CHAPTER 2
…
I watched him walk away with a smirk tucked by the side of his lips. Would he really frame me for the death of his mother? How desperately did he want to get rid of me? Nothing makes sense. No desperation should lead to the death of a loved one, I refuse to believe it..
"An adopted daughter, who knows what blood runs through your veins could be that of a rogue," His words resounded again and again in my mind.
A mind-boggling revelation, Or a lie aimed to add to my pain and frustration. Was I really adopted? For some reason, it wasn't a tragic discovery.
It has been a constant rumor surrounding my existence. One that my father and brother strongly denied but something within me wants to believe he is not lying. Maybe the part of me that trusted him in the past. I look nothing like my father or brother. I was told I looked like my late mother now there is a possibility that it's a lie.
From the tiny window by the high ceiling, the moonlight seeped through. It was midnight already, oh how I wish time could stop. Tomorrow judgment awaits me in the middle of town and by the glint in his eyes there is no chance of him sparing me.
"Usually it's death," her voice said as I looked up to see her sitting on her bunk bed.
"What?" I inquired, taken aback and confused.
"From what he said you killed his mother, you won't be judged, don't get your hopes high there is no hope nor judgment. You will be killed in the middle of town, burnt or stoned like a witch. The only mercy you might get is being hanged. That way it's not too much pain." She rose from her position with her hands behind her.
I blinked in horror drying off the last trail of tears in my eyes.
"And how did you know these things?" I asked her with fear evident in my voice.
"Because I am a rogue," she said, pointing to her upper shoulder.
"I suppose you are too weak and depressed to take notice of my mark. The death penalty is something every rogue is familiar with." she continued to speak while I just listened.
"In order to break the rules and law you have to know the rules and law," she spoke with eagerness for some reason. It was my first time seeing a Rogue. Not a single fear behind her eyes.
According to what we were told, Rogues are evil wolves without packs, banished wolves, and tyrant wolves. It is said to never trust a rogue. They are our territory's biggest enemies. Although I wonder how she was captured I don't really want to dive in. I am in no position right now to be asking about anybody.
"You believe he framed you right?" she asked while I shook my head in disapproval.
"You saw him laugh at my face," I answered half-heartedly.
"Is that not an answer? You are too weak to kill, let alone the Alpha's mother it's obvious you have no balls," not even caring that my feelings might be hurt she continued to say whatever.
"What is it that you are called? Aisling right? I do not wish to engage in any conversation knowing I might be dead tomorrow."
"Not might, you will be killed," She corrected her eyes, shimmering as she spoke. Almost as if fascinated with the thought of my death approaching.
"Can you spare me a bit of positivity please?" I blurted out offended while she approached with a smile.
"I can save you," she said leaning in, with the closeness finally I could see the mark she spoke about on the top of her shoulders. Bold Foreign words carved into her skin.
"You can sa…save me?" Suddenly I couldn't speak straight. My heart skips repeatedly.
"But that will make you the thing you fear the most, A Rogue," she said, nodding her head. In disbelief, I chuckled looking away from her eyes.
She walked away towards her bed and picked up an old sack which I believe were her things, quickly she threw it at her back, securing it. "I plan to escape tonight," she casually said while I watched Immediately overpowered by adrenaline.
"Give me your hand," she stretched her hand towards me.
"Why?" I asked
"I don't trust you. If I were to leave you might raise an alarm to reserve lesser punishment," she said, dragging me up to stand on my feet.
"What about my family?" I blurted out my heart beating loudly against my chest.
"Someone has to survive, if you stay you all die, if you survive there is a chance you can avenge their death." Her words made no sense to me. If someone was to survive it shouldn't be me. I am the one who brought this mess upon us all.
"You have to survive to know why your mate had to frame your family, "She continued, panicking as I stood watching her. She hissed before opening the cell with a key. I suppose she has been planning her escape for a while to already have a key.
"For the last time come with me Freyja," confused I stared, I never told her my name, and neither did Lucius call upon my name.
"How did you…." she dragged me by my arm causing my feet to roughly drag on the floor. The sound was enough to wake the prisoner in the opposite cell. Alert we both paused my heart leaping out in fear.
"What are you both doing?" The older woman opposite us asked, causing another to wake up.
"Nothing…" I answered immediately.
"Bad omen," she spoke in a different language, and surprisingly I could understand it.
"Let's go," she dragged my hands along with her as she ran. Behind her, I followed suit as I could hear behind me a commotion.
"This is bad," I cursed, the heaviness of my gown made it almost impossible to meet up with her. She easily navigated the route leading us straight to the woods at this point it was obvious we were being chased.
