by Nana Adu
He's the right idea. I can't stand another second in this room with them.
I get up, following his lead.
"Noah! Are we stilling going ahead with the plan?" Hunter shouts, I nod.
Eliana's there.
I trail down the hallway, heading towards my room.
How did everything go so wrong? Why am I going to bed alone tonight?
Where's Eliana right now?
My feet take heavy steps on the stairs, each harder than the next. Turning the corner into the hallway, Alyssa leans against the wall.
"Are you just going to let her go?" She asks, grabbing onto my arm. I glance at her. Her tear-stained eyes reflect back at me.
Eliana, you had a friend in this house. She cares about you too.
"Never. We're going after her." She nods, tears filling her eyes as she takes her leave, wordlessly.
My soldiers will fight for Eliana. We're going to get her back.
I slip into my room, closing my door and leaning against it. My knees buckle beneath me as I sob, putting my head into my hands.
"I'll get you back, Eliana. I promise."
Eliana POV
Don't let them take you, my child. My essence should never be used for evil and your life depends on it. Stay strong.
A shock travels down to my bones as freezing cold water soaks my clothes. My eyes widen, bursting from their slumber as Liam greets me with a wave. My eyes frantically search around, recognizing our surroundings.
The basement.
"Get up you worthless piece of shit." Pain sprouts from my cheek as my head snaps to the side by the force of Liam's punch.
"Why...? Why am I here?" I grit out, my throat raspy and dry. Liam frowns. Events come to me piece by piece.
Noah. I ran away, then I got caught by Liam and-
"I should've broken you before that Alpha showed up, but who knew he would be your mate?" Liam punches my other cheek, blood leaking out my mouth as my teeth cut the inside of my mouth.
My wrists and ankles hold me up pressed against the wall, bonded with metal cuffs screwed into the pavement. I struggle against the bonds, but to no avail.
"There's a small enchantment to stop you Royal freaks from getting away in those, ok? And don't think to use your powers or we'll storm Noah's pack right now and kill them." He says, grabbing my face. His fingers press into my skin as he nears me. I spit, my blood and spit mixing as they land all over him. I smirk.
"I'm not scared of any of you anymore." I growl.
I'm fighting for something now. It doesn't matter if I'm stuck here, I'll find a way. I can-
His fist drives into my gut. I gag, coughing as he wipes the fluid from his face.
"I'm not the one you have to be afraid of from now." He chuckles, sending shivers down my body.
Then who...?
CHAPTER 55
Eliana POV
Witches. He said witches before I passed out.
"Witches?" I grumble out, the pain from his torture aching all over my body. He nods, taking a seat on my mattress. He wipes his bloody hand off onto my old sheets.
"Yes you stupid bitch. You're finally listening." He gets up, approaching me again as I brace myself.
Wait- you Royal freaks? But isn't he...
"Aren't you also a Royal?" He tenses, clenching his jaw. His glare bores into my eyes as I blink at him.
What is going on?
"Ah, fuck this. I'm done." With that, he turns around and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. Blood leaks from my mouth, onto my shirt and the floor. My vision blurs.
Stay strong.
The dreams I've been having, witches, and this sudden control in power, what does it all have to do with this? And how can I use this information to do what I came here for?
"Fuck!" I spit, blood coating the floor further.
How could I let myself get captured so easily? What was all that training for if I didn't even last 5 minutes before they chained me up and put me on a wall, back in this basement?
I'm a failure. I throw myself out a 2-story window, play hero, and run away from my problems again and I can't even fix them.
I want to know what Liam meant. I need to hear the truth of the secrets and lies I've been bond to all my life. I won't assume anything until I hear it out his mouth. I don't care if I have to rip it out of his throat.
I'm going to win this time. I won't let Noah shed tears in vain.
The memory of his wet cheeks appear in my mind, stabbing into my heart another 1000 times.
I want to be with him. I want the pack to treat me the way they did before. I want to run away all over again.
I want Noah.
But reality is harsh and I'll have to bite my tongue to survive.
The door swings back open as Liam and his father, John, walk into the room.
They go everywhere together, huh?
"I told you, I might kill her if you don't watch me. I can't stand her face." Liam growls at me, glaring.
I blink at him.
"She's going to die soon anyway, just hold on." John says, I furrow my eyebrows.
"Die? Who's going to kill me? Witches?" I ask, watching as they mind link in front of me, probably talking about what to do with me.
They have to tell me.
My vision blurs for a second and they turn towards me again.
"You're going to die with this, so it doesn't matter what we tell you. The whole pack already knows." John states, smirking.
"Just... tell me." I croak out.
"We aren't Royals. Just stupid ass wolves who made a deal with devils. They told us to keep you alive when we killed off the the rest of your pathetic pack, which they ordered us to do too. Oh, and your mate's pack too." Liam says, leaning the door. My eyes widen as my breath stays stuck in my throat.
"By devils... you mean-"
No way, I didn't know that was possible.
"Yes, you slow ass idiot. The witches."
Noah POV
Lifeless.
