As he loomed over me, I searched for words to ease the tension, struggling to find a convincing argument for my departure, emphasizing its importance for the good of the entire werewolf society.

But my mind drew blank "This is destiny, it can't be stopped." I managed to say after getting past the dryness in my mouth.

"Well, destiny will have to wait this time because you are not leaving this house," he declared firmly.

Annoyed by his bullheadedness, I questioned, "Why won't you let me go?"

He looked surprised by my question, but I continued anyway: "I mean, it's not like I'm your real daughter. I am almost treated like a slave here, and now you won't let me go."

"I'm doing this for your safety," he claimed.

"What safety? You don't care about my safety. You only care about yourself." I retorted, earning me a sharp slap that almost had me reeling.

"Don't you dare call me selfish," he warned, cutting off any further protest. I opened my mouth to retort, but he silenced me with one threatening look.

"Now, you will go back to your room, forget this foolish talk and..." He ordered, but a knock on the door interrupted him.

Thinking it was my aunt, I braced myself for her problems. But when my uncle opened the door, the silence that followed surprised me. "Who are you?" Paul asked.

"Won't you welcome me in?" A voice I couldn't recognize replied.

"Why would I welcome a total stranger into my home? Do I look stupid to you?" My uncle retorted.

"No insults intended here, sir. My name is Mascot Lupus, and I am here for Tasha McCann." Hearing my name, I quickly rushed to the door.

For a moment, I paused to take in his dashing figure. "Please come in." I invited him absentmindedly, barely able to recognize my voice.

"You little..." his words were cut off as Mascot pushed past him, bringing me out of my daze.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"Hey, young lady, how dare you invite a stranger into my house?"

"But he said he was here for me." I explained.

"And so? He could have been sent to kill us for crying out loud." Paul argued.

"You are wrong, sir; I was not sent to kill anybody."

"So, what are you doing here?"

"I am here to claim my mate," Mascot declared. The silence that followed the statement was almost deafening.

"Your mate?" someone questioned.

My heart skipped on hearing the new voice. Turning, I found my aunt standing at the door, looking as surprised and confused as my uncle.

"That's not possible. You only get to have one mate for life, and Tasha here has found hers. So either you are a crook or you must be crazy." Paul stated.

"What I say is the truth, sir. I'm not a crook, nor am I crazy."

"I refuse to believe you." My aunt insisted as she made her way inside the house. "How is it possible for the moon goddess to give her two mates in the space of a week?"

"Well, I think you should start believing in the moon goddess more because Tasha here is my mate."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"I had a vision in which Tasha was made my mate. And I am sure she had some vision too."

"Yes, I-wait; how did you know about my vision?" I asked

"That's because we are destined for each other, dummy."

His theory didn't really make sense to me, but I let his insult slide. This was my one chance to leave this house, and there is no way I am messing it up, not even for an insult.

"Wow!" Paul clapped his hands. "Good story. That was beautiful, but you know what? Tasha is going nowhere. Especially with you." He asserted.

"But you have no right to stop me."

"Of course I do, and I will. Now go to your room before I get mad at you." He thundered.

"But you can't," I began.

Turning to Mascot, Paul ignored my protest. "Now you listen to me. Get out of this house before I do something I will definitely regret." he thundered, ending the discussion.

Mascot attempted opening his mouth, but he quickly shut it when my uncle glared at him. Without another word, he turned and left. As I watched him go, I couldn't help but feel contemptuous toward my uncle. In anger, I stomped upstairs.

"Hey, you be careful, young lady, before I come meet you there." Rachel threatened. Pretending not to hear her, I entered my room and slammed the door shut before proceeding to pace. So this is it.

It's all over, just like that. Why would they want the whole werewolf community to burn because of their selfish reasons? Is it a crime to want to leave this place?

After what transpired on the sacred grounds, what I wanted more than anything was to leave. Anywhere but here. But what do I get?

Restrictions.

Quitting my pacing, I climbed into bed as I slowly came to terms with the fact that my chance at freedom had slipped away. As sleep slowly took over my consciousness, I suddenly heard something hit my window, making me stir. Thinking it was a figment of my imagination, I tried getting back to sleep, but I heard the sound again.

Curious, I went to check what was happening. Only to open the window to find Mascot beckoning me to come down and follow him. Opening my door, I peered out of my room to check if my uncle or his wife, Rachel, was still up.

Luckily, the coast was clear. As I descended the stairs, my mind raced with questions. Mascot was my chance at freedom, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that my uncle would do everything in his power to stop me.

When I finally reached the front door, Mascot was already waiting, his eyes filled with determination.

I can't believe he is still here.

"Ready to leave?" he asked, offering me a reassuring smile. I nodded, and together we stepped into the woods, leaving behind the house that had been both my refuge and my prison.