Chapter 2 Murder in the Moonlight

It has been two days. Two days since the madness that happened with Arden, and I haven't seen him-neither have I seen any of his family members.

Somehow, I pressed my palms together when the full moon was up and prayed to the Moon Goddess that it would be because they had died.

I want to wake up one morning and be notified of their deaths.

I want to close and open my eyes and realize I no longer live in a world where they exist.

Since that day of my supposed wedding, I've despised each and every one of them like never before-especially Arden.

I hated Arden so much that he started showing up in my dreams. He either comes to cut off my head, or I try to cut off his-only for him to end up cutting mine.

Arden had become my villain in the blink of an eye.

As for Vera, I just pray she sees Arden for the psychopath he is and finds herself a better man. But whatever her decision is, I wish her the best.

A few minutes after I retired to bed, I heard the workers scurrying around on the Alpha floor. I got out of bed and peeped out of my room. From there, I overheard their conversations.

Apparently, the Alpha was back, and he needed them to run a bath with hot water for Vera, but there was no hot water available.

I was stunned. So he came back... with Vera?

"Have they reconciled?" I murmured to myself.

I couldn't believe this was happening. I was forced into marrying Alpha Arden, while he cheats on me as much as he wants.

This is the life I mistakenly chose for myself-because of love-and now I have to live by it.

I can't run from Arden. He would find me, no matter where I crawled to, and drag me back if he had to. I don't have a choice. I'm stuck, married to him like this.

Even if he wants to bring whores into our matrimonial bed, the least he can do is let me know when he's going to do it so I don't have to walk in on them having sex.

Fuming, I jerked my door open and marched to Arden's room, my gaze determined.

If he wants to make rules, it's only fair that I make mine too.

As I let my hand settle on his door handle, about to pull it open, I paused at the sound of a sharp slap.

It's funny how Arden doesn't mind getting slapped by Vera, but if it were me, he'd become all authoritative and enraged.

"That serves him right," I thought with a smile.

"Arden?! You slapped me?!" Vera screamed.

I froze. Arden? Slapped her? I pressed my ear against the door.

"This is getting serious," I whispered to myself.

"Yes, and I'll do it over and over again if you don't stop being a bitch!" Arden's voice flared with anger.

"You're insane! How dare you lay your hands on me! You will pay for this, Arden! My dad will-" Vera's voice was trembling with fury and fear.

"Oh, your dad won't do a damn thing!" Arden snarled, cutting her off.

"You don't think I know your dad will throw you out if you fail to secure me as your husband?" he said, full of venom.

Vera fell silent. His accusations must be true.

"That's why you want to get rid of Morrigan. That's why you trapped me with this child. You want me all to yourself, bitch!"

More silence.

"What? Now you're mute? Has the snake bitten your tongue, huh? Daddy's girl, afraid to offend daddy?" he said, laughing mockingly.

Vera's voice finally cracked through the tension.

"My father still loves me," she defended, voice soft but angry. "Unlike yours, who only wants you to bring baby-making machines to prolong his generation of Alphas."

I heard another slap.

This time, she yelped in pain.

I clenched my jaw. "Why the hell is Arden hurting her, knowing she's carrying a child?" What a jerk.

"Don't you ever, in your filthy life, dare speak about my father like that! Ever!" he roared.

No reply. But he kept going.

"Now listen carefully."

I heard a shuffle.

"I'm going to marry Morrigan whether you like it or not. And you? You're going to keep this child. After the wedding, I'll still f*ck you as I please-until I'm sick and tired of you."

I shuddered.

He was a monster. A damn psychopath.

"I'm not going to be your whore," Vera spat back.

"Oh really?" he scoffed. "You are. And it starts now. Lie down, bitch."

My eyes widened.

He was going to rape her.

"Don't f*cking touch me, you son of a bitch!" Vera screamed.

The sounds-the struggle-became louder. I could hear the thuds of objects falling.

Panicked, I tried to jerk the door open, to rush in and stop him, but I froze at a sudden loud crash.

I peeped inside.

Vera had struck Arden with something heavy. He was bleeding.

"This is insane," I whispered.

"The bleeding will dry. That hit won't be enough to stop him."

What could I do to save Vera?

I ran to find help, my legs trembling. As I darted down the hallway, I heard an animalistic growl-Arden's-and then a slashing sound.

Vera screamed.

Her screams echoed until they grew faint, then stopped altogether.

I ran back to the room, my lungs burning.

When I entered, I saw it.

Vera-on the floor, soaked in blood. Lifeless. Her eyes wide, mouth agape from the final scream.

I glanced around. Arden was gone.

The window was wide open.

He had escaped.

His family rushed into the room seconds later, gasping at the horror before them.

I stood frozen in place as they quickly began to prepare her body.

"Dispose of it in the river," Arden's father ordered coldly.

I stumbled back to my room, my mind reeling.

The nightmares began immediately. Every night, I woke gasping, heart pounding.

Arden was missing. His family couldn't find him. His scent was gone-like he had vanished from the territory.

What a coward.

He murdered someone in cold blood and fled.

And I? I had nowhere to go.

As an Omega from another pack, I left thinking I was going to be Luna. Now, I wasn't registered there anymore.

If I returned, no matter how much I explained, they'd throw me out. I'd become a rogue.

Just the thought of it made me shiver.

So I stayed. In the cursed Silver Bow Pack.

No one respected me. I was treated like a slave-no, worse. Like an outsider, a worker.

But I chose this life. I chose to follow Arden. I chose wrong.

One morning, which I expected to be like every other, turned out to be another disaster.

I was cleaning the kitchen when I heard a loud uproar outside.

At first, I ignored it. But the noise grew louder. Aggressive. Like a revolt.

I stepped outside.

My heart dropped.

It was Alpha Riven Syrus-Vera's father-surrounded by his pack warriors.

They had no weapons.

They didn't need any.

Their claws and teeth were enough.

I didn't need anyone to explain why he was here. His gaze, burning into Arden's parents, said it all.

"To whom do I owe this pleasure?" Arden's father asked, trying to act like he didn't know.

"Oh, when I'm done, you won't think it's a pleasure anymore," Alpha Syrus spat.

"What's going on, Alpha Syrus? Why are you here with your men?" Arden's mother asked, trying to play it cool.

But I saw the anxiety in her hands, pressed tight together.

"My daughter went away two weeks ago. I haven't seen her since. I thought she was with your son. She's always here. But instead... I got the shock of my life."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I found her body by your riverbank. Can you explain what the fu*ck happened to my daughter in your house?"

He didn't come for answers.

He came for blood.

"We're not sure what you mean," Arden's father said. "After Arden got married, he and Vera cut ties. They haven't met since."

"If that's the case, let me inside. Let me trace the scent of my daughter's blood. If I find nothing, I'll apologize and leave."

Everyone stilled.

Arden's mother shuddered. She knew he was an experienced Alpha. He'd find it-even weeks later.

Suddenly, she walked over to me.

"Listen carefully. No matter what happens next, say nothing. Just admit it."

I frowned.

"If you deny it, I'll sell you to a distant land. You'll work until you die."

I froze.

What was she talking about?

My heart dropped.

"Oh, Goddess, no..."

She walked away before I could ask anything more.

Then, Lyra-Jaxon's sister-burst out of nowhere, panting.

She stood before Alpha Syrus.

"I know who killed your daughter," she said.

Everyone frowned.

Except her mother.

That's when it struck me.

No... it couldn't be...

"It's her," Lyra said, pointing straight at me.