Chapter#05

Maya's POV

"Maya, are you all right?" Finn hurried to lend me his shoulder as Alpha Kael walked away. The crowd dissipated under his orders and went about the Gala business.

"I... I'm not sure." My voice trembled. I clung to my torn dress, and my hands were shaking feverishly.

The cold and indifferent way Kael had looked into my eyes struck me right in the center of my being. It made my wolfish heart beat in a way I didn't recognize or understand. "Was that…?"

Finn nodded. "He was Alpha Kael, yes. The Lycan King himself."

"He… He looked at me as if I were something… more. That never happened to me before. I am nothing, Finn."

"Don't say that, Maya. Besides, you're lucky to be alive. The King showed mercy. It's your lucky day."

The tight clasp of Finn's hand on my arm made me wince. "I'm not going to leave you here alone," he added with concern. "Whatever happened to you tonight, let me take you home!"

I nodded, still shaken. "Okay. But I… I think I should ask Father before leaving."

"You're talking bullshit, Maya," Finn growled. His eyes were kind as they settled on me. "You've been through enough it seems. Let's get you home?"

I fidgeted and looked up at him quizzically. Finn used to be my best friend, but he abandoned me to be tortured under the claws of the Grimridge Pack.

He appeared to sense my discomfort. "Maya, I'm sure that you are very surprised to see me again," he began. "And I know I hurt you... All I can say is that I had no choice back then–"

"Shut up!" I interrupted him. "I don't want to hear anything from you, Finn! Why did you go away without telling me anything? It was so unfair! I've been so alone!"

The effort to raise my voice drained the last of my energies and I collapsed into Finn's arms.

***

The ride back to Grimridge was silent. The only sounds we could hear was that of the rhythmic hoofbeats. A dark, empty horizon stretched out before us as my pale eyes opened. Finn had given me some water, and the relaxation brought me back to my senses. I stared blankly ahead without speaking to Finn.

Eventually, we reached the pack house. As I dismounted, a cold lump formed in my chest. I had treated my savior very harshly back at the Gala. "Thank you, Finn."

"Thank me by doing what you're told," he said, smiling with a strain. Finn looked as handsome as always. He pointed at the house in the background. "If you need anything at all, just call for me. I'm back and am never going to leave you again… I promise."

I nodded, trying to force a smile, but failed. Everything still hurt. "I should go in."

As I turned towards the entrance door, my heart sank. The sound of my father's carriage horses clomped thunderously. He alighted from the cabin and flanked me. "Worthless lout!" he spat at Finn, disgusted. "How dare you interfere in my pack's matters?!"

Before Finn could answer, Alpha Theron took my arm and dragged me inside, closing the door heavily behind us. Veyra stood by his side. I cowered under their stare.

"Are you out of your mind?" Theron barked, his claws cracking as he clenched them. "We did you a favor by taking you to Skyrock Palace. And what do we get in return? You seduce the Bloodfang heir and let him have his way with you?"

"Damien told everyone how you spread your legs for him," Veyra weighed in. "How dare you disgrace the Grimridge pack like that?!"

"It wasn't me who seduced him!" My voice came out in gasps. "It was Damien who attacked me. He forced himself on me with his gang… I tried to stop him! I swear. I tried to push him away!"

"Liar!" Veyra's voice was a slap on my face. "You're a damned lack-of-wolf existence, and always have been! You've brought nothing but shame to the family and the pack. Do you really think we'll take your word over Damien's? You've besmirched our name since the day you were born! Whore!"

"Father…" I begged Alpha Theron. "You must believe me. Am I not your daughter?"

"Daughter? You have no claim to my affection. Maya, you are a fucking disgrace!" Father's anger erupted as he bellowed, "I should've kicked you out when we realized you couldn't shift."

The words cut deeper than any knife, and I burst out crying. My whole body trembled as I sank onto the floor on my knees and whimpered, "I did not choose to be like this. Why would I want to be wolfless? Why wouldn't you just let me be?"

Veyra sneered. "You'll make me vomit with your pathetic whining. Nothing but a leech who milks off our name and is still ungrateful. Even the Omegas despise you."

"I haven't done anything wrong!" I protested, stepping towards my parents. "I didn't ask to be born like this! It wasn't my fault! And I'm not a liar! Damien was the aggressor! But I fought with all my might! And shame on you for not believing me! Shame on you for betraying your own flesh and blood!"

