Chapter 5

Irene’s POV

By the time the first light of dawn had crept through the window, I had made my decision.

I would rather die than become his breeder hence my wolf and I decided that we were getting out.

The lock on the door had been expensive, but not complex enough. Years of living in the servants' quarters had taught me how to pick locks with a hairpin when I needed to "borrow" extra food and now, how to stay invisible.

I waited until I heard the footsteps behind the door pass and then I worked the pin into the lock, my hands shaking as I did it.

The click when it gave way had sounded like thunder in my ears but when I had cracked the door open, and peered into the hallway, there was nothing.

No guard stationed outside anywhere. Either Alastair was too arrogant to think I would run, or he had never intended to keep me locked in at all.

His mistake.

I'd slipped out immediately, staying close to the pillars so I could easily duck and hide, my heart was hammering so hard I thought it might burst from my chest.

The guards ahead turned a corner, and I darted across the open corridor, ducking into an alcove behind a massive marble statue. I waited, counting my breaths, until they were gone then I kept moving.

I walked through the palace by instinct and half-remembered glimpses from my year of service.

The east wing connected to the main hall, which had a side entrance that led to the gardens, and the gardens had a gate that led-

"Hey! You there!"

My entire body stiffened and I slowly spun around to see two guards at the far end of the hallway, their eyes widening as they recognized me.

Or maybe they didn't recognize me specifically, maybe they just saw a servant running where she shouldn't be.

"Stop!" one of them shouted but I bolted before I could think more of it. .

I raced down the corridor, taking a sharp right, then a left. Behind me, I heard them chasing me, their heavier boots pounding and their shouts echoing off the walls.

Think, Irene. Think!

I spotted a servants' stairwell and threw myself through the door, taking the steps two at a time. My ankle twisted slightly on the narrow stairs, but I caught myself and kept going.

These stairs led to the lower levels, to the kitchens and storage rooms where I knew every corner.

I burst out into a familiar hallway, startling a maid carrying linens. She yelped, dropping her bundle, but I was already past her. I heard the guards' boots on the stairs behind me, getting closer.

I found the storage closet, grabbed the handle, yanked it open, and slipped inside, pressing myself behind a rack of cleaning supplies. I held my breath, my hand clamped over my mouth.

The guards thundered past, their voices fading as they continued down the hallway.

I waited, counting to one hundred then two hundred but they were gone.

I slipped out of the closet, my legs trembling.

“That was too close.” I muttered, wiping the sweat from my head.

I looked down at the long, heavy skirts that tangled around my legs. Without hesitation, I grabbed the fabric and tore, ripping away the bottom half until the hem hit just below my knees.

Better. I could move better now.

My hair had come loose during the chase. I gathered it quickly, using the same hairpin I'd picked the lock with to secure it in a rough ponytail at the base of my neck.

This is all his fault, I thought viciously, my brother's face flashing through my mind.

If he hadn't sold me, if he hadn't been such a greedy, selfish bastard, I wouldn’t be running for my life like this.

I continued through the lower levels, moving more carefully now, ducking into doorways whenever I heard voices.

The palace was waking up fully and my heart thundered faster. I

I kept walking aimlessly until I found a simple wooden door at the end of a narrow hallway, partially hidden behind a tapestry.

It looked old, and I wondered if it was the servants' entrance or a forgotten exit from when the palace had been smaller?

I rushed forward, my hands trembling as I grabbed the handle.

“Please don't be locked.” I whispered in a shaky voice. “Please, please-“

The handle turned and the door swung open, the cool morning air hitting my face. The forest stretched out beyond the palace grounds, and I chuckled to myself.

I had actually made it. .

My feet hit the soft earth and I nearly sobbed with relief. The forest loomed ahead, and I pushed myself to run, my torn skirts whipping around my legs.

Behind me, the palace grew smaller, and with every step, hope grew in my chest.

I could make it. I could disappear into those trees, and they would never find me.

I would figure something out, maybe find another pack or somewhere far away where the Lycan King's reach couldn't touch me.

‘You should've thought this through,’ my usually silent wolf whispered in my mind. ‘You have no supplies. Where will you even go?’

I shoved her down. I would figure it out, anything was better than..

Howls erupted behind me and I risked a glance over my shoulder and to hear more howls coming from the palace.

Was it… were they after me?

“Dammit!” I cursed and pushed harder. The edge of the forest was already so close, I could just reach out and-

My foot caught on a rock and I tripped, losing my balance as I crashed to the ground.

The impact drove the air from my lungs and a stabbing pain exploded in my ankle as it twisted beneath me.

I heard the snap first, then felt the white hot agony shoot up my leg, and couldn't stop the scream that tore from my throat.

“Arrgh!”

I rolled onto my side, clutching my ankle, and tears bubbled out of my throat.

The pain was blinding, it felt like someone was poking a hundred pins into my ankle and when I looked at the purple bruise forming, another sob ripped out from me.

A rustle in the bushes nearby stole my attention and I looked up through my tears, my whole body going cold with dread.

"No," I whispered.

Alastair Black emerged from the tree line, he was dressed in a casual black shirt and pants but it did nothing to the dominance rolling off him.

His steel-grey eyes locked onto me, and a cruel smirk curved his lips.

He approached and crouched down to my level, close enough that I could see the flecks of silver in his irises.

His finger found my chin and he pulled me close to whisper sinfully. "Where are you going, dove?"