Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 298 - get her

298

~Belinda’s POV

The wind was cold that evening. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked away from Fridolf’s hideout. The trees whispered behind me, as if mocking me for what I’d done. My feet ached, my stomach growled, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

"Fridolf..." I whispered his name under my breath, shaking my head. "You’ve ruined everything."

The forest path opened into a narrow trail leading toward the pack’s main road. I knew I shouldn’t go back, but where else could I go? The outside world was worse. Rogues, hunters... death. But going back meant facing the triplets. Damon, Rowan, and Kael. My chest tightened just thinking about them.

They wouldn’t forgive me. Not after what happened. Not after I chose Fridolf’s hand over theirs.

I pulled my cloak tighter around my face and entered the edge of the pack’s market area. The streets were quiet, but as I looked around, my heart dropped.

My portrait.

It was everywhere. On walls. On posts. On the side of carts. My name was written in bold ink:

"Wanted, Belinda. Traitor. Capture on sight."

My throat tightened. "They’re not joking..." I muttered shakily.

The air felt heavier, pressing on my skin. Every sound made me flinch. I saw patrol guards moving from one stall to another, checking people’s faces, flashing torches into corners. My knees felt weak. I pulled my cloak down lower, hiding my face, and tried to blend in.

A woman selling fruit glanced at me. Her gaze lingered a bit too long. I turned away quickly and walked down the alley behind the market. My steps were uneven. I was starving, weak, and terrified.

I found a small hut at the corner of the street, one that looked abandoned. I sank behind it, my back pressed against the wall. My stomach grumbled again. I hadn’t eaten in two days.

Tears burned my eyes. "Why did I do this to myself?" I whispered. "Why did I take Fridolf’s hand?"

My fingers shook as I tore a small piece of cloth from my cloak and wiped my face.

I had believed him. Like a fool.

Now, look at me, hiding, filthy, starving.

"I should have stayed with the triplets," I muttered bitterly. "At least... at least they cared."

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. I froze.

A woman’s voice came from the side of the hut. "Who’s there?"

I didn’t answer.

She stepped closer. I could see her shadow stretch near me as she came around the corner. She was holding a small basket, probably to throw away some trash.

Her eyes widened the moment she saw me. "Oh my goodness!" she gasped. "Luna Belinda!"

My blood ran cold.

"No," I whispered, standing up quickly. "You’re mistaken."

But she wasn’t.

Her mouth opened wide as she turned toward the main street. "Guards! Guards! I found her..."

I didn’t even let her finish. My hand shot forward, grabbing her wrist. "Stop!" I hissed, pushing her hard against the wall.

She struggled, screaming, "It’s her! It’s really her! Luna..."

"Shut up!" I yelled, covering her mouth. Panic surged through me. I could already hear footsteps; the guards were coming.

"Please..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "Don’t make me hurt you."

But she kicked me hard in the leg and screamed louder. "Here! Over here!"

I hit her, not hard enough to kill, but enough to make her collapse. She groaned, falling to her knees. Blood dripped from her lip.

I stared at her for a second.

"I didn’t want to," I said, backing away. "You made me..."

Then I heard shouting.

"There! She’s over there!"

Three guards ran toward me from the street, swords glinting under the light.

I ran.

I didn’t think. My legs just moved, faster than I ever thought they could.

"Stop her!" one of them yelled.

"Don’t let her escape!"

I darted through the narrow alleys, knocking down baskets and crates behind me to block their path. The smell of smoke, sweat, and fear filled my nose.

I turned a corner sharply, nearly tripping over a pile of firewood. My heart raced so fast I thought it would burst.

Behind me, their boots thundered. "She went this way!"

I had nowhere to go. Nowhere safe.

I could feel my lungs burning, my body weak from hunger and fear.

I whispered to myself as I ran, "Please... please don’t let them catch me."

I turned again and found myself near the riverbank behind the market. The moon reflected faintly in the water. For a brief moment, I thought about jumping in. Maybe the current would carry me far enough to disappear.

But then I heard one of the guards shout, "She’s cornered!"

I knew there was no escape.

I swallowed. My throat was dry. My hands clenched into fists.

"This is it," I told myself.

"Belinda!" the lead guard called, pointing. "Surrender now and you won’t be killed!"

"Surrender?" I laughed, but it was a small laugh, broken. "You think I’ll go back to them? To your hands? Never."

"Then we take you by force," another guard snapped.

Then, I shifted, my bones cracking, my muscles stretching, fur bursting from my skin. The world around me tilted as my wolf took control, dark and fierce. The guards shifted too, their growls echoing through the marketplace.

"Get her!" one of them barked.

They charged.

I lunged first, catching the nearest one by the throat. I threw him aside with all the strength I had, hearing his body crash into a wooden stall. Two others came from the left, teeth bared, but I spun and clawed at them, leaving deep marks on their sides.

"Come on!" I snarled.

They circled me, growling low. I could smell their fear; they knew who I was, what I was capable of. I’d trained with their Alphas. But I was also weaker now. Hungry. Tired.

One wolf leaped at me, and we collided hard, our bodies crashing against the dusty ground with a loud thud. The force of his attack sent a jolt of pain through my ribs, but I didn’t stop. We rolled, claws digging into fur, fangs snapping dangerously close to flesh. The sound of our growls filled the air, raw and feral, echoing through the narrow alley behind the huts. He was strong, heavier than I expected, and his weight pressed down on me, trying to pin me.

He sank his teeth deep into my shoulder, the pain sharp and burning, spreading like fire through my veins. I howled in agony, rage twisting inside me. With a snarl, I slammed my head hard into his muzzle. The crack was loud, he let out a pained yelp, and loosened his grip.

Blood dripped down my fur.

"What the fuck?!" I cussed him out.