2

There are times you feel like your whole world is crumbling around you. That moment will be accompanied by a kind of pain that tears through you in the worst way possible.

Pain unlike anything you've ever felt. Pain that had you pounding your fist into the ground, ignoring the bruising on your fist. That kind of pain didn't just go away easily. It festered, until your heart was rotting from inside.

My tears had ceased and I was left with the awful memories of the night. I had been a fool. Trusting Elowen by listening to her and keeping the truth from my mate. I could have taken a stance and done the right thing.

But it was too late for regrets. I'd lost everything, including the most important part of me.

Surrounded by the silence and pain, I wrapped my arms around myself.

Things would only get worse from now on. With the loss of my wolf, I was useless to the pack. A taboo.

I could not go back home now. They'd come after me it would be the first place they would look for me. I had to hide out here and once I got an opening, I would go home to get my things and leave the pack.

Paula was still too frail. I could not ask her to come with me. The thought of leaving her in her condition made me sob again. I should be taking care of her. Not abandoning her to save my life. My refusal to listen to her brought us here.

Time and time again, she had begged me to steer clear. Determined not to allow me make the same mistakes that my mother had made so I didn’t end up as she did. Alone.

But the curse was truly embedded in my destiny. To live and die alone, unloved and unwanted. A miserable existence until I breathed my last.

I wandered through the forest throughout the night. It was the deadly silence that made me know I was not being haunted, but it would not last for too long, they would come after me and they would take me with them. The night passed slowly and I endured its harshness. It was only a little pain added to all that I felt tonight.

Dawn approaches slowly and I walked back home. The streets were empty, and everyone was locked in their homes. The perfect time to leave.

When I arrived at my home, the front door was open and I cautiously entered.

"What have you done Rebeccah?" Paula's heartbroken voice stopped me. It wasn’t accusing or blaming, it only told how deeply she was hurt by this.

She was seated in the corner her hands covering her face and when she pulled her hands, I saw her eyes reddened by tears.

"I begged you not to go" she sobbed, and I dropped to my knees in front of her.

"I am sorry. I thought.....he promised me. He told me he loved me."

"He lied. They always lie Rebecca. They lied to your own mother, your grandmother. I wanted you to be different for you."

“I thought it was the only way”

“I was going to find another for you. I just needed to get better and stronger. We were going to leave” she cried harder.

I couldn’t tell her that she was part of the reason I’d gone ahead. For years I’d done all my best but nothing could be done for her. Becoming Luna would give me access to getting better care for her.

"I am sorry," I said instead and squeezed my hands as I sobbed.

"I am sorry Paula. I didn't know.... the betrayal."

It was hard to speak when I was sobbing my whole heart was out.

"It is too late" she said in a defeated voice and my head hung in shame.

"I have packed your things." My head snapped up.

"Paula!"

"You have to leave now."

"I know.... I just want to..."

"You cannot wait even a single moment. They came for you last night. They will come again and....."

The door was roughly shoved open and men swarmed into the house

"Rebeccah run" Paula screamed and I tried to, but I barely took a step when I was knocked to the floor. A heavy weight pressing down on me.

"No!" Paula screamed as I struggled on the floor, but it was useless. My hands were bound together at my back and I was forced to my feet.

"No!!" Paula screamed as I tried to pull away from their grip

"Paula!!" I yelled as I was dragged out and I saw them knock her to the ground.

"Paula!!" I screamed even louder, trying to get out of their hold, but I failed and I was forced to watch Paula's unmoving body as I was dragged away.

There was a small crowd gathered outside as I was taken to the Alpha's home. The news must have spread wider by now. The whispers were louder and I was taken back to last night when I was rejected and humiliated.

I didn't bother to fight and eventually we arrived at the Alpha's house. I spotted Elowen and Caleb, hands entwined as they sat next to each other, I looked away, unable to stand thesight of them together. I was forced to my knees in front of the alpha.

"You escaped, despite knowing the consequences," he thundered at me.

He leaned down, his face close to mine.

"I heard about all you did" he whispered

“Your wretched curse you wanted to bring upon my son and for trying to deceive my family" he stood up straight.

"You will be transported to the Misty fall pack as a tribute to the Alpha King" There were a few gaps, but I stayed silent. I had gone numb from it all.

"Take her away." and I was dragged away, no struggle from me.

The dungeon was lonely and cold. The walls told stories of the people who had come before me. I sat in the corner and wrapped my hands around my legs.

I had no idea how much time had passed when I heard a sound from the gate, and I looked up. It was Elowen. She was dressed in elegant clothes, only suited for a Luna. She drew closer to the bars.

"Feeling stupid now? She taunted, but I didn't respond.

"You always knew I wanted to Caleb, but that didn't stop you from lusting after him like a whore."

"You said you didn't want him anymore. You encouraged me." She promised to keep my secret.

"What did you expect me to do? I had always loved him and taken care of him but all he ever spoke about was you" she yelled angrily.

“Do you have any idea what it was like to constantly chase after someone who only saw you as second? All the lies I told about you were never enough to drive him away. And worst of it all, you were his mate. I couldn’t lose out so I told him about your curse” she laughed.

“His love for you was very fickle. He didn’t want anything to do with a cursed woman and he finally saw me as a woman”

"If I had known.... if you had told me, I would never have gotten involved with Caleb." Maybe things wouldn’t have happened this way.

"That is not enough for me. I want you gone forever, Rebeccah. And if the beast of Misty Falls doesn't get to you then I hope your wretched curse ends you." She stormed off and I began to cry again

At everything, for trusting Caleb, and Elowen for not listening, for not doing the one thing Paula had begged me not to do.

I leaned against the wall and the time ticked by and I waited for the inevitable. My death in the misty fall was certain, but it was better than waiting for the curse to take me. At least I wouldn't have to suffer. I only wish that I could change things.

"It is too late." My wolf whispered in my head, and I embraced the silence.