Chapter 2 Chapter 2
As Luna held her face, she waved the pack back. She tried to reach for me, but my heart was racing, pounding in my chest. I could feel the beads of despair roll down my face.
“No!” I shouted, slapping her hand away from me.
I stared at Harris. My heart shattered into pieces. “I curse you both to live a miserable life,” I spat.
As I felt the Alpha make his way through the pack to see what was going on, Luna tried her hardest to grab my hand, to calm me down, but I was already too deep. My emotions had pushed me to the point of no return, so I did what any sane individual would do when their boyfriend and best friend hooked up in front of them.
I pushed Luna so hard that she hit the floor, holding her stomach with both hands. She couldn’t move, and suddenly, immense fear and guilt swept over me.
“Luna!” I was just about to come over to check on her when I heard Alpha Jenkins growl. I was so startled that, with tears now rolling down my face, I turned around and
ran away.
My wolf pushed forward and took control, sensing the darkness that filled me as I ran. She felt weakness ebbing at my soul as I struggled to keep it together.
“I got you,” Carissa, my wolf, said as I shifted. I don’t remember much as Carissa took control, and I sank deep into despair at the betrayal from the people I loved. The only thing I could remember was the endless running.
I woke the next day to the sounds of birds, bleary–eyed. For a moment, I forgot what had happened to me the night before. What had sunk me so low that I woke up naked in the forest surrounding the borders of my pack?
I pulled myself to my feet, and as the heavy weight of realization smashed into me, I knew that the people I loved most were together, which meant I had no place in their lives anymore.
Embarrassment coursed through me, and I no longer wanted to be a part of this pack. I didn’t want to return to all those stares.
“Don’t overthink it; it won’t be that bad,” Carissa said. I could feel her awakening, and a wave of calm filled my body.
“Stop that!” I snapped at her.
I could hear her whimper at the tone of my voice. “Liberty, what was meant to be was already written by the Moon Goddess, something you could not have known.”
Her words cut me. Anger erupted through me again, and I screamed in frustration. It’s complete bullshit, this fate by the Moon Goddess! I had believed in fate so much before, but look at what I’ve got! I would never worship it again!
Carissa tried to comfort me again, but I shoved her back, wanting my mind quiet to think. My wolf whimpered at being locked away from me. I wanted to feel the pain, the heartache coursing through me. I had no idea what my plans were.
Suddenly, I heard rustling behind me. I knew people were coming, and I didn’t want to be found just yet. Carissa tried to push forward, but I pushed her back. “No,” I said with certainty.
I looked up into the trees and started to climb so I was out of sight but could still hear their chatter. “Once we find her, we will take her back to the Alpha,” one man said.
I thought they were talking about me and listened intently as the two men came into view. These were men from our pack: Hawkins and Thompson; they clearly meant our Alpha.
“Hawkins, if we find that wretched girl, how will Alpha Jenkins treat her? Will she be evicted from our pack?” Thompson asked.
“Are you an idiot? Our Alpha hasn’t liked her for many years. And now she hurt our Luna. Luna is still unconscious. I don’t think Alpha will show her mercy. Maybe he’ll kill her!” Hawkins spat at Thompson.
I felt a chill in my heart.
“But she’s the daughter of our Beta, Astro!” Thompson was very surprised.
“Beta? He’s just the previous Beta. In the future, who knows?”
I frowned at what they had said. What would happen to my father after what I did yesterday?
“Well, I think it’s a bit extreme. I know that she caused a scene, but we all saw the heartbreak on her face. It’s actually not her fault. Why does she need to be punished for that?” Thompson asked.
With a swift movement, Hawkins knocked Thompson to the ground. He wrapped his hand around Thompson’s throat, bared his canines, and growled, “Don’t question our Alpha! Thompson, the girl embarrassed his son. She has no place in this pack. We do as we are told. Do you understand?!”
Thompson, now gasping for air, nodded vigorously. As Hawkins pushed him back, releasing his grip, I could hear Thompson gasping for air and rubbing his throat. “I am sorry,” he whimpered.
My hands covered my mouth as I gasped, a shiver running up my spine as fear filled me. I knew it wouldn’t be long before my fear scented the entire area, and they would
1…..11.16
Liberty’s Secrets
sniff me out. Carissa forced forward, filling my body with calm to mask the fear I was feeling. “Liberty, calm yourself,” she whispered.
The men started to walk away from the tree, and only then could I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“What do I do?” I asked Carissa.
With that, I could feel my father trying to reach me through a mind link, and I sighed, knowing this might be the last time I spoke with him.
“Liberty, are you okay? Are you safe?” His voice rushed through as I opened the link.
“Dad, I’m okay,” I replied.
There was a silence before he said, “Run, Liberty! Run! I will find you, but it’s not safe here. Don’t talk to the pack; just run.”
I could feel the pain breaking in his voice. “Why?” I said, tears filling my eyes.
“Because you smacked Luna, Liberty! You know this is very serious!” he said with emotion.
I wiped the tear from my cheek. “Dad, I didn’t mean to,” I whispered.”
“I know, my darling Liberty, but it was an embarrassment. Even though Alpha Jenkins doesn’t know, I know he is out to find you and punish you for your actions,” he said.
“I must go, Liberty. You must run. I have kept the search away from the north border. Once you leave, renounce the Alpha, and the bond will be cut. It will hurt, Liberty, and you will then be a rogue. You need to do that to be safe. Head to the cabin I took you to as a child; I’ll meet you there,” he said.
With that, he ended the mind link, leaving me on my own. “What if I spoke to Harris? He will help me, right?” I said to Carissa. I could sense her fear of going rogue, but her fear of staying was deeper.
“You know it’s the wrong choice! Just follow what Beta Astro says,” she said shakily.
I nodded, knowing that it was my only choice. I climbed down from the tree, using all my senses to avoid the pack. As I started to run through the woods, I heard the chatter of the men suddenly stop. I knew they could hear me and may even smell me, but I knew I had no time now. I knew that once I was across the border, I would be safe.
“She’s over there!!!” Marcus shouted as I heard them all run toward me.
“Run!” Carissa shouted.
My small body shook, and adrenaline shot through me as I felt Carissa push forward, shifting so she could run faster than me.
A dozen men were chasing me in wolf form, baring their canines and growling at me.
The only thing I could do was run. I couldn’t let them catch me!
