Chapter 148 RYN

As I sat there, stunned, naked and out of tears to cry, my phone buzzed with a phone call.

Checking the caller ID, I realized it was a private number.

Curious, I picked the call.

"Hello."

"Go six clicks to the west." A distorted voice said. "There will be a change of clothes waiting there. Half a click further and you will replace a car waiting for you."

I frowned, confused. "Who are you?!"

"Consider me a friend, afterall I bought you a necklace worth six packs combined. You have ten minutes."

Then the call went click and I stared at my phone.

Immediately, I got to my feet and grabbed my bag.

Holding it to cover the front of my body, I hurried towards the west of the woods as instructed. I had no idea what I was doing, but if someone could buy me a necklace, and provide clothing, then they were my ray of hope right now. On my way there, so many questions plagued me about my anonymous friend.

Who was he...or she? How did they know I was naked? Are they watching me? Why are they helping me? What's the endgame?

Ugh! I hope I am not getting into trouble.

True to my anonymous friend's word, I found a neatly folded dress and black boots on the grass. Eyeing my surroundings warily, I grabbed them and dressed quickly behind a tree.

Feeling slightly more at ease, I left the woods and spotted a sleek Mercedes Benz parked by the road.

I froze. Was this a trap?

But if they meant to kidnap me, wouldn't they have done it while I was vulnerable? Whoever they were, they wanted me to choose-and that alone earned a sliver of my trust.

Approaching cautiously, I stopped when the driver stepped out. He was a dark-haired man in a suit, his lower face hidden by a half-mask. His sharp grey eyes met mine, cool and unreadable.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice firm despite the knot in my chest.

He didn't answer, only opened the door with quiet precision. Realizing I wouldn't get more from him, I slid into the car. He closed the door gently, returned to the driver's seat, and pulled onto the road in silence.

I continued to stare at him, expecting him to look at me through the rearview mirror but he didn't. He simply faced the

road.

Suddenly, a phone rang beside me and I jerked in fright, before looking to my side. To my surprise, I found a phone sitting in the other passenger seat. I looked at the driver and found his eyes on me in the rearview mirror. Somehow, I knew the phone was for me, so I slowly reached for it and once again, it was a private number.

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Chapter 148

"Hello?"

"Glad you made the smart choice." came the distorted voice.

"Seriously, who are you and why are you being nice to me?"

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There was a pause on the other end. "Who I am is not relevant...at least not now. As to why I am being nice? It's because I want something from you."

My brows pulled together in a frown. "What do you want?"

"I want to train you to be the best you can be and after that, I want to use you as a weapon to get revenge on all the people who ruined my life."

I blinked in shock, not knowing what to say.

"I can't kill people."

"Who said anything about murder? Besides you already committed murder at the age of seven, and again at the Winderemere mansion when you went on a mission to secure an aphrodisiac. What's....ten more?" "TEN?" I yelled. "That was self defence! T-This i-is d-delib-berate."

The voice chuckled. "Relax. You do what you have to do and I'll handle the killing part."

His statement didn't do anything to calm my nerves and I became weary of who this anonymous friend was. "I'm sorry I can't help you. I-I w-will return your necklace and clothes. I don't want any trouble." Another pause. "The necklace is yours to have, Kathryn."

I froze. "How did you know that name?"

"I know everything about you including what you don't know about yourself."

I blinked in shock. Could he...or she possibly know about what I am?

"And what is it that I don't know about myself?"

"Ahhhh. That's the thing, Kathryn. Tit for tat. You work for me and I give you what you want."

"And what is it you know that I want?"

"Hmmm. Let's see." The voice hummed. "A roof over your head considering you have to leave town asap? Knowledge about what you are? Et cetera, Et cetera."

Shit! He was right. I have to leave town and I have nowhere to go except to this stranger.

"How will I know you won't use and discard me?...or even kill me

A pause.

"There's no way for you to know except you trust me but I will say this, I am a person of my word and I wouldn't go this length to get your help, if I don't need you."

I thought about his words for a moment. Everything is heavy. Everything is exhausting. "I need to think about this."

to all

"Of course. My driver will drop you at

the Cresswell Estate. Take the

phone with you, and speed dial

e2

number three when you're reaux out

е

you have till sunset to make a decision otherwise I will drop you and replace someone else."

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Chapter 148

Oh wow. I guess I'm not that special. "Noted." I replied and the call ended.

Later, I was dropped off at the Cresswells as promised.

Watching the car drive away, I couldn't help but think-I got everything I wanted.

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I gave women a chance at the academy, helped Theon win his bet, became an Elite, and found my mates. Yet somehow, I lost everything.

How did I reach the peak of my life only to crash so hard?

When I entered my room, I found my dress lying neatly on a chair, and my diamond necklace and earrings laid on the dressing table. I touched them, the memory of the ball rushing back. I had felt amazing... like a star.

But stars fall. They crash. They burn.

With what happened with Olive, and then Sadie's words haunting me, I knew I wasn't safe here anymore. I couldn't even face my best friend.

It was time to leave. Time to start over with a stranger.

Whatever happens, happens right?

0

5

I sighed before plugging my phone and going for a long, hot shower. Afterwards, I packed my things including the necklace and the dress.

Then I sat and wrote a long ass letter filled with lies.

It was my arrangement with the King. I was to address a letter to his sons and everyone else I knew and I was to sound convincing about my reason for leaving. Tears rolled down my face as I wrote, and wrote and lied.

When I was done, I labeled three letters - one to Sadie and Mr. Cresswell, one to the Windermere Twins and one to Adam.

Those were the only people I came to have as friends and those I will always cherish.

My phone buzzed-it was Sadie.

"Where are you?" she asked, her voice bubbling with joy.

"I had to go home to change. What's up?"

"Uncle Theon and Uncle Miro are awake! The healer said they can go home. They're asking for you!"

Her words hit me like a punch. The strength I'd been clinging to crumbled, and tears streamed down my face as I covered my mouth to muffle a sob.

"Are you there?"

"Yeah!" I blurted, my voice too loud, too shaky. "I'm so h-happy for them."

"Are you coming?"

I tilted my head back, fighting the tears. "Of course! I'll meet you at their place."

"Good! The witch is awake too, and I don't want to face her alone. See you soon, Bestie. Love you!"

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Chapter 148

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"Love you too," I whispered, but as

soon as the call ended, I brok, sobbing so hard my chest hurt and my head throbbed. Immediately,

took the new phone and speede

dialed number three and the stranger picked at the second ring.

"Yes?"

"I am ready. Come pick me up."

"Good." The distorted voice crooned. "You just made the best decision of your life."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is dedicated to vian Paulino Lorenzo, Aneta Marynowska, and to these amazing gift giver, LaDonna Hodges. Wow! Thank you for the

support. Means the world to me.

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