Chapter 3 – The Moon Wolf

“You’re right, we’ve been taking this for too long. It’s time we break free and start over, we run tonight”, Jasmine said in my head with new found determination.

Her words made me see rays of hope and new found determination. I stood up and made my way to the pack kitchen to see if there’s any food I can make do with till evening. I need to eat to at least get enough energy to run.

I went to the kitchen and there were slaves running around cooking up a feast for Freya and Grayson’s coronation. I was disappointed and was about to leave when I spotted Jane. Jane is an elderly woman and she used to be our head cook. She’s the only one in the pack who doesn’t treat me like I’m beneath her, she can’t be nice to me publicly though or she’d be punished.

She saw me as I was about to leave too and came to meet me in the hallway. She hugged me with tears in her eyes and I hugged her back too. She has always been like a grandmother to me.

She pulled me towards a dark corner in the hallway where she broke down in tears seeing my state. She’s not been to the pack in a while, I guess she quit her job but why was she back tonight? She saw her mouth moving and tried to listen to her over her thoughts “…..heard he rejected you and chose Freya anyway. I’m so sorry, Lola, no one deserves to be treated like that by their mate”, she whispered with tears running down her cheeks and I hugged her again.

“You look malnourished, child, do they ever feed you? I’m sorry I left without telling you, I had to go see my daughter in another pack. She gave birth to her first child and I went to see her”, she told me while looking me over. My stomach chose that moment to grumble again, I looked down in embarrassment.

“Have you had anything to eat today, child?”I shook my head negatively and she told me she’d be back for me. As she left, I tried to make myself small and invisible to anyone passing. I can’t take anymore beating and assault today, I need to be somewhat okay for me to be able to escape.

Jane soon came back with a paper bag in her hand. She gave it to me and hugged me tightly after telling me to live well, it was almost like she knew I was going away. I thanked her and left for the basement again.

I could not eat a lot, it was almost like my b*dy was used to not being fed and rejected the food. I sighed as I kept the paper bag, I could not let anyone find it or I’d be punished.

I was waiting for night to fall and the coronation to start while praying to the moon goddess to give me the energy and luck to escape this vile land that has done nothing but cause me pain.

I shook in my seat when I heard footsteps coming down the basement. I looked up and saw one of the pack guards and slightly relaxed, they’re not as worse as the high ranking wolves.

“It’s time for the coronation and Alpha Grayson requires you to be near the ballroom”, his deep voice boomed making me jump in my seat and I nodded my head. He turned to leave and I followed after him, I don’t want to incur wrath on myself.

I followed him to where the coronation was taking place. It looked beautiful and magnificent, beautiful flowers were used to create an arch in the doorway and was also scattered across the room. People dressed in white, women in elegant gowns and men in fitting suits, were scattered around the room chatting.

I stood out in my d*rty attire and unkempt appearance, I knew Grayson brought me there to humiliate me and show me that I’d never be his Luna because I’m below him. People gave me d*rty glances and some even cursed me out but I kept my head down the whole time. I stood to a side in the ballroom and made myself small.

The chatters in the room suddenly quiet down and I looked up to see Grayson in a black suit that was perfectly tailored to suit him and Freya in a blood red gown with thigh high slit that accentuated all of her curves.

She looked so good with her hair in waves that she let down to frame her beautiful face, her make up looked minimal and I, could not even deny the fact that she looked stunning. Together, they looked amazing and Jasmine howled in pain in my head seeing her mate with another she-wolf.

They made their way to the stage and people started clapping, focusing all of their attention on them. Grayson made eye contact with me and smirked evilly, that gesture made me sick to my stomach because I knew what awaited me if I don’t escape before the coronation ends.

Everyb*dy focused their attention on their future rulers and I took that opportunity to sneak out of the ballroom and out of the pack house. The moon was high up in the sky and shine brightly, almost like the Moon goddess was making way for me.

I made my way to the end of the pack, avoiding patrol and guards. Security is not as tight at the pack boundary and I sent a thanks to the Moon goddess. Right before I morphed into my wolf ,I said the words I should have said since the moment I knew he wasn’t going to choose me.

Using my original title, I said those words, “I, Lola Ashton, the daughter of Alpha Ryan and Luna Lilian of the Moonlit pack, accept the rejection of Grayson Dawson, the son of Beta Andrew and Female Beta Natalie, as his mate and chosen one”, I said and felt a surge of power through me at the same time I heard a wolf howling in pain in distant.

Jasmine took over my b*dy and I was a pure white wolf. I felt a new burst of energy coursing through my veins, then I ran. I ran with everything in me and never looked back.

Lola’s POV

Then I ran.

I ran pass the pack boundary feeling the barely there bond I had with the pack break within me and I felt free. Jasmine howled in happiness as her paws hit the ground and she charged forward at full speed.

I heard distant howling and knew Grayson had sent his men after me. Jasmine charged on wildly feeling the wind in her fur, I’m sure she’s not even bothered about the fact that warriors could have been sent after us. She’s never felt such freedom before and was just basking in it We were on unclaimed lands which means rogues could be around. I’ve heard about rogues even though I don’t know what they looked like. Memories from when Mom and Dad died seemed to have vanished but I do know rogues are dangerous wolf that have lost their touch with their human sides. They’re said to look wild and have red eyes and will kill anything in their sight.

I heard howls get closer and knew we had company, Grayson must be so desperate to have sent men after me. I don’t even mean anything to him, he shouldn’t have bothered himself with things as trivia as me.

Jasmine did not falter for once or show any signs of weakness as she charged on dodging branches and jumping over trees. I know we had to lose the wolf on our tail and also, no one can find out about us so we have to conceal our fur colour.

We passed a muddy water and Jasmine rolled in it making our fur brown and d*rty. I knew that was not enough to mask our scent but it sure helped with concealing out color.

“Jas, we can’t get caught now. We need to mask our scent so we can buy enough time to get us into another pack”, I said to her through our mindlink.

“I know, Lola. We have to find a lake or large b*dy of water and drench ourselves in it or find pile of waste to mask our scent. I don’t know how far we have to go till we reach a pack that we can crash in”, she said, not once stopping to catch her breath.

We saw a lake ahead and dived into it, it was freezing and I felt it to my home even though I wasn’t in human form. Jasmine growled lowly and slowly laid down in the part of the water that wasn’t too deep, but deep enough to conceal us if anyb*dy passed by.

We saw about 5 wolves come into the view and stayed as still as we could. I prayed to the moon goddess that I’d not be discovered. I don’t know what will be done to me if I go back and I never want to find out. I’d rather die out here alone than go back to that evil, fucked up pack.

I felt one of the wolves sniff the air around us and Jasmine held her breath. The wolf came up with nothing and they lurked around for a while before they turned back the way they came.

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