Chapter 2 BETRAYED BY HER MATE

RONA'S POV

I was blinded by pain and wanted nothing more than to rush the evil emperor and face him myself.

The fact that his men were looking for my mother and I to kill us too, meant nothing to me.

My mom dashed into a secret corridor, dragging me along. She was still crying profusely. However, tears never clouded her reasoning, unlike me that was plain confused. My legs were still shaking in horror and I couldn't stop crying.

"You will go to your mate's pack to take refuge, I'm sure he will hide and protect you. That's the only option now," my mom whispered, as we entered the tunnel.

Mate? What mate? Since when did I have a mate?

"Which mate?" I stuttered, while still shivering as she dragged me along.

"Alpha Kenzo Stewart of Raven pack is your mate. It has been long we found out, but we blocked you from feeling the mate bond, according to the priestess's directions. However, Kenzo knew you were his mate and tried to claim you. He felt the mate bond during your father's birthday a few months ago. The priestess confirmed it, so we blocked it for you. He agreed to wait till you turn eighteen. However, he had been coming to see you since then. We had an understanding, that was why I never stopped him from visiting, or buying you gifts," my mother said, wiping her tears as we ran.

How many shockers will I receive today? Now I know why the unsmiling Alpha suddenly became uncharacteristically nice to me.

We burst out into a forest that was just behind the castle. It was close to a lake, so it was cut off during the construction of the city wall.

"Never reveal your identity to anyone. Head to Blue river territories, Raven pack is at the edge so you won't have trouble with border patrols. Take this tag. Any Raven pack soldier that sees it will take you straight to their Alpha," my mom said, giving me a black seal, shaped like a raven.

Its eyes were made with yellow colored jewels.

"No matter what happens, run and don't look back. Harden your heart and always put your safety first, that's the only way you can survive this. From now on, you're alone. There will be no one to watch your back, except your mate. Even then, you have to be careful. The hearts of men are treacherous. I can't believe your father did that to me!" She wailed again.

"What did father do?" I asked in between tears.

"He did nothing. Just stay alive. Promise me" she whispered and held my hands.

I kept quiet. What exactly was she asking me to promise?

"Rona Campbell, promise me you will not die! You will not let them, or anybody catch and kill you, no matter how tough and lonely it gets, promise me you will live well. You must strive to stay alive and live well, in good conditions. Do anything to survive!" She said and turned to run back.

"Mom!" I shouted in tears, trying to hold her from returning to the raging palace filled with fearful screams of my pack members.

She turned angrily, seemingly frustrated at me for being uncooperative.

"Are you nuts? Why are you screaming? Do you want to alert them to your presence? Hurry to the cave, you fool! You will see a horse tethered there, take it and make your escape. You better not disappoint me by getting caught. You better not die!" She said angrily, and began to run towards the castle which was already burning down.

I staggered as tears clouded my vision, but I quickly realized that I needed to stay alive. If not for anything else, I need to stay alive and kill the Royal wolf emperor for his cruelty.

A new found courage sprouted in me and I began to run to the cave, suppressing the urge to follow my mother . I found the horse and bag filled with food and pastries. Hurriedly, I began to ride without looking back.

Tears clouded my vision as I rode the stubborn horse. All my life, I have been doted on and pampered, as the future of Flame Blood wolf pack. I had loving parents, and servants who treated me like some treasure. The fact that I have suddenly turned into a fugitive and treasoner, running for her life was unacceptable.

I rode for two days, wearing the same clothes. For the first time in my life, I didn't bathe twice a day. Bathing was the least of my problems anyway. I had to take forest routes while avoiding towns, major roads and cities to avoid getting caught by the people searching for me. I had to sleep alone in the forest, bitten by mosquitoes and fearing wild animals.

I had shifted the first night, helping me to stay safe from other predators. With my wolf's help, I managed to escape from the bear that wanted to use me for dinner. However, I couldn't do anything about the mosquitoes. I just kept crying over and over again, feeling sorry for myself, while mourning my poor parents.

I found a clean lake close to blue river territory at night, and stopped my horse. I got down and took a long bath in the freezing water. In the past, I always used warm water to bathe, so using the lake felt strange. Well, I'm no longer a pampered princess but a fugitive. I have to start living like a peasant, till I reach my mate's land.

I dried myself and changed my clothes with one of the spare gowns mother had packed for me. My skin felt dry, but skin oil was a luxury I definitely can't afford right now. I sat down and opened my bag of food, which was dwindling at an alarming rate. I ate the dried meat and bread which was going stale already.

I got thirsty, but using the lake's water that people probably bathed in felt disgusting to me. My spring water already got exhausted a long time ago.

I began to look around and noticed that the lake had a waterfall as its source. I quickly rushed to it and drank, refilling my gourd with water. I mounted the horse and continued on my way. I was almost at my destination, no need to rest.

I reached the Raven pack and heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, I was in Kenzo's lands, filling me with relief. I'm safe with someone who will protect me.

Border patrols surrounded me with their weapons, and my eyes widened in fear and shock. I quickly showed them the plaque.

"I'm here to see your Alpha. What the hell are you doing?" I roared in my princess's tone to instill fear and obedience in them.

They whispered among themselves, and two people ran off. In a few minutes, they returned.

"Follow us!" They ordered and I quickly followed, feeling relieved. I saw Kenzo waiting with some men and immediately ran to him.

The men with him suddenly surrounded me with unsheathed swords, confusing me.

"Kenzo, what are you doing? I'm your mate? Why are you pointing your sword at me?" I whispered.

"A fugitive cannot be my mate! Either I kill you, or I hand you over to the wolf emperor for a bounty. But before that, I think you owe me all the sex I should have gotten" he said, smirking.

My eyes widened at his plans, was this the dark heart of men my mother talked about?