Chapter 63 Sixty three

Chapter 63 Sixty three

Nora. 

The questions swirled within me like a relentless storm. Falling in love, was that an offense? Was it wrong to hope for love in return? These thoughts bedeviled at my core, mingling with the tears that blurred my vision. The more I pondered, the more I yearned to distance myself from Howard.

Initially, the prospect of moving on had terrified me. It meant accepting that we were destined to be strangers, and I had preferred the heartbreak over forgetting him. But now, it seemed that leaving him was the best course of action, for both him and me. I had to consider the well-being of my unborn child as well. So, with tears in my eyes, I continued to walk, a great distance separating Direwood from my father's private hut. I clung to my backpack and pressed on.

The journey felt surreal, as though I would never truly escape Direwood. Yet, here I am, running away from the life I had envisioned because it appeared that life did not want me. I had no choice but to flee. Deep down, I understood that I was fleeing not only because I couldn't bear to live with Howard, but also to teach him a lesson, to make him realize that he did care.

No matter how many times he'd told me he didn't want me, I couldn't shake the conviction that deep down, Howard still cared. He would panic when he realized I was gone, overwhelmed by the thought of the child growing inside me. I knew how much he had loved Scott, even after learning he wasn't his biological son. There was no way he could convince me he didn't want this child. There had to be some other reason he was avoiding us, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

My heart ached for my mother, and I wished she were still alive. If she were, maybe none of this would be happening. Even though Howard was my fated mate, I would have sought refuge with her when I could no longer bear the pain. 

Yet, here I was, avoiding the comfort of home, heading to a destination I couldn't even pinpoint. My plan was to reach my father's private hut located beyond the borders of any pack territory before the next day. From there, I intended to travel to a different town and start a new life. Maybe I would find work and build a future for myself. I understood that it wouldn't be easy, but I had to try.

I wanted to leave everything and everyone behind, as every reminder of the past only reinforced my connection to Howard. Greenbell was a painful reminder because it was where we had married. Even seeing my stepfather was a trigger, as he had played a role in introducing me to Howard, though falling in love with him had been entirely my doing, not anyone else's.

My phone chimed once more, and I let out a frustrated grunt. It was time to switch it off before Lizzie and Paara realized I wasn't returning. Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I saw a text from Miles. My heart sank further, knowing I had left all the gifts he had given me for my birthday back in Direwood. I opened the text while continuing to walk.

'I know you must be occupied right now and probably don't even have your phone on you, but I just wanted to wish you a happy anniversary. I really do wish you a happy life.'

My lower lip trembled, and my throat burned with agony. I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for wanting to cry at that moment, but there were countless reasons to do so. First, I had run away on our wedding anniversary, while hundreds of people gathered to celebrate with us. Second, Miles must be devastated, thinking I was occupied with another man on this special day. Third, Miles would be heartbroken when he discovered I had run away. In any case, Miles would be hurt, and fresh, warm tears streamed down my cheeks.

"This is so hard," I muttered, feeling the weight of my decisions. I should have leaped off that cliff when I had the chance. I should have ended everything. But Howard, damn Howard, had saved me from ending my own life. He had rescued me then, only to slowly crush me emotionally now. I wished he had allowed me to break my own neck when I had the opportunity, instead of this gradual, agonizing torment.

I dialed Miles' number without a second thought, the need to talk to someone overwhelming me, and he was the only person available. I took a deep breath to calm myself, not wanting to reveal the chaos inside me.

"Hey," I greeted him, trying to sound enthusiastic despite the uproar.

"Hey," he replied, matching my energy. "Shouldn't you be at the party or something?" Miles inquired, showing his awareness of the event.

"Ye—yeah, I just... I just needed a moment to catch my breath," I responded with a nervous chuckle.

"Nora," Miles called my name, concern in his voice, causing me to brace for his reaction.

"Are you alright? Sounds like you're walking." He picked up on my movements, making me stop immediately and glance around the dense woods. The darkness was closing in, and I was farther from home than I had ever ventured on my own at this hour. Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine and a sense that someone was watching me. The cold air was fudgy, and I shivered.

"I just—I'm taking a stroll before the event starts, needed to catch my breath," I lied, unable to confess that I had run away and wasn't planning to return.

"How's..." I prompted, trying to shift the conversation.

"Fiji?" he played along. "Nora, where are you?" Miles' voice was laced with worry, and I felt as though he were watching me, despite the distance.

"Don't lie to me, please," he implored, and my throat went dry. The eerie forest intensified my anxiety.

"I'm in the pack's park, alone. I had a fight with Howard earlier, and I needed some air before I face him again at the party." I tried to sound as convincing as possible.

I heard him sigh and then remain silent for a moment. "I fucking hate your husband," Miles admitted, causing me to laugh.

"He's... he's a handful," I replied simply. "Hey, umm, I'll talk to you later, okay?" I said.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Miles asked one last time.

I smiled and nodded, though he couldn't see it. "I have Lizzie and Paara," I assured him before ending the call. I exhaled deeply, finding a glimmer of reassurance in our conversation, then glanced around and quickened my pace. Fear was gripping me, as I knew it was dangerous to be out here. Maybe shifting into my werewolf form would make me faster, but I hesitated, uncertain of the effect it might have on the baby at this early stage of pregnancy.

