Chapter 69: Chapter 69

CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

ROXANNE

As I traipsed through the unfamiliar terrain, everything began to make sense. The reason for everything that had happened. The clues were there from the beginning but they had been ignored.

Of course, no one paid attention to things that didn't involve them, just like I hadn't.

The paths where wolves once danced, the willow tree, the freedom in your hands. It was all in the book. Ryker's mom had known it would happen someday, and that's why she wrote, hoping it would reach the person who truly needed to see it.

The key to freedom in your hands wasn't what I had thought it was. Back then in the dungeon, I had thought the key to freedom was an actual key that could take me out of the dark place and out of Red Moon. But it wasn't. It was about realising who I was and accessing my powers. The willow tree at the cliff was what I needed to find first, for everything to make sense.

And I guess it found me. And the prophecy… I still didn't know how I was the chosen one. But I knew I was at risk. Lunar Peak had been searching for the prophecy so they could contain the person.

And by contain, I meant kill. The prophecy was seen as a curse. Whoever had the prophecy bore the elements and powers of the three packs; the ability to see, heal and be healed and the ability to fight.

Red Moon was the path. I knew I felt more confident, more powerful when I came here. I killed guards. I fought with them. I couldn't even defeat someone who was less of a size than me, back then.

But the two riddles were still unclear. A cursed resurrection, a haunting’s flash. It talked about two people.

But the last one; I am the end that has no beginning, Yet in my grasp, life finds it's spinning. It talked about death.

In the water, I had died. For the second time. My first death was when I was thirteen, the second one was two days ago, when I was twenty. I had wondered how I came back but now I know.

It wasn't my time yet.

And my mother was the one who had pulled me out twice. She was my saving grace.

And Beta Miles… He was the attacker all along. The way that knife pierced my skin, the way he asked if it was familiar— I would never forget it when he plunged the knife in my stomach, in the halls of shadows. That night when my torment began.

“Roxanne.”

“Huh,” I whispered and glanced around. I had heard my name. It was a call, so soft, yet so loud. And I was alone. There was no one with me.

“Roxanne. It's me, Aurelia.”

Still, I couldn't see anyone. Or was it one of the voices in my head?

“Your wolf.”

My bone cracked and I was in deep pain. It felt as though my bone was being shattered into many pieces and fixing themselves again.I found myself writhing in pain. Something weird was happening to me. I clutched my head in my hands and stared at my feet, until I couldn't hold my head again.

I was becoming larger in size. Fur appeared and claws too.

I was wolfing out.

A howl so loud left my mouth. It was loud, it was scary and it was exciting. I had longed for it so much. I felt different. I felt beautiful. This was my wolf and her coat was pretty.

For long, I had been mistreated and kicked out as an outcast because I was weak and had no wolf. Now, with or without my wolf, I was powerful. I did the first thing I've always wanted to do.

I ran.

My limbs were powerful and fast. I was agile. I ran through the woods, and the world seemed to move in a blur. This was what it felt to be a werewolf. Powerful and fast. But now that I knew my abilities, there was no one to show for it. I finally stopped when I found myself at the border of Red Moon.

Slowly, I morphed back into a human, and suddenly I was naked on the ground. Shit. No one had informed me that after wolfing out, you become naked.

I wrapped my arms around my chest and fixed my eyes on the border a little longer. If only I could go back there once more, but I had to stick to the rules.

As I turned around, I heard the sound of stomping, and the ground vibrated. It was coming from the right. It was loud and fast. I needed to hide—I was naked.

Before I could take a step, someone grabbed me by the arm. I shrieked and turned around to come face to face with Selina. Anger flared within me, and I gazed at her with hostility.

Without a word, she took off her long jacket and handed it to me. Neither of us said a word. We just kept staring at each other as though we were dissecting ourselves alive with our eyes.

I reluctantly took it and slipped it on. When I was about to turn around to leave, she grabbed my arm again. “What is it?” I demanded, my voice shaking with barely suppressed fury.

“They released you?” she asked in surprise.

“Let go of me,” I warned, my voice hardening.

“Roxanne, you have to listen to me,” she pleaded, her eyes wide with desperation.

“You asked me to leave, and I left,” I pointed out, my voice breaking. “Why should I listen to you?”

“Because my brother is in danger,” she whispered.

