er

otest on the podium became trivial as Declan served me a one-way ticket to my death on a

o one could reach him, hiding behind a mask of indifference. I knew a way to reach that side of him,

my back as I stepped down the platform. It was like stepping back into reality. I became aware of

rage. For a sentence given seconds ago, I say they we

this ahead of time?' I

leniency. But when I saw my best friend Lia at the o

with nothing on my mind but my execution, Lia's

ire, purple leggings, and a gray zip-up top, the zipper was undone to the top

, confused. "I wasn't inf

I need to make sure none of you will try

ed herself beside me. Her strawberry-flavored bubblegum was a welcome scent. My stomach really liked it. A thunder rumbl

the bubblegum packet to me.

enant, she could've easily slipped into my cell

d by the popular girls at school until she showed incredible skills in basic military training. She played the victim and waited for t

ing me. I put in a word that I wanted Lia to be in my close in security. That's when Lia and I became frie

't take someone's life without r

y had with their previous pack was stronger than the one

They thrust me into the back seat of the Renegade. Mike placed his hand on my head as if I were a fragile

ng the middle one. The excruciating three-hour ride to the border was broken by Lia's b

down, her fingers tapping

nudged my shoulder. "Com

e cut that out?

ng at the top of her lungs. "I

nightcap while watching classic movies. And since I was exiled from Embercrest,

Mike slipped out first and put his hand on top o

. The air was eerie, and no animal or insect sounds pervaded the air.

" Mike asked. His v

and hatred, but found none. Genuine curi

was only thirty, he rose through the military ranks because o

I murmured as his men dis

eft and right, then slipped a paper in

my eyes at Lia. She was mi

attention. "Once you cross that treeline, we have orders to shoot you if yo

ur Luna anym

"You were never strippe

ormed a line behind us. Their eyes held no hatred towards me but respect. I stared at the

m. Tears sprang from my eyes, and I allow

everyone in this

ep towards the tree line, I promised to come back and take back what was mine. I didn't look back unti

air pervading these woods. I kept walking, looking for shelter before nigh

d be a river to the east of the border. A smile crept to my lips when I finally heard the sound of gushing water in

r to the east. J

ve already given up on trusting people, here come

he best in my father's security details. He's the guy you send to hunt wolf hunters who came

breaking. I listened closely, ignoring my pounding heart as I leaned agains

ert as I looked left to right before stepping out of my hiding sp

Ro