A week to the trial, a member of the faction who knows how to tattoo was sent to tattoo my fake signa. She looked petite with round big eyes and thin lips. She wore a very shocking red that can be seen from afar with black boots. She sets up her equipment and told me to sit down while she begins her work. 'I heard you are being sent to the trial in place of Monica' She looked at me expectantly. I was shocked at first not expecting her to speak to me as per the rule of the pack. God knows most of the people getting me ready for the trial have kept to that rule. 'Umm…. Yeah' 'Don't be so shocked I am speaking to you, not all of us are prudes. We are in your house and the Beta is not here to see what I am doing with you. I am sure there is no hidden camera in this place' 'Umm okay' still a bit shocked. 'I am sorry I am about to do this to you, I used very small amount of wolfsbane, it will still be painful but I will be as gentle as possible and make it quick. However, I can't disobey the Beta's instruction' she apologized. 'My name is Sarah by the way. Please try to control your wolf so you do not shift.' 'Okay, thanks' 'Are you ready?' I nodded my head, preparing my mind for the pain I am about to experience. I felt the first pinch of the needle and it almost felt like someone seared my skin with hot iron. I tried my best to hold my wolf in place she was howling in my head and giving me a strong headache. I arched my back as the pain continued. 'What do you think of the trials' 'What?' I asked through clenched teeth I do not care about the trials right now I thought 'Just tell me anything about it, express your pain through your words' 'I think its barbaric and archaic. Fighting to the death to win the heart of a man I am not interested in or in love with is a waste of my life. Why can't he just f*ck*ng pick any woman he wants, must we kill for him. I think the alpha king is a misogynistic *ssh*l* and a man that enjoys brutality. That was how he took the throne in the first place. I hate Beta Ethan for forcing me into this. Monica would have been a great match for the alpha king as they match in brutality.' 'Okay….' she said skeptically. 'Although looking at it from another perspective, the Luna queen cannot afford to be weak neither can the Alpha king. Pranora does not need a queen that can be killed off easily when challenged. The Luna queen and Alpha king don't necessary have to be lovers, they can just be a pair ruling the werewolf pack together. I heard a story of one of the alpha king and queen pair making a decision like that as they had no feelings for each other.' She said. 'also you can see this as an opportunity to gain power. Nobody dares defy the Luna queen including all the Betas' She looked at me carefully when se said this. 'I thought you wanted me to rant about what I hate now you are saying positive things about that very thing. Pick one man, are you almost done?' I snapped 'Sorry' I apologized 'It's okay. I am Almost done, just a few more strokes.' I started sweating under the AC. When I thought I couldn't take it any longer, the pain stopped and I could only feel painful sharp stings from my wrist to my fingertips. 'I am done. I will apply a soothing balm on it to reduce the redness and the sharp stings' 'Okay, thank you' I said between short breaths. The balm made me feel so much better. My wolf snapped at the tattoo. 'I hate that thing, must we do this' She said. 'We have no choice' She curled in on herself and stayed very still and quiet. 'I believe that helped a bit, Amilia can also help soothe the pain' Sarah said while packing her equipment. 'Yeah' 'Don't forget what I said. Use all the abilities in your arsenal, be cunning and hard to kill and try to win the trials. Nobody dares go against the Luna queen, and who knows you might fall in love with the Alpha King. I hear he is quiet easy on the eyes.' 'I doubt that, but I will try to stay alive as long as possible. My wolf will not allow us to die.' 'Alright I believe I am done. Good luck Elena may the moon goddesses be with you.' Amelia came during the week to help soothe the pain and after a while, the redness disappeared and the pain reduced drastically. I looked at the signa and wished it was not fake, wished it was real and I could use it to command the wind or just do something. It breaks my heart every time I see it. A day to leaving for the trials, Amilia came to my house. I was packing the last of my bag when she knocked. I opened the door and saw her with a packed bag and a frantic look on her face. 'We are leaving' she said 'Leaving to where?' I asked skeptically 'This place. I set up a way for us to escape, I got in touch with someone form another faction that has a tie to the outside world. He is willing to help. He has set up a place for both of us with a job and a house. We are leaving tonight.' 'Amilia, I am done running, I think for the first time in my life, I want to try something, I want to aim for something' 'You could get killed in the trials Elena, I promised to get you out of this.' 'What if I don't get killed, what if I can win, I don't want to give up. What if this is the only way to survive for me. If we run today, we will be on the run for the rest of our lives Amilia. I don't want that. I want to be free not be on the run wondering when Mark or Beta Ethan catches up with us and brings us back here.' She looked at me and signed deeply 'I know you love me, I do to and I promise you, I will try everything I can to survive, you'll see' I assured her She hugged me and sobbed. 'I will be fine, don't worry about me.'
