Chapter 4

• His final words penetrated the protective walls around her heart, causing it to shatter into unrecognizable fragments. She wondered if it would ever be possible to mend it.
• The effect was immediate. She heard the sound of a blaring siren and the buzzing of bees. She thought she heard the sound of glass shattering, but it was the sound of her broken heart fracturing into a million tiny pieces that couldn't be pieced back together.
• "Now, get out of my sight."
• She hesitated. She looked at the couple before her. That was supposed to be her and Brent. She was supposed to be by his side! Why was it her sister? Why did it have to be Hayley?
• "Out!" He barked again.
• Hayley hissed and rolled her eyes. Winona could see she was growing impatient, but her emotions wouldn't let her move. As she was wrestling with herself, she received another stinging slap.
• She looked up to see her sister's malicious expression, daring her to react. She really wished she could but sadly she couldn't. Brent was still looking at her, his eyes filled with fury.
• Having accomplished her task, Hayley turned her back to Winona and faced Brent. This time, they seemed less concerned about her presence.
• "Since you are so interested in how I love and cherish your sister, we will surely give you a good show," Brent said, grabbing Hayley's backside. He started kissing her passionately.
• Winona watched as they resumed their intimate display and she was jolted back to reality. This was her reality.
• She turned on her heels and ran, past the courtyard, to the back of the palace building where she knew she would be alone. She wanted to cry out everything she had witnessed earlier, but was it even possible?
• Winona found herself sitting on the sand, weeping. It was the only solace she could find to alleviate her overwhelming pain. She remembered the day she lost her father. She remembered her mother's harsh curses. She remembered the humiliating experience of being dragged by her hair all the way to their house.
• "Are you okay, young lady?" A voice from behind startled her. His scent was unique and refreshing, like water from a spring.
• "I... I'm fine. I just got something in my eyes," she quickly lied, lowering her head. She could tell he was a stranger because his scent was unlike anyone from her pack.
• "Got something in your eyes and you're crying this loudly?"
• "I'm fine. It stings... that's why I was crying. I thought the tears might help," she lied again, her words tumbling out more easily than she expected.
• She heard a soft chuckle from him, and her heart skipped a beat. That sound... It was eerily similar to the one from the night she got lost. She wanted to look up at him, but she didn't dare.
• "Lift your head. I want to see your face," the voice commanded.
• "I... I can't," Winona responded, her voice barely above a whisper.
• "You can't?" He echoed her words, a hint of surprise in his tone.
• Before she could utter another word, he was already standing in front of her. He gently raised her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. She wanted to shut her eyes, to hide from his scrutiny, but she found herself unable to.
• "Is this the face you've been hiding? Are you scared because you're different?" He asked, his voice soft.
• She was taken aback by his reaction. He wasn't repulsed or angered by her appearance, unlike most others.
• Then she heard him say, "You're different because you're unique. The Moon Goddess will surely send someone who will treasure you. Keep hoping."