The Escape
Camilla's POV
I remembered the noise, it's deafening.
They weren't just murmuring anymore—no. They were shouting, laughing, throwing sneers like daggers into my heart. I could still hear the words echoing in my head, replaying with every breath I took.
"You liar!"
"She tried to trap Alpha Michael!"
"She wanted power, not love!"
I stood still at the edge of the training grounds, where my rejection had just been made official—public—brutal. Alpha Michael stood tall and proud as if he had done something noble by casting me aside.
My own sister, Caroline, clutched his hand as though she'd won the prize. And maybe she had. She got what she wanted—a title, a mate, a throne that was never hers.
But I got the shame.
The look in my father's eyes—that was what shattered me the most. Jack, the strongest warrior the Moonlight Pack had ever known, stared at me like I was a disgrace. The same man who once taught me to wield a blade, who told me stories of honor and pride, now turned his back on me without hesitation.
He believed her lies. Believed that I was the one who tried to seduce Michael's brother. That I was the one plotting betrayal for status.
I wasn't even given a moment to speak.
No one asked me my side, no one cared to know the truth.
And so I walked—no, ran. The pain was too much to carry. My legs, shaking from the humiliation, carried me out of the heart of the pack village, past the training grounds, beyond the edge of the central fields.
No one tried to stop me, no one called after me. It was almost like the Moonlight Pack had already erased me from their lives.
As I reached the treeline, the darkness of the forest greeted me like an old friend. The moonlight barely filtered through the thick of trees, but I welcomed the shadows.
I didn't want the light to touch me. I didn't feel worthy of it anymore.
Flashback:
I remembered the first day I met Alpha Michael. I was only seventeen, barely out of my warrior lessons. He was already Alpha-in-training, powerful, respected, and devastatingly handsome.
That day, he had come to inspect my father's warriors, and I had offered him a simple drink—nervous, shy. He looked at me and smiled.
Not at Caroline, not at any of the other pretty she-wolves who were paraded in front of him. Just me.
"You have strength in your eyes," he had said. "You'll make a good Luna one day."
We laughed often after that, trained together. He shared parts of his life with me he hadn't even told his beta. On one moonlit night, under the stars by the sacred waterfall, he kissed me and said, "Camilla, I want to mark you one day. No one else." He said.
We made love that night. Passionate, gentle and true.
And now, here I was… discarded like trash.
My dress tore at the hem as I stumbled over rocks and tangled roots. I didn't care. The deeper I went into the forest, the better. My lungs burned, but I welcomed the ache.
It was a distraction from the throbbing pain in my heart.
When I finally collapsed near a small stream, I let out a sob so violent it shook my entire body. My fingers clawed at the damp soil as I gasped for breath.
Why?
Why did Caroline do this to me?
We were twins, sisters. Born seconds apart, shared everything. Or so I thought.
But now I saw it, the lingering glances she always gave Michael. The way she would smile at him when she thought I wasn't looking.
The moments she'd "accidentally" show up wherever he and I were.
Had this been her plan all along? I asked myself with pain all over me.
She poisoned his drink, I knew it deep down. She seduced him in my image, and Michael, too drunk to know better, fell into her trap. And yet he blamed me.
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stared at the moon above. It shone down on me like a silent witness to my pain.
"I can't go back," I whispered to the night. "Not after this. Not ever."
I lay there for what felt like hours, staring into the forest, half-expecting a rogue to end me, half-hoping they would.
But none came, only the rustle of the wind and the occasional howl far in the distance.
Then… a sound.
Crunching leaves, a footsteps.
I bolted upright, heart pounding, a stick clutched in my shaking hands.
"Who's there?" I croaked, my voice dry and cracked.
A tall figure emerged from behind the trees. He wasn't from my pack. His scent was different, strong, earthy and powerful.
"Don't come closer," I warned, raising the stick.
"I'm not here to hurt you," the stranger said calmly, his voice deep and smooth.
He stepped into the moonlight, revealing sharp features, dark eyes, and broad shoulders covered in a fur-lined cloak.
He looked like a warrior—but not one I'd ever seen.
"You're far from home, she-wolf," he added. "This forest belongs to the Silver Pack."
Silver Pack?
I'd heard of them—distant rivals, yet peaceful unless provoked. Their lands bordered the far east side of our territory.
They kept to themselves, but their warriors were known for unmatched loyalty.
"Who are you?" I asked, though my grip on the stick weakened.
"Marcus," he replied." And you?" He asked.
I hesitated, saying my name felt dangerous. But he already knew I was running.
"…Camilla," I whispered.
He eyed me carefully, as if weighing something within.
"You're the rejected Luna of Moonlight Pack, aren't you?"
His words sliced through me. I turned away, ashamed. "So it's already known."
"I've heard rumors," Marcus said, his voice softer now. "But rumors aren't always the truth."
I didn't respond, what could I say?
"You're cold, come with me."
I shook my head. "I don't want any pity now." I want to end it at this moment.
"I'm not offering pity," he replied, now standing a few feet from me. "I'm offering safety, and rest."
I stared at him, uncertain. Could I trust him?
He extended his hand. "Come to my pack, at least for the night. You're not safe out here alone."
Something in his eyes told me he meant it. There was no hidden lust or judgment, just understanding.
Tears welled again, and before I could second guess myself, I took his hand.
The journey was long, but I barely registered the time. Marcus let me ride behind him on his large black wolf, and by the time we arrived, I was shivering and dazed.
The Silver Pack was quiet, well-structured, and filled with curious yet respectful eyes. No one whispered, no one laughed at me. They simply nodded to their me and moved along.
Marcus led me to a private room far west side and handed me a warm blanket.
"You can stay here as long as you want," he said.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked.
He looked at me. "Because once, a long time ago, I was betrayed by someone I trusted. I know what it feels like to lose everything."
I couldn't speak.
He turned to leave, but paused at the door. "Get some rest, I'll find you protection from tomorrow, till then, we talk."
That night, I wept into the pillow. Not from pain this time, but relief...
For the first time, I felt safe.