Chapter 17

Ava's POV

I held my chest tightly as my heart pounded like a war drum. It was beating so fast that I thought it might break through my ribs. I was terrified. If Briane and Lyra were caught, it would be my fault. They came here for me. They risked everything for me. And now…they might get punished because of it.

Oh, Goddess, please don’t let them be caught. Please…please…I I whispered a desperate prayer in my mind, over and over, as the door creaked open.

“Why is everywhere so dark in here? Bring your torchlight,” a guard grumbled.

I heard the dull thud of footsteps as one of them walked away. I held my breath and tried to press myself deeper into the darkness, wishing I could disappear.

“Drane…” I heard Karen’s voice call from outside the room. “Why are you going in there?”

“I want to check if Ava is awake,” the guard—Drane—answered.

My stomach dropped. My limbs stiffened. He was right there, just a few steps away. Oh God, oh God…

“Oh. Don’t worry,” Karen said, her voice growing louder, as i heard her footsteps getting closer. “Luna Alina asked me to check. You can go do other things.”

There was a pause. Then, “Yeah. We can just check her together. Pass me the torchlight.”

Karen didn’t hesitate. “Don’t worry, Drane. I came earlier to check if she was awake, just like the Luna ordered. You weren’t here. I heard you went for rounds. Don’t you think you should go report to Alpha Darien about your rounds first? I’m pretty sure you don’t want his wrath.” There was silence. I held still, barely daring to blink.

Finally, Drane muttered, “Yeah…I think I’ll just do that. You check on her then.” His footsteps moved away.

“Yeah, okay,” Karen answered quickly, and I could see the back of Drane lit up by her torchlight beam as he left.

Karen stepped inside the room and closed the door softly behind her. Lyra and Briane lifted their heads and quickly approached.

“I told you guys to only use five minutes,” Karen scolded them, her tone low but sharp. Her eyes flashed with worry and frustration.

Lyra and Briane stood with their heads bowed, not daring to speak at first. “It’s my fault,” I said quickly, guilt weighing heavy on my tongue. “I delayed them with talk.”

“No, it’s ours. We didn’t want to leave her…right, Lyra?” Briane spoke up, looking at Lyra. Lyra nodded.

“No, I was the one that—”

“Just shut up, all of you!” Karen hissed, running her hand through her hair in frustration. “Your fault, her fault, their fault—I don’t care right now. We need to get out of here before someone else comes!”

Briane stepped forward and reached for my hand, her grip warm and comforting. “Ava, you’ll be fine, okay? Try to plead with the Luna when she calls you. Just do anything to please her…and maybe later, you can try to escape.”

My eyes widened. Escape?

“What the hell are you telling her to do? Escape? Are you crazy?” Lyra snapped, spinning to face Briane. “Don’t you know how dangerous that is? What if she’s caught? She will be caught, Briane. She’s human!" My pulse quickened. "Don’t listen to her, Ava,” Lyra added quickly, turning back to me. “It’s suicide.”

“She can actually escape,” Briane argued. “She just has to look for the best opportunity. I mean—”

“Are you insane?!” Lyra barked, her voice shaking with anger. “Don’t risk the poor girl’s life like that! How could you suggest such a thing?! You don’t even like her! It’s obvious you’re her enemy!”

I gasped softly. The room went silent for a second. Briane’s face crumpled like she’d been slapped. “That’s not true!” she said, her voice breaking. “I care. Why else would I come here with you and risk everything?”

“Oh, please,” Lyra muttered bitterly, blinking fast like she was holding back tears. “You just want to act like the hero while getting her killed!”

Their argument stabbed into my heart like a knife. I felt like I was shrinking with every word. My throat tightened. My eyes burned.

“I don’t want any of you to fight…” I whispered, barely able to hear myself. “Please…just stop. I’m the one in danger here. Not either of you…”

Karen groaned and rubbed her face. “This is exactly why I said five minutes. We’re out of time. Let’s go. Now. Before someone else comes.”

Lyra and Briane exchanged one last glare, their chests heaving with anger. But they said nothing. Karen turned back to the door, peeking out to check the hallway.

Before she left, Briane turned and grabbed my hand tightly. Her eyes locked onto mine. “Stay strong, Ava. Just…think about what I said.”

Lyra looked back, too, her face pale with worry. “Don’t listen to her. Just stay alive. That’s all you need to do.”

And with that, they slipped away through the door. It closed behind them with a soft click. I was alone again. The room felt colder now.

I stood there for what felt like hours, hugging myself, my back pressed to the wall, my legs trembling. And then slowly, I sank to the floor and curled up on the cold floor, staring at nothing.

*****

I don’t want to die here. I need to leave. I need to get out. I can’t take this anymore. Even if I die on the way out…at least I’ll be free.

I ran through the endless halls of the Alpha’s mansion barefooted. My feet slapped against the marble floor, stinging with every step. The halls stretched forever, the same patterns, the same walls, the same shadows. It felt like I was running in circles. This place is sure hellish big.

I let out a sigh of relief, tears stinging my eyes as I saw the gate ahead. I'm finally there. Just a few more steps. I muttered silently. I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop running.

I grabbed the doorknob as i got to the gate, but pain exploded in my scalp. I was yanked back by my hair so violently that I screamed. I thought it would tear off. My knees scraped the floor as I fell. I opened my teary eyes—and there she was with a smirk on her face.

“Where do you think you’re running to, little slave?” she sneered.

“I… I wasn’t running away,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. My throat burned from the position she held me in.

“Oh, really?” she said, tilting her head. “Well, it looks like you were, whore.”

She released my hair suddenly, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing. My hands flew to my neck. I couldn’t breathe I turned fully to her to see Alpha Darien behind her. He was just standing there like a lifeless statue.

“Should I go ahead?” Luna Alina asked, not turning her body—just glancing at him with a twisted smile.

“Go ahead, my Luna,” he said, his voice hollow. His face empty. My eyes widened in horror.

“Did you hear that?” Alina hissed, stepping closer to me. “He told me to go ahead.”

“Go ahead with what?” I asked, dread crawling up my spine.

“You’ll find out now,” she said.

Suddenly, she raised her hands. Her claws extended. Her fangs visible. I tried to back away but it was too late. Her hand clamped around my neck and she lifted me into the air.

I choked. My legs kicked. My arms clawed at her hand. But she was too strong. My feet dangled above the floor, my vision blurry.

I looked at Alpha Darien again, he didn’t blink, nor move. I closed my eyes, pain throbbing through my skull. My lungs screamed for air.

Is this it? Is this how I die? Ava, the slave girl. Killed by her master and his wife.

I forced my eyes open one last time, trying to look around the mansion… just once more… just to remember the place I thought would be my grave. And then the world started to fade.

And I let go...