Chapter 2 Death

I tried to reach for the hem of his robe, feeling pathetic languishing there on the floor. But he turned his back on me, gripping the heart even more fiercely, and swirled towards the elders.

More black blood dripped, running down his arms. I stared transfixed at the body of the witch on the floor. Just like that, she had been reduced to nothing.

Without warning, Ryker launched the heart into the crowd and they instinctively shrunk back, murmuring gasps of dread and equally flinging it between themselves until it fell on the floor in their midsts, pumping slowly.

"Ryker!" I screamed, finally finding my voice. "Stop this right now, I beseech you!"

He barely acknowledged me.

"If you would just look at me," I whispered. "Please." I tried to raise myself up but clumsily slipped on the blood and tears began streaming freely from my eyes. "Ryker, don't do this. I beg you. This isn't who you are."

My eyes strayed once again to the body, and I knew with exceeding clarity that this was exactly who he was. I had fallen in love with a monster, endangering my life, and endangering the life of the pack.

I reached for his robe again but in one fluid movement, his footwear was crushing into my phalanges. I screamed in pain. The piercing sound of his wicked laughter drowned out my cries.

I slowly raised my head up to look at him one more time. He was now glaring at me with malicious eyes. I was suddenly seeing him in a new light.

This man, he wasn't my Ryker. He couldn't be.

The sight of guards coming towards me, their intent clear in their eyes, snapped me out of my reverie.

"Stop!" I ordered but it was useless. "Stop right now. If you take another step forward... don't hold me to my actions no matter how ugly."

They didn't stop. Ryker had given the order and they were going to follow it to the tee.

"This is treachery!" I yelled, scrambling to my feet. "I remain your leader! My reign isn't over." I turned to Ryker, panic turning my mouth sour. "Call them off."

With bloodied fingers, he took my chin between his thumb and index while I trembled. "Why would I do that?"

"Because." I forced down the lump in my throat. "I am your Luna, and they are being treacherous."

The feral expression in his glare made me realise it was pointless. I had to run if I wanted to save my life. I whirled around, breaking from his hold and raced down the altar, advancing towards the door. He could catch me in mere seconds, I knew it.

I didn't stop to wonder why he didn't. Perhaps, he preferred a sick chase. I could hear the guards footsteps gaining speed behind me. I pushed the door to the great Hall open and felt the cold air of the night atmosphere hit me in the face.

There were dried tear streaks on my cheeks, but at that moment, I only cared about survival. I had to outrun them.

An arrow came whizzing past me and landed in the bark of a tree right in front of me. I was beyond startled. That could have been me.

I looked back for a split second and caught sight of the numerous guards that were after me. They had their bows drawn out. I shivered in panic and attempted to increase my speed.

More arrows came flying by and it became more difficult to dodge them. I felt a sharp sting as one sank into my shoulder blade. My cry of pain was loud and sharp. The arrow slowed down my pace.

I dug my claws into my palm and tried calling onto my wolf but nothing happened. She was weak from the power transfer and hadn't had time to rejuvenate. I felt drained of energy with every deep breath I took.

I was done for and I knew it.

The pain from the arrow that was still stuck in my back threatened to throw me down.

I had approached a cliff when I realised with terror that it was a dead end. I looked down at the water that was flowing harshly beneath and the sets of hard rocks that would undoubtedly kill me if I were to jump.

I knew I had no other choice as I turned around, my chest tight with panic. The guards had now gained on me. The same guards who had sworn their undying protection and loyalty to me when my father was Alpha.

Another arrow struck me on the chest. It was the straw that broke the Camel's back. I tumbled down the cliff's edge but hastily stretched my palm up and held on to a piece of rock. I panted in both relief and despair.

The guards stopped and stared down at me without offering help. They parted in the middle, making way for him. Ryker.

He approached me, squatted in front of me and pulled me up with ease.

I sighed in appreciation, weakened by the two arrows that were buried in my body, the high from the chase, and the terror that just a few seconds ago, I had been one step away from landing into my death.

The fact that Ryker helped me put some hope in me. "We can work this out," I pleaded. "Our love is strong enough to surpass all boundaries."

He laughed, still crouched in front of me. "You know, that is what I like about you. Your naivety, your so apparent dumbness. Love?" He laughed again, this time without mirth. "There is no love lost between us darling. Not after what your father did to my family."

My brows wrinkled in confusion. "I don't understand."

He stood up with a sigh. "I don't expect you to, Selenae. You've always been ignorant to what is sitting right in front of you. Your dumbness has to be your strongest strength. It is certainly what appealed to me."

"Speak in layman terms," I gritted out. "You obviously have something to say to me." There was no other reason he would have saved me.

He gave me a deadly gaze. "I don't think you're in any position to talk right now." He brought out a knife that glinted in the darkness. The moon reflected on it, enunciating just how sharp it was.

I gulped.

"Ever heard of the Valyrians?"

I wondered where this was going. My brain was a jumbled mess but I couldn't not remember the Valyrians. "The family that destroyed the Lunar Pack?" And in extension, breached the fragile peace that had existed between Werewolves and humans. We now had to live in hiding because of this family. And I did not see how this had to do anything with what was happening to me. I definitely did not have the Valyrians blood.

He crouched down again and traced the tip of the knife down my cheek. A light trail of blood followed his action. "The family that your father ostracised decades ago," he said with so much venom in his voice. "Banished away from the pack without a second thought."

"They deserved it!"

He stabbed my stomach once. Twice. My eyes widened in fright and blood gurgled from my mouth and stomach. "They deserved it? Do you know what I have had to face because of his selfishness?!"

I realised at that moment that he was a Valyrian. Probably their toddler son that had been taken into the slave quarters after his family had been banished. It was the reason Ewan had hated him with such passion. But it was already too late. I was at his mercy. "I'm... sorry. Please..." I muttered, my eyes streaming with tears at the ache and agony that infiltrated every part of my body. I was now covered in blood and could smell the pungent odour.

"That is going to solve everything, isn't it?"

"Please..."

He raised the knife up again and plunged it with vicious strength into my heart. More gurgling as he took it back and I fell on my back, the arrow digging more sharply into my shoulder.

He didn't stop stabbing. It was like he was passing all his rage for Ewan out on me. Me whose only mistake was to love a flawed man. A rogue Werewolf. Love was my offence.

His loathsome face was the last thing I saw before my eyes closed and I slipped into oblivion.