I stuffed my clothes into my bag , changed into a pair of black skinny jeansand a white tee shirt and I braided my hair into a french braid. I looked out of the window and saw Aden walking up to the stage. The ceremony was already half way through.

I felt a stab of sorrow, while I watched him. He looked so handsome, surely he wouldn't miss me, with all the girls drooling over him.

"Are you sure about this?" Zara asked. She was hoping I would change my mind and stay.

"Could you watch him kiss and sleep with slutty girls like Nicole?"

She whimpered.

"We need to move on. He hates us and will be satisfied only when he breaks us. And I won't let him do that to us, ever."

I turned away sadly from the window thinking about my mate. I always thought him as a brute for the past three years and I still thought the same now. The only difference now was that he was my mate and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't hate him; no one could hate their mate, whatever he did.

Moreover, I didn't have the heart to accept his rejection either. I knew it would hurt both of us; and as much as I wanted him to hurt him, I couldn't do that, for it would hurt my wolf too.

So, I had to leave. I wasn't eighteen yet, but I would turn eighteen in a few months. Then I would have to face the unbearable pain of rejection, which would be a hundred times worse than what I felt now.

I made my way to Mom's room. This would probably be the last time I would ever see her.

I pushed the door open silently and peeked into the room. Mom was sitting on the bed, as usual lost in her own thoughts.

"Mom," I called into the semi darkness. She turned to face me and smiled when she saw me peeking.

"Sweetie, is that you?" She asked softly.

I walked towards her and sat on the bed facing her. I had to tell her this, before I left. She was my mother and being her daughter I could not just runaway without telling her the truth.

"Mom, I have to tell you something..." I began, unsure about how to continue.

"Yes?" She asked me patiently.

"Mom," I breathed in. Closed my eyes and steeled myself. "I have decided to leave the pack and go my own way. It's time for me to move on. There's only so much I can bear before I break."

I thought she would cry or forbade me from taking such a huge step.

"This is because of Aden, isn't it?"

I swallowed hard.

"Why don't you give him a chance? He would surely change." She paused. "Have you thought he might have a reason for it?"

I shook my head. "Maybe true. He has a political agenda. Maybe his parents think I'm not good enough. In any case I'm tired, Mom. He doesn't want me; his rejection would only break me more. I have tolerated their cruelty long enough. I don't want to live with him anymore."

My mother sighed. "He loves you, sweetie, it's just that pride gets the better of him each time he wants to ask your forgiveness. But do what you think is best. No matter what you do, just be happy." She said softly.

He loved me? He was sorry?

Please. He detested me, hated me from the bottom of his heart and given the chance he wouldn't hesitate a second to kill me. But I wouldn't let him. Ever.

However, I nodded and reached out towards her to hug her. "Yes, Mom. Always."

She hugged me back and I could feel the tears roll down her cheeks and wet my tee shirt. "I love you, sweetie."

I felt my throat constrict at those words. The tears I had been trying to hold back, rushed down my face as I hugged her more tightly.

"I love you more, Mom. Just try to be happy. I will write to you once I find a place to stay." I croaked out with difficulty.

She pulled away from me and nodded. I wiped away her tears and smiled. This would probably be the last time I ever saw her, felt her hug and her love.

"Here. Before you go, I want you to have this." She opened the drawer by her bedside and took out a small box. Inside, encased in velvet lay a small white amulet. "Your father gave this to me the night you and Ariana were born. He said as long as he lived he would protect us, and if he wasn't, this moonstone would protect our family from every evil."

"Mom, I—"

"May Goddess Selene take care of you." She whispered, hooking the chain around my neck. The amulet felt cold. I couldn't hold back the shiver that passed through my body when the stone touched my bare skin.

"T-thank you, Mom. For everything."

She looked at me with love and sadness and gave my hand a tiny squeeze.

"Take care." was the last thing I heard when I turned towards the door.

The moon was up, which gave me enough light to see what was in front of me. I could feel the cold wind rush through my fur as I took off running. I had written a letter to Nellie, thanking her for being my friend always. I told the reason too; after all she deserved to know at least that. I also asked her to take care of Mom, when I was gone.

I had been running for the past one hour and I could see the border coming closer and closer to my view. I slowed down and hid behind a bush to check if the coast was clear. Being a large pack, we always had a dozen pack warriors guarding the perimeter at all times.

No one seemed to be around and so I took off once more. I could feel the pack bonds weakening and a surge of freedom rushed through me, as I ran faster and faster against the wind.

Zara was unhappy but was wise enough not to show it. She was silent through out the night which made me feel lonely.

However, I knew she needed time to heal and recover from the emotional wounds Aden had inflicted on us, and so for her sake I decided to remain silent. We ran throughout the night without a break. I felt the thrill of the speed and the quiet night give me the courage and the motivation to go on.

We crossed many streams on the way. By the time the first rays of the sun peeped out we were more than a ten miles away from the pack territory.

The sun rose and set. Days and nights went by. I never looked back even once.

Ten miles. Twenty. Fifty. Hundred.

We stopped at lake in the middle of the woods to have a drink and a cool bath. I changed into my human form again and munched on the fruits I gathered from the passing trees. When we passed nearby human settlements, I had snuck in to steal bread. Occasionally even a couple of chickens from their coop. It wasn't ideal, but a wolf's gotta do what a wolf's gotta do to live.

When I was deeper in the woods, I hunted. I caught wild hares as they popped out of their burrows.

One morning, as I crossed a river, I began to smell the difference in the air. It was a cloudless day and by the looks of it, hadn't rained in awhile.

As I ate, I took a good look at the surroundings. I noted I had travelled west for a long time. I was quite safe from the other wolves so it wouldn't hurt to take a short nap before I resumed the journey.

The sun was above my head when I woke up again. I stretched myself and let out a long yawn.

"Zara?" I asked with some hesitation. We hadn't spoken a word since yesterday night.

"I'm okay, Kiara. Let's get running again."

"You are not angry with me, then?" I was surprised at her answer.

"I was never angry with you. But I'm not going to lie, I've seen better days. I am just sad, at the way things took place. He turned out to be everything we dreaded. I know you were thinking about our good when you decided to leave. I could never blame you."

I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness then. I almost thought she was deliberately ignoring me.

Zara let out a soft chuckle at that. "Silly!" she teased me playfully, "Did you honestly think I would blame you?"

I rolled my eyes. "What else could I expect from you?"

Then, changing into my wolf again, I once again resumed my journey.