The Moonlit Betrayal
Kenneth Bennes
192,791 Words
192,791 Words
The forest around the unmated dormitories is illuminated by a near-full moon, casting long, ominous shadows over the rooftops and the surrounding woods. Fiora is hidden high in the branches of a sweet gum tree, her heart pounding as she tries to remain motionless and quiet. Her life has been a haunting, four-year nightmare since Valen Darkridge, the merciless Head Enforcer, declared her the latest prey in their brutal, nightly Hunts. These Hunts are a twisted game, a primal ritual where males in wolf form pursue females, test their instincts, and, in Fiora's case, derive a sick pleasure from her terror. The pack of Enforcers, relentless and deadly, move like shadows through the night, their senses keen and their intentions clear. Valen's brutal decree has seen Fiora survive each night using her wits, fury, and unyielding will, all while dealing with the constant threat of capture and worse fates. Fiora's nights are spent evading the pack, hiding wherever possible - underground in storm sewers, perched in trees, or sprinting through the darkness. Yet, with every new dawn, she knows that her captors' resolve will always be renewed. Theo Darkridge, one of her most persistent tormentors, once caught her, prompting her mother to intervene and ultimately sacrifice her life in a futile attempt to protect her daughter. Fiora's mother was torn apart by rogue wolves for her defiance, leaving Fiora more determined than ever to survive. Her chance at escape is on the horizon. With the Grand Council's arrival, Fiora dreams of clawing her way out of this relentless nightmare, out of this pack that has brought her nothing but suffering. But even as she inches closer to freedom, the danger becomes more immediate. Theo, given everything by the corrupt system, is ready to break the rules to claim her, promising a fate far worse than death. In the midst of this ongoing horror, Fiora encounters glimmers of possible alliances, even from the most unexpected places, like Luca, an Enforcer who might yet play a pivotal role in her desperate bid for survival. It's a game of life and death, a battle for freedom against tormentors who wield power like a vice, tightening with every breath Fiora takes. Can she survive just a few more days to seize her chance at freedom, or will the pack's grip finally crush her spirit into submission?