Chapter03

The Forbidden Land

Serena's POV 

I recognized them very well even before I saw him.

“Ronan?” My voice demanded answers.

He stepped in, followed by two well bodied guards. 

“I didn’t attempt to poison anyone!” I blurted out immediately he entered. “Please, tell me exactly what’s going on.”

He eyed me furiously like I was a stranger.

“She nearly died from your wickedness,” he said. “The tea your evil mind suggested you lace with silverroot.”

“I didn’t even touch it!” I yelled. “I can't even remember drinking mine!”

“She told us she saw you drop something into hers, but didn't know it was something harmful.” he replied coldly.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. “She lied to me! You actually believed her over me?”

“She’s the one carrying my child.”

“And I can remember I am still your wife!”

He flinched, but didn't say anything. 

“Oh, this doesn’t count or make sense anymore,” I whispered. “Why would I try such a thing… after everything I’ve endured for your sake… Why would I come up with the thought of poisoning her? Why do it now?”

He didn’t answer, nor did he show signs that he would.

“Tell me the pure truth, Ronan. Please, do you desire that I be gone?”

He looked at me, his gaze intense before he finally nodded.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The rejection ceremony wasn't lavish, but very short.

He didn't waste time in saying the words, like they meant nothing to him. Like the bond we shared had never been real.

“I, Alpha Ronan of the Bloodfang Pack, in front of this great pack, hereby reject you, Serena Valen, as my true fated mate and Luna.”

The words vibrated loudly through my chest, and I felt it, the way the bond snapped. My knees could not carry me any longer and I hit the cold floor.

“I… accept,” I whispered without wasting time, and everything inside me went totally blank.

Well, they didn't waste time in releasing me, and it took place just before dawn.

No one waited for me to prepare well.

Not even coming out to say a proper goodbye.

I walked barefoot away from the pack, bleeding profusely, broken, and betrayed. The gates slammed hard behind me like I was a nobody, and I stumbled into the thick forest, praying I would never wake up again after entering there.

I didn’t have any idea then…

That I wasn’t alone.

And I wasn’t leaving the pack empty handed as they had wished.

>>>>>>>>>>

“I was his beloved Luna,” I whispered to no one as I walked with no direction. “And he didn't hesitate to throw me away like dirt.”

“Not even like dirt,” my wolf, Aria, whispered weakly within. “He gave them the power to laugh at us, and even curse us. And right now, in our place, he’s got her in our home…”

I bit back the great sob rising with force in my throat and leaned against a tree, the bark very rough against my back but I didn't mind. I have passed through something harsher that such would brother me.

“That woman… She did everything possible to get me out of that pack, she framed me. Said I tried poisoning him.” I scoffed unbelievably, shaking my head. “And he didn't hesitate in believing her.”

The wind howled around my feet like it could hear my sad story, and it wept for me.

Keep going and don't get tired, Aria said, her voice faint. There seems to be something here… something somehow is pulling us deeper.

My wolf was very right. There was a great pull, something instinctive in nature, older than anything I had sensed before. The forest itself wasn’t just cursed as history has it, it was alive, and watching everything.

Then I heard it, the faint growl. It wasn't one, but multiple.

As I bent down to observe, I saw them, the three of them. They were rogues, starving, hungry for blood.

I backed away on sighting them immediately, but they cornered me fast. “Back off now,” I warned, unweaving and standing my ground despite my trembling. “I have nothing to lose after all.”

One lunged forward to attack, but it didn't reach me.

Because before they could get to me, someone else did.

The shadow was a black fur, fighting hard against the rogues and finally sank its teeth on the neck of the rogues, but unfortunately, they were three, so the stranger ended up getting wounded.

“No!” I screamed in horror, darting forward without thinking twice or checking the consequences of my actions.

I grabbed a hard rock and immediately smashed it into the third rogue’s skull. I did it repeatedly until blood filled my hand. 

Everywhere became quiet as I finished them off. Then I turned my back only to see the stranger, now unconscious. He had dark hair, a well chiseled jaw, and watching him, I could tell he's older than me. 

Something inside me stirred uncontrollably.

Aria whimpered and I had no answer to that. He’s not just anyone, not just a random person…

I crawled to meet him, his breath was ragged. “Don’t die on me, please.” I whispered. “Please, I didn’t come all the way to this place to lose more.”

I passed out beside him when he didn't wake up, the cold soil on our bed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Then I heard voices.

It wasn't loud, but I heard voices.

“… she smells very different, like a wolf, but a different one…”

“Lycans don’t form the habit of accepting strangers. Kale was the one that brought her in. That means something really important.”

Kale.

So that was the stranger's name.

I woke slowly only to see unfamiliar faces staring down at me. I saw a man with silver hair and golden glowing eyes leaned over to my side.

“You’re finally awake,” he said.

I sat up too fast, making me wince in pain. “Where...where am I?”

“In the Forbidden Lands, known as the Lycan territory.”

My breath hitched immediately. I’m not even supposed to be found here. I should be long dead.

Then my eyes darted round till I found him.

Lying was a stone slab, almost completely bandaged, breathing shallowly… Kale.

“What exactly happened to him?” I asked.

“You both almost died when you were attacked by rogues,” the silver haired man explained. “But because of your bravery, you fought for him.”

I blinked as I stared back at Kale again, a strange ache suddenly forming in my inner chest. “Why… why exactly does it feel like I’ve known him all my life, like I've seen him before?”