LYRAEN

My ears perked up and my eyes glistened as I heard a deep masculine voice utter that. I looked up from where I was bent to see someone who wasn't a regular face in the palace.

All the while I was courting Talon, I had only seen him once and even then, Talon had dismissed that he wasn't anyone I needed to know and I didn't bother to prove further.

“You should mind your choice of words very carefully, Raze.” Talon warned and Raze just knelt beside me and pulled me up slightly whole arranging my hair that had scattered all over my face.

“You look better without all the tears anyway.” He mouthed and I was just there, star strucked. Just gawking at him, I never would have believed that any man would be way more handsome than Talon but this man just proved me all shades of wrong.

“I mean, isn't that basic knowledge? She was accused and isn't guilty until proven.” He stated, smiling at Talon while Talon gritted his teeth while folding his fist.

“Yes, Alpha Talon. You loved our daughter as we've heard and seen, surely the least you could do is conduct a proper investigation.” He continued, still standing by me and I let out a shaky breath hoping that they would listen to him.

I was sure if a proper investigation was carried out, they'd see that I was being set up.

“Take him away. It seems I've given you a lesser fist all this while, brother.” Talon smirked, gesturing to the guards and I watched as the guards dragged him away while he maintained his smile.

“You'll be fine, doll. Be hopeful, you'll be fine. I'll make sure of that.” He muttered and I wondered how he was even going to do that.

The guards came towards my direction and binded my hands dragging me out.

“Talon, Talon. Talon please.” I screamed until my voice was drowned out and I couldn't even see him properly from a distance.

When we got to the boundary, the guards abandoned me there. The eerie chirping of the birds, the wind, the sound of dey leaves underneath my feet as I took every step all sent shivers down my spine but it wasn't the good kind.

I was going to tell Talon that I found out I was pregnant for him today, I wanted that to be my gift to him after the ritual was completed but now? I guess he'll never know.

“I hope I don't lose you.” I whispered into nothingness, rubbing my belly slowly. I had found out a month ago and I had been literally bursting with excitement to tell Talon but kept it hidden so well for this day, to give it more meaning, to make it more special and yet he had banished me.

I felt footsteps ahead of me and I instantly hid at the back of a tree. It could be rogues. They would kill me, they could use as their next meal. The list of what it could be eas endless so I just hid there, eyes tightly shut, breathe withheld and my lips pursed together.

“Are you okay there?” I heard someone question, tapping my shoulder slightly and I wrapped my arms round my belly while backing away in fright and the lady who had tapped me gestured on me to calm down.

“Please, please don't kill me.” I shrieked, shutting my eyes tightly preparing myself for whatever was to come. When I felt nothing for the next few minutes, I opened my eyes slowly when I saw pairs of eyes staring at me like they were inquisitive of what kind of liner I used for my eyes.

Humor? Seriously, Lyraen?

“We're not going to kill you, darling. Are you lost? What is a gem like you doing out here in the forest so late? I'm Elena by the way.” Elena, the lady that had tapped me previously asked and I stared at them suspiciously.

“Umm, I got banished but I promise I'm innocent. I got set up.” My countenance fell as I said that and she patted my hair softly and though I was scared of her, I felt safe for the first time since I got exiled and abandoned at the borders.

I had just been walking forward, wandering helplessly like a lamb led to the slaughter knowing fully well that going back wasn't an option. I would be killed the instant I was spotted and that wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

“Oh bless your soul. No one should have to go through that. Most of us ended up here in similar ways with similar stories. Infact, Eirene here also got set up and sentenced to death. She escaped.” I mouthed an ‘oh’ as I became slightly comfortable and stepped out a bit.

“You're safe, okay?” She stated and I nodded.

They led me back to their little space and I realized they were called the rogue faction but they looked nothing like rogues. They were even better than actual wolves living in packs and houses.

“Who's your leader?” I finally asked because I wanted to Elena had been speaking all this while and I wanted to be sure she was the leader.

Again, I'm trying not to make assumptions.

“Oh, our leader?” She repeated almost like she wasn't expecting the question and then gulped, “He went hunting and scouting. He does it often and returns after a few months.” I nodded.

With their help, I was able to give birth to my baby. With their help, they taught me to be the predator and not the prey.

I learnt to fight, I learnt to stay on my way and even way better, I got delivered of my baby safely and he was growing quite soundly.

It's been a few years since I was banished but I can't help to say that even though Talon's actions then hurt, it was literally the best thing to happen to me.

And that's also how I knew Elena lied to me about their leader, they didn't have a leader. I hadn't seen one another for years so he never existed.

Talon is a piece of shit though and should rot in hell. Every single time I reminisce on how I had begged him with tears in my eyes? It should have made me second hand embarrassed.

“Trailing off in thoughts again?” Elena's voice cut through my thoughts and I smiled at her. Looking out at our faction, we weren't little anymore. We were just an inch closer to becoming an actual pack and I had risen to the level of being gamma leader. Who knew I had it in me?

“Just a little.” I uttered and Elena chuckled before going straight to while she had interrupted my stream of thoughts.

“A little message came in among your heaps of files. And I assure you, you'd be pissed off. If you eventually get pissed, I'll be more than pleased to help you ease off on the sparring mat.” I chuckled slightly while adjusting my collar.

“Give me a hint so I know what I'm plunging into.” I said and she sighed while we walked down to my office.

“One word. Alpha Talon.” My eyes widened as I stopped in my tracks.

“What did you just say?” I queried and she nodded.

“And I beg you, you might actually not get pissed but really pleased.” She winked and I scurried towards my office. Let's know what the spawn of the devil is trying to do.