Chapter 3 Wolfsbane trap

The Mating Ball is in full swing. The venue is perfectly clean and gorgeously decorated. Nothing has ever looked this good and everyone seems to be having a good time— everyone except the Omegas forced into the walls at the back and serving everyone.

But I didn't care.

At least not anymore.

Not after my talk with Blake.

All I could think about was my escape, my freedom and my future. My mind was in bliss yet all around me there was only one topic of discussion that kept pulling me away from my plans of escape.

"He's still not here." The elegantly dressed party goers whispered among themselves. "The powerful Alpha is supposed to come but he's not here yet."

Even the Omegas standing beside me were talking about the same thing. "They said he is the strongest that's ever lived. Handsome too. Can you imagine?"

"More handsome than Blake?" Another Omega asked, her eyelashes fluttering towards Blake standing in the center of the room and looking like he was glowing in the night.

I don't think that's possible.

No one can be more handsome than Blake.

Blake is perfect.

He is what an Alpha should be and whoever he falls in love with is the luckiest girl in the world.

‘You never know.' Molly teased, knowing I am almost on my knees at the sight of my childhood crush. ‘This powerful Alpha might be our mate.'

I rolled my eyes at her. ‘Impossible, Molly. A powerful Alpha can't have us as a mate. Look at us.'

‘Don't say that.' Molly chastises. ‘Just because life doesn't feel good right now doesn't mean we are not meant for more.'

But I don't believe her. ‘I'm serious. Even Blake knows a future between us is impossible. What more from that Alpha everyone is talking about?'

"He hasn't found his mate. That's why he's coming." An Omega tells another. "Can you imagine being mates with a man like that?"

"Life would change." They murmured quietly to themselves.

I kept my eye forward, mostly looking at Blake and waiting for his signal.

All around him are beautifully and extravagantly dressed women from all over the country, flaunting and flirting with him. They batted their eyes and touched their chests so he would look down at their breasts.

Blake as always is polite and kind but from time to time he would look back at me and smile, making me feel more special than I felt.

As the night went on the powerful Alpha continued not to show, I started to feel restless. Blake had vanished from the Ball and time was running out.

Several times I felt the eyes of my father and Sarah on me, as if waiting for me to move and run away. Maybe Blake betrayed me. Maybe he told them. Maybe I won't be able to escape.

I clutched the photo of my mother inside my pocket. My eyes closed. If this is my last, I hoped and prayed that she would forgive me. I truly didn't know that the tea was poisoned. It wasn't me. I couldn't do something like that but there is truly no way to prove otherwise.

Sarah made sure of that.

Still, maybe if I do escape, one day when I become strong enough and brave enough, I will return here and uncover the truth.

Letting go of my mother's photo, I felt around in my pocket for the other essentials that I kept for my escape; some loose change— the only thing I had and a loaf of bread that I took from the buffet table in front of me.

Just when I was starting to lose hope and I was doing my rounds, moving around the ballroom with a tray of food, a hand took me by the waist.

At first I thought it was my father or worse my sister but when I looked up it was only Blake, smiling down at me.

"Are you ready?" He whispers quietly. "Everything is set."

Around us, the crowd only seemed to think that he was taking food from me.

I could only nod, afraid to speak.

With his blue eyes sparkling and wide, he masterfully maneuvers us towards a less crowded part of the venue and with a quick glance, helps me to a hidden balcony, covered by thick curtains.

Finally alone, he takes the tray from my hand and holds me before bringing me towards the edge of the balcony. "I've cleared the patrols in this area but we will have to jump down."

I looked below us to the forest and although we weren't as high as I thought we were, it was still a big jump. My lips part, ready to tell him this when he leans down and carries me into his arms like a bride.

Blake grins down at me. "I told you I got you."

While my heart leaps in my chest at our close proximity, Molly stirs in the back of my mind and stays quiet but her uncertainty is clear.

She did not like this.

She did not like this at all.

‘It's okay. He's going to help us.' I told her, hoping to calm her down as her panic was starting to affect me.

"Hold on tight." Blake whispers, making me wrap my arms around him tighter as he stands on the railings of the balcony and jumps down.