Birds chirp loudly in the afternoon sky, the sun nearly setting. My eyes stare at the window, as Eliana stands in the golden light, smiling at me.
"You're beautiful." She frowns, her figure disappearing before me.
I turn onto my back, looking up at the ceiling. A low groan rumbles in my chest as I cover my face with my hands.
How more much will she torment me? How much longer will these delusions haunt me?
I can't sleep without dreaming about her. I can't eat without thinking about her. I can't think withotu thinking about her.
I'm lost without her.
I'm lost without you, Eliana. I have to come get you.
Let me leave Kai.
Not a chance.
I couldn't even get halfway across the front yard, before all my soldiers jumped me and took me back to my room.
They said they didn't want to go, so what's wrong with me just getting a head start?
"We have to get ready to leave! We're attacking them in three days!" I shout. They'll hear.
Yeah, we're training so just stay put.
We're going so relax. You need some time to do that.
We'll get her back Noah. You never break your promises.
Alyssa and other of my members mind link me. I nod to myself.
I broke my promise to you Eliana, but I'll make it up. I'll get you back.
Patience is a slow killer, gnawing at your soul until it just, breaks.
What if she's hurt? What if she's already used up all her life force trying to kill them? What if we're too late?
Time flows like water and rocks erode under the constant pressure.
I'm going to break and erode waiting like this.
When she first came here, she was so weak but then she developed into this strong person, I knew was hidden under all the trauma of her past. She saved me.
I miss her. I'm worried. I want her in my arms.
She's not here. She's not with me. She left.
&nbs
p; A headache hits me, goosebumps traveling up and down my arms.
An intruder? Eliana?
I jump up off the bed, dashing towards the same window Eliana jumped out of, throwing it open. and leap through it. Shifting as I land on my feet. My members surround me.
"Noah, you can't go after her." I push pass them, sprinting full force into the forest towards the breach.
If it's you, thank you for coming back. If it's you, I'll never let you go again. Please be you.
A figure comes into view and that disgusting smell reaches my nose. My body trembles as I shake with anger.
It's just one of their filthy mutts. I'll rip them to pieces. I leave their corpse on the doorstep. I'll-
"Noah, right? I know I might smell like them but I'm here to help. My name is Vanessa."
CHAPTER 56
Eliana POV
"Killed my pack? Ordered?" There are too many questions to ask and I'm not sure how long they'll keep answering.
Why are they answering to begin with? They hate giving me what I want.
I'm fine with it, actually.
"We were ordered to kill the Royals and attack your boyfriend's pack. They'll be here soon so you can just ask them why, cause we don't know. We're just their dogs." Liam frowns. I nearly roll my eyes.
Good. I hope someone is treating these mutts like trash. They seem to love doing it to someone else.
"So who are you?" I tense. Wait-
They aren't related to me. They aren't really my pack so, so that means I have nothing to do with that attack.
My family didn't hurt anyone for my sake. Noah and the pack- they won't blame me anymore. It's all been a misunderstanding. We were all victims that day.
I hold back my tears, trying to focus back on Liam and his father. They stand straight and in line, in front of me.
Are my powers causing this? Can my powers even do this?
"We were a rogue pack until we stole from a pack a lot stronger than us. We had to turn to the witches if we didn't want to be killed off and so we did. Now, they give us small tasks in exchange for their protection." John answers, smiling.
Small tasks.
"You mean killing wolves from Noah's pack and completely destroying mine were small tasks for you?" I growl, my breathing speeding up.
If I get out of this, I'll do what I came here to do and go back home to Noah. I'll explain everything to the pack and we can go back to the way were.
I'll have a home again, no matter how damaged.
"Don't get fucking loud. We just have to make sure you're still alive in two days. Nothing else." Liam barks at me. I stare at him.
I guess my blessing can only do so much.
I don't know what to ask. I don't know how to get out of here.
What else can this blessing do?
Noah POV
The strange girl sits across from me as I fix the papers on my desk. Her stench spreads around the office, though not as bad as Liam or his father's.
"Why are you here? What happened to Eliana?" I ask, my foot bouncing as my fists clench.
Is she here to negotiate? Do they want something?
Is Eliana ok?
"I just need you guys to get her away from my mate. That's all I want." She says, sighing. My eyes narrow.
Get Eliana away from them? I was already planning to.
"Who's your mate?" She takes a deep breath, exhaling and looking to the floor.
"Liam."
"Why did you come all the way here to tell us that?"
None of this makes sense. Eliana had no friends when she was at Moonstribe. This girl can't just be here to tell us to take her back.
"He's fucking obsessed with her. He talks about her all the time. How she's special, how he remembers when he first saw her after his pack killed off hers and-"
"What?"
What the fuck did she just say? His pack killed off hers? That means Eliana isn't of their pack. She isn't from Moonstribe. That means...
"I figured you would have no idea," she sighs, "I came here to tell all of you the true so you can get her off my hair."
Kai, get the whole pack in here asap.
Yes sir.
"Go on." My foot stops tapping as I sit up.
