CHAPTER FOUR.

~And the only wrong I ever committed was trusting the wrong people. If ever I'm given a second chance, I'd never be gullible ~ Orla.

DARK  MOON PACK.

(ORLA'S POV)

"Luna." A guard at the door bowed, which I acknowledged with a nod.

Meandering my way through the complicated twists of the large castle, I soon arrived at the front of the large brown door. It was my father's office.

A servant had told me he'd be there.

Not bothering to knock, I bounced inside. However, nothing in my wildest imagination would have prepared me for the scene which unfolded before my very eyes.

My throat went dry, as I stared unblinkingly at the two figures who lay huddled on the large couch in the corner of the office.

I wanted to pinch my skin and exert some pressure of some sort to bring me back to reality.

Did I enter the wrong room?

That wasn't the case, however. It was pretty much daytime. And the day I couldn't distinguish between Ryker and any other person, I'd know the world was coming to an end.

In the most intimate position ever, Ryker and the last person I'd have imagined were making love. 

Ophelia?

I felt numb. It was almost like my world had turned dark. The tears poured faster than I could imagine.

He was cheating.

They weren't even aware of my presence in the room, lost in their world of ecstasy. I turned to leave as quietly as I came. Their moans and grunts pierced deeply into my heart, making wounds I knew would never heal. The scene I had witnessed today would forever remain fresh in my memories.

I stumbled blindly towards the door, not wanting to spend even a second in the office. But then, I stumbled on the dormant leg of a side table.  I stifled a wince, and turned back just in time, to see both of them looking at me.

Surprises were clearly written over their faces. They'd be of course. They weren't expecting the stupid me to catch them in their act.

"Orla?" Ryker whispered,  calling my name.

I didn't respond, inwardly wondering if I'd forgive him if he apologized. He'd say sorry, and everything would be fine.

"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly.

I blinked, my gaze locking with his. He hadn't moved an inch from his position. And it might have been my imagination, but I could swear Ophelia had a victorious look on her face.

"I'm your mate, Ryker. Did you even hear the news about my parent's death?" I whispered, crying.

His expression didn't change. If anything, it became colder than before.

"And?"

His words rang through my ears. And?

I gulped, grabbed a fistful of my dress, and made to leave.

"Not so fast, Orla." I heard his rich baritone say, once I turned my back on them. I didn't turn, remaining in my position instead.

"Ryker..." I heard Ophelia's sensual voice say, stabbing straight into my heart. When did it all start?

And against my wish, I whirled around.

"You're a bitch, Ophelia!" I yelled, the tears falling fast. I didn't care about my image at that point.

I watched as she ambled from her position beneath Ryker, and wrapping the sheets around her nude body, she approached me.

"A bitch?" She scoffed, stopping right at my front. "Why do I feel like that's my line?" She added tauntingly.

My eyes burned with unshed tears, as I looked at her, wondering where I had gone wrong. Wondering what was so great a crime that I committed that prompted my mate and sister to punish me the way they were currently doing.

Ignoring my silence, she continued. "You're a very pathetic bitch, it's such a pity you don't know. Ryker belongs to me, and me only. Tell you what? He never loved you, and he never will." She said harshly, making me stagger.

No. I shook my head. She was lying. It was a ploy to make me fall out with Ryker. However, a glance at Ryker made me snap out of my delusion. There he was, with a sneering expression.

He wasn't denying it? Does that mean it's true?

With tears clouding my vision, I hurried out yet again, determined not to stop for any reason.

"Like I said, not so soon." 

And that was the last thing I heard before I felt the dull ache on my nape. I doubled forward, the pain so excruciating that I yelled.

Wh... I didn't get to complete my thought when I slipped into oblivion.

...

A sharp pain tore through my waist, and wrist immediately after I came to. I looked around. It was dark.

I had lived long enough in the Dark Moon pack; that was where I had been born after all. However, I couldn't recognize where I was.

The door clicked open, and a tall figure walked in. I recognized him at once. Tailing him was my newly turned enemy, Ophelia.

"You're awake, I see." He gestured towards the strong ropes bounding me to the chair.

"Let me go, Ryker. What games are you playing at?" I hissed.

"I? I want to avenge my father." He spat with disgust written over his face.

"Your father? What do you mean?" I whispered.

"Of course, you're going to pretend not to know. Your father made my mother betray my father. He took her away from her rightful mate, my father. She committed so many atrocities. And for that, they've paid with their lives." He said, with blazing eyes.

"You are the one behind their deaths?" I choked out the words. "They did nothing to you, bastard!" Rage coursed through my body at his words. Rage mixed with something else. Fear. I could tell tenacity when I saw one.

And at that moment, Ryker was looking at me with eyes filled with tenacity. He was going to kill me.

"Say goodbye to father and mother, when you get there," Ophelia said with a scornful laugh.

I shuddered. "Please..." I begged and cried. "Let me go," I added.

"Let me have the honor." Ophelia stepped forward with a jar. 

I watched as she poured the contents on the floor, in a clean circle around me. My heart began thudding erratically against my chest. Was this how I'd die?

Once she was done, she lit a match and threw it forward. Flames sprang up at once, making me shudder yet again.

"Goodbye, Orla," Ryker said coldly, and hand in hand with Ophelia, he walked out.

The smoke filled my nose, making me cough violently. A sudden sense of dread was ignited in my being. I was about to die.

In the face of death, adrenaline shot up my body, fueling my energy. "Help!!" I yelled loudly.

I gave up after a few attempts. As I felt life slipping out of my body, the anger I'd never have thought I'd muster filled me. 

"I curse you, Ophelia. I curse you, Ryker. Forgive me, dear parents." I choked out the words, the flames searing through my flesh.

Ella's words rang in my ears. 'I hope you don't regret it.'

I heard the door open, and strong arms lifting me. Who was it?

"Orla! Please, wake up!" I heard a desperate voice."

I knew that voice. It sounded so much like Maverick. I tried to open my eyes but the smoke was too much. It didn't let me see anything. Just as I was drifting, his face came into view, and I caught a glimpse of his face. Maverick.

“Orla, please, wake up! You can't die, I ain't let you die, mate.”

Mate?

I thought, then it suddenly made sense to me. Maverick is my mate… He is the one the moon goddess paired me with.

I was too weak, I knew I had barely minutes left to live.

'In my next life, I'd surely be with you.' Life slipped away from my body until I felt.... nothing.