The next day came by quickly and I slept rather peacefully on the hardened floor. When I woke, I could feel slight strength, like Cel was making a comeback. It was just a feeling though; no heightened senses had come into play.

I was so thirsty. I had discovered after being nosey day and night that the guards sat around a fire and drank beer and rum until the moon was highest. I heard a lot of their plans since the more they drank, the louder they got.

It sounded like they wanted to somehow overthrow the pack hierarchy. I have no idea how they would do that, but they seem to think capturing women would work. They boasted about the women they have 'destroyed' and bedded, about how they had at least thirty percent of female wolves in captivity or deceased. Like we are a lesser species. They planned to threaten packs by taking away a man's weakness, their mate.

They had planned on hitting a pack south of here in the morning, although I didn't catch the full name. They had slurred their words too much and I had to keep my heart and breathing steady, or I would've been caught out.

They had been observing the borders of packs for a while and, just like they did with Blood Moon, planned the baby wolf attack. I put two and two together and realised the only reason we were captured is we took the same route every day for our run, and they had caught onto it. Clever really.

Speaking of the baby wolf, they kept him in a cage behind one of the cabins. He was let out more often than us, his animal instincts leading him to want to hunt. He would go back into his cage as he pleased, and it would open shut behind him without being touched.

I could only assume it was enchanted somehow. I had heard of other species in whispers through thin walls but never looked into it myself. Were vampires and witches real? I mean, I turn into a wolf, so anything's possible.

This morning when the men were awake and ready, I watched as they clothed themselves in camouflage and masks. Six of them headed out into the forest at sunrise; two armed with bags that I could only guess were the drugs they administered. Six of them came back at lunch, five unconscious women in their grasp.

Another thing I caught last night, was about the wolfsbane and deadly nightshade concoction they gave us. They complained about someone named Raven who would not let it be used any other way than drink and needles. I wasn't sure who she was, but she seemed to have control of the magic side of it. Were witches real?

I knew tomorrow I would have to somehow make it out of here. I had to get help from others but without Cel, I wouldn't be able to make my way through the trees. I wasn't a tracker; my watch was missing, and I wasn't the best with hunting. Without my wolf, I knew none of this, but I hoped tomorrow I would be better. Stronger.

"Are you okay?" Rose suddenly questioned.

We were sitting playing a game of cards and I had completely zoned out. I was surprised when they allowed us downtime after the last meal of the day and that it involved a game set. I put it down to the fact they were about to get drunk as the sun went down.

"Me? Y-yeah, sorry. I was j-just thinking." I shook my head.

"About how to escape again?" She mused.

I sighed. "I'm determined. I haven't had any of the Wolfsbane since they drugged me."

She frowned at my whisper, glancing around us paranoid. "Not too loud... but if you're not drinking, you're not going to survive the trek. We're in the mountains somewhere, the air is lighter, and dehydration isn't gonna help."

"How do you know?"

She licked her lips. "One of the girls they brought in today. She somehow woke halfway here. I heard that she claimed she saw the statue of our ancestor wolf pointing to the Northern mountains and that they were heading that way. She was only awake for thirty seconds at most, but thankfully it was the right time."

I grimaced, knowing she was right. If we were high in the mountains, I wasn't going to be able to run so far with no energy.

We continued to play in silence, choosing a childish game of go fish since I didn't know a lot of card games. She had won, much to my disappointment and her grin. When the sun was about to set, I knew it was nearing eight o'clock at night. The guards came and took our card deck peacefully, and I chose to sit facing the western sky.

The colours mesmerised me as they changed from red to orange and yellow. It amazed me how even when the sun was forced to disappear, it pushed itself to brighten as much of the sky as it could. Until it was extinguished by the night as the moon and stars took their place.

My longing for Phoenix settled in once the sun had disappeared. I missed his stubborn ways and hoped we could build a greater relationship if I got out of here. I was going to be strong and demand answers from him; he was mine. Time is precious and I'm not going to sit around waiting another week to find out my destiny. If he couldn't give me it, I was going to force myself to leave the pack and go back home. I had no right to be there otherwise.

When the moon began to rise, the head guard shouted at us all to settle down and go to sleep. I frowned at my growling stomach but settled down in the warm summer heat. I was thankful it hadn't rained yet, but by the look of the cloudy sky, I wasn't sure how long that'll last.

I lay awake once again, hoping to hear what the men had planned for tomorrow. A while had passed before they began to laugh louder and put their bottles down with a clang. So far nothing had been spoken, just them talking about the same things they did last night.

"Once we take down the Alpha's we'll have all the money and power we could dream of." One cheered. "Hell, we have Blood Moon females here. Their leaders are growing lazy with their power."

