The Lost Queen

Chapter Four

Daya's P.O.V.

As soon as war was declared, all hell broke loose. The air was thick with the acrid scent of blood and sweat, and the deafening sounds of growls, snarls, and vicious roars echoed throughout the house. My heart hammered in my chest as I heard the sickening crack of bones breaking, followed by the wet tearing of flesh. I could hear screams of pain, agony, and fury—each one more terrifying than the last. It was as if the very ground beneath me was trembling in response to the chaos unfolding around me. 

Shit. Shit. Shit. What do I do?

I felt the panic rise within me, choking me. My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest tightening as the tears welled up. I was going to die tonight. There was no way out. But I couldn't let myself give in to fear. Not now. Not when everything I knew was crumbling around me. I forced myself to focus, taking a few shaky breaths before running up the stairs. Without thinking, I yanked the door open, and what I saw nearly made my legs buckle beneath me.

I immediately regretted it. The scene before me was chaos incarnate—blood splattered across the floor and walls, the bodies of more than six pack members lying lifeless at my feet. Their faces frozen in terror, their bodies torn apart by the savagery of the attack. They had treated me terribly, forced me into servitude... but I never wanted them to die. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth in shock. The stench of blood and decay was overwhelming, and it took every ounce of willpower not to retch right there. I couldn't afford to stay. Not when it was clear that this wasn't a fight I could win.

I needed to get out of here. Fast.

Without looking back, I sprinted for the back door. Inside, wolves were fighting everywhere—on the stairs, in the living room, and even in the kitchen. The sight outside must've been just as bad. When I finally made it to the backyard, I saw even more of my pack members caught in the battle, but it wasn't enough. The Crimson Moon Pack had us outmatched, their strength overwhelming.

I was only about three feet from the forest's edge when I spotted a small break in the chaos. My heart pounding, I grabbed my backpack and made a run for it. Wolves and unshifted members were so focused on the fight, they didn't even notice me as I squeezed through the chaos, trying not to get hit.

Once I was in the woods, I didn't stop. I ran and ran, not looking back, my thoughts jumbled. Maybe they got what they deserved.

After about ten minutes of non-stop running, I crossed the border of my pack's territory. I was officially a rogue now. My legs felt like jelly, but I pushed on. Ahead, I saw a small lake. I jogged toward it, exhausted. Kneeling down, I cupped some water in my hands, splashing my face and drinking greedily.

Once I'd hydrated, I collapsed onto the cool grass beside the lake. It was still dark, but the full moon lit up the night sky, casting everything in a silvery glow. The clouds blocked out the stars, but the moon's light was enough. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the exhaustion weigh on me.

My parents were dead. I should've felt something—grief, sorrow—but I didn't. They were the ones who gave birth to me, raised me until I was five, but they were the ones who neglected and abused me. Now that they were gone, I was free. I didn't need to worry about a plane ticket or spending money. I could find a place to live and a job, far away from this territory, among the humans.

I groaned. I didn't want to get up. I wanted to stay here, in this moment of peace. But staying here would make me vulnerable. I grumbled, reluctantly getting back on my feet, continuing my walk. I had no idea where I was going—never having left my pack's territory before—but I hoped I could find my way.