Chapter 5: The Escape That Never Happened

Chapter 5 – The Escape That Never Happened

The knock came again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Aria," Kael called. "I know you're awake."

I quickly pushed the map and my packed bag beneath the bed, wiped the tears from my face, and opened the door.

Kael stood there with Ronan and Ezra.

None of them looked angry.

They looked... uneasy.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Kael glanced past me into the room.

"We need to talk."

Without waiting for permission, the three of them walked inside.

My eyes darted toward the bed.

Please don't look there.

Please don't find the bag.

Ronan was the first to speak.

"The elders have made another decision."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Of course they have."

Ezra looked uncomfortable.

"It's only temporary."

"That's what you've said every single time you've taken something from me."

Silence filled the room.

Kael finally said, "Until the investigation is over, you'll be moved to the east wing."

I frowned.

"The east wing?"

Everyone in the pack knew what that meant.

The east wing wasn't meant for honored guests.

It was where pack members under suspicion were kept.

The windows were barred.

Guards stood outside day and night.

People called it the Silver Wing.

It wasn't officially a prison.

But no one was free to leave.

"So... you really don't trust me."

Kael clenched his jaw.

"It's not about trust."

"Then what is it about?"

No one answered.

As they left my room, I noticed two warriors take their positions outside my door.

Guards.

To watch me.

To make sure I didn't leave.

My chance to escape was gone.

The next morning, I was escorted to the Silver Wing.

The hallway was cold and silent.

Every door was made of thick oak reinforced with silver.

The room they gave me was small.

A narrow bed.

A wooden chair.

One tiny window too high to see through.

No flowers.

No books.

No warmth.

This wasn't a room.

It was a cage.

Hours later, Selene arrived.

She carried a basket of food.

The guards immediately bowed.

"Lady Selene."

She smiled sweetly.

"I came to check on Aria."

The guards stepped aside without question.

She entered my room and carefully placed the basket on the table.

"I brought you dinner."

I stared at her.

"What do you really want?"

The sweet smile slowly disappeared.

"I wanted to see how quickly your world is falling apart."

I folded my arms.

"You've already taken enough."

She laughed softly.

"Oh, Aria."

"You still think this is about taking your place?"

"It isn't."

"Then what is it about?"

She stepped closer until we were only inches apart.

"It's about making sure no one remembers you."

A chill ran through me.

"I'll erase you from this pack."

"They'll forget your kindness."

"They'll forget your sacrifices."

"They'll even forget they ever loved you."

I met her gaze without flinching.

"They'll remember the truth."

For the first time, anger flashed across her face.

"The truth?"

"The truth doesn't matter."

"People believe what they want to believe."

"And right now..."

"They've chosen me."

Before leaving, she leaned close and whispered,

"You should stop trying to escape."

My heart skipped.

She knew.

"I saw your little bag."

My blood turned cold.

"I didn't tell them."

"Not yet."

"I want you to suffer a little longer."

Then she smiled once more and walked out of the room.

The guards locked the heavy door behind her.

I sank onto the bed.

Even my secret was no longer safe.

That night, Luna's weak voice echoed in my mind.

"She's hiding something."

"I know."

"She's afraid of you."

I frowned.

"Afraid? She has everyone on her side."

"Then why didn't she expose your escape plan?"

The question lingered in the darkness.

Selene could have told the Alphas.

She could have had me chained.

Instead...

She kept it to herself.

Why?

Unless...

She needed me alive.

Needed me trapped.

Needed me exactly where I was.

For the first time since she returned, I realized something important.

Selene wasn't just lying.

She was following a plan.

And somewhere behind her perfect smile...

Someone else was pulling the strings