I inhaled and exhaled deeply, giving up on eavesdropping for tonight before I grew angry. I needed energy if I was going to try to run tomorrow. I searched for Cel's mind and found her deep within. She was still so faint but tomorrow would be another day with it out of my system. I hoped to take them by surprise and run and hoped that Cel would be there to help in some way.

But that was for morning me to work out. For now, I needed to sleep. I curled up into a ball and gently lulled myself into the comfort of my unconsciousness...

***

Sudden wetness dripping onto my cheek had me frown and roll over. I shivered from the cold, in the half-asleep daze I reached out for Rose and cuddled in next to her.

Footsteps sounded around me, squelching in the mud. A loud burp echoed across the clearing, and I found myself huffing at the noise. Could they be any louder? I was trying to sleep here.

The rain grew heavier and banged off the roof of the cage. I was thankful for the solid roof providing most of my shelter. I was right earlier when I noticed the darkening clouds.

Just as I went to slip back to sleep, I was startled when the cage rattled. I turned my head to look down at my feet towards the door, confused in my dreamy state. I frowned when I saw a pair of boots, but it soon turned into surprise when a large hand reached into the darkness.

My breath hitched when it grabbed hold of my foot, and with a shriek, I was pulled through the door and thrown onto the ground. I gasped for air when my back hit the sunken floor, mud coating my skin. The rain was heavily pouring from the sky and I instantly got soaked. I couldn't see around me to find out who had grabbed me, my eyes blurry with water, so I tried to pull myself to sit up.

I shivered at the cold, and I noticed the figure beside me locking the cage I was dragged out of. It was the guard from the other day; the one I had a small fight with before his commander shot him down.

His dark hair was slick and matted to his face, and his shirt and combat trousers clung to his skin. I blinked warily, something telling me to get away. Just as I began to back away in my sitting position, he growled.

"Oh no, you don't. Not this time." He sneered.

I went to jump up and bolt but he kicked out his foot and I fell back into the thick pool of mud. Face first too. I wasted no time to lay and dwelling on my now lack of eyesight and tried to jump to my feet. My shoes and hands slipped in the gooey mud and once again I fell back to the ground with a pained cry. It felt like I received a kick to the spine. I wasn't quite sure; my body was becoming numb from the sharp pain.

The man grabbed hold of my shirt and pulled me upright. I rapidly wiped the mud from my face in an attempt to see. Once my vision was clear enough, I could see him smirking down at me. He kept hold of my shirt in one hand, the other coming to the back of my neck.

TW: violence

He began to drag me along beside him in the rain and I cursed and swung out my legs. It did little impact, the strength he was forcing down on my neck had me curved almost in half. I lost my footing a lot, my head too close to my hips as he pulled me along.

I turned to swing out at him, but he dropped my top in time and caught my hand, pulling it behind my back. I was forced into a standing position, the hand pinning my neck moving to push my free arm into the other's grip. It returned to my neck, only the front this time, as he forced me backwards until I hit a barrier.

I grunted at the position, trying to kick at him with my legs and wiggle my way free. He chuckled, finding amusement in holding me hostage. His body pressed against mine to pin me, one of his legs sliding between mine so I couldn't kick him.

"Stop struggling." He growled and tightened the chokehold.

I gave into the struggling and stared up at him with as much hatred as I could offer. He laughed at me, flexing his muddy fingers on my neck.

"You can't escape this. You're just a weak human and I'm the big bad wolf."

Oh, barf.

He smirked. "I'm gonna break you. Just like I've broken so many before. And I'm going to enjoy it, especially a Blood Moon pack member. You're going to be mine and I will have the glory of making you submit to me."

"Never." I snapped.

His eyes flickered, his hand tightening as he clenched his jaw. His head shook slightly as he licked his lips manically. Was this man normal? His wolf tried to surface but he somehow managed to overpower him and shove him away. I thought these men were roguelike, but I was starting to think they were more human.

Sadistic human.

"Do not speak down to me Omega." He snapped and I winced as his canines came too close. "Now what is an Omega doing at Blood Moon pack, hmm? I didn't realise Titan was such a man for weaklings."

I wriggled once again at the disrespectful tone but the hand on my throat left briefly to punch my jaw. I shrieked in pain as he laughed, the same hand moving my hair away from my face to pull me upright again.

"Maybe it's because you're a pretty little thing. I heard many rumours of him and his men taking in females and using them." He cooed, stroking my cheek.

I could feel the heat rush through my blood, a wave of anger slowly taking over me. I hated feeling trapped. It reminded me of the past life I once had. Trapped in a house without a wolf where no one liked me except my parents. Even Steven hid things from me, and used me for my appearance as a woman for his own gain. I couldn't trust anyone.

