CHAPTER 07: ESCAPING FROM THE DUNGEON

I shouted until my throat felt raw and dry.

“Is anyone there?! I am trapped here please hear me and help!”

I gathered every bit of strength left inside me, just so my voice could travel through thick stone walls and iron bars. But one whole hour passed… and not even one person came near. No footsteps, no voice back. Only silence and cold.

This was my last chance before everything settled down and guards returned to their posts. Once the pack order went back to normal, I would be taken out and sentenced to death. I knew it clearly.

My hands and feet felt stiff and numb. They had been pressed tight against cold iron rings fixed deep into stone for hours already. My skin was sore, swollen, and marked with dark bruises. Every little movement sent sharp pain running all over my limbs.

The air here was always freezing. It smelled heavy old dampness mixed with rust, dried blood and dirt from many years. The ceiling looked pitch‑black, low and heavy like it might fall any moment. Water dripped slowly from cracks above, making constant echoing sound drip… drip… drip…

I shivered, pulling my torn dress closer. This place held fear and suffering. I could feel it in every stone stories of criminals, rebels and wolves tortured here long ago.

“Moon Goddess…” I whispered with eyes closed tight. “Please give me strength just now. Enough to break free. Enough to survive.”

I breathed deeply, filling my lungs, and focused all my mind and will. I stepped close to the nearest thick iron bar and gripped it hard. My fingers ached… but suddenly something shifted deep within me. Under my skin, energy woke up warm and sharp.

Slowly, naturally, my fingernails grew longer and sharper, harder than steel itself. I pushed and twisted the bar with all my might. With a loud groan and snap it gave way. Broke clean and easy.

“I am FREE!” I cried out loud as loud as I could without drawing attention too soon. No more chains. No more treating me like trash or dirt.

I stepped forward. My right foot bore a large open wound from dragging earlier; blood still crusted along my ankle and toes. Every step stung.

Walking along long, winding passages, I could not help thinking: So many others walked here before me… never walked out again…

And I was innocent all along.

They accused me falsely saying I lied, said I tried to take what belonged to others. They never listened to truth. They never knew I spoke only facts.

I reached the heavy iron door that led toward upper levels. I moved carefully, stepping lightly even on swollen feet — tiptoe… tiptoe…

“Ouch…” I bit my lip hard. “I cannot endure this much longer…”

My whole body throbbed bones, muscles, skin all aching. I was just a poor omega, lowest rank in their system. How unfair it felt.

If only I were born stronger… higher rank… powerful enough so no one could ever hurt me…

Just then, louder noises drifted down from above shouting, crying, weapons clashing, horns blowing. Smoke rose in grey clouds through openings. Bright orange flames swallowed some houses and sheds inside the pack grounds.

The attack… it is still happening!

I hurried faster. If enemy rogues or strangers found me here alone, hurt and weak… it would be worse.

The only safe choice I saw: run toward the wide green forest beyond pack borders.

Before turning away completely, I glanced back one last time toward buildings and halls I once called home. My heart filled with heavy mixed feelings anger, sadness, deep betrayal. Tears fell freely and ran down both cheeks.

“If only… I wasn’t born omega…” I whispered while running. “If only I was stronger… then my adoptive parents might still live beside me now.”

I bit back more tears. “I was such a fool trusting Alpha Jazzen. I thought he felt what I felt… I never knew he only treated me like a toy for his amusement.”

Crying helped release pain but it did not save me. I wiped eyes roughly. “From now on… I will change. I will grow stronger and bolder. Even if I have to become harder… even if they call me bad…”

The forest stood tall and green ahead beautiful, deep and mysterious. Trees grew thick and close, leaves forming shade overhead. Wild flowers bloomed everywhere but I could not enjoy them now. Every breath hurt; every step stung.

This was not just an escape… it was the true beginning of my long nightmare. But also the beginning of finding myself.

I kept running as fast as possible, ignoring pain.

Suddenly voices came from behind large oak trunks I ducked quickly behind nearest cover and pressed flat against bark.

“Hey you heard right?” said one young man with brown hair. “Alpha Jazzen’s pack is under attack by a large rogue group.”

“Yeah, I know already,” replied the black‑haired one beside him with cold laugh. “And honestly… serves them well. Too proud and cruel anyway.”

