Chapter 3 ELEANOR

I woke to ice-cold water washing over my skin like a thousand needles.

I woke up abruptly, and the world came into focus-cold and unforgiving.

I soundlessly gasped, my mouth forming a scream that would never find the voice in my throat.

"You're done drooling, mute?" The voice was shrill and acidic.

Cora, another one of Baron's preferred bed warmers.

She stood over me with an empty bucket and a self-satisfied glint in her eye.

Her red hair was sex-tousled, lips still swollen and smug.

"I thought you were dead," she said, kicking my ribs with her toe.

"Shame. Would've been the most useful thing you've ever done so far."

I blinked upwards at the ornate ceiling, at the gold-imprinted crest of Moon Bliss that appeared to be mocking me. I didn't belong here.

I was still in his room, it seems.

The scent of sex still clung to the sheets.

My clothes were damp, and my hair stuck uncomfortably to the back of my neck.

The ache in my chest had dulled into a heavier type of pain.

The type that no amount of biting my tongue would quiet.

I sat up slowly, trembling with cold and something nastier.

Cora sighed dramatically.

"Oh, she's alive," she said, turning her back on me and heading toward the bed.

"Well, Baron says you have to go. "You're dulling the vibe, and we don't like it.

Baron's voice cut through the silence like a whip.

"Don't just stand there like a lamb for the slaughter, Eleanor," he said, "Get out."

I turned slowly to look at him. He was on the bed, shirtless, with scratches on his chest, and a smirk on his face.

"You fainted," he informed me with a chuckle.

"Pretty dramatic if you think about it.

But I guess that's a trademark of yours at this point. Comes with being weak."

He tilted his head. "You could've at least crawled out on your own. We had a late night."

Cora giggled, drawing her fingers over his chest. "She's always been good at being pathetic."

He didn't even look at me.

"Get. Out."

I didn't need to be told twice.

I stumbled towards the door, water dripping down my body, my clothes clinging to my shivering form.

My dignity was already torn to shreds and there was nothing left for them to take.

But I didn't go straight to my little shack.

No. I needed to breathe.

I veered off the trail as soon as I knew no one was behind me.

I walked deep into the woods, past the thorn trees and whispering pines, to the clearing I'd found years ago-a secret that no one else knew about.

The waterfall.

It crashed into a crystal pool, its mist rising into the morning sun like a prayer.

Flowers bloomed where the spray reached the moss.

Birds darted through the branches above. And for the first time that day, I could almost believe I was real.

I fell to the ground and let the hum of water soothe the bruises inside of me.

I thrust a hand through my wet hair, closing my eyes, trying to scrub out the sound of Baron's voice.

I closed my eyes and let the tears I was tired of holding back run down my cheeks. Why was I so unfortunate? Why?

I caught sight of a sharp rock at the roots of an old birch tree. If I took it, I could end it all.

Save myself all this trouble. But I wasn't brave enough to do it.

I wasn't brave enough to kill myself.

I was gazing at the waterfall when I felt it.

It was a small and soft presence and when I opened my eyes, there he was.

A child. Well, not a werewolf pup though.

He sat on the edge of the rocks, barefoot, his legs swinging above the water.

His skin shimmered faintly, like moonlight on scales, and his ears tapered into points.

His little teeth were too sharp for a pup at this age.

I tensed, my heart thudding in fear.

He tilted his head and smiled.

"Don't be scared," his voice said-in my mind. "I like your eyes."

I blinked, confused. He hadn't spoken. His lips hadn't moved. But... I'd heard him.

A lyrical giggle rang through my mind. "Of course you can hear me, silly," he said. "You don't talk with your mouth and I don't either. Look? Same-same."

He jumped down from the rock and padded closer, his big shining eyes curious.

"Why are you always sad?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in a questioning manner.

I swallowed hard and opened my mouth. Then I closed it again when I remembered that no words would come out. They never had.

He frowned.

"They hurt you," he said matter-of-factly. The big ones. Especially the one who smells gross."

That made me laugh. Well, as much as I could. The boy smiled too and, somehow, I could feel his joy in me.

He was talking about Baron.

I nodded slowly.

"You shouldn't be here anymore," he said, suddenly serious. It won't be long now. You shine too bright and soon, they'll all notice. You'll meet him today."

Meet him?

I frowned. Pointed to him, then tilted my head.

Who are you?

"A friend," he replied. "I've been watching you for a while." Especially when you come to lay against my tree." He pointed at the old birch tree.

My eyes caught the stone again, and I turned my face away.

You're the tree?

I signed.

"If you want me to be that," he replied, "I am much more though."

The boy stepped close enough to touch, reached out and laid a small hand on my heart.

"You forgot something," he said. "Inside here."

I had no idea what he meant. I wished I had. I really did. I reached out to hold his hand but-

He vanished.

Like smoke. Like mist. As though he'd never been there at all.

I thought I'd been dreaming, or I'd seen a ghost, but I could still feel the warmth on my cheek where his hand had touched me.

I stood up slowly, my legs shaking, my heart still beating too fast.

I didn't know what he meant. I didn't know what I'd forgotten. But something in me shifted, like a gear finally clicking into place.

Then I heard a piercing howl that tore through the moment, distracting me from what had happened.

The sound was shrill and loud and seemed to come from the direction of the pack grounds.

I turned-and ran.

By the time I'd gotten to the outer clearing near my shack, I knew something was wrong.

Everyone had gathered around my shack. They all seemed to be waiting for someone. For me.

And at the center, was Baron with his regular harem and half the pack.

The Alpha, of course, was not present. He never was. He had abandoned me years ago and left me to my fate.

Baron was in front, his arms crossed, a sadistic smile spreading across his face.

"There she is," he sneered. "Our little stray."

I stopped, my heart racing.

"Don't. "Don't let them see you flinch, I said to myself.

But they already had.

Baron moved slowly towards me.

"The pack has been restless," he said. "Tensions are high, and the people need... entertainment."

Cora snorted. "She'll be perfect for that."

Baron turned to the crowd. "So we're going to play a little game."

I stepped back. I didn't know what he was planning, but I was sure it was nothing good.

He raised a finger. "It's simple. You run. They chased." I turned then and saw some men and women grinning maliciously at me.

"If you make it over the western ridge before sunrise, you're free for the night."

He paused. A grim smile spread across his face.

"You don't... well, I'm sure they'll have fun ripping you apart."

Laughter rumbled through the pack.

My heart stopped at that moment. I couldn't breathe again.

Baron stepped forward. "You've got two minutes. Best get running, omega."

I didn't move.

And then I saw them.

Real wolves. They are usually kept in the kennels and let out and run wild at times.

Are they bringing them out now?

It didn't end there. Suddenly, some pack members stepped forward and right before my eyes, they began to shift.

The first changed-bones crunching, skin ripping, fur exploding from muscle and sinew.

Then another.

And another.

My breath hitched.

Run. My wolf, normally dormant, screamed. RUN.

So I did.

I turned and ran into the woods as the howls broke out behind me.

And this time... I wasn't going to stop.