My heart pounded loudly as I heard her say Ryker was in danger. Yes, I was mad at him, but I couldn't stand the thought of him being in danger. He was someone I loved.

I snickered through my tears. “And how does that bother me? I have nothing to do with it.”

“You're involved,” Selina said, and that's when I noticed her dark circles and messy hair. She looked exhausted and weary.

I yanked my hand from hers. “I'm sorry, but I can't help you.”

Before I took a step, she blocked my path and pushed me against a tree.

Before I took a step, she blocked my path and pushed me against a tree. I growled at her and she jumped in fear. “If you keep blocking my path, I'm afraid I will have to rip you in pieces with my claws.”

She looked terrified at first then a smile appeared on her lips. “She's finally a werewolf.”

“How dare you?” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “How dare you ask for my help after everything you've done? You set me up, Selina! You made sure I was banished, humiliated, and broken. You’ve treated me like garbage, and now you want my help?”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and for a moment, she looked like she might break. “I know, Roxanne. I know I’ve been cruel, and I regret it. But please, my brother needs you. He’s in danger because he went after you.”

“Do you think that makes it better?” I choked out, my voice trembling with pain. “You made me feel worthless. You and your brother banished me, made me an outcast. And now you expect me to just forget all that and help you?”

“I was wrong,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I was so wrong. But I’m begging you, please help me save him.”

“Let go of me, Selina,” I ordered.

But she didn't. She looked at me desperately. “The whole of Lunar Peak knows it's you. We know you're the prophecy and trust me, blue moon and white moon are on the search for you.”

I knew and it made me scared.

“I know you hate me, as you should, and you don't want to help me but please, just this once, listen to me. I need your help.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“On the night you were banished, Beta Miles returned and told the Alpha you were captured and that you're in danger. He asked Ryker not to take the army along because it would alert your captor but for days now, we've not heard or seen any of them. I feel my brother is in danger.”

I wiped away my tears, my resolve softening. “If I do this, it’s not for you,” I said, my voice steadying. “It’s for him. And when this is over, you and I are done. Do you understand?”

She nodded, her eyes filled with hope and regret. “Thank you, Roxanne. Thank you.”

The thunderous pounding of hooves echoed through the ground, each beat reverberating like a drum.

My mind whirled with possibilities. Could this be linked to the prophecy. Were they trying to use Ryker as bait to get me? And Beta Miles. He had tried to kill me. I couldn't trust anyone with him. He was probably doing it to get my powers.

"Gather the warriors," I ordered, my voice firm. "We’re going after them. We’re bringing the Alpha back.”

Selina nodded, her expression one of grim determination. She turned around to clap her hands but I called after her. "And Selina... if this is another trick, if you’re lying to me…”

She met my gaze, her eyes sincere. "I swear, Roxanne. I would never lie about something like this. We have to save him.”

As I turned around, arrows whizzed past me, their deadly tips embedding into the trees with sharp thuds. A gasp left my lips as I narrowly dodged one that would have pierced right through my eye.

A growl rumbled from deep within me as I scanned the surroundings to identify the attackers. Emerging from the shadows, was an army clad in gleaming white armour. They moved with military precision and their uniforms caught the sunlight, reflecting it so brightly it was almost blinding.

Selina hadn't lied when she said packs were really after me.

The White Moon had arrived, and at their forefront stood my brother, Zane. His eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and surprise, his grip on his sword tightening. A silent but intense rivalry surged between us as he barked his command. “Don't move, you're surrounded, prophecy.” he ordered in a loud voice that echoed round the forest.

I laughed bitterly as he gave out the orders. “Capture her and bring her to me.”

“Roxanne, here!” Selina called loudly, extending her hand from atop her horse.

There was no time to think. I grabbed her hand, and she hauled me up onto the horse. Without hesitation, we spurred the horse into motion. Selina led, while the army of Red Moon followed closely behind.

An angry growl erupted from the ranks of White Moon, and they released a volley of arrows. We ducked our heads skillfully, the arrows slicing through the air around us.

The thunderous sound of hooves pounding the earth filled my ears, the forest blurring as we raced through it.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead.

This wasn’t just about saving Ryker. It was about finding the truth, uncovering the real story behind the betrayal and the attack. I had to know, once and for all.