9

Katarina’s P. O. V.
After what felt like hours, a knock on my bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts. For a moment, panic gripped my heart, thinking it was Alpha Dominic, ready to take me away without a goodbye. But when the door opened, it was my mother who peeked inside. Her eyes were bloodshot, something I’d never seen before. She had been crying, but I couldn’t believe it was for me.
“You’re awake… Come downstairs after you’re dressed. We need to talk,” she said softly, her eyes scanning my face as if she were memorizing it. Her gaze was heavy with a mix of grief and finality. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out, so I simply nodded. Who would have thought that today, of all days, my mother and I would finally get along? Today, the day she would lose me. I reminded myself there was always a chance I could visit, but I didn’t hold onto that thought for long.
I forced my mind to quiet as I got out of bed and dressed in a baby blue v-neck t-shirt and ripped denim shorts. I stared at my reflection as I combed the loose curls out of my hair. I didn’t look any different, still much too young for my age with my baby face and pouty lips. But my expression was tired, almost impassive. I slipped on white sandals that tied around my ankles and made my way downstairs, knowing that once I reached the bottom, there would be no turning back. This conversation would seal my fate-I would be leaving home.
When I entered the living room, the somber faces of my family greeted me. Each one was tinged with sadness and fear. My mother, with her bloodshot eyes; my father, with dark circles under his own; and even Aria, who usually carried a confident air, looked at me with a downcast expression. Valen and Astrid were huddled together on the couch, their arms around each other, while Raven and Gideon stood silently nearby. The weight of their stares made me want to turn and flee, but I resisted the urge.
They all looked at me as if I had already died.
“You know we have to let you go, right?” My mother’s voice was the first to break the silence. It was soft, almost tender-something I hadn’t heard since I was a child. That tone was usually reserved for Aria or other young children.
“I understand,” I replied, nodding as I exhaled a sigh of resignation. “I really do.”
What could any of them do? Saving me would mean putting all of us on the run, which wouldn’t last long.
“I should’ve helped you skip the ball when you asked me,” Valen said, his voice filled with regret as he pulled me into a hug. I inhaled his familiar earthy scent, not knowing when I would breathe it in again.
“It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault,” I reassured them, shaking my head. I refused to place the blame on anyone but myself. I should have listened to my gut, should have tried harder to avoid the ball. But my wolf wouldn’t let me forget the truth-how undeniably attractive Alpha Dominic was, how we had never encountered anyone so captivating, so god-like. I didn’t want to agree with her, but I could never lie to my wolf.
“I’m gonna miss you, Katarina-bear,” Aria whispered as she surprised me with a hug. I couldn’t remember the last time we had shared one, or even the last time we had a real conversation.
“If things go well… I’ll make sure to contact you all,” I promised, trying to force a smile for their sake. The unspoken meaning behind my words hung heavy in the air. If things go well… If I survived. If I wasn’t locked away, cut off from the world.
My heart nearly stopped when my father pulled me in for a hug. We had never been a touchy-feely family, so this was entirely new. A part of me regretted not doing this sooner, not showing them how much I cared despite all the arguments.
“I love you, kid. Don’t forget that,” my father grumbled, his voice steady and strong, just like it had always been. I found myself smiling into his dark eyes, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall.
“Raven, Gideon, could you help Katarina pack? I need to speak with her alone,” my mother instructed, her voice commanding as she shooed everyone from the room.
“What’s wrong?” I asked cautiously once we were alone.
“Come here,” she urged, leading me to the back door, away from prying ears. “I need you to listen to me for once. I know I’ve always pushed you to be obedient and submissive, but now you need to be smart, Katarina,” my mother warned, her hands gripping my shoulders as she looked deep into my eyes.
“What… what do you mean?” I stammered, frozen by the urgency in her voice.
“You’ve heard the rumors, Katarina. You know what your mate is capable of. If he hurts you, if he tries to force you into anything, you’ll have to make a choice. You can’t run; you won’t get far, even if you manage to leave their territory,” she continued, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“I’m not following…” I trailed off, trying to grasp the hidden meaning behind her words.
“Katarina, think of the horrors they could inflict upon you. What I’m saying is there may be only one way out of such a situation,” she said softly, patiently watching as her words began to sink in. The dormant fear in my stomach roared to life.
“Y-you’re telling me to kill myself?” I whispered harshly, the shock of her suggestion hitting me like a punch to the gut. My eyes widened in disbelief. Could she really mean this?
“Katarina, my mother went through this. Her mate abused her, r*p*d her, forced her to have me. The pain inflicted by your mate is more than just physical. It’s soul-crushing. There was nothing left inside her; it was like she had died while her body kept living. “So yes, if he ever shows you that he intends to harm you, if he forces you into something terrible, then yes, Katarina, I am telling you that ending your life may be your only escape,” my mother whispered, her voice breaking as a single tear traced its way down her cheek. Her cool hand rested gently against my face, and in that moment, I saw the depth of her sorrow. For the first time, I truly grasped why she had always emphasized obedience and submission-to minimize the damage, to survive, and to hold out hope for a kind and loving mate.
I knew then that I had to be strong, not just for my mother but for myself. I was going to the Silver Moon Pack alone, and I would need to protect myself by any means necessary. I wasn’t physically strong or particularly fast, but I couldn’t afford to show fear.
My mother held me close, and I let myself find comfort in her embrace for a few moments. With one final kiss on my cheek, she sent me off to my room, where Raven and Gideon were waiting to help me pack and to say their final goodbyes.
As I climbed the stairs, my mother’s words echoed in my mind, each step I took reinforcing their chilling reality: “There may only be one way out of this situation.” The thought pounded in my head, sharp and unrelenting, as the sorrow etched in my mother’s face became a permanent fixture in my memory.