Chapter 3

Bianca’s Point of View

When I finally get back to my room, my mother and Emily are already there, waiting for me exactly as planned.

To anyone watching, it looks normal. Just two women helping another prepare for the upcoming festival, but I know the truth. This is not just preparation, this is an escape.

The moment the door closes behind me, my chest tightens again.

For a second, I just stand there, because leaving suddenly feels real. Not like a desperate thought, not like a fantasy.

It's real. I am actually going to leave this place. I am going to cross that border and I may never see this place again.

I may never see my mother or Emily again.

My heart twists painfully but before I can do or say anything my mother speaks.

“Okay, we don't have a lot of time, so listen carefully.”

My mother says quietly, her voice firm but controlled and I nod my head. She is putting on a good show, but I can see it. The slight tremble in her fingers, the way she keeps glancing towards the door. She is scared, and yet, she is standing here, helping me.

“You will come with us to the festival. You will smile politely, greet people, and act like everything is fine. You can't panic, or let anything slip. No one can suspect that something is going on. We can't have any questions. And most importantly, we cannot give Damon a reason to look close”

She says and her words make my stomach twist. because she is right. Damon notices everything, especially when it comes to me.

Emily nods her head as she moves closer to me.

“Exactly, you just need to play along.”

She says and I swallow hard.

I hate that I am making them lie. I hate that my fear is putting them at risk, but the thought of Alpha Marcus makes my entire body tense.

I can't.

I can't go to him.

I can't become his.

“Yes, and when the festival picks up around nine o’clock, you will excuse yourself. You’ll say that you’re not feeling well.”

My mother continues, her voice drawing me back to the present.

“And what about Damon?”

I ask softly.

“I’ll handle your brother, and your father. I’ll keep them occupied so you can get out.”

She says without hesitation and my heart aches for her, because she says it so easily.

Like she isn't talking about risking herself, like she isn't talking about facing Damon and my father, the same men who has spent years hurting her.

My mother turns to look at Emily.

“While we are at the festival, you will come back here, and you will pack Bianca two bags. One with her necessities and some clothes, and one with supplies.”

She says and Emily immediately nods her head.

“I have already started to make a list.”

She says and my mother nods her head.

“Good. I will link you as soon as Bianca leaves the festival. You will meet her at the southern border, near the river. At the large rocks where the children usually play.”

She says and my heart begins to pound.

The border.

The final step.

The point where there is no going back.

“The border guards...”

I begin, but my mother cuts me off.

“They change shifts at nine-thirty. That gives you a few minutes to cross the border and get into the river. It's a narrow time window, but it will be enough for you to get away.”

She says firmly. For a few seconds I just stare at her.

My mind races, because suddenly, I don't just see an escape.

I see everything I am leaving behind.

My mother, Emily, the pack.

I shake my head, and take a step back.

"I can't."

I say with a shaky voice and they both look at me.

“I can’t let you do this. If they find out...if Damon realizes that you helped me, he will punish you... He...”

I repeat again, my voice cracking, but my mother grabs my shoulders, cutting me off.

“Bianca, calm down and look at me.”

She says sharply and I swallow hard as I look at her

“I know the consequences, and so does Emily. And we are still helping you, because we want to.”

She says firmly, and my lips part.

"But..."

"No. You are not going to convince us to abandon you."

She cuts me off gently and my eyes fill with tears.

"I don't want you hurt."

I whisper. Emily meets my eyes and give me a small smile.

"Neither do we, but you staying here is going to be worse. Your mother’s right. I won’t let him sell you. Not to him. Not to anyone.”

She says and my throat tightens slightly again.

“You’ll both be punished when he finds out.”

“And you will be destroyed if you stay. That is not an option.”

Emily say, her voice soft but firm.

I look between them, my vision blurring slightly.

"Come with me. We can all leave tonight."

I say but my mother takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

"I can't leave with you."

She says softly and my heart drops.

"Mom..."

I begin, but she shakes her head again.

"I can't, Bianca, but not because I don't want to."

She says, squeezing hands gently.

"I am still the Luna. I need to be here for the pack. I need to make sure Damon doesn't hurt them unnecessarily."

She says, her voice quiet but strong.

My heart clenches again, because even after everything, everything that Damon and my father have done, after everything she has suffered, she still chooses them. She still chooses the pack, she is staying behind to protect people who may never even know what she is sacrificing.

