Chapter 2: Moonlight Fruit

Evelyn’s POV

I wandered deeper into the forest, the weight of my disappointment pressing down on me like a physical burden. The dense trees closed in around me, providing a semblance of comfort in their shadows. My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I found a small, secluded clearing where I finally let them fall.

Sinking to the ground, I wrapped my arms around my knees and allowed the sobs to wrack my body. The enormity of my situation crashed over me. Without my wolf, I was nothing in this world. I was a burden, an outsider. The moonlight filtering through the trees cast a soft glow, but it offered little solace.

I cried until I had no more tears left, my body exhausted from the emotional turmoil. Eventually, I lay down on the cool forest floor, curling up as if to protect myself from the world. Sleep claimed me, my dreams filled with images of what could have been and what might never be.

When the first light of dawn broke through the canopy, I awoke, my body stiff and cold. I pushed myself up, wiping the remnants of tears from my cheeks. I had to go back to the mansion and face whatever awaited me there. There was no avoiding it. I slowly made my way back, each step a reminder of my failure.

The world outside our pack was dangerous; I knew that better than anyone. Before Alpha Hayes had adopted me, I had been a rogue, living on the fringes of society. My earliest memories were of scavenging for food and hiding from those who sought to harm us. I was just a baby when my parents abandoned me, left to the mercy of the wild.

The rogues had taken me in, raised me in their stronghold until I was sixteen. Then, the coalition army, a force composed of various packs, had come and destroyed everything. Most of my adopted family was killed or captured, but I had escaped.

It wasn't an easy escape. Without the ability to shift into my wolf form, I was defenseless in the forest. I should have died that night, but Alpha Hayes found me, wounded and exhausted. He took me in, granted me shelter within Blood Cloud. But safety came with a price. His daughter, Hannah, made it her mission to make my life miserable, delighting in every opportunity to bully and torment me.

I moved carefully as I approached Hayes' mansion, hoping to sneak in unnoticed. The mansion loomed ahead, an imposing structure that seemed to grow out of the surrounding forest. Built from dark stone, its high towers and sharp, angular design gave it a menacing appearance. Ivy crept up the walls, and the windows, tall and narrow, gleamed ominously in the early morning light. The main entrance was flanked by massive wooden doors, intricately carved with scenes of wolves and battles, a testament to the pack's proud history.

I slipped through the side entrance, my heart pounding in my chest. But as I moved through the shadowed hallways, a hand grabbed my arm roughly, yanking me back.

"Where do you think you're going, you little sneak?" Hannah's voice was laced with venom.

I tried to pull away, but her grip was too firm. "Hannah, please, I was just—"

"Save it, Evelyn," she interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "You think you can just disappear all night and sneak back in like nothing happened?"

I shook my head, desperation creeping into my voice. "I wasn't doing anything wrong. I just needed to be alone."

Hannah's smirk widened, and she slapped me hard across the face. The impact sent me stumbling, and my cheek burned with the sting of her hand.

"That's for fighting back yesterday," she hissed. "You embarrassed me in front of the entire school... in front of Colin, and I'm going to make you pay."

She leaned in close to me. "If you thought your life was hell, get ready, Evelyn. I'm about to make it ten times worse." Her voice was bitter and filled with so much hate I wondered if she wasn't a demon.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them back, I had to stay strong. "You can't keep treating me like this, Hannah. I'm part of this pack."

Hannah laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "You? Part of this pack? Don't make me laugh. You're nothing but a charity case my father took in out of pity." She held up my chin and smiled. "Lord knows he's already tired of your presence; he'd get rid of you in a heartbeat," she spoke low, her voice barely a whisper. But who's going to wash our rags?"

Before I could respond, she grabbed my ear and yanked me forward, dragging me through the mansion. The grand hallways were lined with portraits of past Alphas, their stern gazes following us as we walked. The high ceilings and polished marble floors echoed our footsteps, amplifying my sense of dread. She hauled me into the main hall, where Alpha Hayes sat, already looking displeased.

"Father, look who decided to sneak back in after disappearing all night," Hannah announced, shoving me forward.

Alpha Hayes looked at me with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "Where have you been, Evelyn?"

"I...I was in the forest," I stammered, my eyes on the floor.

Hannah's smirk turned into a dramatic pout as she began her tale. "Oh, Father, it wasn't just that. Yesterday, Evelyn attacked me at school, completely unprovoked! She hit me so hard I thought I would faint. I've been in so much pain, and she just ran off without a care."

