A RUNAWAY PRISONER

ALINA

My face was drained of color.

“Are you feeling sick of grapes? Your face is again pale.” He stood tall, his shadow overpowered mine.

“No, I just need to use the washroom. I love grapes. I could never feel sick of them. The weather is just too hot.” I managed to say between gasps, staying calm.

Finally, he freed my wrist.

With hurried steps, I changed my direction and went out of the dining hall like a shot.

I dashed the hallways, my vision was fading. My body was making desperate groans of breaking and mending. Not here. Not in the corridor, I kept saying. I entered our bedroom with a bang and threw the door behind me.

I fell into the washroom. My skin was burning. The Golden Wolf serum was fighting my natural transformation, causing a very severe pain.

CRACK.

The sound of my break was muffled with a scream as I hit the floor. My hands became paws. My nails turned into sharp claws. Within minutes, I shifted into a silver-furred wolf.

My body was so hot. I kept breathing heavily with my mouth open. Seeing the large bathtub, I ran over to it and drowned into the cold water. The only way to calm my agitated wolf.

I stayed frozen in the water for more than an hour. My wolf's heartbeat had slowed down. Still, she wouldn't shift back.

Then, the sound of boots approaching the room startled me. I recognized the steps. They were the steps of the Alpha King, Felix Night.

I was so scared that I stopped in my tracks. My fur was standing up from the wetness. I was so crazy that I didn't even close the main door. Then, he stepped inside. My eyes could see his presence through the white curtains.

"Serena?"

“Are you in the washroom?” He started coming closer to the door. One look at my silver wolf, and he would know I am not Serena.

“Serena, I'm coming inside.” He twisted the doorknob. My gaze looked at the door that was opening, I was in the tub and couldn't move.

He entered, and his gaze sharpened.

“Oh! I didn't hear you.” My voice mumbled. Right in time, I shifted back to human.

"What took you so long?” He asked.

“I wanted a relaxing bath to relieve the stress from yesterday.”

Felix came one step closer, and his stare was intense. He was looking at my face closely, and then his eyes were moving down to my stark shoulders and the water covering my chest.

Adrenaline rushed down my veins.

"You are shaking.” He said, cold and sharp.

"I am only feeling cold, Felix."

He kept staring at me for a long time and when he didn’t say a word, the silence was so heavy that it couldn't be lifted.

"Finish your shower and come out. There's something you should know.” Holding that sharp gaze, he walked out. I heard the door clicking behind him.

Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly stepped out of the cold water. My heart was thumping so loudly that it was hurting. I quickly changed clothes and approached the door, yet a few noises from downstairs startled me.

Stepping out in the corridor, I stood against the marble railing and looked down at the foyer. My blood turned to ice.

The prison guards. There was no doubt that those were the Blackwood Pit guards in their uniforms. They were armed with silver-tipped spears and had scent-tracking devices.

“We're searching for a runaway prisoner.” The guards bowed to Felix.

“We're searching every pack.

Felix‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ was standing in front of them, his arms tightly wrapped around his chest, looking like a war god. "Are you suggesting that a prisoner is hiding in the Alpha King's packhouse?"

"The security of the Alpha King is our concern." The chief guard answered. "We ought to inspect with great care. Not a single room should be left unturned."

“We need your permission, Alpha King.”

Felix pointed his palm towards the interior, welcoming them. "Don't let a single corner go unsearched. In the event that you find nothing, I command you to depart my territories without the intention of returning."

My feet instantly ran back to the room, and I closed the door. The guards started the search, my ears could hear them. I couldn't think of anything. My mind was completely blank.

One by one they searched each floor, eventually coming to the Alpha's wing. When the ripple of boots became louder, I knew it. They were standing just outside.

A heavy knock hit the door. "Please open the door. We're searching for a prisoner." The Chief guard requested politely.

I retreated, searching for a hiding spot, but there was no place.

“Open your door, please.”

My feet slowly stepped away from the door. At that moment, I decided to steal a dagger from Felix’s private collection. I turned around towards the glass showcase on the right corner, yet…

"Remove your hand from the door." Felix’s voice was loud and clear from the corridor.

"Alpha King." The voices of guards submitted.

“My Luna is inside. She doesn't like noises. Leave this room out of the inspection.”

There was an extended silence.

"We apologize, Alpha King.” The chief guard didn't dare to argue.

The sounds of their walk faded. I dropped down to the ground, with my forehead against the cold wood. Felix didn't save me. He did it for Serena, his real Luna.

As the sun drowned, Felix stepped into my room. After what happened today, we finally faced each other.

“Are you relaxed after the bath?”

My head nodded.

Coming closer, he placed a box on the bed. His fingers gently opened it, and the diamond necklace shimmered under the light.

"There will be a party tonight. Celebrating our wedding. Put this on.” He whispered. Serena preferred diamond necklaces, not me. Then, he placed another box on the bed. This time, it was a dress made of gold silk.

The dress was extremely beautiful but it was backless with a deep cut. If only the slightest bit of fabric slipped, my prisoner’s mark would be visible to everyone.

“I can't wait to see you wear it.” He softly kissed my forehead. As he left, I spent time thinking what to do with the dress. One after another, I was barely escaping the traps.

At night, the downstairs was no less than a ceremony. Every pack was invited. It was a celebration for the Alpha King, after all.

Felix was waiting for me downstairs, talking to the guests, and it was finally time to make my most-awaited grand entrance. Everyone was waiting to meet the Alphas King's Luna.

I walked into the ballroom, and all the eyes shifted to me. Then, my eyes spotted them in the crowd. Kyle and Lisa. They were shocked, paler than the corpses. A fury ignited in me, bringing back the hard memories from the prison, and my wolf growled inside my chest. I whispered to her to stay calm, to wait for the right time, to wait a little longer.

I walked past them, and Lisa held Kyle’s arm so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She wanted to utter my name but I didn't give her a chance, ignoring her as she was invisible.

As my gaze shifted to Felix, his cold, sharp gaze made my skin crawl. I didn't wear his dress. Instead, I wore a satin, white dress, covering my back, and clinging to my skin.

Cutting the crowd, he walked over to me, looking majestic in his black suit. He stood on my left and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Why aren't you wearing my dress?” He narrowed his cold eyes.