Heart pounding, I plunged into the dense woods still behind her. each step muffled by a carpet of fallen leaves. Branches snagged at my Gown as I darted through the shadows, the ominous echo of pursuit urging us deeper into the maze of trees.
The distant snap of twigs behind us intensified my fear, and I pushed on, driven by the desperate and sudden need to escape the unknown menace closing in. The forest, once a sanctuary, now concealed both my panic and the relentless pursuit, as we navigated the winding trails, I prayed for sanctuary amid the looming trees.
She suddenly paused, taking my hand once again. "Your scent is strong and they will continue to chase us at this point, you go I will take care of them," flabbergasted I let out a chuckle.
"Good to see you have positive energy now go," she shoved me, tearing a chunk of her dress and revealing part of her body as she began to position herself in a weird position. Like a hunter waiting on its prey.
"I know nowhere I can't continue to run without you, Let's continue to run,” I said, shaking my head as she paused to face me.
"Within you is a strong wolf who you have made weak because of your constant fear. You do not need me anymore," for the first time I could see the panic in her eyes. The guards were nearing us. I could hear their sounds and see their touch lights from a distance.
"Please let's run, "I begged, I can't leave her behind just like I left my family behind.
"I won't die, trust me, continue to run towards the south. My brother is waiting for me at the river border, tell him I sent you. He will help you till I return." She shoved me ahead with panic in her eyes, for the first time I began to regret not joining my brother in the field to train. I was pampered and never had to learn how to fight.
"You will be marked a Rogue remember" She shoved me for the last time into the nearest Bush. I could hear the roar of the guards approaching followed by hers. She was transforming.
Again like a coward, I took off toward the South not looking back, her voice hunted me as I ran. By the it wasd of it, it's not a small scare, it was a full-blown fight.
My tears accompanied me as I ran, only stopping to tear part of my gown just like I saw Aisling do. I can't transform, the scent will linger and even if I wanted to transform my wolf still is curled in pain.
From a distance, I could see a large river, and my knees began to go numb. I have no idea how long I have been running but I know for a fact that I haven't stopped. At the far end of the river bank is a White horse drinking from the river.
"Has the goddess sent a helper my way," I pushed through, forcing myself to keep standing. Finally, I dragged my feet to the river bending towards it just like the horse to take a sip while Gasping for air.
My trembling hands reached for the cool water, and as I bent down to sip, a dizzying wave of exhaustion washed over me. The world spun, and the river's reflection blurred into a hazy mosaic.
“A Runaway with no eyes at her back,” I heard a male voice.
In that fleeting moment, the rush of water became a distant hum as consciousness slipped away, and I crumpled beside the river, the world around me fading into a shadowy abyss…
Chapter 3 Blinking groggily, I found myself in the swaying embrace of a moving horse. The rhythmic jostling stirred me from sleep, and the creak of leather and the soft thud of hooves against the ground echoed in my ears. A surreal sensation of motion surrounded me as I gradually became aware of the saddle beneath me and the warmth of the horse's flank against my legs. The landscape rolled by in a blurry scenery, and as my senses adjusted, I realized I was part of a journey whose destination remained a mystery in the hazy dawn."Finally awake sleeping beauty," I heard behind me followed by laughter, panic set in as I immediately looked behind me. Have I been caught already? To my surprise none of the faces were familiar, and their distinct features gave away that they weren't wolves either. Have I finally arrived in the South? Are they Rogues? I looked around watching them laugh at me while I wondered which of them were Aisling's brother."So what is your name?" I was asked, for som
Chapter 4…Two Full moons have waxed and waned with ease but I couldn't say the same for my experience so far. But saying it's the most difficult experience would be an exaggeration considering I would be dead if I hadn't escaped.LYTHRIA has been nothing but strange to me, everything I knew and believed in has been challenged with mind-bulging conspiracies. From a noble lady and future Luna of my small clan to a commoner slave maid, working the farm yards of the royal family. THE ROYALS, they are called, a strange concept, there is nothing like an Alpha but rather a king and a queen with several ministers ruling a kingdom. Unlike in LUPARIA where the Alpha is accessible and easily seen, here it is impossible to sight a royal and it is considered lucky to lay your eyes on one.I guess I and the people of Daus who entered the palace with Prince Thorian were lucky to meet the royals. Speaking of the prince, I was scared and paranoid because of the dirty and lewd words I heard them say
