4

Chapter Four

Halle Wilder

~•~

What did he mean? Who was going to kill me?

I narrowed my eyes on him, my irritation palpable. “What are you talking about?” I asked, genuinely confused.

Kai had no right to tell me to leave the pack.

And definitely had no right to threaten me.

His expression darkened. “Halle, you have to leave the pack right away.”

I didn’t flinch.

“You hurt me without any explanation, and the next thing you do is to ask me to leave my pack? My father’s house?” I asked, shaking my head.

“Do you want to get hurt? You have to trust me. Just leave.”

What was he even talking about?

“Trust?” I scoffed, letting out a humorless laugh. “I should trust you? Can you even hear yourself?” I asked, my eyes raking over him from head to toe.

He didn’t even look remorseful about what he did. He just felt he could order me around and I would listen to him. As I looked at him, I felt terrible because he wasn’t the same person I fell in love with.

The Kai I used to know wouldn’t betray me like this.

“There’s nothing for you here anymore. Just leave or else you’ll die.” He continued, his tone serious. “It’ll be better if you listen to me.”

Why was he being vague with his warnings? Why did I have to leave the pack? Where did I even have to go? A part of me was scared because he seemed serious about it.

“Who is going to kill me, you?” I asked, raising a skeptical brow at him.

He wanted to say something, but he paused, probably contemplating whether he should speak or not. Then without saying anything, he turned around to leave.

But just as he was about to raise a foot, I dragged him back. “Why did you do it? Why did you hurt me?” I asked, my voice cracking slightly.

He exhaled sharply, then he looked at me without any trace of warmth in his eyes. “I can’t accept someone without a wolf as my Luna.”

His words cut deeper than I had expected.

Who told him about it?

“You hid something so important from me, you didn’t think I’d ever find out?” He added, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “Just leave the pack before it’s too late.”

With that, he walked away while my legs remained glued to the ground.

As I watched him walk away, I blinked back my tears. It wasn’t the time to cry, I needed to figure out what he was talking about.

I decided to call the only person I had a chance of getting answers from. The phone rang multiple times but there was no response.

Of course, what was I thinking?

After she left us without any warning, was I even expecting her to pick up her phone? I had sent her numerous texts since my proposal happened.

I wanted her to attend my wedding, but she never wrote back.

Maybe it was for the best. She would have just ended up watching me get humiliated in front of everybody. Just as I let out a frustrated sigh, my phone buzzed with a text.

[ Happy birthday, my princess. I’m sorry for missing your wedding. But it’s for the best if you don’t contact me. I miss you and your sister so much. Congratulations on your wedding.]

I had even forgotten that it was my 23rd birthday. The only thing I could think of earlier was getting married to the love of my life.

I closed my eyes briefly and shook my head as my mother finally responded to my text. She had been gone for over a year. I still had no idea why she just packed up her things and ran away without any explanation.

She even refused to keep in touch by phone.

My fingers trembled as I drafted a response.

[ I didn’t have a wedding. Please call me. I have so many questions.]

After I sent the text, I waited a few minutes to see if she would call me back, but she didn’t. I even tried calling her a few times, but she didn’t answer.

The uncertainty about everything was killing me.

“Halle, open up.” I heard my father’s voice echo from the other side of the door.

My heart skipped a beat. He was finally here.

I rushed to the door and unlocked it.

“Father,” I whispered, my voice barely making it past my lips.

He didn’t say anything. He just stepped inside the room.

As I closed the door, he stood in silence for a second, and the tension was palpable between us. I looked at his eyes but his expression was unreadable.

Didn’t he feel guilty about what he did?

“Why did you do it?” I asked, finally breaking the awkward silence.

“It was the best decision to make.”

I scoffed. “How? I was meant to be the rightful heir, Why did you choose Chloe over me?” I asked, my voice breaking. “And you did it without any warning.”

“If the Duskmoon pack found out that you were wolfless, they wouldn’t have agreed to merge with our pack anymore. Your sister had to replace you.”

Bullshit.

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand? What’s even so important about merging our packs?” I demanded, my voice rising in anger.

I never knew my father had interior motives when he introduced me to his friend’s son, Kai. I thought he was just looking out for me.

I should’ve known better.

But why didn’t he just matchmake him with Chloe from the beginning? Why did I have to be the one to suffer? What was the point?

Silence stretched between us for a moment.

Then he cleared his throat and replied, disregarding my question. “Pack your things.”

My heart dropped.

Was he also sending me away?

What were they hiding from me?

“Why?” I asked, folding my arms around my chest.

His expression became softer. “I want you to go to the warrior academy to further your studies. If you come out with an excellent result, you’ll take your place as the rightful heir.”

My lips parted and I blinked. The warrior academy?

That wasn’t just some training facility, it was a brutal, elite school known for turning the strongest into legends and the weakest into corpses.

“You’re really sending me there?” I asked, swallowing hard.

He nodded. “Yes, it’s for the best, Halle.”

How did he know what was best for me?

“But it’s not easy to get into the academy. I didn’t even apply.”

My father exhaled deeply. “I applied for you over six months ago.”

I gasped in shock. So he had already planned everything since? I felt so betrayed.

“I can’t go. I’m not going.” I replied, my voice firm.

“Halle, please. I’m your father, I know what’s best for you.” He continued, taking a step closer to me. “I didn’t mean to hurt you and I’m deeply sorry. Just leave for the academy. I believe you’ll be great.”

I stared at him, searching for any sign of sincerity in his face. Maybe there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes. But I still couldn’t trust him.

Why did Kai and my father ask me to leave?

Was my life in danger?

Why wasn’t anybody telling me anything?

Something wasn’t right.

I was torn as I tried to make a decision.

But how could a wolf less girl like me survive at such a brutal academy?