Chapter 11 Small Victory

Atasha’s Point of View

No matter how persistent I am in life, there is always one thing, or someone, who would make my courage shake in a flash. When fear starts to creep into your bones and anxiety slowly overpower your sense of control, there is no way your mind could think right.

The moment Alpha Gregory declared how I would be sentenced to death if I failed the test . . . that, out of anything, shook every inch of my skin. It was as if he knew perfectly well how he could end my life and was only waiting for me to pull his last straw.

What should we do now, Elijah? I wish you could hear me.

As I was trying to write the answers on my test paper, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining how my entire sacrifices would end up in vain. And when that horrible thing happens, I would never . . . ever get a chance to see my twin sister again.

No, Atasha!

A familiar voice screamed in my head. I closed my eyes firmly and thought about the purpose of this ordeal. I can’t be swayed by such threatening words. If I failed this test, then I would also fail my family. I would never want that to happen.

I opened my eyes and continued answering the test. Struggling, I still tried to recall every important fact and information that Veronica had taught me for the last couple of days.

Veronica . . . why did she run away?

While remembering any possible answers to each question, the Alpha, as well as his servants’ laugh and insults, filled the entire library. I gritted my teeth, eyebrows furrowed, and almost crumpled my paper. I will prove to each of them that this cursed werewolf from Silver Moon Pack is capable of being a Luna.

Everyone of them will go to hell once I become one.

“Hey, what are you laughing at? Zip your filthy snouts! My mate is answering the test!” I heard Elijah’s voice throwing a fit to his father’s servants.

I turned to the next page and found the questions more complex than the previous one. Sighing, I read all of them and found two questions that were easier to answer. I was busy writing my answers when Veronica’s familiar voice called her father urgently. I gazed in their direction and saw her worried face as she walked closer to the Alpha. She was panting and trying to catch her breath, and I saw Veronica's hands from her hips; they formed a thumbs up that seemed to connect through me, and she put it down after I noticed it.

“Father, this is important,” she started as she took several deep breaths.

“What’s going on?” Elijah slightly grabbed her arm and made her turn to him.

Veronica then tiptoed and whispered something to Elijah. My curiosity became visible when I saw how his eyes widened, followed by a rage forming through it.

“The east land is being attacked by the rouges, they are stealing our mined minerals,” Elijah supplied to his father who were looking at him and Veronica.

“We have to cancel this test, father. Many of our men have died,” Veronica announced.

“Those bastards!” The Alpha stood up, screamed and snarled so loud like thunder that it almost broke the windows and ceilings of the entire place. The resentment was evident in his eyes which turned crimson red in a flash.

My mouth ran dry in fear. The Alpha partly shifted, his fangs were out and claws were ready to attack.

“Beta, prepare our army for the hunt. We will kill them all!” And with that, Alpha Gregory instantly made his way out of the library, furious and ready to kill.

I clutched my chest tightly. It was the first time I ever saw an Alpha shift in front of me. Shiver went down my spine when all of a sudden, all the werewolves in the room shifted into their ferocious beast form. There was no doubt that Alpha Gregory and his servants could easily wipe out any territory without a sweat.

The pen I was holding fell, which made me look at my hands that were quivering so badly. I took several deep breaths and caught Elijah’s gaze as he ran towards me. His hand reached my cheek and caressed it gently.

“Hey, hey, baby. Breathe,” he muttered. “Are you alright? Look at me.”

"You can now quit faking it, El. It's creepy," Veronica said.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and pressed my lips together, but after a few seconds they just cracked up. “T-The Alpha—what’s happening?” I managed to ask despite my enormous shock.

“Joaquin will take you in your room,” he stated instead of answering my query. “I will go with my father and check what happened to one of our lands.”

“W-What if you get hurt?”

A glimpse of awe appeared in his eyes but it immediately went away. He smiled a bit and spoke, “I am the soon-to-be Alpha. No one could hurt me, Atasha. Just stay here in the mansion, okay? I’ll get back soon.”

I licked my lower lip and nodded even though I couldn’t get a grasp of what had happened. Elijah then leaned and kissed me on my forehead. After that, he released me and walked away to join his father.

My gaze followed him, more shocked with the fact that he kissed my forehead without any doubt. I inhaled heavily, brows furrowed, questioning that particular gesture he made.

Was it still part of this façade?

As Joaquin escorted me to my room, it was only then that I realized that I was able to escape death in the arms of the Alpha’s terrifying werewolves. If Veronica didn't come, those werewolves who shifted into demons I saw earlier presumably broke me into pieces, and my dead body would be scattered on the floor.

For an unknown reason, a sudden burst of energy kicked in and fueled my body that made me start punching in the air, jumping in my bed, running around hopping like a rabbit, throwing around the papers, books, grabbing my pillow, and using it to hit my bed over and over.

"You rotten snouts!" I exclaimed while I was smiling from ear to ear as I threw my pillow and started punching it as fast and hard as possible. My whole being was elevated at this point. This was a sheer delight, my heart was jumping out of joy.

Thank you, Moon Goddess, you heard my prayer. I have never felt so alive, not until this day.

***

Elijah's Point of View

I went out to the mansion and saw my father gathering his troops. Everyone was riding their horses as it might take them more than seven days to get to the east land. The Beta and his warriors were now commanding the omegas to carry their weapons, food, and medical supplies for the pack. The other servants were here with me. I had informed my father that this main realm needed to be secured, and with that I would have to stay.

