Life in a new Kingdom

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming

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Kane POV

How long have I been running? I don’t remember. However, I can’t stop now. I have to keep going. I have to get as far away from there as possible.

My paws pound on the forest floor as I dash around a tree and over a fallen log. With each step, my legs cramp a little more, but I can’t pay attention to it now. I have to get away.

With sheer determination in my eyes, I focus my attention on the terrain ahead. My escape almost came to a crashing halt a few minutes ago when I took my eyes off of the path ahead and I almost slammed into a tree trunk. Good thing my wolf has good reflexes.

I still can’t believe that I could be this stupid. What was I thinking?

Oh, yeah. I was hoping that when my mate turned 18 and could finally sense my presence that he would love me and claim me. What a joke?

I’ve known since my 18th birthday, which has been two years now, that the one person that I’ve hated for these last few years is my mate. However, being the coward that I am, I didn’t tell him. Well, it didn’t help that he would continuously tease and belittle me.

Plus, I didn’t have enough courage to walk up to the alpha’s son and announce that he is my mate. Everyone would have laughed at me, so I kept my mouth shut.

However, I never would have expected what happened a few days ago. My heart aches just thinking about it. No. I have to forget. I have to move on.

My wolf whines. Even though my mate didn’t mark me, my wolf already knows who our true mate is and still wants him. However, that will never happen now.

Ugh… I have to keep going.

As I dash over a crest of a hill, my eyes suddenly lock onto the glow through the trees on the horizon. Yes. I have finally made it to a big city. They should have a bus station here and I can go as far as the bus will take me. Now, I just have to blend in with the humans and not be discovered. I can do this.

I suddenly have a spring in my step, and with a renewed energy, I bolt ahead. I should be able to make it to town before morning. All I need to do is to find something to eat and a place to clean up. Then I will start my new life.

***

I settle down into the back seat on the bus. For the first time in the last two years, I finally have hope. My heart still aches, and my wolf still wants to go back to our pack, but I know that that isn’t possible now. However, I’m sure that my father is looking for me, and that is why I have to get as far away from my pack as possible.

I’m sure that my father has tried to contact other packs, but I can’t have them find out my real name. From now on, Kane is gone. He died the moment I left my pack.

The only person that is left is the new one that I have created. Welcome to my new life, Blake.

I sigh as I turn my head and look out the window. There are so many uncertainties about the future, but I can’t let that control my life. For once, I need to live for myself. Not for my parents. Not for my mate. Not for the family name. No. I will only live for myself now.

I hope the Moon Goddess is on my side now. If she is, she will guide me to the place that I need to be and to a place where I can heal. Someday, I will be 100% again. Only then, I will be able to come out of hiding, but not before.

I don’t even know if there are werewolves where I’m going. My father has never talked about this area before. Well, it is rather far from my pack, but my pack has never dealt with any werewolf packs in this area. So, I can only assume that there isn’t any out this direction, which is why I’m heading there. From now on, I will live as a human.

I have gone to college for a couple years. However, now, I won’t be going back, which surprisingly, I’m fine with that. Well, I’m sure the fact that my mate is starting there this next semester is helping with me not wanting to go there.

Ugh… I have to stop thinking about him.

As the bus begins to move and head down the road, I continue to watch the scenery as it slowly begins to blur past, and for the first time in my life, I think about what I want to do with my life. I have nothing holding me back now.

First thing is that I have to get a job, and then I can maybe think about going back to college. Is there even a college around this area? I’m sure there is. I will have to look into it when I get there.

As I continue to think about the possibilities, my eyelids slowly close and sleep quickly consumes me.

***

“Hey. Sir. You need to wake up. We are at the end of the line.”

What? Someone nudges my shoulder as my eyes slowly flicker open. Oh, my body is stiff. How long have I been sleeping?

SHIT!! Did I miss my stop?

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