CHAPTER 58

Mila moved through the dark, still night with a heavy heart. She felt guilty whenever she left the Luna all alone in her cold house. Whether Shana knew it or not, she was responsible for her, even if she did basically nothing for her when they were together. The Luna was completely closed off from everyone. Her once happy smiles were now forced ones. Sometimes, she had a look in her eyes like she expected her, Elise or one of her guards to take a knife to her throat. And it was only fair that she felt that way. No one had taken well to the news of what she was.
Mila was no different. But unlike everyone else whose hatred stemmed from something more personal; Elise because she was infinitely devoted to the Alpha, the guards because they found out she was there to kill their Alpha, Mila had merely felt left out at first, because Rose had known all about Shana and she didn't. She been able to overcome her dislike for the Crier because she saw the sincerity in her eyes. And unlike everyone else, she could see beyond the ordinary. What she had seen about Shana had been beautiful and nothing like the Beta had claimed, unless the goddess now showed her fake visions.
Mila hated the Alpha for running out on her the way he did and putting that forlorn look in her eyes. She did not deserve that just for being a Crier like his mother and that was where all the similarity ended.
Shana Anderson was nothing like the old Luna. She did not sleep around like the Alpha accused her of. She was kind and pure hearted. If only the Alpha would let go of his big ego long enough to do that or if she was bold enough to shout it into his thick skull.
She shivered at the mere thought. She would never dare. The only one bold enough to try was his grandmother and he had been ignoring the old woman like he was doing to his wife. It seemed like the harder Rose tried to talk to him, the more he avoided her. No one had seen neither hide nor hair of him on the territory since he stormed off but his grandmother had enough tabs on him to know he was available but just ignoring her.
Although she felt guilty leaving the Luna alone, she could not wait to leave the house each day. The unhappiness and coldness in it was slowly killing her but she had to continue being there for the Luna, not just because Rose wanted to, but because she wanted it too.
Like she did every night on her way home,she made a detour to Walker's home and listened closely at the door. Unlike every other night when she heard the sounds of Adele moaning in pleasure or whipping him, tonight was very quiet. Maybe poor Walker finally got a respite from all the torture for a night, Mila thought to herself just before the door was slammed into her face.
Mila's hand went to her bleeding nose. She was certain it was broken as she held her hand around it gingerly, her eyes seeing stars.
"You!," An enraged Adele exclaimed in recognition just before she pushed her hard. Mila landed hard on her butt, the impact jarring every bone in her body. Then Adele was on top of her, her furious face spitting fire at her. "What were you doing? Are you spying on me?," she whispered angrily, her hands going around Mila's throat.
Even if she was going to give a reply, Mila could not because of the hands choking her. She tried as hard as she could to dislodge Adele's hands but she was no match for her.
"Answer me," Adele whispered furiously before she slapped her hard across the face. It felt like her eyes were going to roll back in her head and she was going to faint but alas, she did not. She wished desperately she could. She coughed as Adele released her killing hold on her neck.
"Did Shana send you to spy on me? Or my father? Who sent you? Answer me before I change your face beyond recognition," she said as she slapped her across her bleeding nose, hard. If the bone was not broken from the door before, Mila was certain it just did.
"No one sent me," she replied urgently, her eyes burning with hot, painful tears.
"Then why were you standing by the door?," she asked with another slap on Mila's red face.
There was no reply as Adele continued slapping the girl and screaming. There was no point whispering anymore. Every wolf close enough would have heard their hushed whispers and guessed what was going on. She never wanted all of the stupid Omegas in her business, just a few men amongst them. But now, they all knew. All thanks to Shana's minion, and she was going to make her suffer for it.
Adele did not believe that no one had sent her. The girl had been spying on her and she was certain Shana was involved. What she could not understand was why Shana needed to spy on her instead of her trying to get Asher back. Maybe the Luna was scared of her capabilities after all. She was her only competition.
She had been over the moon when she found out Mark had done the job for her. It had felt so good to know her brother was on her side once again. And like she expected, Asher had reacted the way she wanted. The whole pack had reacted actually and if the guards were not keeping her in that house, Adele was sure she would be stoned to death if the Crier dared to show her pale face.
Asher had been estranged from the Crier for over a week, that much she knew because one of the guards she once had a pleasurable history with. He was keeping her posted about everything going on. She found out Asher was also ignoring his grandmother, although Mark had nothing to do with that.
Everything was working out for her good. Now was her time to get closer to Asher and make him want her like never before, except her stupid father was a stumbling block.
He was monitoring every move she made, especially any move that had anything to do with Asher. She felt like a little child in her own home. Like tonight and every other night, she had to sneak out her window because she needed an escape from all the mounting stress.
Thinking about her father made her more angry and she continued to hit the girl beneath her until she laid there unmoving.
Then she cleaned the bloodstains on her hands on the girl's shabby clothes and got up to leave.
No one stopped her or questioned her for what she just did. Because no one dared, or cared to risk their life for one of their own they didn't even know her name.
About ten minutes later,Mila woke up to the excruciating pain of her broken nose. It was only a matter of hours before it healed completely and remained in the grotesque position it was probably in but she could not bring herself to set the bones right. And nobody was there to help her, not even Walker, whose door was firmly shut. He had left her bloodied at his doorstep without lifting a finger.
Maybe he deserved all he got from his lover. They both deserved each other, she thought as she carefully stood up from the floor. She was lucky Adele had done damage to just her face. She could not imagine what would happen to her if she had thought of breaking her legs.
She trudged home, all the while cursing her unlucky fate. She unlocked the door to her single room and collapsed on the floor immediately from exhaustion.
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He breezed through the forest like the wind itself, his paws landing heavily on the dirt and making the forest floor vibrate. The short shrubs snapped and fell as he moved through them powerfully. His movement was swifter than ever before but for him, it was nothing and he needed to do better. Although over a year ago, he had barely been able to move his eyelids long enough to see what was right in front of him. His body had been useless, and so had his mind.
From the moment the dagger had gone through his chest, it had been over. And while his rescuers had fought valiantly for his life, there had been no reason to leave. He had craved the death that refused to take him until months ago, when he had found a reason to fight again.
He had moved so far away from home that any news about his pack had been almost impossible to reach him but it did. And he realized soon enough it was what he needed.
But he was no longer a trusting fool. He knew this was not a fight for him alone. He needed help and he was going to the only place he could get it.
If he did not get killed first for trespassing.
He moved faster and he was soon on the territory. His movement slowed and he transformed back into a man, moving stealthily through the shadows to avoid making a sound.
He had only walked a few steps when he started feeling the unearthly pull towards his right. It was not where he needed to go. If his guess was right, and it rarely was not, he was on the Omegas' part of the territory. He had no business there.
But he could not ignore the force. It was a force stronger than anything he had ever felt and he made his way towards it. He was soon standing close to a small apartment, far apart from the others. And there, the pull grew so strong he moved at a preternatural speed and found himself in the room in no time.
And before him laid a half dead girl.
The source of the force.
It could only mean one thing.