Chapter 5…“Isn't it a first? Slaves working directly with a royal is almost unspoken of,” Hana spoke. I hated the fact I had to listen to them and be unable to say a thing. I could only take my anger out on the fruit as my eyes wandered around catching the glimpse of a young slave girl sneaking some fruit into her worn-out rope. Upon meeting my eyes she seemed frightened, perhaps thinking I was about to tell on her. Quickly I averted my gaze pretending not to have noticed her as she quickly escaped.The robe pattern although different but still obvious it was that of a slave, no palace maiden has a similar pattern. “As long as we don't cross-part with his slave maids that would be good with us, we don't need to mix with them,” I heard Ellena speak, their conversation sparked an interest in me. Perhaps it's because it's about Prince Thorian, being curious about your captor is not something I knew I would one day have. Or perhaps there was another reason, the idea of becoming a pal
Chapter 6…Right in front of him, my tongue dried up, not my usual deliberate silence, but rather his intimidating gaze made me short of words.“That I am yet to figure out.”“I am asking her,” he cut his men short, quickly I averted my gaze unable to keep looking at him.“What brings you here?” he asked, his tone cold sending chills down my spine, almost like I had been drowned in cold water. “I….I lost my way,” my response was weak and short, it was obvious none of them believed my word.“I am sorry I didn't mean to but I have a very poor sense of direction,” I finally organized myself enough to answer. I watched his brow rise in a confused manner as he started me up and down, his eyes resting on my arm where the fabric had gone thin and was beginning to tear.“Laws are merciless, they are there for a reason and it doesn't care about excuses whether you have a poor sense of direction it doesn't care…” he paused finally looking away from me. I know very well what he means. There was
Chapter 7…… Riding beneath the vibrant sunset, I held onto Edna’s shirt not too tight for him to notice but enough to keep me balanced. The wind tousles through my hair as the rhythmic gallop of the horse beneath me echoes the pounding of my heart.Behind me was the lady who I still am yet to know her name. Just as I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply with anticipation for a long journey. The horse suddenly made a stop forcing me to open my eyes back up.“We are here!” Sir Edna’s voice was sharp, unlike his normal cheerful tone. I watched as the lady made a swift exit from the horseback as I struggled to get down holding onto the horse for support. Slowly my eyes traveled round, again the Architecture. I have grown to expect more to help me stay grounded and not marvel every time.“This is the East Palace, it was shut down years ago and reopened today,” She said as I looked around, there was no sight of the palace I knew about. The castle-like home in front of me was massive but not
Chapter 8…“What?” it slowly settled in“One should think of a solution when presenting a problem,” He spoke with a straight face, the lines on his forehead showcasing his seriousness.“I am only but a mere slave girl, without a ground in this strange land. How can I figure this out,” he stopped on his track turning to face me.“You are a mere slave girl yet you stand right before a prince in that strange land. Which slave have you heard standing in front of a royal,” he spoke authoritatively “I am too shallow-minded to understand your words… Your Highness,” I withdrew my steps, lowering my head.“Do not be too humble with me, while a royal, I am a man who does not care about etiquette and titles. As long as you respect me you do not have to be too humble,” he spoke, continuing to walk ahead as I trailed behind him.“I dare not take your words to heart… Your Highness,” he paused again but this time he didn't look behind to face me. I followed him behind hoping to continue to convers
Chapter 9….Days and nights have passed, and like the tales being told, it got worse, my whole body has gone sour even more worse than it was back at the slave Quarters. Almost like the castle never runs out of dirt to clean. I hear the mumbling of the workers, their backs arched on the floor as they clean, speaking in their native tongue which I strangely understand for some reason… From a good distance I could hear Edna approaching and right beside him, the prince. His face stoned as usual as he approached while Edna and Anakim followed him, I immediately dropped my rags as I strengthened my back waiting for him to approach fully. I lowered my head in greetings so did every other person. Not paying any attention to us he walked ahead, I followed behind immediately. Ten steps behind like instructed. For the past few days the prince has been out and thankfully with his knights as we cleaned every nook and Cranny. While at the slave Quarters no day passed without a story going round
Chapter 10…The silence grew deafening almost enough to choke me. So out of place I know I am. “Who is she?” I could hear a mumble from somebody. I cursed my sensitive hearing as I bite my tongue forcing my eyes to continue looking behind the prince's head. He suddenly paused making me stumble on my feet.“Greetings… Father,” The prince's voice the loudest I have heard him speak. I watched him take a kneel as I looked around confused. My eyes met that of a devious one, it was obvious who she was. I didn't recognise her right away the last time but today there was no denying she was the queen. She sat by the left side of the king and sitting by the right a younger fellow, the other prince. And by his left is a lady, her skin so flawless it could blind even an already blind person, the princess. She sat like a goddess. And behind them were palace maids who stared directly at me, my reaction wasnt the best but quickly I lowered my knees kneeling behind the prince.“Rise, I am your fath