Five years had passed since Skyler was taken to the rogue’s unit. It had been a life filled with misery and suffering, with no hope of ever escaping the place that had become her prison.
But on a fateful day, the news of her mother’s death reached her. Her heart sank when she heard the news, and a wave of grief washed over her.
Her mother Dahlia Hunter had been her only family, her only source of love and comfort. And now, she was gone, leaving Skyler alone in the world. Although Skyler had her father, stepmother, and stepsister, they all did not care about her so she was alone – she often considered herself as an orphan.
As she sat in her dark cell, the memories of her mother flooded her mind. She remembered the warm hugs, the loving words, and the little moments that they shared. But then, she also remembered the day that her mother had slipped into a coma.
Skyler had come home from running an errand for her mother that day and saw her mother rolling on the floor whilst complaining of stomach ache. Willow Hunter, who was then her mother’s friend, was with her but she just stood there and watched Dahlia roll on the floor in pain. Skyler was furious but she just focused on her mother and tried to get her to the hospital as soon as she could.
But by the time she got to the hospital with her mother, Dahlia had become unconscious and the pack doctor informed Skyler that Dahlia had been poisoned. Skyler’s world fell apart that day. She had an idea of who might have poisoned her mother but she couldn’t do anything about it because she had no evidence and no one would believe her. Skyler let it go but she made a mental note to avenge her mother’s death when the time was right.
As she thought about the news of her mother’s death, Skyler’s heartache turned into something else. A realization dawned on her. Her mother’s death had also freed her from Caleb’s grip. He could no longer threaten her with her mother’s life, and she was finally free to do what she wanted without the constant fear of losing her mother. The thought filled her with a sense of relief and happiness that she had not felt in years.
Skyler knew that she had to escape the rogue’s unit. She had to leave the place that had tormented her for so long and start a new life elsewhere.
As she lay on her hard bed, staring at the ceiling, Skyler felt a sense of purpose. For the first time in years, she had a goal, a reason to keep fighting. She closed her eyes, imagining a life outside the walls of the rouge’s unit, and she knew that she would do whatever it took to make it happen.
Skyler spent weeks plotting and planning her escape from the rogue’s unit, and finally, with the help of her nurse friend Dora and some other rogue friends that she had made, her plan was put into place. They had carefully planned every detail and every step of the way. It was a risky move, but she would manage to slip away unnoticed and leave behind the place that had been her prison for so long.
Finally, the day came – the day for Skyler’s escape.
The night of her escape was a moonless one, the perfect cover for their plan. They had bribed a guard to look the other way while they made their way to the outer walls of the unit. Skyler’s heart was pounding in her chest as they approached the wall. But with practiced ease, her friends helped her over the wall and into the dark forest beyond.
Skyler ran as fast as she could, her heart racing with adrenaline. She had never felt so alive, so free. She looked back at the rogue’s unit, disappearing into the distance, and whispered, “I’m finally free.”
When they were far enough from the unit, Skyler and her friends stopped to catch their breath. They laughed and hugged each other, relieved that they had made it out alive. Skyler turned to her nurse friend, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, thank you so much for helping me,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
“Of course, Skyler. I couldn’t let you suffer in there any longer. After all, you aren’t feral, you were just framed.” Her friend replied, smiling warmly.
They traveled for days, moving from place to place, always looking over their shoulders, afraid that the ShadowClaws pack would find them. But eventually, they arrived at the Grand Hall, a large building on the outskirts of a small town. They had heard that the owner, Mrs. Lana, was kind and understanding, and would help anyone who needed it.
Skyler approached Mrs. Lana, hoping that she would be willing to give her shelter. “Excuse me, Ma’am. I was wondering if you had any work that I could do? I need to earn some money,” she said, her voice timid.
Mrs. Lana looked at her, her eyes full of compassion. “Of course, my dear. I always need extra help around here. Come with me, and I’ll show you what you can do,” she said, leading Skyler to the back of the building.
Skyler worked hard, cleaning and cooking, and doing whatever tasks were needed. She was grateful for the opportunity to earn some money, and Mrs. Lana was kind and understanding. She even let Skyler sleep in one of the spare rooms, as long as she kept it clean.
As days turned into weeks, Skyler began to save up enough money to leave ShadowClaws pack. She had heard rumors of a pack that welcomed rogues and outsiders, and she was determined to find it.
Skyler had been working for Mrs. Lana for about two weeks now and then one fateful day as she was cleaning the kitchen, she suddenly heard a voice she knew all too well.
“Skyler?” Sage, her step-sister, stood in the doorway, her eyes brimming with tears. “Oh my god, Skyler, I can’t believe it’s you! I’ve been so worried about you.”
Skyler froze, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She hadn’t seen Sage since the day she was sent to the rogue’s unit, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about seeing her now. She knew Sage all too well – the girl was a master at putting on a fake show of concern, only to use it for her benefit later.
“Sage,” she said coolly, “what are you doing here?”
“Oh Sky, I heard you escaped from the rogue’s unit and I’ve been so worried about you,” Sage said, her voice trembling. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Skyler looked at her step-sister skeptically, wondering what her real motives were. Sage had never been particularly kind to her, and she wasn’t sure why she would suddenly have a change of heart. She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “And what, exactly, makes you think I’m not okay?”
Sage hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, with everything that’s happened…I just thought maybe you might be feeling miserable and alone.”
Skyler snorted. “What the h**l?!! You are one of the people who made my life a living hell, Sage. You and your mother. So don’t try to act like you care about me.”
“How were you even able to recognize me?” Skyler asked as she stood motionless, staring at Sage with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Her disfigured face was twisted in confusion, and she struggled to understand how Sage could recognize her despite the scars that now marred her once-beautiful face.
“I can’t forget a face like yours,” Sage said and moved closer to Sky. “Listen, I know this is a tough time for you, but I promise I’ll help you get through it.”
Skyler felt a glimmer of hope at Sage’s words. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all. But then Sage spoke again, and the hope was crushed.
“Of course, I have some good news that might cheer you up,” Sage said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m now dating Caleb. We’re going to get mated. We’re actually planning our mating ceremony next week.”
Skyler’s heart sank, and she felt a surge of anger rise within her. “What the hell are you talking about, Sage? You know how much Caleb meant to me. How could you do this to me?”
Sage shrugged. “Oh, come on, Sky. You know I’ve always had a thing for Caleb. And since you’re free now, you should start looking for your own mate. Who knows, maybe you’ll find someone even better than Caleb.”
Skyler felt like she was going to be sick. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her stepsister was betraying her in the worst possible way. “I can’t believe you,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “You’re a snake.”
Sage laughed. “Oh, Sky. Don’t be so dramatic. It’s not like Caleb was the love of your life or anything.”
Skyler straightened herself and pushed Sage away from her. “Get out of my sight. I don’t need your help and I don’t want to ever see you again.”
Skyler walked out on Sage as she couldn’t take it anymore. She knew that things were only going to get worse. Sage was not the type to let things go easily, and Skyler was in for a bumpy ride. She just had to figure out how to survive it.