Chapter 45
1024words
I was shaking badly; my teeth wouldn't stop chattering, too, and I couldn't even stand on my feet. Everything felt surreal, but I knew I needed to leave; I didn't mind being tagged a rogue wolf. It isn't like I am wanted here anyway.
My wet hair clung to my face and my neck and raising my hand to squeeze the remaining water in my hair made me shiver.
I looked around for anything to cover myself with but I found none. I was supposed to start cleaning and thinking about it already made me feel fatigued.
'Here?" A meek voice said and turning towards the direction of the voice, I saw Becky.
'Becky?" I didn't realize how shaky and little I could sound.
'Here, take. You are cold." She told me, stretching the thick white towel towards me while looking at the floor like she was extremely guilty facing me.
I was skeptical about this act of kindness; she was still among The Queen's groups, after all.
'Why?" I looked at her bowed head covered by her hair.
'Just take it, you are cold." She shoved the towel right into my face; I had no other option than to take it from her, rubbing my hair dry first before wrapping it around me.
I studied her and saw her sneaking glances around.
'You should leave if you are uncomfortable," I told her trying to get to my feet.
She ran to me and helped me up, leading me away from the pool.
'Where are you taking me?" I questioned, lips quivering in cold till and body numb.
'I won't harm you, I swear by my wolf."
'As if," I muttered.
'You are dealing with a thief," I told her again, hating that I had to be dependent on her to walk.
'I know you didn't steal it." She responded still looking ahead, eager to escape the eyes of the others.
I stopped and refused to move, my already broken heart broke all over again, and I knew it would keep breaking. I felt blood rushing to my head.
'Come on." She called desperately.
'You knew and didn't do anything about it?" I lashed, and tears threatened to leave my eyes.
Why were they all like that? Why won't someone speak up? Why does it always have to be me?
'Moon…" She sighed, rubbing her temple with her left hand.
I looked at her desperate for answers.
'We…we can't make decisions on our own, without our parent's influence. Even things as little as our association would have to be influenced by our parents and going against their order is asking to be disowned."
She sighed again, looking into my eyes and I stared back.
'Yes, Aiden is in the same position. Diana, she…"
I didn't want to hear anything about Aiden, I didn't ask about him. Thinking about his noiselessly moving mouth made me uncomfortable but I didn't want to hear anything about him for the now.
'Why are you telling me this?" I made to distance myself from her but she held me tighter.
'You can't do that, you are not strong!" She was worried.
'I don't need your help!" I knew I was being stupid right now, trying to throw the little help I just got away but I could not help it.
What if she has a hidden agenda? What if this was another setup?
I began stepping back, shaking my head slowly.
'No."
'No?" She bent her head to observe my face, frowning, not understanding what I meant by No.
'No." I detached myself completely from her.
Her face brightened up as if she suddenly realized my reason for saying no.
'I won't harm you, Moon. I promise!" She looked sincere; I couldn't resist the innocence in her face, unlike the sly faces of the rest of her group.
'If I do…" She paused, thinking hard about the befitting retaliation.
'If I do, expose my helping you to Diana and the rest." She finally said.
I sneezed hard, looking away.
'Sorry, you need to be in there." She pointed towards the forest and I nodded slowly, sneezing one more time.
I didn't know what I was doing believing a group member of The Queens, but I decided to risk it all. It wasn't like it wouldn't be worse than this if I was left out there alone, doing nothing.
'Wait here." She told me, leaving me leaning on a tree trunk, I will be right back.
Right in front of me, I saw her crouch low before I heard the sound of bone cracking. She transformed into her wolf! It leaves me wondering if that was permitted.
'You…" I stuttered, my eyes wide in terror and admiration.
Her wolf turned at me and lifted her head at me before passing through an entrance I didn't know existed.
I couldn't transform into my wolf, I don't even know how this works, and it leaves me a little envious, I must confess.
It took a few more minutes standing when she emerged out of the rat-like hole in her belly.
'You'd have to do the same."
'What?" I frowned.
'This." She said and crawled right back in.
I looked around to see if anyone was watching, and that was when I noticed it was a blind spot. Folding the towel and taking it with me due to the fear of being found out, I crawled on my belly into the hole, afraid I would get stuck halfway.
I heard her stifling laughter; it made me pause.
How many were they inside? It didn't just sound like the stifled laughter of one person. It sounded like she wasn't alone but the aroma from the hole made my stomach grumble. The heat emanating from the hole made my body warm too.
This time, I didn't care if I got bullied or killed in here and forgotten; I only needed to attend to my body's needs.
I continued crawling in, desperate for warmth and food. When my head emerged at the end of the hold, I was left thunderstruck at what I saw.
