Chapter 5

"What... What do you mean by... A token of submission," I stuttered.

"You will belong to them," the Beta said in a low but calm voice. "You will cease to be a member of this Pack and become a member of theirs."

The Beta's words sounded so simple like I only had to live in the new Pack, but I knew it was more than just living with them; my life was about to take a new but devastating turn.

Who would dare to treat the daughter of a traitor well? Without the fear of being betrayed?

I thought about what my life would be like living in a Pack where I knew no one. The fact that I was already termed a traitor's daughter wasn't going to make it easy either.

"Do you have any questions?" The Beta asked and I shook my head.

"Then we will escort you out of the Pack."

My eyes widened in shock. "Am... Am I leaving already? What about my parents? Am... Am I not allowed to see them? I..."

"I am sorry, Karen. Your..." he sighed. "Your parents died, Karen."

I stared at the Beta in disbelief, my head trying to process what he had just said.

My parents? Dead? How? Why?

"What... What..." My lips trembled. "My... My..."

Why is all this happening to me on the same day? Why do I have to face all this pain on a day that was supposed to be my happy day?

The thought of not seeing my parents again made me scream out in pain.

The Beta tried to calm me down but I wasn't going to be calm; I cried.

With my parents gone, how would my father's name be cleared?

I was sure my father was innocent; someone must have framed him up. But now that he is dead, how would the truth come out?

It took a while before I was able to bring myself together.

"Can... Can I at least see them? For the last time..."

"I am sorry, Karen. There is no time for that."

"I-I can't even see them? You won't let me see them? Aren't you people so unfair!"

"Karen, the representatives from the Moonlight Pack are already waiting outside the school."

I rubbed my sweaty hands together slightly and took a deep breath.

"Just a few minutes. Just let me see them for the last time even from afar, please."

"Karen, I will be truthful to you. Your uncle took their bodies away to bury them."

"Un-uncle Daniel?"

He nodded.

Knowing that my uncle wasn't affected by what had happened to my parents, my eyes brightened up.

"Do you know where he is? Can I at least see him before I leave?"

"In exchange for your parents' bodies, he has ceased to be a member of our Pack. I do not know where he is."

A wave of sadness washed over me as I tried to fight back the tears that had gathered in my eyes.

I thought I would be able to see my Uncle. Maybe hearing his voice would give me some courage.

"Karen, it's time to leave," The Beta said and I nodded, standing up.

The Beta stood up too and we headed to the door.

"Karen," the Principal called and I turned. "You should take care of yourself. "

"Thank you, Principal." I mumbled.

I opened the door and walked out with the Beta. Two guards were standing outside the door. A few students were standing by the hallway too.

"We can leave now," The Beta told the guards and they bowed.

We walked down the hallway, with some of the students murmuring. They began to throw things at me calling me the daughter of a traitor.

The guards tried to shield me from getting hurt while some of the teachers tried to send the students back to their classes.

I saw Luella and Emma standing amidst the crowd. Emma was in tears and that brought tears to my eyes too. Luella wasn't staring at me; her eyes were glued to the ground.

We were soon out of the building and was on our way out of the school compound when I heard Luella call my name. I turned. She placed a necklace in my hand.

"Hold onto this," she mumbled. "It might be of help."

I nodded but said nothing. This wasn't what I wanted from her.

Why is she not saying anything to me? Why is she not sympathizing with me?

She turned. "Goodbye, Karen."

I watched Luella leave and I wiped the tears on my face. I could see Emma standing by the door and waving at me. I waved back at her.

"I hope to see you soon, Karen!" She yelled after me and I smiled. "I will be waiting for your return."

Though I knew coming back to the Pack or seeing her again would be nearly impossible, I was happy to know that there was someone who hoped I return soon.

"Thank you, Emma. I wish you all the best!"

"Beta, they are here," one of the guards said, pointing at the gate.

I noticed there were two cars packed outside the gate. Two men stood beside them.

I followed the Beta out of the gate to meet the men.

"Is she the one?" The man in black coat asked.

"Yes," the Beta answered.

"Get into the car," he said.

I looked at the Beta who sighed but said nothing. I sighed too. My fate has been decided; there is nothing he can do about it. I gave a last look at the school that had been my sanctuary; a place filled with laughter, friendships, and dreams. Knowing that these precious moments would soon fade into distant memories, a profound sadness, like a physical weight, settled over me.

I entered the car and waited for the man to speak to the Beta. The man seemed to have given a scroll to the Beta which I believed was an agreement of peace in exchange for me.

They spoke for a few more minutes and I watched the Beta leave without looking back. The man who had spoken to the Beta joined me in the back seat, while the other man entered the second car.

"Drive," the man ordered in a calm but authoritative voice.

As the car lurched forward, I knew that my life was about to take a new turn. But what turn it would be, I do not know.