Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Amber’s POV

 

“I still can’t believe it. I had no idea.” Mina moved past my suitcase, shaking her head in disbelief.

 

“I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't know I had the strength to leave until I did,” I sighed, breathing in my best friend. She smelled like citrus and warm cinnamon.

 

“No, you have nothing to be sorry about. I understand.” Mina shook her head slowly. Her eyes shone with tears as she settled into the bed beside me and held my hands.

 

After sneaking away from the Pack house, the first and most obvious place for me was Mina’s house.

Luckily, her bedroom window was open, so I had no trouble hoisting myself and my bags in.

Mina came back from the wedding some minutes ago, looking disgruntled. She had apparently been looking for me and was confused about where I disappeared to.

 

“I’m happy you’re leaving,” she sniffled, dropping my hands as she pulled me into an embrace.”You never deserved any of this,”

 

Wait, but we were leaving together. I drew back, blinking in confusion. “I don’t understand. What does that mean? You’re not coming with me?”

 

“Of course I’m coming with you,” Mina tsked, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “But listen. If we both disappear at the same time, they’d know where you’ve gone. So you have to go meet my parents first. I’ll stay back to throw off suspicion for a few days then follow right after,”

 

“No,” I disagreed immediately. “I don’t like that plan; let’s just go together,”

 

“Amber, listen to me—”

 

“So what if they know we left for Silver Moon? It won’t change anything; I’ll—”

 

“Amber, you have to listen,” Mina cut me off softly but firmly. “What do you think will happen? You’ll ask nicely and they’ll just let you go?”

 

My brows furrowed. What else could they do to me? I was so confused, and it must have shown on my face because Mina sighed. 

 

“Amber, you’re Maggie’s life force. She’s only alive because of your blood. You think they want to find another donor for her when they could get you?”

 

A cool breeze raised the hairs on my arm. They wouldn’t keep me against my will? I mean, I had never refused to give Maggie blood, and even if I left, my blood was saved in the hospital blood bank and was enough for Maggie to use for a long time. Doctor Helen occasionally required me to provide more blood for backup.

 

My parents had enough time to find another donor, and I still cared about my sister; I would come back if necessary.

 

Would Mother truly force me to stay? She always emphasized that Maggie should use fresh blood; that's why my extra drawn blood had accumulated a lot. Would she use this as an excuse to prevent me from leaving and didn't want to give her other daughter months of freedom?

 

“Who’s that?” Mina shot up from the bed like a deer, turning her head to the bedroom door immediately. “Amber, did someone just enter the house?”

My heart skipped a beat, and I scrambled to my feet after her. “I can’t hear any—”

 

“She’s right,” Vera’s weak voice cut me short. “If you focus, you’ll smell them. Your father and Lucas are here.”

 

At her words, my heart began to race. 

Mina turned to me wildly. “It’s the Alpha. Amber, quick, hide!”

I had no second to think. Mina moved faster than I’d ever seen her move.

 

She dropped to her feet, her hand patting confidently on the wooden floorboard underneath her bed.

 

Instinctively, I knew what she was looking for.

 

It had been years since we had used the trapdoor. Mina's house, once belonging to a noble family, held a disguised trapdoor under her bed—a secret hide-and-seek spot from our childhood, before her parents changed packs. 

 

“It’s here,” I whispered, her urgency infectious as I dropped to my own knees and reached for the tiny metal hook I knew held the door.

 

Mina’s eyes lit in relief as she reached for the trapdoor and threw it open. “Quick, get in!”

 

Now they were closer, I could clearly hear Father and Lucas. They seemed to be calling out my name and conversing with each other angrily.

 

“Now, Amber!” Mina hissed, her hands shoving me towards the door. “And hide your scent!”

 

That was something Vera could do. Unlike other wolves, my wolf was strong enough to hide my scent whenever I wished, masking my presence.

Now I asked her as I followed Mina’s commands.

 

“Vera, quick! Hide my scent,” 

The minute her ability took over, I could feel it.

My limbs felt weightless as I crawled down into the small room. Moving as quickly as I could. The minute I dropped in, Vera slammed the door after me.

 

I closed my eyes and sneezed. The air smelled of dust and the space seemed smaller now that I was older. But everything else was terribly familiar. 

 

Through the cracks in the trapdoor, the sounds from the room carried to me.

The room door banged open, Father and Lucas marching inside.

 

I carefully lifted the trapdoor a fraction to watch.

 

“Where is Amber?!” Lucas sneered, his feet moving menacingly towards Mina.

