I'm not your prisoner!

"Go away," I whispered hoarsely, my voice barely audible. Each word was laced with bitterness and despair.

My parents persisted, their gentle pleas growing louder. "Harper, we love you. We want to help. Please, just talk to us."

I ignored the sound of my phone ringing incessantly on my bedside table. It was my friends, the ones who had always been there for me, offering comfort and support no matter the circumstance.

Their messages poured in, urging me to let them in, to lean on them when I couldn't stand on my own. But I pushed them away, damning myself to solitude. I couldn't bear the thought of them witnessing my weakness, watching me crumble beneath the weight of love's cruel game.

"Harper, please. We're here for you. You don't have to face this alone."

But they didn't understand. How could they? Their lives were normal, filled with happiness and light. They hadn't experienced the darkness that lurked within the depths of my soul, threatening to swallow me whole.

I could no longer bear the loneliness, the isolation that gripped my heart. Swallowing my pride, I reached for my phone and dialed a familiar number. Her voice came across the line, tinged with worry and anticipation.

"Harper, is that you? Are you okay?"

I took a deep breath, my voice shaky as I spoke the words that had been locked inside me. "I need you. Can we meet?"

"Of course, Harper. I'll be there soon."

I sat in the living room, staring at the fire burning in the fireplace while the rain continued to pour outside. I was lost in my thoughts when the sound of knocking at my front door cut through the silence. At first, I ignored it, hoping the visitor would just go away.

But the knocking persisted, growing louder and more insistent until I could no longer ignore it. I approached the door slowly, my heart pounding with anticipation as I wondered who could be on the other side.

When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Andrew standing there, his hair matted with rain and his clothes soaked through. For a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for him, but then I remembered all the pain and heartache he had caused me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I had to see you," he replied, his voice low and desperate. "Please, can I come in and talk to you?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should let him into my home after everything he had done. But then I relented and stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

"I know I messed up, Harper. I know I hurt you and acted like a complete idiot. But I'm here now, and I want to make things right between us."

I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. "It's too late, Andrew. You had plenty of chances to make things right before, but you threw them all away. I can't just forgive and forget all the pain you caused me."

Andrew's face fell, his eyes filling with tears. "Please, Harper. Just hear me out. I love you so much, and I'll do anything to prove it to you."

I looked away from him, not wanting to see the pain etched on his face. "I can't, Andrew. I can't keep letting you hurt me like this. It's best if we just stay apart and move on with our lives."

Back in my room, I checked for the final time if I had everything packed before scribbling a short note to my parents. I left the note on my bed and walked towards the window to climb down.

I was nervous but exhilarated at the same time. This was what I had been wanting for so long. A life that was different from what I had been subjected to for so many years.

The meeting spot was half an hour away. I slowly traversed the dark streets, taking care not to attract any unwanted attention to myself. When I arrived at the meeting spot, the first thing I noticed was the shadowy figure off in the distance.

"L-Luke?" I asked hesitantly as I approached.

"The one and only," he replied with a smile that hinted at something dangerous.

"I'm Harper. You're, umm, you're the leader of the rogue pack?"

"That I am."

I swallowed hard, feeling like a mouse caught in the claws of a predator. "I was told that you would take me in."

Luke's gaze bore into me, assessing whether or not I was trustworthy. "You want to join us?"

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Andrew's pack has been causing more and more trouble for rogue packs lately. I think it's time that they learned that we're not going to put up with their crap anymore." Luke paused for a moment before continuing.

"But joining us isn't a walk in the park. It's dangerous. Andrew will have your head if he thinks you're rebelling against him. Are you ready for that kind of life?"

I took a deep breath, considering all that I had lost and all that I still had to lose. I replied without hesitation. "I'm ready. It's better than living in fear for the rest of my life."

Luke raised his eyebrows. "You're gutsy. I like that." He paused, then continued, "Welcome to the pack, Harper."

I could feel the lingering shadows on my back as I wandered through the dense forest, seeking solace in the cold embrace of the night. The moon watched over me, casting a pale glow upon the path I had chosen to walk alone. Each step faltered, weighed down by the heavy burden of my actions.

I entered the clearing where the rogue pack had made their temporary home, and a sense of both relief and trepidation washed over me. I had left behind everything I had known, abandoned the royal pack, and joined these outcasts in search of freedom. And now, I had to face the consequences of my choices.

A rustle in the underbrush startled me, and I turned to see Andrew standing there, his eyes afire with a mix of shock and animosity. His presence alone was suffocating, like a dark cloud descending upon my already fragile resolve.