Chapter 4 - The Escape

Rosemary's mind went back to the night when she escaped from that room and followed her Mother home. 

Mrs. Ventayan stormed into the house, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Her eyes blazed with fury, and her perfectly coiffed hair seemed to crackle with static. "Rosemary!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the ornate hallways. Rosemary, her heart sinking, entered the house, her eyes downcast.

Mrs. Ventayan's anger was palpable as she confronted her daughter. "I can't believe you failed," she hissed, her hands trembling with frustration. "Do you have any idea what this means for our family? The disgrace, the shame you've brought upon us?"

Rosemary swallowed hard, trying to find the words to appease her mother's wrath. "I'm sorry, Mother. I tried my best," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Your best wasn't good enough!" Mrs. Ventayan exploded, her voice reverberating off the walls. "You were supposed to be the chosen one, the one to serve the Master Vampire. Do you understand the opportunities you've squandered? The doors you've closed for our family?"

Tears welled up in Rosemary's eyes as she faced her mother's seething disappointment. Mrs. Ventayan's anger was a force to be reckoned with, a tempest of expectations and aspirations that Rosemary had failed to meet. As her mother's tirade continued, Rosemary felt the weight of her failure bearing down on her, knowing that she had not only disappointed herself but had also let down her entire family.

The air crackled with tension as Mrs. Ventayan's anger lingered, casting a shadow over their opulent home. Rosemary could only stand there, her heart heavy with regret, as she braced herself for the consequences of her shortcomings.

It was that moment she made that decision, a decision that haunted her for her whole life.

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'Are you sure it will work?' 

As Rosemary pondered Noah's plan, doubt crept into her mind like a creeping vine, coiling around her hopes and entwining them with fear.

"Noah, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can't shake this feeling of doubt," Rosemary confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "What if the Vampire Council discovers me here? What if they retaliate against the werewolves for harboring me?"

Noah, his eyes reflecting the glow of the crackling fireplace, approached her with a reassuring gaze. "Rosemary, I understand your concerns, but you have to trust me," he urged, his voice steady and resolute. "The werewolf pack has kept their existence hidden from the vampires for centuries. They are skilled at concealment and protection. You'll be safe here."

Rosemary bit her lip, her inner turmoil churning like a tempest within her. She had always been taught to fear and distrust the werewolves, and now she found herself relying on them for sanctuary. The weight of her decision pressed heavily upon her, the stakes unbearably high.

"I just don't know if I can put the werewolves in danger for my sake," Rosemary murmured, her eyes clouded with doubt. "I've already caused so much trouble for my family. I can't bear the thought of bringing harm to the werewolves as well."

Noah knelt in front of her, his gaze unwavering. "Rosemary, you are not alone in this. We always welcome humans to come join us even though they will not be turned into werewolves. We are a pack, and we protect our own once we recognize them as a family," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of conviction. "You are not a burden to us; you are one of us. Trust in our bond, and together, we will weather this storm."

As Rosemary wrestled with her apprehensions, Noah's words resonated within her like a beacon of hope in the darkness. She knew that the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but she also understood that she had to place her trust in Noah and the werewolf pack. 

With a deep breath, she made a silent vow to stand alongside them, to face whatever challenges lay ahead, and to believe in the unlikely alliance that fate had woven for her.

'We will do it. Tomorrow night.'

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Rosemary's heart pounded in her chest as she slipped out of Ventayan's grand estate, the full moon casting an ethereal glow over the sprawling gardens. 

She knew that her family would never approve of her plan of escaping from the Selection and her desire to join the Welevolves pack, but the pull she felt toward them was irresistible. 

She had heard tales of their wild freedom, their unity, and their connection to the ancient ways of the wolves. She longed to break free from the constraints of her sheltered life, the nightmare of reliving her past miserable life, and run with them under the moonlit sky.

As she made her way through the shadows, she felt a surge of adrenaline and fear. 

Every rustle of leaves, every creak of a branch, made her heart leap into her throat. She had to be careful, for if her family caught wind of her plans, they would do everything in their power to stop her.

Finally, she reached the edge of the forest where the Welevolves pack was rumored to reside. She peered into the darkness, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush made her jump. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. But then, emerging from the shadows, she saw a figure – a member of the pack, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.

"Who goes there?" the figure called out, their voice a low, melodic growl.

"It's me, Rosemary, I am a friend of Noah," she whispered, stepping forward cautiously. "I... I want to join the Welevolves pack. I want to be free."

The figure regarded her with a piercing gaze as if assessing the sincerity of her words. Then, with a nod, they beckoned her to follow. Without a backward glance, Rosemary stepped into the forest, the scent of pine and earth enveloping her. She felt a surge of excitement and trepidation – she was leaving behind everything she had ever known, venturing into the unknown to find a new life among the Welevolves.

As they journeyed deeper into the heart of the forest, the sounds of nature surrounded her – the hoot of an owl, the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush, and the distant howl of a wolf. She felt a thrill of anticipation, knowing that she was on the cusp of a new beginning.

With each step, Rosemary felt the weight of her old life fall away, replaced by an exhilarating sense of freedom. She was ready to embrace the wild spirit of the Welevolves pack and become one with the untamed beauty of the forest.

As the moon rose high in the night sky, casting its silvery light over the Welevolves pack, Noah stood on the edge of the clearing, his heart pounding with anticipation. He had heard whispers of a newcomer, a human seeking to join their pack, and he couldn't contain his excitement. This was a rare occurrence, and the mere thought of someone choosing to embrace their way of life filled him with a sense of pride and joy.

As he waited, his keen senses picked up the faint rustle of leaves and the sound of footsteps approaching. His eyes lit up as he caught sight of Rosemary emerging from the shadows, her eyes reflecting the moon's glow with a mixture of trepidation and determination. Noah's heart swelled with warmth as he witnessed her brave step into their world.

"Rosemary," he called out, his voice carrying a mix of warmth and welcome. "Welcome to the Welevolves pack."

A smile spread across his face as he saw the realization dawning in her eyes – that she had found her place among them. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and extended a hand in a gesture of camaraderie.

"I can't tell you how thrilled we are to have you with us," he said, his eyes shining with genuine excitement. "You've chosen to embrace the call of the wild, to run with us under the moon's watchful gaze. It's an honor to welcome you into our pack."

Noah could sense the mixed emotions swirling within Rosemary – the nervousness of the unknown, the exhilaration of freedom, and the hope for a new beginning. He knew that she was embarking on a journey that would change her life forever.

As the rest of the pack gathered around, their eyes filled with curiosity and acceptance, Noah could feel the energy of the moment – a human willingly stepping into their world, ready to shed the constraints of her former life and embrace the untamed spirit of the Welevolves. It was a rare and precious moment that filled Noah with a deep sense of pride for their pack and the unity they shared.

Together, they stood under the moonlight, ready to welcome Rosemary into the fold.

But on the other end of the land, in the vampire castle, the Alpha had sensed something wrong.