This wolf isn't as bad as she smells.
"So I'm guessin-" She starts, as my pack bursts in the office. Most quiet, others growling at her. My father makes his way through the crowd, my mother close behind him. His eyes widen as they land on Vanessa.
"Why have you brought our enemy to your office?" He asks. I shake my head, getting up from my seat. Some of my members, unable to all fit inside the space, stand in the hallway, looking through the window at her.
They should be able to hear too.
"Just listen to her very carefully. Don't say a word. Just be quiet and listen to her. Say what you said before." I nod to her as she gulps, turning to face the pack, more than me.
They have to hear this. I want to see the confusion on their faces. I want to see the regret. It doesn't matter to me where she's from. It shouldn't matter. It shouldn't take this much for them to accept her.
As a pack, we need to grow.
"Moonstribe were sent by witches to attack your pack, which I'm guessing you already know, and kill off Eliana. Is that what you wanted? Can you fucking come pick her up now?" Vanessa snarls as we all stand stunned.
"The witches? Have they fallen prey to the witches?" Hunter asks. Vanessa nods.
"How do you know all of this? Why are you telling us this?" My mother speaks up. Vanessa sighs loudly.
"I already said that bitch is a pain in my ass. My mate pays more attention to her than he does me. I'm his mate! We were fine the moment she left and the moment they got her back, he ran back to her! He didn't even noticed I left." She complains. I furrow my eyebrows.
I'll tear that wolf into shreds if he thinks he can put his hands on Eliana. I'll kill him.
My hands clench into fists, as the anger rises in me.
She's mine.
"How do you know she's not from the Moonstribe?" My mother asks again. Vanessa looks at her.
"They told me the first day I joined the pack as Liam's mate. It was taboo for her to hear it, but the whole pack gossips about it all the time. They told me not to get close with her because she won't be around for long." Vanessa says.
"Why won't she be around for long?" I ask, grabbing the back of the chair she sits in. She looks me up and down before sucking her teeth.
"Promise me you won't hurt Liam and I'll tell you."
What the hell?
"Vanessa!" I shout, my anger bursting.
She's hear for her mate anyway. Of course she doesn't want him hurt. Too bad it's a promise I won't be able to keep.
"I pro-"
"We promise." My father cuts me off. I glance at him, his eyes meeting with mine. He nods.
He isn't including me.
"Ok... good." Vanessa draws out, looking around at all of us.
"Talk." I deadpan. She rolls her eyes and nods.
"They said the only reason she was left alive was because the witches said to wait for her to turn 18. Then they'd come and take her away."
My blood drains from my body as she finishes her sentence.
...come and take her away.
CHAPTER 57
Eliana POV
Night falls as darkness fills up the room, drowning me like a sea of black.
They aren't related to me.
How will I tell Noah? How will I tell his pack? Will Beth be able to look at me without that look in her eyes? Will I ever get back to them?
I have too much to live for now. I can't die. I can't run away like this.
If I die fighting them, I'll be satisfied but the regret of never going back to them will always linger.
They don't even know the truth. They don't have to blame me anymore. I'll forgive them for everything so Moon Goddess, please, please help me go home.
...Embrace your blessing...<
br />
A night breeze floats through the room, leaving it's whispers in my ears as soon as it passes by.
That voice? It's the one from my dreams.
Maybe it's the Goddess herself encouraging me to take hold of this curse she gave me and let it use me for all I'm worth.
I'll do it if it means Noah and his family will be happy. What other purpose do I have other than them? Other than the selfish feeling in my heart wanting them to love me and accept me, so I do shit like this.
I'm so stupid. So self-sabotaging. But I'd run from Noah again, if I had the chance to change it.
Without this trip, I'd know nothing.
Moonstribe killed the Royals using the witches as back up. I'm guessing the day they attacked and made everyone except me and Noah live through it, they used a spell.
Not a blessing.
Relief spreads through me.
I have to do this for myself too. Moonstribe shouldn't be able to bond me in chains like this. I don't know what the witches plan to do with me, but they'll get everything coming at them, including my jaws.
Why did they attack our packs? What's behind all of this?
My wrists and ankles pound as I try to stretch my shoulders, pulling them away from the wall.
It's all way too confusing. I don't get any of this.
I shake my head, leaning back on the wall and shutting my eyes.
All that matters now is Noah. I can come back to you.
After having my family stolen from me again and again, I want a permeate person in my life. I know that's Noah.
I love you and I'm sorry Noah. I hate to see your tears, I'm sorry.
The door creaks open as Liam sneaks inside. I watch as he takes slow steps, stopping in front of me. His quiet stare screams and my eyes adjust to seeing him in the scarce moonlight.
"You know, I've always hated you." He breathes. My eyebrows furrow.
What does he want, right now? Shouldn't he be sleeping with Vanessa?
I don't respond.
"All these years, I've wanted to do something like this to you, but even now, I'm waiting for something else. I want to see you break." Liam grabs my chin, drawing me forward. I glare at him.
He won't let me rest? I just want him to leave.
Maybe I could...