"Mom..."

I whisper and ahe gives me a sad smile.

"This is where I am needed."

She says firmly and I swallow hard.

I look over at Emily, begging her silently, but she gives me a small, sad smile too.

"I can't either."

She says and my heart sinks.

"My mother and my brother are still here."

She swallows hard.

"I can't just leave them. Besides... this has a better chance of succeeding if you leave alone."

She says softly.

I look between both of them. They are both terrified. They both know exactly what Damon could do, and they are still choosing to help me. They are risking everything. For me.

“I don’t deserve this.”

I whisper, shaking my head.

My mother steps forward and takes my face in her hands.

“You deserve more than this pack. More than your brother. More than me.”

Her thumb brushes away a tear.

"More than you believe."

She says softly and I close my eyes, trying to hold myself together.

I breathe in shakily.

“I swear… someday I will come back for you. Both of you.”

I say, my voice shaky and she smiles softly at me.

“Just promise me something first.”

She says and I quickly nod my head.

“Anything.”

“Run."

She says, her voice trembling.

"Run as far as you can, and don’t stop until you are nowhere near this pack. Try to reach a human town close to another territory. Find somewhere safe. Find a place where Damon can't reach you.”

She says and I nod my head.

“I promise.”

I say, my throat feeling tight. My mother gives me a small smile and nods her head.

She then steps back, clapping her hands together.

“Good. Now let’s get you ready for the festival.”

She says and I take a shaky breath before slowly nodding my head.

---

Fifteen minutes later, my mother and I stand downstairs next my brother and father, pretending to be the perfect Alpha family.

Pretending.

That is what we do best.

Pretend.

I plaster a smile onto my face and I keep my head slightly bowed, just enough to look obedient, just enough to keep Damon from questioning me.

My brother and father greet the elders, laugh loudly, and boast about the upcoming blood moon festivities.

I nod my head and answer when spoken to, and I smile when it is expected of me, but inside, I count down every second.

Nine o’clock feels both too close and impossibly far away at the same time.

And the closer it gets to nine, the more I struggle to hide the tension rising inside of me.

My heart won’t slow down, my palms are clammy and my skin feels tight, and every time someone walks too close to me I have to fight the urge to flinch, because all I can think about is what happens if Damon notices.

What happens if he looks at me too closely?

What happens if he realizes that I am not just standing here beside him pretending?

That I am leaving, that I am choosing myself for once.

My eyes move around the festival.

Everyone is laughing, dancing, celebrating. No one knows that my entire world is falling apart. No one knows that I am saying goodbye.

My body feels like it is screaming at me to run, and a part of me wants to scream out lout, it wants to tell my mother not to stay, to tell Emily to run with me, to grab their hands and never look back.

But I stay, because I know I can't. They made their choice, and now I have to make mine, because if my mother and Emily are brave enough to risk everything for me...

Then I have to be brave enough to accept their sacrifice, and I have to be brave enough to do this.

For them. For myself. For all of us.

“What is wrong with you?”

Damon’s voice snaps quietly next me when a group of elders move away from us.

I stiffen immediately and swallow hard.

"Nothing..."

I say but his eyes narrow at me.

“Your heart is racing, and your skin is clammy.”

He snarls at me and I swallow again.

“I... I’m sorry. I just... I don’t feel very well.”

I say, my voice shaking. For a moment, I think he sees through me. I think he knows, but then his face twists in disgust and he recoils from me, instantly stepping back from me like I might infect him just by standing next to him.

“Then why are you here, you stupid imbecile?"

He hisses at me and my fingers curl into my dress.

"Are you trying to embarrass me?"

He asks and I immediately shake my head.

"No. No, Damon."

I say immediately, and his eyes narrow at me.

"Are you trying to make everyone think I can't control my own sister? Are you trying to infect the whole pack with whatever disgusting thing you have?"

He hisses. I swallow hard, shaking my head.

"I didn't mean..."

"Enough."

He cuts me off, his voice dangerously quiet.

"You always find a way to make things difficult."

He says and my chest tightens.

"I am sorry."

The words come automatically after years of practice, after years of trying to make myself smaller.

Damon looks at me like I am something beneath him, like I am a problem he was forced to solve.

"You should be. You are lucky I found a use for you."

He snaps and I flinch slightly.

The words hurt, even though I expected them. Even though I have heard them so many time before. They still hurt, because some small part of me had always hoped that maybe one day he would see me as his sister, but of course he never has.