The air blows all around us and my chest squeezes as we fall but thankfully, and I shouldn't have ever doubted him, he lands on both feet easily with a soft laugh.

Surprisingly, I find myself laughing too. "You scared me."

"Never be scared of me. We're friends." Something by the way he looked at me made it feel like we were more than that but I don't let myself dwell.

I was leaving after all.

Safely on the ground, he lets me walk on my own and with our hands clasped together tightly. We started on the path to my escape by hiding behind trees and shadows with the full moon shining down on us. We quietly avoided patrols and other guards and in some cases, lovers escaping for a heated moment.

We moved slowly so as to not attract attention and it must have been an hour until we reached the pack's borders and by then, his hold on my hand tightened just a little more.

We both stared at where the border of his territory ended and I looked up at him. "Blake,"

"Alysia," He says, sounding very quiet.

Something was in the air.

I could smell it and it made Molly even more anxious and uncertain.

‘Hurry,' She urged, her emotions becoming too much to ignore. ‘Just hurry. It doesn't feel right, Alysia. Please, trust me. Something's wrong.'

‘Okay.' Trusting her over anyone else, I forced myself to smile at Blake and bow my head low in thanks. "Thank you, old friend. Thank you for helping me."

But Blake didn't smile back at me.

At least not like before.

He stared at me now with a look I couldn't decipher and it frightened me.

It frightened me for Blake has always glowed with this kindness but under the moonlight, there only seemed to be darkness in him.

When he finally smiled, it sent a chill down my spine. "I've changed my mind. I think I want to keep you for myself."

I pull away from him in panic but our hands are still intertwined and he yanks me towards him until he is literally breathing down on me. "Blake, what are you doing? Stop. Please."

Blake only smirked devilishly down at me and pressed me towards a tree where he almost grinded himself against me, making me feel his hardened length in his pants. "But why should I do that? Weren't we supposed to be mates? Isn't that your promise all those years? Shouldn't I be able to have you?"

"We're friends." I cried out, panic surging through my veins as I felt his other hand reaching down for my pants and the other pulling up my shirt. "Blake, no!"

He laughs at me and starts licking down my throat. "I have to admit. I did feel sorry for you but I couldn't help but remember how much I wanted you. Imagine this. You locked in my room while everyone thought you ran away. I could have you without anyone knowing. I could have you for life. Just like now."

I struggled against him, fighting his arms that pinned me to the tree while his hand roamed freely, pulling my clothes and ripping my buttons. No matter how hard I fought, the years of malnourishment and abuse had left me weak and I was no match for an Alpha.

He easily overpowers me, forcing me to the ground while undoing his own clothes, preparing to take me right here and now.

Blake senses that he has won, that I am tired and giving up and right when he's about to release himself from his pants, I use all of my strength to kick him in the groin. He screams and rolls away, collapsing in pain.

‘RUN!' Molly screams into my mind. ‘Run and don't look back! He's chasing you!"

I get back on my feet, feeling my knees shaking but I don't let that stop me. I don't hesitate. I don't think. I only ran as fast as I could, terrified as I started to hear Blake running after me.

"There's nowhere you can go where I will not find you, Alysia!" He taunted, running right behind me. "I'm coming… I'm close! I almost got you!"

Fear is the only thing that keeps me going.

Having never left the pack before, I have no idea where I am headed but I did not care. I was too frightened to stop.

The taste of freedom comes soon but I shouldn't have hoped for a sharp pain on my ankle makes me stop and gasp.

Looking down, I have stepped into a hunter's trap that has completely punctured my foot, making me bleed profusely.

‘Molly? What's happening?' I cried out as I suddenly felt very dizzy and weak. ‘Why do I feel so weak all of a sudden?'

Molly is in hysterics. ‘Wolfsbane! It's wolfsbane! You're caught in a wolfsbane trap!'

Just then, an overwhelming scent, overpowering everything else fills the air and burns my senses. Left and right and up and down did not make sense to me as my vision blurred and Molly's frantic shouts started to fade in the background… all while I feel footsteps coming after me.

The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was her desperate cry.

‘Alysia!'