Chapter 8. New Phrase

When the beam of the guards' flashlight illuminated Pearl's face, a sudden stillness gripped Alex. Unbeknownst to Pearl, trouble loomed ahead.

"Why are you outside?" The guards inquired, consistently directing their flashing lights towards her face.

"I just took her for some fresh air!" He mumbled, attempting to shield Pearl.

Alex, stuttering, tried to cover for Pearl. The guards exchanged skeptical glances, their flashlights revealing a tense atmosphere.

"You're not allowed out after curfew. State your identification and purpose," demanded one guard, suspicion evident in their tone.

In the dim glow, Pearl finally grasped the severity of the situation, casting a worried glance at Alex, who struggled to conjure a convincing explanation.

"Why are you standing there?" Scarlett interjected, entering the scene.

"Good evening ma'am," the guards greeted.

"You're such a nuisance! Take her back to the dungeon and give her fifty strokes," she commanded, and the bodyguards bowed, dragging Pearl away.

"No! I'm sorry, please!" Pearl cried loudly, while Alex clenched his fists in anger.

"It was my fault. I'm deeply sorry for causing trouble, but she doesn't deserve to be punished!"

"I don't care!" Scarlett rolled her eyes, walking off.

In the dungeon, Pearl screamed at the top of her voice with each stroke on her lap.

"Ahhhh!"

"Shut up! Seems, you like getting stroked, huh?" One guard asked, and she shook her head negatively.

"Please...I'm sorry," she begged, tears mixing with sweat on her clothes.

"It's not what you all think…please let me go. I'm so sorry" she begged once more, breathing out heavily.

"Sorry? Does that solve anything?" The guard sneered, slapping her cheek and breaking her lip.

"Start from the beginning. Scream all you like; no one is coming to your aid!" He added as she inhaled, tears streaming down her cheek.

Outside the gloomy dungeon, Alex found himself unable to stand still, nervously pacing with shaky hands. The weight of guilt settled on him as he sighed, realizing it was entirely his fault.

Upon entering the majestic royal house, he headed straight for the bustling kitchen in search of Lady Mira. Finally spotting her amidst serving duties to Alpha Edgar, he signaled for her attention. Sensing the distress, Alpha Edgar observed the unfolding situation.

Lady Mira met Alex at the end of the corridor. "What happened? Did you get caught?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"Something more terrible! Scarlett ordered the guards to give her fifty strokes!" he said, and Lady Mira covered her mouth.

"Oh my goodness, that poor little thing," she sighed.

"What do we do? We can't leave her alone in there to die when we know she's innocent!" Alex said, folding his fist angrily.

"Mmm, I know. But we can't do anything; we are just mere slaves and servants!" Lady Mira said and patted his hair.