Brown‑haired man grinned. “Also heard news: there’s a new gathering house open for single wolves near the capital. Good place to relax and enjoy.”

“Perfect!” Black‑haired laughed louder. “I’m thirsty already… thinking about soft‑looking she‑wolves waiting there…”

They stripped quickly and shifted into sleek grey and black wolf forms, then bounded away fast between trees.

I breathed out slowly shaky relief filling my chest. “Thank goodness… they never saw me… otherwise things would turn even worse.”

Now truly alone deep in woods, I kept moving further away. My feet were swollen and bleeding; stones, roots and sharp twigs scratched skin raw. But I paid no mind. I belonged nowhere else now I was independent.

Wild flowers bloomed bright blue, yellow, purple all along path… but beauty felt far away from me. My arms and legs were covered in bruises, old and fresh wounds mixed.

Hours later, legs burning and heavy, I caught something wonderful ahead clear sunlight shining on moving silver surface.

A river.

Clean running water.

Joy and hope warmed me instantly. I limped toward it, leaning on branches for support. Large smooth rocks curved around and hid the stream well from view. Perfect place.

First I looked carefully in every direction up‑stream, down‑stream, deeper woods making sure no stranger, rogue or enemy was nearby.

My dress was torn, stained and dirty almost beyond use, but I kept wearing it for now better than running uncovered. I still could not shift fully into wolf form; my body was too weak and drained right now.

When I stepped into water, coldness wrapped gently over me. It felt amazing soothing heat and throbbing pain away slowly. I waded deeper and swam slowly. Floating on back let me rest completely.

I closed eyes and breathed fresh air mixed with river scent. Wounds stung a little but also began cleaning and healing naturally.

Finally… peace.

But calmness did not last long.

New voices came from further upstream loud and rough.

“Hey man… what should we really do with all loot we gathered?” a bulky man’s voice boomed.

Panic shot through me instantly. Heart hammered hard and fast against ribs. I slipped deeper underwater, moving silently toward shadows beneath hanging branches.

They were coming closer. I was nearly naked beneath thin wet cloth, helpless, weaponless, hurt. Fear grew cold in every vein.

I held breath as long as I could… lungs burning… eyes blurred…

Suddenly something moved beneath water beside me. Fast and silent.

A figure swam upward smoothly toward me. Pale skin shone even in dim light. Hair fell long and silver‑white like moonlight. His eyes were deep purple unlike any wolf I had ever seen. He looked strong, tall and majestic like a king from old legends.

He stared straight at me.

My heart leaped wildly faster than before. I tried swimming away quickly but he caught me easily, arms wrapping tight and secure around me.

He held me firm yet gentle, pulling me upward toward air.

When he lifted me above water, moonlight touched his silver hair and made it shine softly. His purple eyes looked deep and steady like he could read everything written in my heart already.

“Do not struggle,” his voice said low and calm. “No harm shall come to you here.”

My breath came fast and shaky. “Who… who are you?”

“One who walks where laws do not bind,” he answered simply. “And who watches when strong ones abuse their power.”

He helped me sit safely upon flat moss‑covered rock. He tore clean soft leaves and pressed them gently to my cuts herbs he knew well.

“You ran from Alpha Jazzen’s pack,” he said statement not question. “And you are the one they called liar and trouble‑maker.”

Tears rose again. “I spoke truth… I really am his destined mate… but Catherine poisoned everything… everyone believed her instead.”

He nodded slowly. “Many truths stay hidden… until the right time comes.”

While he spoke, bulky men from earlier passed along riverbank above searching, shouting, carrying stolen goods. Silver‑haired stranger placed finger lightly against his lips silence. We hid behind rock and shadow until they were gone completely.

“They belong to the rogue band attacking today,” he explained later. “Cruel and greedy… but still less cruel sometimes than leaders who twist laws.”

That night under tall trees and bright moon, I learned survival lessons I never imagined before. He taught me which plants heal and which poison… how to read wind scent… how to hide perfectly… how to keep strength even when body feels empty.

Slowly I understood this was just beginning. Soon we move deeper… maybe toward wild coastlines… far islands… places where castaway survival truly begins.