"You've got this," I told myself, though beneath my determination, I could sense the burgeoning weight of regret. Nevertheless, I pressed forward, determined to reach my father's hut.

My phone chimed once more, and I glanced at it. Lizzie was calling, but I hesitated to answer because I was sure that by now, they must have realized I had left the pack's premises. In response, I switched off my phone and stowed it back in my jeans pocket, resuming my not-so-lengthy journey to my father's hut.

Exhaustion gnawed at my very core by the time I staggered to the desolate hut. A wave of relief washed over me despite the haunting solitude of the place. Retrieving the key from beneath a vase, I fumbled it into the rusty lock. With a twist, the creaking door swung open, and I flicked on the dim, dusty lights. My father's ingenuity baffled me; how he had managed to wire electricity to this remote sanctuary remained a mystery.

After securing the door, I sank into the well-worn sofa that was the only piece of furniture in the cramped living room. My trembling hands reached into my backpack, producing a water bottle, which I drained in a desperate gulp. Hunger was beginning to gnaw at my insides, yet it ranked low on my list of concerns.

My mind raced with questions, a clamor of doubts about my uncertain future. How would I embark on this new chapter of my life? Where would tomorrow lead me? Could I find common ground with these strangers who were so foreign to me? The specter of my past love, Howard, loomed, and the thought of moving on seemed impossible.

An overwhelming deluge of uncertainty swirled around me, each question unanswered. But I steadied myself with the reminder to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Inexorably, I would find my way, though the path remained unclear.

Shrugging off my shoes, I sprawled on the couch, my gaze fixed on the door as if it might swing open at any moment, revealing Howard's familiar presence. In my heart, I longed for that impossible reunion, but I knew I had to remain resolute, reserving my determination for what lay ahead.

As I lay there, battling the urge to think of him while my thoughts stubbornly clung to his memory, sleep crept over me. I surrendered to its gentle embrace, slipping into a restive slumber. What occurred next is a haze, a gap in my awareness. A sudden, jolting nudge shattered my tranquility, and I grunted in response.

My bleary eyes fluttered open to the sight of menacing figures surrounding me. Confusion swirled as I racked my memory; I had been certain I was alone. I had taken every precaution to avoid detection. The silence of the forest had seemed absolute.

These unfamiliar and unfriendly faces now filled me with dread. Panic surged through me, and I stammered, "Oh God, who are you?" My breath quickened, heart pounding as I struggled to rise from the sofa. One of them clamped onto my ankle, and I lashed out, making him grunt in pain.

"Capture her," he bellowed, and I frantically tried to break free. A hulking figure seized me by the hair, and I let out a cry of pain. I fought against his iron grip but couldn't break loose. Then, with a sickening thud, he slammed my head into the wall. The pain was searing, and I felt my consciousness slipping away before everything went dark.

Agony coursed through me, a symphony of pain echoing from my head to my battered body. I was aware of being dragged, the ground scraping against my feet, etching a trail of despair. I struggled to pry my heavy eyelids apart, but the effort was futile. My head throbbed incessantly, demanding my attention.

Amidst this cruel ordeal, I could discern that I was in the clutches of the men who had invaded my father's haven. In my feeble state, I dared not scream or attempt escape. The torment was overpowering.

"Howard..." I murmured, my voice a fragile whisper, punctuated by winces of pain. The deep voice of one of my captors reached my ears, and the unmistakable clang of iron suggested a gate. Had I been snatched away, abducted against my will? Panic welled up within me, a torrent of regret for the impulsive flight from the hut under the cover of darkness.

They dragged me inside with a crude indifference to my suffering, and after a few torturous minutes, we were ensconced within the loathsome confines of a place that reeked of despair. The stench was overwhelming, an amalgamation of sweat, urine, blood, and suffering. I felt the urge to retch.

"Oh, my poor baby doesn't like the smell in here," I mumbled, unable to stifle a sob, but they paid me no heed. They unceremoniously thrust me into what seemed to be either a room or a cell; it was impossible to discern, given the stubborn rebellion of my half-lidded eyes. A grunting pain forced me to sit upright, one hand cradling my aching head while I made a strained attempt to focus.

At last, I managed to squint through my blurred vision. "Please," I implored, my voice trembling. "What do you want?" I begged, wracking my memory for any wrongdoing that could justify this nightmare. In my entire life, I had never wronged anyone. Why had they abducted me? Or had they merely assumed I possessed some fortune they could plunder?

I gazed up at my captor, his satisfaction evident at my pitiful state. He leaned in, his leering face inches from mine. A surge of defiance coursed through me, and I spit in his face, a small act of rebellion. His response was swift and brutal; his hand met my cheek with a resounding smack, and I winced, collapsing to the unforgiving ground.

"You bitch," he cursed, loathing etched in his expression. He delivered a merciless kick, and I yelped in agony, tears welling in my eyes. It wasn't the physical pain that brought tears to my eyes, but the bitter realization that impatience had led me into this abyss. If only I had exercised more restraint, I might have been in Howard's embrace now. Despite our unhappiness, his arms had always been my haven.