Human rejection can be 

God's divine protection

~Unknown

It's such a peaceful night that it almost makes me forget the previous event. The sky is clear and bright with stars, and the sound of the animals in the woods fills the air. It has nothing to envy from the boisterous sound of the music they're playing at the ball. I know I shouldn't be taking this long to pack up my stuff and get a head-start, but the days that will follow will be hectic, and this is the only moment I'll get to myself. Even if I was to get caught, I'm willing to die trying to escape. There's no way I'm staying here for one more second. I know I'm worth much more than they value me, and now that the mate bond is out of the question, it makes me more determined to make it big and show them what I can do. It won't be a walk in the park -I'm not that foolish- but hard work always pays off.

"I don't want to ruin this moment, but you should go. It's nearing one in the morning, and people will start heading off. I don't know how much time you will have left by then." Astra advises me.

Let's get this show on the road, shall we?

I grab the discarded heels and dash to the packhouse with my room as the final destination. Do I even have a duffle bag to begin with? I believe there might be a broken suitcase somewhere around here, but it won't be helpful to me in wolf form.

"Go to your brother's room to check if he has anything. I don't think he'll notice, but even if he did, you'll be long gone by then."

And this is why, Ladies and Gentleman, Astra and I make a good team. Because when I'm missing something, she's always there to point it out and offer solutions, like now.

I discreetly sneak into Logan's room, searching his wardrobe for a duffle bag, when I come across an old shoe box. People say curiosity killed the cat, but I'll open it anyway. I sit on the floor with the box in my lap.

I can't believe he kept all of this! I wondered where it all went.

When our parents were in the pack, we lived on pack grounds but not in the packhouse. We had had a separate house. After their disappearance, we forcefully moved to the packhouse while the Alpha turned our home into Chase's house for when he found his mate. When they threw me into the basement, they threw a trash bag with some of my clothes in the room and some necessities, but never photographs or heirlooms. I don't know how Logan accepted it because they kicked him out only for his best friend to take his place, but he did. To my knowledge, he didn't get anything other than his things from there.

I guess I was wrong. There are no heirlooms, but there are photographs of Logan as a child, our parents, family photos, and my photos. With how much hatred he has shown toward me, I expected he would have burned them. Maybe he does have a soft spot after all. But it's not enough. Not when you don't help that person. I wouldn't be okay with myself if I stayed back when the person I care about is having a hard time. Perhaps my disappearance might shake his world, and he may understand what he did wrong or what he didn't do. If that were to happen, I wouldn't know. I don't plan on keeping any relationships after abandoning the pack. I would love to remain in contact with Mr. and Mrs. Hart, but I'm afraid it will put all of us in danger. I'll leave a letter explaining to them my reasoning. They're rational people. Hopefully, they'll understand.

It's confusing, but I don't feel as sad as expected. I'm furious Logan would throw moments like this away. He's not a man. I only saw a boy running after his friend's tail.

I grab a few pictures before storing the box in its original place and snatching the duffle bag from beside it. I again make my way to my room, stuffing my things swiftly. I don't own much stuff either because I have outgrown them and couldn't replace them, or they were unwearable. It's mostly the second with the kind of life I lead.

"Remember to pack water and snacks for the road. We don't how much we'll have to travel before we find refuge."

I almost forgot! Also, the money I've saved up. I can't leave them behind.

After I've put everything inside the duffle bag, I re-check to confirm I have everything with me. I erase everything from my phone, especially the photos of my bruised body, and place the phone on the bed. I can't afford to bring the phone with me. They'll use it to track me, and if they find out I have evidence of their abuse, they'll hunt me down to kill me. I have everything backed up in a flash drive, and I know the numbers I need by heart. The rest of the photos are useless. They hold no meaning to anyone. Why should they do it to me? I'll make new memories either way.

I lift the bag, ready to flee, but pause at the door. "Should I leave a letter?" I wonder, asking for Astra's input.

"You're not obliged to do so, but it's your only shot to say everything you couldn't say this whole time. It's up to you what you do."

Astra's tone is hostile. She wants me to cuss them off. I wish to do that as well. I'm leaving letters. I pick up a pen and a few pieces of paper to write the letters.

I place the letters where they're visible and only take two with me: Mr. Hart's and Mrs. Hart's letters. I'll drop them at their house on my way out.

I can't believe I'm doing this after so little consideration. I've had it at the top of my mind this whole time, but I never envisioned a plan about my next moves if I were to go through with it. In my defense, I never stick to a game plan anyway because I always improvise.

I longingly glance at their house, wanting to at least say goodbye to them, but I know I can't. I'll put them in more danger. Their diner and house will be the first places they'll search for me. I don't want to make it even worse for them. I snatch the bag from the ground with my teeth and walk toward the borders. From today onward, I'll be a free wolf, a rogue, but still a free wolf. There will be no one to order me around or torment me.