Upon hearing my words, Father's eyes widened. It was unnatural for me to talk back so brashly. I usually cried and cowered like the helpless girl I was. However, something happened tonight. My accidental meeting with Alpha Kael had ignited a flame in me.

Alpha Theron was already trembling in a fury, while Veyra was too stunned to speak. But I was not to be deterred. "That's right. You're the one bringing shame on our family," I cried. "Not me. You sit there humiliating me all day long, as if you're some perfect deity. Let me open your eyes and tell you that you aren't! You are horrible parents, and a worse pair of Alpha and Luna!"

Veyra stumbled closer, venom dripping from her glance. "How dare you address us like that, your worthless bitch! You dare bite the hand that feeds you? Don't you owe your Father any respect for keeping you alive?"

"Maybe he doesn't deserve my respect!" I retorted, "If being part of this family means living under your cruelty, then I'd rather be alone or dead. I'd rather be wolfless than heartless like you."

The next thing I knew, my father's hand had landed on my face. I was sent reeling and his palm left a scorching pain on my cheek. My bearings were loose from shock, my throat almost closed and I was unable to breathe.

"I'm done with you!" roared Alpha Theron as he grabbed by wrist tightly. "I knew you'd turn on me one day, wench! Get out of my house!"

I was too stunned to react, but a half-hearted cry escaped my lips. "Please… No…"

He dragged me to the door. "Out with you!" He grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me through the exit. My body stumbled into the cold night air and landed on the chilly marble.

Alpha Theron slammed the mansion door shut after throwing me a last glance of disgust. I was hurt by the fall but I struggled to my knees, hands trembling as I pushed myself up. My breath came out in ragged gasps.

As I spiraled into an unexpected depression, I heard footsteps.

"Maya!" Finn had heard the commotion. He dashed across the street and knelt beside me. "Alpha Theron is a monster for treating you that way. I'll help you…"

"Leave me alone!" I screamed, pushing him away, "I don't need your pity, Finn! I don't need anyone…leave me alone!"

"Maya, please," he began. "Where else will you find shelter?"

"Go to hell!" I answered, rising to my feet. All of them were made of the same clay, be it my father or my ex-best friend. They would eventually betray me.

Finn looked visibly hurt. Let him be, I thought. "I will still be here if you change your mind. You know where to find me," Finn murmured, still hoping I would change my mind.

I turned and ran. 

I ran like my life depended on it. I wasn't a coward or a thief. I was finally free.

When my feet ached and my lungs were about to burst, I stopped and fell to my knees. Having caught my breath, I ran again, this time into a forest.

The gnarled branches clawed at my tattered dress as though the woods wanted to hold me back. I didn't care as the thorns and twigs cut my skin and bled me. I just had to get away from the place I used to call home.

The deeper I ventured into the forest, the darker it got. My legs burned, my lungs hurt. I stopped when the foliage swept away and I could see the sky again. Before me was the River Varn's bank.

The whooshing rush of running water reached my ears. I collapsed by the river's edge, my knees starting to sink into damp sand. The moon cast its dim reflection in the water.

I struggled to catch my breath and finally calmed down. I cried my hear out until my eyes were dry. A sense of serenity flickered through my heart, and for a few moments, I felt peace.

I was alone … completely alone. Wolfless, disgraced, abandoned. But I was free. Perhaps I could start another life somewhere far off, where nobody knew who I was. What about the human world, where being wolfless wasn't a curse. The ugly things they had happened to me were now faint echoes in my head.

A weak smile touched my lips. If I tried, I could live a happy life, far away from my tormentors.

But then… suddenly… There was prickling at the back of my neck. It was an alarm that went off in every wolf''s head when danger was approaching. Who was it?

I jumped to my feet, driven by the instinct to survive. My eyes flew frantically in all directions, but there was nothing. Only the gurgling of river waves and a faint rustle through leaves. Yet, that feeling still clung to me that my life was in danger.

The forest parted and a dozen wolf soldiers burst through. They carried sharp weapons and were in armor, the Lycan King's insignia emblazoned across. My stomach churned. Why were royal soldiers following me?

"Is this her?" A tall, athletic man among them asked his subordinate.

"Yes, sir. You can tell by her stench. It's the Grimridge whore."

The leader turned and looked at him with disdain. "Maya Grimridge! You are hereby placed under arrest under the Lycan King's orders!"

Immediately, two of the soldiers rushed forward and grabbed me roughly by the arms. My mouth went dry, and I watched the bizarre scene unfold in shock. "What's going on? What did I do?"