Liya's POVAs we ran through the forest, I made sure to not expend all my energy trying to race the fastest as I knew I still had a whole lot of running to do. It was much more advisable to take it slow and steady. I would need all my energy when it was time to return.With this energy, I raced into the forest in a different direction from the other contestants. It was not long before I encountered my first veteran. He was an older man geared up in a pack commander uniform. As he sighted me, he pointed a finger upwards into the tree behind him, motioning to me. My eyes immediately trailed up, and I didn't need instructions to know that the power I required for this challenge was in my limbs.I drew back, getting into a climbing stance as I stared at the shiny gold object up in a tree. The tree was the tallest I had ever set my eyes on, and I doubted briefly if I could even reach it. Get it together, Liya, I encouraged myself. I just needed one mighty jump, and I would get it.Taking a
Liya's POVAs I watched Lily walk away, I could not help but feel a sense of relief. The tension that seemed to be tightened in my chest ever since her arrival unknotted, leaving me a lot lighter. She had done nothing but antagonize me.After her confession just now, I realized that she was also behind my spiked drink at her party the other time. I shuddered to think that she would go that far; let me be taken advantage of by a total stranger, just to humiliate me in front of the triplets and the entire student body. Just to brand me a slut. It was despicable, but not hard to believe after seeing how she acted.I was not expecting Hunter to force her to drop out, but it was the best thing that could happen to me right now, and the joy I had from knowing that I would no longer see her at school was brimming in my chest. I turned my attention away from her receding figure, and tried to focus on what was happening in front of me. I tried to sit up on the grass, but the pain shooting thro
Liya's POVI was in the process of climbing out of the squeaky hospital bed when the door to my ward swung open. I smiled when the triplets walked in, for the first time, grateful to see them. Following the doctor's orders, I had been placed on strict bed rest with no visitors allowed. It was starting to get tiring being in this dreary hospital, and I found myself wishing to go back to the back.The irony of it all did not bother me. I was simply fed up with the smell of drugs and disinfectants.“Hi..” I whispered back when the triplets greeted me.“You've been discharged,” Gunter informed me. “We can go home now.”The sigh of relief was so great I was certain they heard it. Finally! I felt much better so it was not difficult for me to spring up from the bed and begin to pack my things away.“Woah, easy,” Ryder laughed, gently taking my bags from me. “You've only just recovered. We wouldn't want you to fall sick again.”I nodded, eager to just leave. As they led me out of the hospital
Ryder's POVSomething was not right.As I watched Liya take the keys from Hunter and mutter her thanks to us before walking away, I could not shake off the feeling that something was off. I tried to think back to the events of today's and if there was any specific thing that stood out to me. But there was none.I shook my head, turning away from Liya's retreating figure in an effort to turn down the thoughts in my head, but it still stuck. A chill ran through me as I leaned against the wall, trying to listen to the conversation my brothers were having. But my mind had strayed so far away that I heard nothing.Instinctively, my head snapped back to the hallway; the one leading to the Luna's bedroom. The same feeling of dread overtook me again.What on earth was this ominous feeling?! I tried to reflect, it seemed uncalled for. The urge to call Liya back rested in my chest, but it was too late.Desperate now and clenched by my gut feeling, I turned to my brothers.“What is it?” Hunter a
Liya's POVI clumsily wiped the tears off my face, my lips parted in shock as I stared from Ryder's face to car keys in my hand. My mother had also frozen with shock as we both stared sheepishly at Ryder. Was he actually letting us go?!“Go, Liya!” He repeated, a sense of urgency wrapped in his tone. From then on, I did not stop to think about anything else. I did not let the doubts creep into my mind, doubts that he was just baiting me and would never actually let me leave. But the pained expression on his face proved me wrong.“Thank you…thank you,” I stuttered, but he had already hurried us off to the door and locked it again behind him. Without looking back once, I grabbed my mother's hand, and ran as fast as I could toward the back of the mansion. Being a servant for so long gave me the opportunity to know the secret hideaways and exits in the pack which were only used in emergencies.I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, prodding my mother on although I knew she was weak. She
Liya's POVThe scent of herbs roused me out of my deep slumber. My eyelids fluttered open, my head throbbing slightly as I tried to adjust my eyes to the light. I was laying on a makeshift bed, in what seemed to be a camp.“Ahh…” I groaned as I lifted my head off the pillow and glanced around the room. Suddenly, the memories of everything that had happened in the last few hours came rushing back. I had escaped from the pack! My eyes darted round the room in search of my mother.“Mother!” I yelled out, climbing out of the bed despite the throbbing in my legs. The flap covering the tent was immediately drawn open and I saw my mother hurry in, followed closely by the tall figure of a guy I would recognize anywhere.“Connor..” his name escaped my lips. It seemed like years since I last saw him.My mother moved over to me and pulled me into a hug. “Thank the goddess,” she sighed. “How are you feeling now? Does it still hurt?”I shook my head. “No, I'm fine now. Just a slight headache. How
Connor's POV“W-What?” Liya asked, her voice so quiet that I almost did not hear her.I nodded, explaining briefly to her that I had hidden my sexual orientation to keep out of trouble and to avoid being bullied in the pack. Her gaze gradually softened as she placed a hand on mine.“Oh, Connor. I have nothing against you. I would have been your friend either way. I just wish you'd told me earlier. Why didn't you?”Tears of guilt stung the back of my eyes, but I held myself back from breaking down. I looked back into the beautiful face of Liya, knowing that I owed her an explanation. She was curious, I could tell. When I told her my father was the Alpha of this pack she had been in disbelief.Why did you go through all that trouble? Couldn't they have sent someone else to be a spy instead of the Alpha heir? It is a bit strange, she had said earlier.So, without giving myself a second to change my mind, I plunged into the painful story of my childhood, and how I came about to be a spy.
Liya's POVAs Connor finished, I let out a shaky breath, shocked by the saddening details of his life, but more understanding of why he had to do what he did. I shuddered at the horror of it all. Being bullied by pack members was one thing. But by your own parents?! It was appalling.My chest filled with sympathy for him as I imagined how suffocating it must have felt to hide his true identity. I understood now, and every last trace of resentment and disappointment I harbored against him instantly dissipated. I moved closer to him, wrapping a hand around his shoulder.“Thank you for being honest with me. I appreciate it. And I know you feel guilty about how all this affected me, but I promise that it's fine. I completely understand. If anyone understands the pain of being despised and bullied, it's me. You are so strong for doing everything you did.”He stared at me, as if he was stunned by my words. And then he leaned closer to hug me. “I don't deserve your kindness. Thank you.”I pa