 

My heart was racing and it took all my willpower not to burst from the trapdoor and confront him.

 

“Isn’t she in the Pack house?” Mina replied sharply, her voice nonchalant and slightly irritated. “Last I saw, she was sprinkling flowers at your wedding,” 

 

“Speak with respect! Lucas is my daughter’s husband!” Father snapped, his voice colder than I’d ever heard it. 

 

Hairs rose on the back of my neck as I watched his feet move towards Mina’s.

 

What exactly was going on? The party couldn’t be over yet. How could they have found out about my leaving so soon?

 

Mina gave no response to father but even from under the bed, I could feel her defiance.

 

“Don’t make me ask again. Where the hell is Amber?!” Lucas growled, his voice angrier this time. 

 

Sweat began to slick my hair strands to my forehead. Why exactly was Lucas even here? Shouldn’t he be at his own party? 

 

“She’s not here. I told you already.”

 

I jerked at Mina’s loud yelp as a flower vase came crashing to the ground. Some of the broken pieces skidded under the bed, stopping mere inches from the door.

 

Tell me, girl!” Father yelled angrily, his Alpha command vibrating the room “Where is she?!”

 

Real fear pooled in my stomach, and I began to push open the trapdoor, ready to face Father myself. This madness had gone on long enough.

 

“Even if I knew, you think I’ll tell you?! I have nothing to say, I don’t know where—”

 

 A loud thud cut short Mina’s words.

I had just begun to climb out of the small space but the sound made me freeze. 

The sharp metallic smell of blood hit my nostrils immediately.

 

Mina!

 

Horror filled me as I locked eyes with my bestfriend sprawled across the floor, breathing raspily.

 

Her head was close to the bedframe, crimson blood seeping into her red hair.

 

A bloodcurdling scream rose in my throat but Mina slowly shook her head at me, her weak eyes filled with panic and warning.

 

No no. It couldn’t be… Father couldn’t have— I couldn’t breathe.

 

The space under the bed felt tighter than ever as the smell of my best friend's blood threatened to choke me. I was gasping, albeit quietly, my shaking hands tightly gripping the wooden door.

 

Father and Lucas remained oblivious to the only witness in the room.

 

“Let’s go Alpha, we still need to keep searching. She can’t get away,” Lucas spat turning to walk out of the room.

 

Father hummed in agreement, walking out of the room and banging the door shut behind him.

 

The second they were gone, I rushed out of the small space towards my friend.

 

“Mina! Oh goddess please. Mina!” 

 

The hem of my dress turned red with blood as I rushed towards my friend and cradled.

 

She was weak, her skin pale. A horrified gasp left my lips as I fully saw the extent of her wound.

 

Father’s Alpha claws had slashed out her entire center. Her bridesmaid dress hung in shreds, mixed with mangled skin under a layer of blood.

 

“Mina, please!” My entire body was trembling. I could barely think.

 

“Run, Amber,” Her weak voice rasped as her hand gripped my arm in urgency. “You can’t let them get you,”

“Us,” My voice shook, my tears dropping on her pale face as I shook in head in defiance. “It’s us. We’re leaving together. I’ll find a healer. I—I can—”

“No,” Her eyes closed slowly. “You’ll run alone. As far away from this place as your wolf can take you,”

 

“Mina, please,” I was going insane. My best friend was bleeding out in my arms, and I was powerless to save her. “I’ll save you. Hang on for me, I’ll—”

 

“Run, Amber,” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Run,”

 

Her grip on my arm loosened immediately and her hand dropped to her side.

 

“Mina? Mina!” I shook her frame in panic. No, not yet. I still need to take her to the healer. I still need— My entire frame shook as I tried and failed to find her pulse.

 

“Mina, please. Please!”

 

My throat closed up, more tears choking me as I clung to her.

 

No, no, no, Please. Please!

“Mina!” My voice was hoarse from screaming. If they were still in the house, they would surely hear me, but I didn’t care.

 

Not when Mina was unresponsive. 

Her skin was still warm but it had gone pasty. Her heaving chest was completely still. My best bestfriend was dead. 

 

I sat on the floor, holding her to my chest. Through my haze of pain, a static in mind mind flickered to life.

 

The pack mindlink. 

 

Father’s voice shook then came out clearly.

 

“The traitor Amber has committed a crime. She murdered Mia, one of the bridesmaids present at Maggie’s wedding. She’s currently missing but we cannot let her get away. Pack members, this is an order from your Alpha. Hunt her down,”