Chapter 88

Hannah’s POV

“It seems you’ve lost your way,” Magnolia taunted, stepping closer to me.

A couple of other rogues stepped out of the shadows and were standing behind her; all their eyes were so dark that they looked black, I took an unsteady step backward and leaned my back against the door. I was trying not to look frightened; that’s what they wanted. They wanted to see me frightened and I refused to give that to them.

I swallowed hard as Magnolia smiled; her smile sent a chill down my spine because of how sadistic it looked.

“You’re stupid for coming here. Did your husband let you out to play?” Magnolia asked with a laugh.

“I came to get some things from my old home,” I answered, pleased that my voice came out a lot stronger than I thought it was going to.

“I’ve asked around about you since I’ve come to this little town,” Magnolia said, folding her arms across her chest. She glanced behind her for a moment to look at the ones that stood there. “It seems you have a reputation as a traitor around here.”

“A traitor?” I asked; I looked at the rogues behind her.

They didn’t seem familiar to me but then again, I didn’t have many interactions with rogues while living here. My mother tried to keep them from us for safety reasons. I wasn’t allowed to go out and play unless she was with me.

“I’ve betrayed no one,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Is that why you left the rogue territory to live in the kingdom? You know if a rogue sides with those in the kingdom, you are known as a traitor. You betrayed your kind. Rogues are supposed to stick together. Everyone knows that. You knew that,” Magnolia growled.

“What are you? Their spokesperson?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

She was acting and talking like she was one of them when she’s only been here for a day. She despised the rogues; she’s lived in the palace for so long and she has done nothing but hate the rogues.

“I’m someone they can trust,” Magnolia said in return. “Unlike you.”

“They don’t even know me,” I said; I could feel myself getting worked up; I had to take in a deep breath to calm down.

“They know that you are running around with the wolf king and his moonstone scepter,” Magnolia spat. “They know of the power that you both are hiding from the rest of the planet and are planning on using that power for your own selfishness.”

My heart stopped in my chest at her words; I was finding it more difficult to breathe. The rogues behind her stepped forward and I could see the fury rising through them. I could see them beginning to grow red in the face; they weren’t taking their eyes off me.

They thought of me as their enemy.

“That’s a lie…” I tried to say.

Magnolia scoffed.

“You might be fooling yourself, but you aren’t fooling the rest of us. You knew about the scepter long ago. I saw your research and then you took off to a different pack, with Sebastian following you,” Magnolia hissed.

“That was already explained…” I tried to say.

“Save it for someone who cares,” she growled.

Before I could say anything in defense, I was shoved hard to the ground. I fell into the gravel with my box of things clattering to the ground around me. I stared up at the rogue that shoved me and soon they were jamming the heel of their shoe into my stomach. I yelled out in pain as another rogue swung his arm and punched me in the face. I tasted blood in my mouth instantly.

I screamed out for them to stop but another rogue grabbed my hair, yanking me to my feet and shoving me against the house. I slammed my head against the wood panels as I felt their knee jabbing into my back.

“Please!!” I said with tears rolling down my cheeks.

I felt sharp claws tearing down my back, ripping through my clothing. The warm blood was almost soothing to my chilled body. It brought me back to when Jack beat me so badly that I nearly died; my body was going numb, and the pain was no longer evident.

However, I still felt my body trembling violently as I heard Magnolia’s laughter. She was enjoying herself and loving watching me suffer. She loved that I was in so much pain and I might not get out of this alive.

A roar echoed through the night; it was so loud that it shuddered the entire house and the earth beneath our feet. I felt the rogues releasing me and backing away; I could feel Magnolia’s annoyance. Everything was going dark, and voices were distorted. I fell back to the ground, trying to get a grip on reality but I was slowly losing my senses.

I couldn’t even feel Nora anymore; she was too weak to respond to my pleas for help. My mind and body were silent and vacant.

I felt a strong set of arms wrapping around me and lifting me off the ground. I tried to open my eyes to see who it was, but my body wasn’t responding to my mind. I continued to shiver and tremble violently in their arms, making them hold me tighter.

“It’s okay, your majesty. I got you. King Sebastian is dealing with the rogues, and we are bringing you back to the palace…”

Beta Arnold?

…

Sebastian’s POV

“Don’t you ever touch my luna again; do I make myself clear?” Sebastian roared to the remaining rogues that stayed by Magnolia’s side.

Magnolia didn’t look fazed at all; she looked like she was gaining humor from the events. Seeing Hannah passing out on the ground, soaked in her own blood, brought back the fear of losing her. Sebastian thought he lost her the night he found her nearly dead in the dungeon cell. He feared it was going to happen again.

“Tell your luna, to stay away from our territory then,” Magnolia spat in return.

“Now it’s your territory?” Sebastian scoffed. “You were exiled here yesterday.”

“Yeah well, if I’m not with you, I’m against you,” she said turning away from him.

“Just stay away from her,” Sebastian threatened.

He also turned away; he saw Arnold in the distance with Raya trailing behind him carrying a box she found lying around the ground next to Hannah. Sebastian had ordered them to bring Hannah to the palace and get her to safety while he dealt with the rogues.

Thankfully, they had just returned to pack after dropping Raya’s attacker off at the prison. They came back just in time to save Hannah.

By the time Sebastian returned home that night, Hannah was already awake. They did a good job at cleaning her and getting her changed; she had scratches around her face and shoulders, but nothing that would leave everlasting damage on her flesh.

She looked exhausted and as he walked into their room, he could see the sadness and a little fear lingering in her beautiful brown eyes. He wanted to yell and scold her for going to that rogue territory. What was she thinking?!

But he didn’t have it in him to be angry with her; not tonight. He was just so relieved that she was all right and she didn’t need to return to the hospital in critical conditions.

“You had me scared,” he admitted, sitting down beside her.

She peered over at him, and he could see her eyes growing misty.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly in return. “I won’t do that again.”

He sighed and nodded; he believed her. He leaned toward her, lifting her chin with his index finger until her eyes met his. He brought his lips down to her and then she turned her head away. Dismissing him.