My head snapped up, shock and indignation flooding me. "That's not true! I would never—"

"Silence!" Alpha Hayes' voice boomed, cutting off my protest. He turned to Hannah, his expression stern. "Is this true, Hannah?"

"Of course, Father. I wouldn't lie about something like this," Hannah said, her eyes welling up with crocodile tears. "You know how much I try to get along with her, but she just hates me for no reason."

Alpha Hayes' gaze bore into me, and I felt the weight of his judgment.

"You ungrateful little runt, it’s moments like this that make me regret bringing you into this pack. I've given you shelter under my own roof, food off my table, and clothes for your back, and this---" He points to his daughter Hannah, who still sells her act by whimpering like an injured puppy. "This is how you repay me, by attacking my sweet daughter."

"But, Alpha, I—" I started, but he raised a hand to silence me.

"No excuses. I'll think of a way to deal with you later."

He glanced at his pocket watch and mumbled something I didn't quite catch. "I have guests coming over from Thunderclap Military College. You will gather Moonlight Fruit to serve them with."

"Since you like wandering off into the forest, this shouldn't be too difficult for you." He turned away from me and dismissed me with a wave of his hand. "Now get out of my sight."

Hannah's smirk widened as she released her grip on my ear. "Better get moving, Evelyn. You wouldn't want to disappoint Father even more."

I nodded numbly and turned to leave, the sting of Hannah's lies and Alpha Hayes' disregard heavy in my heart.

As I stepped out of the mansion, I couldn't help but recall Alpha Hayes mentioning Thunderclap Military College.

Thunderclap Pack was the most powerful in the world, led by the fearsome Alpha King. He was as revered as he was feared, known for his strength and cold-bloodedness. It was he who had commanded the battle that destroyed my stronghold two years ago. I had seen him then, though only briefly. He wore a mask, and all I remembered were his cold, indifferent eyes.

The Moon Goddess must have intervened that day. He spared my life, perhaps deeming it dishonorable to kill a defenseless rogue girl. Now, his pack's military college was visiting Blood Cloud, scouting for new students.

Thunderclap Military College was the most prestigious institution in the werewolf world, and admission was a coveted honor. If I could get in, it would be my ticket out of Blood Cloud.

I grabbed a basket and headed into the forest, my thoughts racing. If I could impress the professors, maybe they would overlook my lack to shift to my wolf. Maybe, just maybe, I could escape this place.

The forest welcomed me back, its familiar sights and sounds offering a strange sense of comfort. The trees seemed to whisper encouragement as I walked among them. The Moonlight Fruit, a rare and valuable delicacy, was difficult to find, but I knew this forest well. I had spent countless hours here, seeking solace from my hellish life.

The Moonlight Fruit was beautiful, almost magical. It grew in small clusters on low bushes, its skin a shimmering silver-blue that seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight. Each fruit was the size of a large plum, and they tasted like a mixture of honey and wild berries, with a hint of mint.

I moved quickly through the underbrush, heading to a secluded grove where I knew the Moonlight Fruit thrived. The path was narrow and overgrown, but my familiarity with it made the journey easy. As I reached the grove, I saw the bushes laden with the luminous fruit.

I carefully picked the fruit, filling my basket. Despite everything, I found a strange peace in this task. The rhythm of picking the fruit, the cool early morning air, and the sounds of the forest around me soothed my troubled mind. For a moment, I could almost forget my worries and just exist in this peaceful place.

I allowed myself a moment to dream about Thunderclap. The college was known for producing the best warriors, and its graduates often went on to hold powerful positions within their packs. It was my chance to make something of myself, to leave my past behind.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the voices at first. It was only when I heard a twig snap nearby that I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I crouched behind a bush, straining to hear.

"...Hannah said we should teach her a lesson," a voice said, low and menacing.

"Yeah, she thinks she's so special just because Alpha took her in," another voice added, dripping with contempt.

Fear gripped me as I recognized the voices. They were boys from the pack, notorious for doing Hannah's bidding. I peeked through the leaves and saw them, their figures moving through the trees. They hadn't seen me yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

Hannah had sent them to hurt me. I clenched my fists, anger bubbling beneath my fear. She couldn't stand that I might have a chance to leave, to make something of myself. But I wouldn't give up without a fight.