"I'm just surprised they hadn't gotten to you sooner." His face drew closer to mine, and I moved my head to the side in return.

TW: violence cont / brief non con sexual content (no rape-I've marked ending)

He growled and his spare hand came to rip at the shirt I wore. I screamed as he tore right through the front of it and my bra underneath, cutting into my skin. He smirked devilishly and turned his attention to my exposed skin.

Goosebumps rose wherever he looked, and I began to try and break free from him once again. His hand struck at me, and I cried out in agony at the searing heat of his claws.

"Stay fucking still! You will obey me!"

He landed another forceful hit on my face when I didn't stay still and if it wasn't for him pinning me up, I would've collapsed to the ground. My head swam and I cried in pain. My tears mixed in the rain, my fresh blood soaking my skin. I could feel the burning cuts, my lesser body not doing well with the injury.

"Now, you will be mine and I will show Titan what fun he has missed out on in taming you, amor." He chuckled and lifted my head to look me in the eye.

"I will not." I gasped, my jaw aching at every syllable.

His eyes narrowed and he growled. "I see why Titan kept you so pure. The fight really does get me going, amor."

I grumbled. "It's Alpha Titan to you... disrespectful-."

I wailed when his fist collided with the side of my head and I bent over at the force. He let me fall this time, a deep chuckle vibrating in his chest. I watched as my blood dripped onto the ground, my vision hazy through the tears, rain and anguish. He pulled me back up, a hand behind my back pulling my shoulders so they popped excruciatingly.

"Does something I say offend you Omega? Does me talking about your pathetic Alpha rile you up?" He teased, holding my face to look at him. "He has sat at the top spot for too long."

I breathed as heavily as he did, both of us staring each other out. I could feel the warmth in my veins, my adrenaline kicking in. I needed to get out, if I didn't, I was going to be much worse than I was right now. I turned my attention to the moon to see it lower in the sky which meant it was nearing the next day. The clouds kept the sky dark, but I hoped it was enough to keep me covered.

Moon Goddess if you're really there...

"Look at me, amor. No one is here to help you, you're just a weak little human." He cooed.

This man has serious emotional whiplash.

I looked back in his eyes, my breathing levelling out. I licked my broken lips, wincing at the pain in my jaw. He smiled as I held his gaze before his attention turned to observe my body, particularly the cuts he embedded into my stomach and chest. I could feel the blood leaking out of them and onto the floor.

It was now or never.

"Better have my fun before this turns worse." He chuckled, gesturing to the blood.

"No, you won't," I whispered.

His head darted up to me in surprise, but I was already moving. In the hustle of me falling a moment ago, I had positioned my leg just right and with a swing of my knee, I brought it right up into his pelvis. His eyes widened and his mouth contorted in pain at the impact. As soon as his hand released my wrists, I pulled them away and elbowed him in the jaw. His head flew back but I once again gave him no time before my foot met his stomach and forced him backwards. Thank goddess I had some training.

TW: over

Once he was falling to the ground I turned and ran towards the setting moon. I knew I was possibly north, but I needed to get away from here and the moonlight would help guide me.

I forced my legs to run, whipping through the trees. My vision was hazy, and I was freezing from the cold but I kept going. I could hear howls sound out behind me and just hoped the girls wouldn't deal with any repercussions of my actions.

I ran and ran, passing a nearby stream that flowed as quickly as the rain fell. I chose to follow it, guiding me south down the mountains. I stumbled a lot, tripping over loose tree roots but no matter how much I stumbled, I kept going.

My breathing was rapid, and I could feel myself nearly fainting but I kept going. My body was weakening, my hand clasping at my chest wound despite the pain in my shoulders, but I kept going.

At last, though, I fell and rolled down a small hill. I couldn't hear them chasing me anymore but without Cel, I couldn't tell how far away they were either. I pulled myself up at the bottom of the hill and groaned against the dizzy spell.

A stick cracked near me, loud through the pouring rain, and feet shuffled slowly through leaves. I gasped and looked around for the source. I pulled myself to my feet and just hoped it was an animal.

Instead came a woman. She had brilliant black hair and haunting dark blue eyes. Her skin was pale, and she was dressed in a long black layered gown, littered with black jewels. She was somehow dry despite the rainstorm.

I paused in my escape when something told me to stop. I watched her and she watched me, neither of us moving. I had a horrible feeling that I knew who this was.

"Raven?"

***********

Ooooh 3k words chapter had so much fun with u guys lately I love allllll your comments

Nova has come on in small victories and I'm so happy for her bless her. Just nothing goes her way

What is your favourite thing to have for breakfast?

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