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Chapter 2

Ashley pov

At first, I want to walk away, head held high, as if I have something to prove to these monsters. However, once I take the first step, the realization hits me - I am nothing. No longer a slave and never their Luna, which in turn means they will make my misery into another twisted game.

Panic and fear surges through me in intense waves and my heart nearly stops in my chest. As a rogue, I know that every day I live will become a battle of survival - a struggle against hunger, thirst, and the ever-present threat of danger lurking around every corner.

But, before I face the horror of the woods and the unclaimed lands, I have another horror story to survive - getting out of this place.

My legs start working before my mind kicks in gear, awakened by the loud sound of the horn somewhere in the distance. “I knew it!” I hiss under my breath, willing my legs to work faster.

Everyone in that pack knows all too well that they have starved me for so long, I’m really weak, so catching up with me has to be easy.

Soon, I hear the howls getting closer. “Perfect timing,” I mutter and leap at the nearby pine tree. I climb to the highest branch that can securely hold my weight and start jumping from one tree to another.

I suppose now I could thank them all for starving me after all. Each jump and landing makes little to no noise under my weight. I know they can follow my scent, but as someone who considers themselves the apex predators, none of them ever bothers to look up.

My mom always insisted that I must look up, she never failed to remind me that there were bigger predators out there, ones we had to look out for.

The only downside of skipping meals is that I run out of energy faster than usual, so I have to stop for a moment. Just as I press my back against the tree, nearly becoming a living sticker, some of the warriors catch up with me.

As predicted, none bother to look up. “Where is the mutt?” One growls out.

Soon, the remaining two stand next to him and look around, scratching their heads and muttering, “no idea. I can smell her, but I can’t see her. Pretty sure I hear the heartbeat too.”

The angriest of the trio slaps the backs of his friend’s heads and growls again. “Find her before the king calls us back. He wants her in the cells before the morning comes!”

“Hey! Don’t blame me, it was Duncan, he wanted to pee. If you need someone to blame - blame him!” A man shouts, earning another growl.

Carefully, I peek down and watch them banter for a minute. I can’t wrap my mind around the sudden need to get me back, especially to throw me into the cells. I haven’t broken any law and I did as told. What’s their problem, darn it?

As entertaining as the arguments between the three warriors is, I can’t waste more time. Especially since I can hear more people nearing the area. One of them might look up and once they find me - there’s no chance of escape.

I start jumping from branch to branch again, getting further away from the fuss. As I get closer to the border, I feel a pull back in his direction. It will take some adjusting, but I will learn how to live with the shattered mate bond and eventually, it will fade for good.

My thoughts distract me from the commotion I leave behind until I cross the border. There’s a slight pang of pain to my heart as I shatter any link with the pack, but it’s nothing important.

In order for them to keep me as their servant, they had to claim me as one of them, but now, the last connection is finally broken. For good.

I know that there is a town nearby, maybe a five minute walk, so that’s the little bit I decide to rely on. As I start climbing down the tree, my stomach rumbles loudly, reminding me that I haven’t had any food for days.

On the bright side, this didn’t happen sooner so the warriors didn’t find me. On the not so bright side, someone else clearly did, if I must judge by the growl that startles me moments later.

I’m so tired and hungry, I would rather find a cave to sleep in, but that isn’t an option anymore. Once my feet hit the mossy ground, I spin around to face two men emerging from the shadows. They don’t look friendly.

“Look at what we got here, Ralph. An unclaimed rogue, what kind of sick luck is that?” One of them laughs, revealing his rotten teeth while the other just nods.

I can’t believe I escaped one hell to end in another one. While I can’t claim I will succeed, I still grab the chance and take off in the direction I believe the town is.

“Hey, where do you think you are going?” The man shouts, doing nothing but adding more fuel to my fire.

For as long as I’m around them - I’m not safe. Even less safe with no witnesses around, so my only salvation right now can be curious gazes, the same gazes I have hated for years.

How I manage to reach the town without collapsing is beyond me, but I do. As I rush through the narrow streets, I hear those two still follow me, shouting profanities and demanding I stop.

I take so many turns, I have no idea where I’m going until I stop in front of a massive building and realize I have forced myself into a corner. I have a choice of being caught by those scary men or risking entering the building.

“There you are our little prize,” the man snarls behind me, causing me to jump.

I glance over my shoulder and see them nearing. There isn’t a choice left anymore. As I take the first step, one of them catches up with me and manages to grab my hair, pulling me back with such force, I let out a scream.

“You ain’t goin’ nowhere, little prize,” he sneers and starts dragging me back, away from the safety.

I kick and scream, fight against him, but to no avail. He is bigger and stronger than me. Tears brim in my eyes as I realize that once again, I can’t do anything to fight for myself - not in this state.

“Hey! What are you doing to that boy?” Someone screams in the distance, taking my captor by surprise.

Without any hesitation, I use the moment, kick him and break free to dash through the gates, and run inside the building only to find out that this is a school, and the only students I see are men.

The initial shock wears off and cautiously, I walk deeper into the premises. If hiding in an all boys school is what secures my safety until the thugs are gone - so be it.

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