"Don't worry, she would be alright!" she spoke easily and left.

~~~

"Is that what I paid you for?" Scarlett shouted at a guard who told her Pearl was now unconscious.

"What more do you need? Should I...?"

"Kill her, kill her, get her miserable self out of this place!" she said, and the guard gasped.

"But... I can't... I mean, killing her might result in my death too."

"Don't worry, I have everything under control. Just eliminate her!" Scarlett said, going into her room.

The guard left the corridor and entered the prison yard. He stared at unconscious Pearl and let out a heavy sigh.

"Gosh!" he hissed.

He drew out his sword, leaned on Pearl's face, and groaned angrily.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked, coming in.

The guard turned to face him.

"What on earth does it look like?"

"Why are you doing this? You know she's innocent, right?"

"Take your friend away from here. If she doesn't die this night, she would surely do that soon!" he said, and Pearl rolled a bit.

"Pearl!" Alex called, going to her.

He helped her carry her up, and she looked around the place with her heavy eyes.

"Kill me already," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You think I'm that stupid? Take her away before someone sees you!"

"Where are we going to, huh?" she asked, coughing out.

"Look, we don't have much time, okay? Come on." Alex carried her on his back and rushed out of the prison.

While the guard went back to the royal house to report to Scarlett.

Alex secretly left the royal house, walking through the dark, lonely road, wishing he doesn't meet the rogue on the way.

After what felt like an eternity, exhaustion overcame him, and he reluctantly let Pearl slip from his grasp, her delicate form colliding with the unforgiving ground.

"I'm sorry, I have to return to the Royal house," he uttered, clasping her hands tightly in his.

"Thank you so much," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"It's alright. I hope you lead a healthy life." He enveloped her in a tight embrace, eliciting a faint chuckle from her fragile frame.

With hurried steps, he hastened back to the Royal house, leaving Pearl to struggle on trembling legs.

Each painful step she took mirrored the agony within, her lips quivering as tears blurred her vision. No one had warned her about the torment that came with being alive or having a monstrous mate.

Her mother's decision to accept the late Alpha King as her mate now seemed like a curse. Her once vibrant life had spiraled into misery.

Lost in her thoughts, she stumbled, collapsing onto the ground and striking her head against an unforgiving rock, blood staining her surroundings.

Huddled in pain, she longed for an escape, a release from the shackles of her name, the anguish, and the overwhelming emotions.

"Why?" she cried out to the indifferent sky.

"Why don't you just end it all?" Her anguished yell echoed through the desolation.

"Is this my fate, Moon goodness? Is this how my life will conclude?" Her cries continued.

"Is it wrong to crave a life of happiness?" she muttered, only to be interrupted by approaching voices and flickering lights.

"The guards... I'd rather face death on the streets than endure what awaits me there," she vowed, standing despite her trembling legs.

"Search everywhere!" The guards' authoritative voices reverberated in the dark forest.

She stifled a gasp and slipped away.

"Keep searching!"

Running turned into a desperate sprint, and then, she transformed into her wolf form. As an omega, her strength was meager, but determination fueled her pace.

She sprinted relentlessly, oblivious to the city lights she entered, driven only by the need to escape.

Rain began to pour, drenching her as she ran, her weakened state evident in every stride.

"We can do it, please keep going," she murmured softly, urging her wolf to persevere.

Outrunning the pursuing guards, she entered another city, unaware of her surroundings, driven solely by the instinct to survive.

Eventually, fatigue overwhelmed her, and she collapsed onto the rain-soaked ground, her eyes closing as sleep claimed her in the midst of the tempests 

NEXT DAY~~

The heavy downpour didn't stop until daybreak. When she opened her eyes, it was still raining. She stood up, rubbed her stomach, which was rumbling due to hunger.

She looked around at the unknown place, sensing it was not her city anymore. She felt relieved.

She started walking away, looking for a place to shield herself. Her eyes felt heavy, red, and she could swear she felt empty.

Standing alone in the middle of the street, body soaked, teeth clenching together due to the cold, she held herself while walking. She had no money with her, and she had no relations staying within.

This was the end for her, so she thought.

She walked for a long distance in the heavy rain, feeling dizzy and nauseous. She decided to stop, sat down on the road while cars passed by.

Within a few minutes, she felt bad and passed out.

She lay there for hours, the heavy rain falling on her. The rain stopped, and that was the time an old woman, probably in her sixties, came to her aid. She carried her with the help of some strangers and put her into the taxi, which drove them to their destination.

"Grandma," a boy called as the lady carried Pearl inside their house. "Who is she?" The boy questioned, following his grandmother to the sitting room.

"I don't know… found her lying on the street. She must be homeless," the grandma spoke, wiping off the dirt on Pearl's face.

"What if she's a rogue? We will be killed for hiding one with us. You know how the Alpha behaves; he's not one to mess with," the little boy said, feeling uneasy.

"Calm down, Eddie. The Alpha won't find out, even if she's a rogue," the grandma replied, giving a comforting smile.

She prepared a hot bath before waking Pearl up. Due to the cold and constant crying, her eyes were googly and heavy.

She sat up and looked around the house. Even before a word could be uttered, tears rolled down her cheek. "Where am I?"

"It's okay, honey. You're safe," the grandma replied, prompting Pearl to exhale, feeling safe.

The little boy stared at her from behind the dining room. After some minutes, she went upstairs to the place where Grandma had prepared her bath. She stayed long before coming out of the bathroom.

"Do you mind having tea? Black coffee actually," the grandma said, handing her a cup of coffee in an old glass cup.

"Thanks," she muttered, taking a sip from the hot coffee.

Grandma and Eddie became the family Pearl never had. She stayed indoors for weeks before she began working at a café. Grandma knew the owner well, so getting a job wasn't a problem.

Her life was getting better, she knew. Grandma always made sure she had whatever she wanted, and slowly she began healing from the pains Alpha Edgar and Draco caused her.

Three months later, she realized she was already pregnant. Heartbroken, she tried to end her life, but Grandma stopped her. She had to accept her difficult life.

"Have some milk," Grandma said, handing her a glass of fresh milk. She drank it quickly and let out a sigh.

"Today was so stressful, Mom. I can't imagine how I'm going to provide for my unborn child," she said, resting her head on the couch.

Grandma, who was in the kitchen, smiled while preparing dinner. "Come on, no negative thoughts. You will be the best mother any child could ask for," she said, earning a chuckle from Pearl.

"I guess. I'm broke; what can I offer them?"

"Why don't you ask their father for help?" Grandma asked, turning to face Pearl, who looked troubled.

"His father passed away. My unborn child has no one else but me, and of course, you!" she replied.

Although Grandma knew it was a lie, she didn't press for more information. She had her reasons for not talking about her husband or the father of her unborn child. Grandma thought, gently slicing the onion.

"Do you need any help? I could help you know" She said and Grandma shook her head.

"No darling, you need to rest." She replied, dishing out a soup for Pearl.

She went to the sitting room and gave Pearl the soup.

She smiled sweetly feeling the warmth coming from her, she got the love, and care, no one ever gave her, from Grandma.

She sniffed in and hugged her tight. 

"Thank you so much ma" She muttered, cleaning her tears 

"You're welcome sweet Pearl" she kissed her hair and Pearl smiled.

"I'm home!!" Eddie said, returning back from school.

"Welcome back Eddie" Pearl said as Eddie watched her closely.

"Why on earth are you crying? Come on, it's not healthy for the babies!" He said and Pearl nodded, like a kid, taking instructions from his tutor.

"Alright, I won't cry anymore. I would be brave and strong, for you, and Grandma, and of course for my child!" She said, rubbing her stomach.

"That's so sweet…" Eddie said and everyone chucked.