Escape

I lay down on the cold, damp floor of the dungeon, trying to block out the sound of Carolina’s laugh ringing in my ears. She was twisted and venomous.

I thought about what had happened in the pack. I loved Craig, which I always had right from the start.

I remember that day, so clearly I had fainted at the pack border, and when I opened my eyes, Craig's face was the first that I saw, and I knew in that instant that he was my mate, my saviour. Everyone in the pack looked down on me, but they wouldn’t bully me in an obvious way because they had a lot of respect for beta Craig, although I knew deep down that they probably wouldn’t mind giving me a hard time when they got the chance I wasn’t from this pack and didn’t even have a wolf. I wasn’t part of their family.. when I think back on my life before coming here, it’s just a blank. I don’t remember anything from my life before the Moonshadow Pack. I was grateful for everything Craig had done for me. He looked out for me, and Cady was my only real friend within the pack. I trusted nobody but her and Craig until I found him in bed with the one person that I knew who hated me.

But I always felt a strange sensation come over me whenever I saw the Alpha looking my way. It was almost as if he had avoided me. Craig took on many responsibilities while Alpha Zane was outliving his best life doing God knows what.

I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. I couldn’t imagine my life without Craig. I was beginning to think that he was right and nothing had happened. Perhaps he hadn’t even known that Caroline was there. That sneaky bitch. This was my fault, just because she had an obsession with my mate. Yet here I was, being blamed for the consequences of her actions.

Closing my eyes, I imagined myself out of here in a nice, warm, safe place beside my love. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, I heard Cady’s voice calling my name.

“Oh, Avery! I've been so worried about you. Are you okay? I hate that bitch what she did to you. She will be sorry.” She clenched her fists at her sides. I sat up and managed a half smile, knowing she would happily bring Carolina down a peg or two, but she wasn’t worth it.

“The trial is tomorrow. You have to get out of here.” Cady’s tone turned serious.

“What? I can’t. How can I get away from here? Carolina will never allow that. And with the trial tomorrow as well. She will do anything to get rid of me.” I stated, shaking my head. I knew it was impossible to get out of here.

“Let me help.” The kind guard from earlier piped up. My eyes widened in disbelief. Why was he willing to help me escape? That would put him at risk of imprisonment. I gulped and looked between Cady and the kind guard.

“No. I can’t let you get into trouble for me.” I shook my head and tried not to burst into tears. I felt so weak and useless. Was everyone right when they said I was nothing without Craig?

I sunk back against the wall. My chains rattled with every movement I made. Cady growled, and I saw her eyes flash as her wolf threatened to surface.

“You are not staying here, Avery. It's too dangerous,” Cady said firmly. We need to cross the border and get far away.” She whispered to me and then turned to the guard.

“Pete, isn’t it?” She raised an eyebrow, and he nodded his head.

“You said you wanted to help me, so help. Get her out of here,” Cady insisted. He immediately fumbled in his pocket for a bundle of keys that clattered together as he tried to find the right one.

“Come on, we don’t have much time.” Cady hurried him on, and I felt sick and nervous. My whole body felt so weak.

“Here, take this.” Cady wrapped her coat around me as Pete unchained me. I rubbed my sore wrists and ankles and thanked him profusely. I was sorry he would have to face the wrath of helping me. I wished I could do something to make this all better again.

“Just go and be safe.” Pete hugged me, and I wiped my teary eyes as Cady grabbed my hand and started to run with me, guiding me through the maze of corridors. We finally reached the end, and I felt my heart race as Cady pushed the door open and scanned our surroundings. She sniffed the air before gesturing me to follow her. “This is the safest way out without getting caught, " she whispered, and I remained silent.

“Ready?” Cady asked, her eyes locked onto mine, and I nodded in response, too afraid to breathe in case we were caught. I couldn’t bear to think about being in that filthy dungeon again.

“On the count of three,” she said, slightly before me. “You’re going to run, and you’re not going to stop until you cross that border. Do you hear me?” She said, and my stomach dropped at her words. She wasn’t coming with me?

“I can’t go without you.” I pleaded with her, but she refused to listen.

“Avery, you’re going. You need to. Now listen. One, two and three!”

I threw my arms around my best friend and silently thanked her. She hugged me back and then shoved me forward. “Go.” She urged me.

I dashed forward, my heart pounding, and put one foot in front of the other. The wind whipped around me, pushing my body to keep moving.

Every rustle of grass or snap of a twig made me scared to stop in case it was Carolina. She would be delighted if she dragged me back to that dungeon.

Suddenly, I spotted the edge of the border and breathed a sigh of relief. I was going to be okay, but then my heart shattered into pieces as I heard Carolina's familiar high-pitched yell.

“Guards! Get her, get her.”

I kept my eyes ahead of the border pack. I kept running. My legs ached so badly, and I heard snarling as I was about to cross the border. I froze for a moment as my blood turned to ice. I spotted the first rogue step out, baring his canines at the sight of me running. The scent of danger wafted through the air, but I remembered Cady's words to keep running no matter what.

As I finally crossed the border, my legs gave way, and I fell, screaming as pain rippled through my legs.

I saw a figure standing over me, and my mind filled with what-ifs. This was it; this was my fate. I was going to die.

My vision blurred as I strained to glance at the figure towering over me. But it wasn’t the shape of Carolina. It was a striking man with piercing blue eyes.

Alpha Zane?

Then, everything around me went black as I passed out.