel gazes. Only discontent, only disdain. 

Crazy bitch! Someone yelled out. 

Ungrateful lots. All of them! They felt what was happening was well deserved, that I couldn't be their Luna despite everything. 

Anthony would never accept me. The worst that would happen was me being forced to remain here as the pack’s healer while someone else ruled by his side as his mate and Luna. 

I understood how this would play out. How they expected my life to go on from this point, I would live the rest of my life in contempt continuing as the pack scorned healer. 

I threw my head backwards as laughter erupted from my throat. 

Dumb, silly girl. How could someone like me think that the alpha’s son will be attracted to me? Aliya was right. I was delusional after all. 

My laughter died in my throat and I turned to Melody and Anthony. 

Anthony’s eyes softened as he watched me.  

“I’m sorry, Emma,” he muttered.

“Sorry?” I chuckled. “You really shouldn’t be, Anthony. Or, should I say your majesty?” I bowed in courtesy, then raised my head to smile at him. 

He didn’t smile back. He looked almost sorry to have been using me.

I knew better now. There was no place for me in this pack. There had never been. I had to leave. 

“Reject me,” I blurted out. 

Anthony raised a brow. 

“Emma…”

“Hurry up and reject me. And when you do, reject everything that has and comes with me.”

Anthony’s eyes widened.

 “Emma. You don’t want to do this.” 

I fought back my laugh. Was he really warning me? Did he think he was in the position to warn me? 

Except…he didn’t want to reject me, did he? 

I scoffed and shook my head. 

 Did he imagine that I would remain his mate, tossed to the side, waiting on him while he stayed with someone else?

Especially now that I knew he wasn’t scared of losing me. It was medical advancements and discoveries he was scared of losing.

“You won’t do it?” I asked again, my eyes scanning the crowd for an exit.

I was going to leave. 

Anthony would try to stop me. 

It was clear now, I could see how his father stood anxiously on the side. He seemed to signal the warriors and I could see them close in one me. 

“Fine.” If he couldn’t  gather the balls to do it, I’ll do it myself. I sucked in a deep breath to calm myself. 

“I, Emma Woods, reject you, Alpha Anthony, as my mate,” 

“Emma,” His gaze softened as he began to walk towards me. 

“Let’s talk about this.”

“Okay.” I agreed with a ewsigbe sigh. 

"Maybe we can come to some kind of compromise." I said smoothly  moving fast toward the exit I had discovered. 

Everyone was gathered together in the pack hall. The hall had two exits—the first one at the far end and the one close to where we stood.

Anthony’s plan was to tie me down here, even if I was no longer his mate. I was ready to die before allowing that to happen. 

When I noticed some pack warriors advancing a little closer, I realized my suspicions were right.

“Let’s talk, privately,” I suggested to Anthony as others gave way, allowing us to pass through.

They parted ways, and I found my chance. Without another thought, I took a deep breath and burst out through the door.

My actions had surprised everyone. They didn’t expect me to sprint out in that manner, no doubt.

In a second, I was gone.

I bolted the heavy doors behind me and broke into a run.

I had bought myself some time.

I would run far away from this place. Who needs a pack? I asked myself, wiping the tears from my eyes and stumbling through the darkness.

I would survive on my own!

I stumbled as I ran, blinded by the tears streaming down my face.

They had began chasing me. The guards were finally out of the room. I had heard the loud bang when they broke through the heavy mahogany doors.

They were close to me now. I could hear their footsteps coming closer.

As I towards the exit of the pack town, I caught sight of a  familiar structure just at the end of the pack. It was the building where I had spent hours making potions. 

It was a small building, but I tried to use it to the best of my abilities. 

I paused for a moment staring at it. I felt a boiling rage as I looked at the small building. 

There was a lit fire close by, lighting the way. I stopped for a moment, panting heavily as my eyes examined the place. 

Why would I leave all of my hard work for these ungrateful people?

I grabbed the flame torch and tossed it into the shed.

There were highly flammable plants there. I knew because I put them there myself.

In an instant, the fire began to spread.

I stood there and watched  as it all went up in flames. A painful smile carved itself into my face, plastering itself on my cheeks. It was a bittersweet feeling. I hated that I had to go to such lengths, but it gave me joy knowing that they wouldn’t be able to use my discoveries after treating me like shit.  

“There she is!” I heard someone yell.

