My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Into the Darkness

Elena’s POV

The trailer door slammed behind me with a force that rattled the thin walls. My hands were shaking as I paced the narrow living room, my feet wearing a path in the already threadbare carpet. Every emotion crashed through me like waves against rocks - anger, betrayal, hurt, frustration. They all twisted together until I couldn’t tell where one feeling ended and another began.

My mind was a storm of half-formed thoughts, but when the distant sound of music and laughter drifted from the packhouse, one thing became crystal clear. I couldn’t stay here and watch this celebration. I couldn’t pretend everything was normal when my world had just shattered.

I stormed into the bedroom and yanked open the closet door so hard it bounced off the wall. My hands grabbed at clothes, shoving them into the old duffle bag I’d pulled from under the bed. T-shirts, jeans, the few nice dresses I owned - everything went in without care for wrinkles or organization. This wasn’t about being neat. This was about survival.

In the bathroom, I swept toiletries off the counter and into the bag. My toothbrush, shampoo, the cheap makeup I rarely used - all of it disappeared into the growing pile. My reflection caught my eye in the cracked mirror, and I barely recognized the wild-eyed girl staring back at me.

When I walked back into the living room, Jett was standing there like he’d materialized out of thin air. My body tensed, ready for a fight.

"Don’t you dare try and talk me out of this," I snapped, clutching the duffle bag like a lifeline.

His expression was serious, more serious than I’d ever seen him. "I know that Alpha Marcus spent the night here last night." The words hung heavy in the air between us. "I’ll report it stolen to the Alpha in a few hours."

He held out his car keys, the metal glinting in the dim light.

I stared at him, confused. "You’re helping me?"

"Yeah."

The simple word hit me harder than any long speech could have. After everything that had happened, after all the pack politics and loyalty demands, Jett was choosing me.

"What about my mother?" The question escaped before I could stop it.

"It would be best if she doesn’t know where you are. So the Alpha can’t take it out on her."

My heart clenched. "I want her to come with me."

Jett shook his head slowly. "She’s never going to leave. Not while your father is buried here."

I pulled over onto the shoulder and sat for a moment, listening to the engine tick as it cooled. This was it - the point of no return.

I stepped out into the cool night air and walked into the tree line until I found what I was looking for: a thick, sturdy branch that would do what I needed it to do. Back at the car, I wedged it against the gas pedal, shifted into gear, and jumped clear as the vehicle lurched forward.

The crash was louder than I’d expected. Metal screamed against bark as the car slammed into an old oak tree, the front end crumpling like paper. But it wasn’t enough just to stage an accident - it had to look real.

I pulled out the small army knife from my bag and drew it across my palm. The cut was shallow but sufficient, blood welling up dark in the moonlight. I let it drip onto the steering wheel, smeared some across the seat, and painted the door handle red.

Standing back to survey my work, I nodded. It looked like someone had been hurt, maybe badly enough that they’d wandered off into the woods, disoriented and bleeding.

Let them think I was dead. Let them think I was lost. It would buy me the time I needed to disappear completely.

With my bag slung over my shoulder, I turned my back on the wreckage and started walking into the darkness, toward whatever future was waiting for me.