Escaping

Lisa's POV

I stood in the dark cell, my heart pounding against my ribs. Sweat gathered on my forehead as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Derek?" I called softly, pressing a trembling hand against the cold iron gate. "Please… don’t hurt me."

A low, snarl erupted from the cell.

Then, a pair of red eyes opened.

"Oh no," I whispered, my body jolting in shock.

"He’s changing."

"Little wolf," Derek murmured, "My rut has started… but I can still control it. For now."

I swallowed hard. "Does that mean… you won’t hurt me?"

He clenched his fists, his entire body rigid as though restraining himself.

Under the faint sliver of moonlight filtering through the cracks, I could finally see him. His dark hair clung to his sweat-dampened forehead, and his muscles were tense, veins protruding against his skin.

"If you do exactly as I say," he said, "I won’t hurt you."

My fingers curled around the iron bars. "What do you want me to do?"

Derek inhaled sharply, his breaths coming quicker, Is he going to kill me?.

"I need you to scream," he said.

I blinked. "Scream?"

"Let them think I’m thrusting in and out of you. They expect it. If they believe I’ve satisfied my rut, they’ll come for you."

A cold shiver ran down my spine, bile rising in my throat. "And what if they don’t open the gate?"

His jaw tightened. "Then we move to the next step."

Something in his tone made my stomach twist.

"Take off your clothes," he commanded.

I stiffened. "What?"

His red eyes glowed. I could tell his patience was wearing thin.

"If you want this plan to work," he said, "they have to see you naked."

My fingers gripped the fabric of my tattered clothing.

"I’m not some whore," I whispered. "I won’t have my naked body on display for them."

Derek snarled, his fangs coming out slightly. His restraint was slipping.

"You either do this," he said, "or I lose control. And when I do, I won’t be able to stop myself."

"In an hour or two, my rut will take full control," he continued, his breathing rough. "And there will be no turning back."

"What if this beast is just trying to make me strip to make it easier for him to have his way?"

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through me. My palms were already slick with sweat, and I had to make a decision.

"Alright," I said, "Turn around and face the wall. Don’t you dare look at me."

He shot me a piercing glance, his red eyes glowing under the moonlight, before finally turning his back to me.

My fingers trembled as I reached for the tattered remains of my clothing. I hesitated, watching Derek for any sudden movement, then swallowed hard and pulled off my clothes, stopping just before my underwear.

The moment I did, Derek cleared his throat. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest. In pure panic, I yanked my arms across my chest, one hand covering my breasts while the other shielded the lower half of my body.

But Derek didn’t turn.

"Are you done?" he asked.

I nodded before realizing he couldn’t see me. "Y-Yes."

"Now scream," he commanded. "As loud as you can. Like your life depends on it, because it does."

A cold shiver ran through me, but I obeyed.

I threw my head back and screamed, pouring every ounce of terror and desperation into my voice.

Then, silence.

I pressed my lips together, breathing heavily. "Now what?" I whispered, my voice shaky.

"Now," Derek said, "we wait."

The distant sound of footsteps made my stomach churn. I barely had time to think before I buried my face in my hands, pretending to sob uncontrollably as the footsteps grew closer.

Derek collapsed onto the floor, lying perfectly still, as though he had passed out.

The guard walked close to the iron gate of the cell. I felt his eyes over me, observing me from head to toe.

Then, he shifted his gaze to Derek.

He nodded his head in amusement, a grin appearing on his features. He returned his gaze back to me. "You really are a whore, aren't you?" he sneered. "You knocked him out cold."

"Guess his dick wasn't enough for you," he taunted as he opened the cell gate.

He entered the cell, his eyes suddenly widened as they settled on my firm breasts.

He licked his lips as his eyes roamed over my curves, lust brewing in his heart like a volcano. "There's no fucking way I'm not going to have a taste of that," he said as he pulled me towards him.

"I was counting on that," Derek snarled from behind.

But before the guard could turn to face Derek, he snapped his neck with force, killing him on the spot.

"Put on your clothes," Derek said, facing me, but his red eyes shone brightly as they settled on my breasts.

I quickly dashed for my clothes and put them on.

We exited the cell doors, with me following Derek closely. He reached out to the spiral steps that led upstairs.

That was the only way in and out of the basement floor, but we had to be careful not to meet anyone along the way, or our mission of escaping would be impossible.

"I know exactly where we should go to," Derek channeled to me. I couldn’t help but feel his large hands on my shoulder as he led me out the doors.

The back corridors were almost vacant, except for one guard who staggered forward in a drunken state. Derek swiftly and brutally snapped his neck, leaving no trace of blood, making it appear as if the guard was asleep.

We reached the back walls of the cells, finally finding a clear path to run away. “It’s easier to turn into our wolves and jump out of this; it may require more effort, but it’s better that way. I can feel my strength slowly returning from the moon’s rays.”

But when he heard no word from me, he turned to face me, and I saw the moment his eyes darkened as he noticed my fear.

I nodded my head in shame as I whispered, “I can’t—I can’t turn—I have a defective wolf… I’m sorry.”

A surge of fear ran through me. What if he decided to leave me behind and jump the walls without me?

Derek let out a grunt, then climbed over the wall. I shut my eyes tight, unable to bear the thought of him leaving me behind.

But then I was startled when I heard his voice. “Give me your hand, little wolf.”

I opened my eyes, stunned to see him stretching his hand toward me. “Hurry,” he said.

I took one last look at the stone walls and castle gate of the cells before climbing the walls.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice coming from the field, and my eyes widened in terror. It was Alpha Cole.

We had been spotted.

"I see them over the walls!" Alpha Cole shouted as his men shifted into wolves. "Hurry, don't let them escape!" he barked.

“We need to go,” Derek called to me as he dropped me on the ground on the other side of the walls.

I barely had time to react before he jumped down, and his bones shifted very quickly. My breath caught in my throat as I watched, shocked.

I had never seen a wolf who turned so swiftly, without pain.

His huge form towered over me, standing at eight feet tall. His entire body was covered in dark fur, and his red eyes still glowed like an alpha.

I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding, but Derek bent slightly toward me.

Hop on my back, he snarled telepathically.

I hesitated for only a second before holding onto him.

Derek ran through the woods, his powerful legs tearing through the weeds, while Alpha Cole's men gave chase, their growls sounding behind us.