Emma POV
I didn’t know how long I had been here.
I was constantly surrounded by darkness.
I woke up a few times only to be beaten. His fists came into contact with every part of my body. He told me that I deserved it because I almost took what belonged to Sienna.
He was dosing me with wolfsbane, so I knew that I wasn’t healing. If he didn’t kill me soon, I would die from blood loss.
I hoped that he would kill me soon. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I didn’t want him to touch me again.
I kind of liked the darkness. He wasn’t beating me when I was in the dark. He wasn’t screaming at me when I was in the dark. His hands weren’t touching me when I was in the dark. There wasn’t physical pain when I was in the dark.
But my thoughts were deafening. I couldn’t stop thinking about my brother. I wished that I could tell him that I loved him just one more time. I wished that he would know I did not become a rogue. I wished that he wouldn’t hate me. But at the same time, I was angry. He didn’t believe me. He chose Sienna, just like Logan did.
‘Andrew and Asher love us.’ Eliza whined.
I was so glad that I could still talk to her. I shouldn’t have been able to. The wolfsbane should have kept her locked deep in my mind. I didn’t feel her, I didn’t see her, but I could talk to her sometimes. She said it was because we were strong. She broke down the wolfsbane barrier when she felt that I needed her. I didn’t know how. Maybe she was not even here. Maybe that was just my mind playing tricks on me, making it easier for me to lie here in the dark, waiting for death.
‘I know they do.’ I said to Eliza. ‘It just hurts, Eliza. Andrew didn’t believe me. He chose her.’
‘He made a mistake.’ She said. ‘We all make mistakes.’
‘We do.’ I sighed. ‘And I will forgive him. I am just sad he will never know what really happened.’
‘You need to stay strong, Emma.’ Eliza whined. ‘They will come for us.’
‘They think I ran away and became a rogue.’ I growled. ‘They are not looking for me. And even if they are, they are looking for me to kill me for betraying my pack and attacking a future Luna.’
‘Asher and Leon won’t believe Sienna.’ Eliza said sternly. ‘They hate her. They will talk some sense into Andrew and Logan.’
I closed my eyes and I felt a tear rolling down my face. I wished that I could believe that. I wished that were true. I wished that Eliza could live on. She didn’t deserve this.
‘I am sorry, Eliza.’ I said with a teary voice.
‘Why are you apologizing?’ She whined. ‘You don’t have to apologize for anything.’
‘I do.’ I said. ‘You don’t deserve this. You should live on, not die here with me. Your mate shouldn’t have rejected you. You should have a better, stronger human counterpart. Not me. I have caused you nothing but pain. I am sorry. I love you, Eliza.’
‘Stop it!’ She growled. ‘We are not dying here! You are the only human I want. You are the strongest human. Just hold on a little bit longer. We will get out of here.’
I didn’t respond. I just kept staring into the darkness.
‘I can’t hold on much longer, Emma.’ She whined. ‘Be strong. I love you.’
I felt her slipping away and a quiet sob escaped me. I was alone again.
Maybe that was for the better. I was glad that she couldn’t feel or see what he was doing to me. She didn’t deserve that.
Suddenly, I felt like I was being pulled away from the darkness. I was waking up again.
“Well hello there, little wolf.” I could hear the rogue’s voice. “Welcome back.”
I blinked a few times and looked around me. We were still in a cave. I was lying on a cold floor and my dried blood was all around me. The rogue was sitting opposite me, leaning on the wall.
I looked at him and he was smirking.
His beard was long and frizzy. His cold black eyes were staring at me. He was covered in dirt and he had that unique rogue smell.
“It has been four days, if you are wondering.” he said. “Your brother is not looking for you. They are preparing a Luna ceremony. That means Sienna will be marked soon and I will finally have you for myself before I kill you.”
I felt tears falling down my face and into my hair.
They weren’t looking for me. They believed her. They thought that I became a rogue. Andrew hated me. My heart was breaking. A quiet sob escaped me.
I didn’t know why it hurt so much. I already knew this. I already knew that they chose Sienna. I already knew that my brother hated me. Why did it hurt so much?
“Don’t cry, little wolf.” the rogue laughed. “It will be over soon. A few more days and you won’t be a burden anymore. Not to your brother, not to your mate, and not to Sienna.”
His words were like a knife stabbing at my heart, but I knew he was right. I have been nothing but a burden. Andrew was finally free. Logan was free to mate with the one he wants. Soon I would be free too. I would see my mom and dad. I would be at peace.
I closed my eyes and let the tears roll down my face.
I heard the rogue getting up. He walked over to me and knelt beside me. I opened my eyes and saw a needle in his hand.
“You have been awake too long, little wolf.” he said quietly. “It is time to sleep again.”
I felt a needle pierce my skin and a burning feeling of wolfsbane spread through me.
The rogue leaned in and took a deep breath. “You smell amazing. I can’t wait to make you mine.”
I felt his hand going under my hoodie. His claws cut my skin, and I felt blood rolling down my body.
Darkness was close again. I couldn’t wait for darkness. There was no pain there. Maybe Eliza would talk to me again.
Before I was completely in the dark again, I heard blood-chilling growls. I tried to open my eyes to see who growled, but the darkness was stronger.