“Father, be careful out there," I held his shoulder and embraced him.

The hymn of the Crimson Moon Pack was being sung when the warriors started to rally into the gates.They began to march, then became smaller and smaller in my sight as I was looking at them from where I was standing.

I heard someone applause beside me. In the corner of my eye, I saw it was Veronica.

“I didn’t know you’re such a great actor,” she uttered, still slowly applauding her hands.

“I learned from the best.” I smiled and forwarded my hand, pointing at her.

I couldn’t believe that it worked. Everything paid off. We now have enough days to train Atasha and make sure she would shift into a werewolf.

“So what did you tell our men from the east?" I asked her curiously.

Veronica smirked. “I asked them to prepare a masquerade party for our father once he arrived and told him that they were able to defeat the enemy.”

Our eyes met, and we both laughed as we could imagine the look on his face once he figured out there was no sign of threat to the East land. My father would kill me once he finds out the truth, but we have no other choice.

We need to train Atasha. My guts were telling me she was the one that could help me to escape this hell, and so I must hold on to her.

Hopefully, my group of werewolves could find a lead about her father and sister. In that way, I could thank her. I haven’t done this before with other slaves, but I was voluntarily doing it when it comes to her.

If the plan turned out well, then I would be free from the shadows of my father.

However, If in the event I found my true mate, I would end the contract with her . . . . instantly.

“I want to celebrate this little success of ours. Tell Joaquin to prepare dinner in the garden," Veronica said, that made me come back to reality. I could see that she was very excited to tell this to Atasha.

As we both walked our way to the mansion, I was stunned seeing Zacharius in front of the mansion’s door.

“How long have you been there?”

Damn it! Out of all the people that could hear us, why was it him?

“I didn’t hear anything,” he said in complete sarcasm with his mockery gestures. Both of his hands covered his ears while he smiled like a jester. “What’s the matter?”

I was about to punch him on his face but Veronica held my arm and pushed me away.

“Thanks for saving me, my half-sister,” Zacharius expressed. He then opened the large door of the mansion, turned around, and walked inside. His face went deep, and his piercing eyes glanced at Veronica and me. “Your secrets are safe, but in one condition, I will join your training with Atasha.”

I opposed his statement. Yet, Veronica agreed as she knew it would be a disaster if my father found out about what we did. I shook my head out of frustration.

Knowing Zacharius, I knew we would be in big trouble.

***

Atasha’s Point of View

The next day…

My eyes sparkled as I learned that Zach would be joining us in the training. He was also a part of the people who supported me during that test. I’m happy I could know him more and maybe ask him questions about Elijah. While we walked to the Mansion's Gates, I felt a sudden excitement, hoping for a great day for us four.

I recalled when I was a kid, Astrid and I loved to play in the trees. We ran as fast as we could, and as we went home, our mother scolded us because we looked like a mess.

The wide greenery welcomed us as we walked with our horses. Elijah seemed a bit quiet today. He didn't even bother to talk to me, and his glances were cold as ice. I wonder what was wrong with him. I'm afraid I did something wrong that pissed him off. Every time I tried to reach out to him, I felt that I was being avoided. Whenever I try to open a conversation with him, he would turn his face away.

I woke up early today, and Veronica jokingly said that I needed to tie up my hair since Elijah preferred it, and it would show how ready I was for this day. So I tied my hair just to show him that I was up for it for today's training, but it seemed he didn't even take notice. I pouted my lips then removed the ribbon on my hair. Why did I even care? I shook my head to erase these thoughts, and this should not worry me that much. I'm overthinking this.

“You look great when you tie your hair up," Zach commented and grabbed the ribbon from my hand and tied up my hair, which surprised me. “There, you look good.”

My face heated in shame as he smiled and continued to walk. I glanced at Elijah, and in a second, he looked away from us and talked to Veronica.

We reached our destination and saw giant trees beside it. It was a small barn house with some horses. From there, we met Peter, who assisted us in having our horses.

“Atasha, I'll teach you how to ride a horse, this will help you to go far places while preserving your wolf strength," Zach said. He then taught me how to mount, but I slipped through the stirrups before I fell down the ground. Zach grabbed my waist and helped me to get up.

"Are you okay? Be careful," he said, worried.

Elijah then stopped Zach and slightly pushed him back a bit. “Let me help her.”

Elijah tried to assist me, but I got annoyed at how he acted towards Zach. So I refused his help and pulled Zach away from him.

“Atasha, why?” Zach was dumbfounded as I pulled his arm.

“I only want you to teach me. I don’t want that grumpy soon-to-be Alpha to teach me,” I replied.

He chuckled a bit then assisted me to ride the horse. In the corner of my eye, I saw Elijah peeking at us at the small barn. He was truly getting on my nerves.

Yesterday at the Library, he gave me encouraging words, and he even kissed me on my forehead. Now he was acting this way.

“Hey, I'll grab some food. Stay here, okay?” Zach smiled.

I didn't pay too much attention to Zach's words. I got upset at Elijah's actions today to the point that my leg nudged the horse too hard, which resulted in it running so fast towards the tall trees. It ran so fast that when Zach saw me, I was already too far from him to stop.

The horse moved swiftly that I held as much as I could, without even noticing that we had already made our way in the middle of the forest. We were running towards branches of trees and one of them hit my head. I fell, rolled down to the ground, and my vision got blurry that I couldn't help but keep my eyes shut.