CHAPTER FIFTEEN Roxanne ‘The key to freedom in your hands.’The riddle left me confused. Was it an escape? Was someone else locked up here before? Could they have possibly found their way out and left it for the next person? Was that why it was secured within the wall? Did it have too much information?I had so many questions and although I had the book with the answers in my hands, I was scared.I bit my lip as I repeated the riddle. It seemed to hint at a location outside the cell, possibly somewhere within the Alpha’s territory. The mention of wolves dancing left me curious. Could that be the key to my escape?A willow…I had definitely seen one here but I couldn't recall where. I mean, why should I keep the location of a tree in my head?I never knew it had any significance.“L.W” I whispered, running my thumb across the initials. It was a mystery I wanted to unravel.Without hesitation I wore it around my neck, feeling a sense of connection to the past. It fit perfectly and I
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Ryker Me and my beta were in a pack meeting when I suddenly experienced an unsettling feeling of unease. I tried to block it out but it ate at me. My heart began to race, and a knot twisted in the pit of my stomach, leaving me feeling on the edge. This was the same sensation I had gotten when Roxanne was in trouble with X, a premonition I couldn't ignore.“Alpha,” my beta, Miles, called as he leaned in, “you look unsettled.”“I'm alright ,” I said flatly.I knew I wasn't but I ignored the feeling that ate at me and tried to focus on the meeting.What danger could she be in? No one came close to her now as she was segregated and I couldn't come to her rescue everytime.Fuck it. I had to go.“Beta Miles, take over. I've got to go check something,” I said.He shook his head, “Alpha, I could go and check. Your presence is needed here.”“You do this when I'm not present,” I said firmly. “Do it again and give me the details when it's over.”He nodded at me,“Got it.”I hast
CHAPTER SEVENTEENROXANNE “What do you think you're doing?” He asked in a thunder-like voice.My blood ran cold at the sound of his voice. I turned to see him and there he was, standing at the entrance. His eyes were blazing with an anger I had never known and in his hand was the knife I had previously used.With a sob I backed away, almost slipping in the guard's blood. I wanted to run but I was trapped in this room and I was weak. He didn't run. He just walked toward me, picking his steps carefully but his movements were powerful and threatening. I pinned my back against the wall, tears slipping down my eyes as he approached me.His voice was menacing and each word dripped with fury.“You dare trespass in my sanctuary? Weapons in Red Moon are not for your feeble hands to touch!”Please, I begged with my eyes.My eyes darted around for an escape route and finally settled on the window. I scurried to it, dragging my weak legs as fast as they could go.I forced it open and peered down
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ROXANNE For the third time, I was moved to a new cell. One that wasn't so far away. One that was smaller. One that I could be watched from, closely.But I wasn't the only one. I had company.Ryker had ordered his men to keep the guards I had murdered in the same cell with me and immediately they did as they were told, they stayed far away from me. They avoided me like a plague.They knew I had taken two more lives and they were more than terrified of me. I was trying to get accustomed to this new change. In White Moon I used to avoid people but here in Red Moon people avoided me.I didn't know if it was a good thing or not but what I did know was that it got me into more trouble.I had stayed in the far end of the cell. As always. It was the coldest and a dim light reflected in it.I didn't want to stay anywhere close to the bodies. Today's events replayed in my mind. I was sure I didn't kill these guards. I had waited for them to kill me. I may have passed out beca
CHAPTER NINETEENRYKERI sat in my office surrounded by the solitude of my work. The weight of responsibilities bore down on me but I found solace in the quiet of my own thoughts.My focus was momentarily shattered by the soft knock on my door. I lifted my head when my beta, Miles, entered the room with a cautious step, his face etched with a hint of excitement.“You seem so excited,” I said, “It's not payday yet.”He chuckled. “Alpha I hope I'm not interrupting, but your sister Selina is here,” He announced, his tone lighter than usual.My brow arched in surprise. “Selina? She didn't mention coming sooner in her letters. Well it's about time she graced us with her presence,” I teased with a chuckle. “Let her in.”“Yes Alpha.”As my Beta turned to retrieve Selina, I leaned back in the chair, a rare smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I had missed my sister's infectious energy and free spirit, qualities I lacked as a leader of Red moon.The door swung open and there stood Selina,
CHAPTER TWENTY SELINAEver since my return, I had occupied myself with work and everything I had left behind. I got introduced to new pack members and workers and everyone was delighted to have me back. It was a sunny afternoon and I was bored to death from reading how to train a pup for the tenth time today. Miles had gotten it for me to prepare ahead of motherhood just in case we started making pups.To him, I was too delicate to be a mom. I still needed to grow up. Tch.There was absolutely nothing wrong with being a crybaby. But crybaby to my mate, couldn't be a perfect mom.In a way he was right for if the child wouldn't stop crying then we may just end up crying together.I closed the book and jumped out of bed. I slipped into a baggy vintage dress and decided to take a stroll within the pack's territory, eager to see the growth and changes that had taken place during my absence.As I walked, I observed how flourishing the pack was and I noted my brother’s accomplishment. The
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE RYKER I had tried to dismiss Selina's account of Roxanne as a hallucination. My sister's fear could sometimes cloud her perception, but my beta's confirmation of her observations made it impossible to ignore. Roxanne's situation was far from normal — her nails were damaged, her body had marks like she had been tearing herself and she had scrawled the name ‘Lilith’ all over her cell, both on the walls and the floor.It was a mystery that consumed my thoughts. Roxanne's health was failing and her condition was alarming. Yet despite all this, I still had to serve justice. The Weight of my duty as an Alpha pressed heavily on me.As I wrestled with the situation, Selina entered my room. Her demeanour was serious, a stark contrast to her usual cheerful self.“You know it's not so hard to knock at the door right?” I asked.“I've been hearing rumours circulating among the pack,” She said, ignoring my statement.I shrugged dismissively. “I'm not interested in hearsay, Seli
CHAPTER TWENTY TWOROXANNE If this was death, I didn't want to be restored. Rather, I should have been dead a long time ago.I was at Lunar Peak. I didn't remember how I got there and everything seemed strange yet familiar. I was healthy again and my skin was robust and my red hair was plaited back. I wore a beautiful and shiny white strapless dress, the skirt was made of peacock feathers. The whole scene was serene and the air charged with vibrant energy and power.The whole of Lunar Peak was lively and harmonious. Children picked flowers, women wove baskets and men fished.When did I miss this?I walked among them but no one spared me a glance. They were engrossed in lively chatter and were just doing their thing. As I observed their happy faces it was then it occurred to me that I was the only redhead among them. Now it made sense. They weren't complete. This was a gathering of the white moon and blue Moon packs — Red Moon had not been invited. This felt like a celebration I wa