I'm leaving this pack as a free wolf.

Chase's pov.

Around 1:30 in the morning, an uneasy feeling settles in as if something broke, a bond with the pack. The energy inside the room shifts because someone has just left and cut ties with us. There's only one possibility in my mind: Ava, and she has a motive to act upon. She's a coward, though. She has never stood up for herself. I don't think she has the guts to become a rogue. She wouldn't last a day in the wild without someone else backing her up.

Logan must have felt it, but it doesn't bother him as he's dancing with a girl. "Have you seen or talked to your sister at all tonight?"

"I spoke to her in the morning." He replies before going back to his dancing. He's so nonchalant about his sister. It almost makes me pity, but not after what I know about her. She deserves everything that's happening to her.

I scan the ballroom for any sight of her but come up empty-handed. I leave for the packhouse and search her room first, but I still can't find her. I've searched this house up and down, but I found nothing. She and her belongings are gone. It must be her that crossed the borders. If someone here knows about her, it would be that couple, the teacher, and the diner owner.

I bang on their door, and the man opens the door, and he's seemingly alarmed.

"To what do I owe this sudden visit, Alpha?" His tone is stiff. He doesn't like me, and neither do I. If only he weren't related to that Alpha, I would have ended him long ago.

"Where is Ava?"

"From what we know, she's at the ball where you should be right now." His wife answers, coming up next to him.

"Well, she's not. She has run away and you helped her with it."

They smile at me for the first time since I've met them. "She did what she should have long ago. I'm only sad she didn't come to us because we would have helped her escape."

That asshole has the nerve to challenge me! I'm his Alpha. I can have him killed like that, no questions asked.

I grab him by the collar, "Say it one more time and I'll make sure you and your wife will leave this pack in a coffin."

He pushes me back, dusts himself off, and smirks at me. "You should try that and see what happens. Do you think the Alpha King and Queen and all of the other packs will allow you to act as you please? Go ahead, I want to see what happens. Until then stay away from my family. Oh, and one more thing. Don't underestimate Ava. You won't be able to find her, she's not foolish. Even if you find her, she'll put up a fight and she will win. It's in her blood anyways." He shuts the door to my face.

The wolf inside me snarls at the encounter and wants to rip him to pieces, but I can't do that now. The more time passes, the further she gets away from the pack.

"Chase, hurry to the pack house. Ava left letters." Logan contacts me through the mind link.

~

"Where are they?" I burst into the packhouse. Logan gets up from the couch and approaches me with two letters. He hands me two out of the three.

"Give me the third one," I order him, but he shakes his head.

"My sister left it for me. Whatever is said in this letter is between her and me. If it said anything about where she was going, I would have told you as soon as I read it."

I start with the letter addressed to me.

Chase,

I've been wanting to confront you for six whole years. It is late, but FUCK YOU! You tormented and humiliated me for no reason. Even if you had one, you should have acted as a man and be upfront about it. You were a little boy hiding behind his daddy's legs, and when things got tough, your daddy would take care of everything for you. You must think it was an honor for me to be your mate, but you're mistaken. You were blessed to get me as a mate. You did me a favor by rejecting me. I wouldn't want to be with you for the rest of my life. That would be a nightmare. I won't wish you ill because I trust life will serve you well. I pray you'll feel everything I felt these few years ten times multiplied. May we never see each other again.

Ava

I didn't know she had it in her to write a letter like this. It surprises me how much hatred she held for me. How did she even hide that from everyone? She was a good actress.

I open the letter addressed to the pack, and the vibe is similar to mine.

Dear pack,

I only have one question for you. Why did you treat me this way? I've always treated you with this respect and always looked out for you. But when times got rough for me, you turned your back on me? You weren't affected by my parents' disappearance. Logan and I were, but you discarded me as if I'm trash. There was no support or love for me whatsoever. No, I don't want your pity. I never asked for it. If I were to go back, I wouldn't change my behavior towards you. Why? Because I acted like a human being. You'll eventually get what you deserve. I'm sad I won't be able to witness it, but at least I'll be leaving my life. You would be sad little wolves, ruled by a coward Alpha and a fake Luna. Good luck.

Ava

I close the letters and place them back in the folders. I then turn to Logan, who's lost in his thoughts, "Send a team to search for her, and never utter a word to anyone about these letters."

He stares at me questioningly but obeys my orders. That's why Logan and I are friends. He follows my orders, no questions asked.

I'll find Ava no matter what the cost. It's a matter of pride. She said a lot of stuff that she has to account for. I'll make that happen.

Edited: 13/10/2023

Word count: 2210