I look away, because if I let him see the tears forming in my eyes, I know it will only make things worse.

Before he can say anything else, my mother steps between us.

“It’s my fault."

She says calmly and I look at her. She is protecting me.

Again.

"I insisted that she attended tonights festivities.”

She continues calmly and Damon sneers at her.

"You are becoming careless.”

My mother swallows and bows her head slightly.

“I apologize.”

She says and Damon turns away from her.

"Make sure she doesn't ruin the evening."

He says, then he walks away.

I don't breathe again until he is gone.

My mother turns back to me and her expression changes immediately.

"Are you okay?"

She whispers and I nod my head, but I don't feel okay. I feel like I am breaking.

'I can’t do this.'

I whisper through the link and my mother steps closer.

'You can, and you have to.'

She says. The words hurt, but I know she is right.

'Remember what we talked about.'

She says and I nod my head.

Nine o’clock, my chance to escape.

I glance towards the forest, the distance suddenly feels impossible.

How am I supposed to walk away from everything I have ever known?

How am I supposed to leave my mother behind?

My eyes burn.

'I don't want to leave you.'

I whisper and my mother’s expression softens.

'I know, and I don't want you to go, but staying means Damon wins, and I refuse to let him take everything from you."

She says and my lips tremble, then she smiles at me.

“Why don’t you go back to your room? I will come check on you later."

She suddenly says out loud and I hesitate for a second as my chest tightens, then I swallow hard and I nod my head.

“Yes, Mother.”

I whisper.

A few minutes pass, then I hear the announcement for the next round of festivities.

The crowd grows louder.

The perfect distraction.

My mother looks at me.

This is it, this is the moment.

I swallow hard before I step forward suddenly and I hug her, holding on tighter than I ever have before.

She stiffens for half a second, before she wraps her arms around me and she hugs me back just as tightly.

'I love you.'

I whisper through the link.

'I love you too.'

“Go... Now.”

She murmurs softly. I nod my head and pull back, forcing myself not to cry. She gives me a small, sad smile and I swallow hard before I turn and walk away without looking back.

I quickly make my way back towards the pack house, greeting pack members along the way, still playing my part. Once I get close to the pack house I look around me to make sure that no one sees me before I take a sharp turn and head south into the forest.

I quickly make my way to the river and Emily is waiting exactly where my mother said she would be.

“Did anyone see you?”

She asks me immediately and I shake my head.

"No, I made sure."

I say and she nods her head.

"Good. Are you ready?"

She asks and I nod my head even though my hands are trembling.

"Yes."

I say and she nods as she opens the backpack and pulls out a small bottle.

“This it to mask your scent. I'll spray the bag, but the river will help cover your scent if they decide to follow you, but use the spray as soon as you can. There is another bottle in your bag as well to help you hide until you are far away. There is also a phone. It is untraceable. Text us when you are safe.”

She keeps talking, fast and controlled.

“There is also money, food, and supplies for a few days. Don’t linger anywhere too long.”

She says and I nod my head, swallowing hard.

“Thank you. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”

I say, my voice thick with emotion.

She shakes her head.

“You don’t need to.”

“You are risking everything to help me.”

I say and she meets my gaze with a small smile.

“You are my sister, Bianca, maybe not by blood, but you are the closest thing I have to one, and I would do anything for you. You know that.”

She says and I swallow again.

“I will come back.”

I promise but she shakes her head again.

“Don’t. Not for me. Live your life. Find your mate. Be free.”

She says quickly before she pulls me into a tight hug.

After a few seconds she steps back abruptly.

“Go. Now. You don’t have any more time to waste.”

She says firmly and I nod my head before I shift without hesitation and plunge into the river.

The water is cold, but I don’t slow down.

I reach the opposite bank and I shake myself before looking over at Emily.

“Are you ready?”

Emily calls out softly and I nod my head.

She throws the bag and I catch it easily.

“Good luck, Bianca. May the Moon Goddess protect you.”

She says quietly. I dip my head once in thanks.

But my feet don't move, because leaving means I am choosing myself.

And that feels selfish.

Then I think about my mother and Emily, and about everything they are risking for me.

If they are brave enough to risk their lives to save me, to choose me, I have to be brave enough to choose myself and to run.

For them.

Then I turn, and I run.

As fast and as far as I can.