4

Three days. Serafina had counted every single one. Three days since Alpha Darius had invoked the Right of Claim. Three days  confined to the east wing of the Alpha House. Three days of unanswered questions. No interrogations. No torture. No threats. Only silence. It unsettled her far more than cruelty ever could.

She stood by the window, watching the Black Fang warriors train below. Their movements were disciplined and precise. Not once did they strike out of anger. Every swing of the sword was controlled. Every command was obeyed without fear. Shadow Fang had trained differently.

Mistakes were punished with broken bones. Weakness was beaten out of children. Mercy didn’t exist in there. A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. The door opened slowly, and Martha entered carrying breakfast.

“Good morning.”

Serafina nodded stiffly. It was the closest thing to a greeting Martha had received from her so far.

“I’ll leave this here.”

She placed fresh bread, eggs, fruit, and tea on the table. When Martha turned to leave, Serafina spoke.

“Why?”

Martha looked back. “Why what?”

“Why are you being so kind to me?”

The older woman smiled gently. “I’ve lived long enough to know the difference between evil, and someone who has only ever been taught to survive.”

Before Serafina could respond, Martha quietly left. The words lingered in the room long after the door had closed. That night, Serafina made her decision. She was leaving. She waited until the Alpha House fell silent. One by one, the lights outside disappeared. Footsteps grew less frequent. The guards changed shifts.

She had spent three days memorizing every patrol. Every blind spot. Every sound. Just like she’s been trained. She pulled a thin metal pin from the hem of her sleeve. She had stolen it from a loose curtain hook earlier that afternoon. It wasn’t much. But it would do.

Kneeling beside her iron shackles, she slid the pin into the lock. Click. Still nothing. So she tried once again. Then another click. Still locked. She closed her eyes. Steady, don’t rush. After several careful attempts, the shackle sprang open. A small smile tugged at her lips. Some habits never disappeared.

She slipped out into the hallway without making a sound. The Alpha House was enormous. Moonlight spilled through tall windows, painting silver patterns across the polished floor. Servants had long since gone to bed. Only two guards remained near the main entrance. Too risky.

She turned towards the eastern corridor instead. Earlier that day, she had noticed a balcony overlooking the outer gardens. If she could reach the wall, then the forest wasn’t far beyond, and freedom. She moved like a shadow. Silent and invisible. Exactly as she’d been trained for years.

She reached the balcony. The night air brushed against her face. Below lay a flower garden. Beyond it, the outer wall. Her eyes measured the distance. Too high to jump safely. Unless, she spotted a large oak tree growing close to the wall. It’s braches stretched almost to the balcony. Perfect.

Without hesitation, she climbeb onto the stone railing. One deep breath. Then she jumped. Her fingers caught the thick branch. The impact nearly tore her grip loose, but she pulled herself up.

Hope immediately flickered inside her chest right now. She climbed down the tree and landed softly on the ground. Almost there. She sprinted toward the wall. Only a few more meters.

“Going somewhere, Serafina?”

Her entire body froze. The familiar voice came from directly behind her. Slowly she turned around. Alpha Darius stood beneath the moonlight. Hands tucked behind his back. He looks completely calm. As though he’d been expecting her. No guards, no weapons, and just him alone. Serafina instinctively reached for the dagger that was no longer at her waist. Nothing. She clicked her tongue.

“I wondered how long it would take.” Darius began walking toward her. “I expected you to try escaping on the first night.”

“You were waiting me to run away?”

“I was curious.”

“About what?”

“Wheter you’d disappoint me.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand you.”

“You studied the guards.” He stopped a few feet away. “You memorized patrol routes. You unlocked your restraints. You choose the only route with the fewest guards.”

Every words struck like lightning. He knew everything.

“How?”

A faint smile appeared on his lips. “You assume you’re the only one capable of observing people.”

Serafina clenched her fists. “You let me escape.”

“I let you try.”

Anger flared inside her. “You’ve been playing with me.”

“No.” His expression became serious. “I was testing you.”

She laughed bitterly. “And?”

“You passed.”

Her laughter stopped. “What?”

“You escaped your room, you avoided every guards... and you reached the outer garden without being seen.” He nodded once. “It so impressive, Serafina.”

She stared at him. Was he complimenting her right now?

“I don’t need your approval.”

“I understand.”

“Then stop looking at me like that!”

Darius frowned a little. “Like what?”

“Like you’re trying to figure me out.”

His crimson eyes met hers. “I am.”

“But why?”

“Because nothing about you makes sense to me.” Darius answered without hesitation.

“You kill like someone trained since childhood. You move like a warrior. But,” He stepped closer. “You’ve never shifted to your wolf.”

Her breath caught. That question again. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then prove me wrong.”

“I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

He nodded. “No. You don’t.” He turned away. “I’ve seen enough for tonight.”

“You’re just... letting me go back there?”

“I wasn’t planning to punish you.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I expected this. You’ll try again. And the time after that. Again and again.”

He glanced back over his shoulder. “I’d be disappointed if you stopped trying.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What kind of Alpha are you?”

“The kind who refuses to cage a wolf forever.” His answer left her speechless.

Moments later, two warriors finally appeared, breathless. “Alpha! We lost the prisoner...”

Darius looked at them. “You didn’t lose her.”

The warriors glanced toward Serafina, embarrassment flashing across their faces. “My apologies, Alpha...”

“Double the patrols.”

“Yes, Alpha!”

Tthe warriors approached Serafina cautiously. She expected Darius to order them to drag her back in chains. Instead, he spoke calmly.

“Walk.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not going to chaim me again?”

“I already know you can escape.” His lips curved into the faintest smile. “The chains were never the real test for you.”

Serafina walked past him in silence. As they returned toward the Alpha House, only one thought echoed inside her mind. She has spent years believing she was the hunter. Yet somehow, every move she’d made since arriving at Black Fang had been anticipated by the Alpha she had sworn to kill. It make Serafina wondered if she was no longer the one doing the hunting. Perhaps, she was the one being studied.