Chapter 3 The Truth Revealed

I stared at the screen like it owed me a damn explanation.

Caller ID: Mom.

Of course.

The second I picked up, her screech nearly shattered my eardrum.

"Where the hell are you, Quinn? Do you think this is some kind of game? Get back here right now!"

I held the phone away from my face and blinked into the sky. Still gray. Still miserable. I exhaled through my nose, trying not to punch a wall or dissolve into flames.

"I'm coming anyway," I muttered and hung up before she could spit another insult.

I should've tossed the phone into traffic.

I walked the rest of the way home. No one stopped me. No one cared. The stares I got? All pity. The same pity I hated when Dylan rejected me, the same pity I spat on when I ran away, barefoot and broken.

But now? I didn't feel broken anymore. Something inside me had snapped clean, like the last chain unhooked from my ribs. It still hurt, but I could breathe for once.

When the Arledge estate came into view, I paused at the gate and stared up at it like it was a stranger's home. Technically, it always felt like it.

My hand gripped the cold handle of the front door, and just before I pushed it open, I froze.

"...the cursed Lycan King's envoy will be here shortly," my father's voice floated out the open living room window.

I froze. My stomach turned.

"She's lucky," Mother added. "After humiliating us, this is the least she can do."

"Sold," I whispered to myself. "They're selling me off like I'm... livestock."

My nails dug into the door.

"Is this a goddamn joke?" I roared as I burst in, slamming the door behind me.

Father turned, barely blinking. "Watch your mouth, girl."

I marched in. "Tell me what I just heard isn't true."

"It is. You leave today. The King's guard will arrive shortly," he said like he was reading off a weather report.

My chest caved in.

"You're selling me to the cursed Lycan King? The murderer? The one with a trail of blood behind him longer than his shadow?"

"It's an honor-"

"It's a death sentence!" I snapped. "And you didn't even ask me? You didn't think to-"

A flash. A crack. My face whipped sideways as his palm smacked hard against my cheek.

I gasped, tasting iron.

"Be grateful," he growled. "You've embarrassed this family enough."

I blinked at him, stunned for maybe half a second. Then I laughed. Laughed so hard I thought I'd choke.

"You mean after your perfect deal with Dylan fell apart? That's what this is about? Saving face?"

"Don't speak unless spoken to," my mother cut in coldly.

"You hate me so much you're throwing me to a beast," I hissed.

"If you hadn't failed at keeping a man-"

I lunged forward, but one of the guards stepped between us. "Back off."

That's when I noticed the three men by the hallway-pack guards I hadn't seen in years. Muscle-bound, silver-armed, ready for war.

"You're seriously doing this," I breathed. "You're giving me away like a sack of rice?"

My mother narrowed her eyes. "It's done. Accept it."

"No." I spun and bolted for the door.

Before I could reach it, cold fingers yanked my wrist. Mother's grip was steel.

"You're not leaving."

I jerked, twisted, tried to shake her off. But she pushed me toward the staircase, and the guards flanked me.

"Don't touch me!" I shrieked.

"Put her in her room!" Father bellowed. "Now!"

One of the guards hoisted me like I weighed nothing and shoved me up the stairs while I kicked and punched and screamed.

"This is illegal! I'm not a damn toy! I'm not-"

They pushed me inside my room and slammed the door shut behind me. A key turned. Then the bolt.

Trapped.

Like always.

I roared, a deep growl tearing from my chest as I punched the wall. My hand ached. Didn't matter. I grabbed the dresser and threw it against the door. Not that it'd stop anyone.

My breaths were ragged. My pulse, wild. My wolf was clawing to the surface, as angry as I was.

They were really going to send me off to the cursed king like some gift-wrapped offering. And no one was coming to save me.

Fine.

I'd save myself.

The window. I ran over, threw it open. Wind howled through, cold and sharp. The branches of the tree beside my room were thinner than I remembered. But they were there.

And I had nothing to lose.

I climbed onto the window ledge, looked down at the drop.

Then I jumped.

The wind snatched my breath as I hit the first branch, bounced, scraped my arm, then landed hard in a pile of dead leaves.

Groaning, I scrambled to my feet.

"GO!" I hissed to myself, feet pounding the dirt as I sprinted away from the house.

I didn't make it far.

Just two blocks down the private trail that led toward the old woods, a black SUV screeched to a halt in front of me.

Four men in dark leather stepped out. Lycans. No doubt about it.

One sniffed the air, checked the picture in his hand and grinned. "She's the one."

I turned on my heel and ran.

Another SUV behind me. They'd blocked both exits but I smirked crazily, "this is my hood bitch".

One of them shifted, mid‑air. Fur erupted, bones cracked, and a massive gray beast landed on all fours, snarling.

I veered into the woods. My legs were on fire. My heart? A thunderstorm.

Branches slapped my face. My foot snagged on a root. I tripped, fell, rolled, and scrambled up again.

Behind me, I heard them yelling. One of them burst through the tree line and lunged.

I ducked just in time. His claws missed my back by inches.

I turned and screamed, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

He snarled. "We don't want to hurt you, but keep fighting and I can't promise anything."

Another one lunged, this one in human form. He grabbed me by the waist, but I elbowed him hard. He grunted and lost his grip, and I took off again.

Straight toward the old creek.

I leapt over it, almost slipped on the mossy rock, and kept running until my lungs give out.

A hand caught my ankle.

I crashed forward, breath knocked out of me.

He flipped me over and pinned me down.

"You're done running," he said.

I screamed. Bit his wrist. Kicked. He growled, shifting mid‑hold, muzzle snapping toward my face.

Just then, another voice cut through the chaos.

"Let her go."

The man froze.

A shadow moved behind him. One of the guards who'd been quiet this whole time stepped forward, dark eyes locked on me.

"She's the King now. You don't rough her up before she even gets there," he said calmly.

"I was following orders-"

"Then follow them better."

The one pinning me hesitated, then released me slowly and backed off.

I lay there gasping, blood on my lip, knees scraped, heart racing.

"We're taking you now," the calm one said, extending a hand.

I didn't take it.

"You'll have to drag me," I said.

He gave a small smirk. "Then I will."

He stepped forward.

But I was faster.

I yanked the dagger from my boot-one I'd hidden there months ago for emergencies-and stabbed it into his thigh.

He roared in pain.

I jumped back and sprinted into the thickest part of the woods, branches tearing at my skin, hair flying behind me.

They were shouting, chasing me again, but I didn't care. I wasn't going to stop.

Not now. Not ever.

I didn't know where I was going.

But I knew what I was running from.

And that was enough.