I recognized the voice.

They were close. I turned and continued running deep into the forest. I didn’t stop, not for anything. 

“Fire! Put it out!”

Someone yelled from behind.

“It’s the potions building! Put it out now!”

That crazy bitch set the pack on fire!

I couldn’t help but laugh as I ran even faster.

My insides were burning, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

I ran, stumbled several times and still got back up. 

I had been running for almost an hour now. Setting the building on fire had helped create a diversion. The ones chasing me had stopped to put it out.

I was exhausted now. I staggered slowly, panting heavily.

I stopped for a moment to breathe. 

Then came the second round of footsteps. Really loud ones, getting closer and closer. 

Shit! I had to pick myself up immediately. 

Using the last energy I had left, I climbed up a huge tree immediately.

I didn’t have a wolf, so they couldn’t sniff me out easily.

Two of our pack warriors stood to catch their breath directly beneath the tree where I was hidden.

“That bitch!” one hissed. 

“She just had to run on another night instead of the full moon.”

The full moon was when werewolves were at the peak of their abilities. They could shift easily on nights like that.

Please leave. 

My grip on the tree branch was beginning to falter. I feared I would fall and expose myself.

“Did you see her?”

Another man walked to where the other two stood, trying to sniff me out.

“She’s a traitor. She tried to set the pack on fire. She’s an enemy of the pack. She’s trying to escape. Do you know what that means? She leaves with the pack’s secrets!” 

“She must be returned to us, dead or alive. The Alpha has pronounced a death penalty. If you can’t catch her, shoot her with your arrows and kill her,” the man ordered.

I recognized him. He was Alpha Jason’s right-hand man.

“Which Alpha?” one of them asked.

“Who is your Alpha?” the man shot back.

The question answered itself. I shook my head to fight my tears. 

Anthony wanted me dead.

My mate wanted me dead. 

Fair enough. 

I tightened my grip, feeling anger and determination course through me.

I’ll make it out alive, I swore silently to myself.

After waiting for a while, the men dispersed in different directions in a bid to find me. 

I climbed down slowly, making my way through the darkness. Tears were running down my face, blinding my sight.

Stupid heart. 

Anthony wanted me dead, and all I could do was cry.

“Emma!”

Anthony’s urgent voice reached me suddenly. My breath hitched in my throat. 

He found me. 

He always did.

Unable to move, I stood there, facing Anthony, his eyes anxiously searching mine.

“Emma,” he muttered softly.

“There she is! We’ve found her!” Angry voices screamed at me. 

I backed off slowly.

The air had become icily cold. They were traitors. Every single one of them. I tried to take another step backwards, but all I felt was the wind beneath my feet. No platform. 

Gasping, I looked behind me. I was standing at the edge of a cliff.

“Emma!” Anthony yelled.

Shaking, I tilted my neck to find him staring at me, worry  in his eyes.

 “Let’s talk about this. There’s a lot of things you need to know, Emma. Please,” he begged me, stretching out his hand.

Why was he reaching out to me when he wanted to kill me? Why wouldn’t he just let me leave in peace? 

“I’m sorry it had to be like this, Emma. Come back with me. I’ll take care of you.”

He seemed so sincere. Why? I wanted to believe him. 

I wanted to go with him.

No. 

I took a small step backward again.

“Emma! Stop moving!” he yelled.

“There she is!” 

I looked around in confusion.

Emma stop moving! 

My mind was becoming hazy

What’s going on?

Anthony was walking toward me. I stood there

The next moment, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

I stumbled backward.

I had been hit by a poisoned arrow.

It was a nightshade flower. 

I could smell it, the sweet yet deadly citrus scent. 

I made this poison potion myself.

My own creation was used to end me.

My vision blurred and refocused on Anthony's face. It suddenly made sense. 

Anthony had been used as a diversion to let the archers hit me. 

 I wouldn’t let them have even my body. I let my right foot wander backwards, and the rock beneath me gave way. My left leg followed immediately, sending me over the edge of the cliff. 

I heard Anthony’s screams from ahead, but the force of the wind drowned the sound as I fell to my death. 

The wind grew stronger. Anthony ran towards me, stretching his hands forward and screaming my name. I smiled as a streak of tears rushed down my eyes. Did he care? 

I felt my body fall numbly into the water.

This was it. 

I was going to die.