Chapter 4: Run!

Emma

Poor, poor little girl who cannot move an inch because her bones have failed her. Oh! What would she do now that she can’t move on her own? She’s totally at our mercy isn’t she? She needs our help to clean herself up, walk, talk, or even eat. 

There’s no way she will be able to escape here. Right? 

I chuckled at the thought. Right. 

That’s exactly what I wanted them to think, and I made sure I displayed every necessary theatric to make sure I didn’t show any sign of strength or ability. That was the only way I could make sure they wouldn’t be wary of me. 

So, I remained curled up in my bed like a sick little thing, too weak to move, too many broken bones to put up a fight. Every time they came to check up on me, I made sure to leave the impression that I had accepted that whatever fate awaited me was the best choice for me.

As if. As an orphan, the most important attribute I had was the ability to run when needed. I displayed it at my pack, how much more the enemy’s territory? 

Luckily, they didn’t know anything about me. 

I waited.

I knew I had to wait for the perfect moment. Because one wrong move? Now, that could ruin everything. And I couldn’t afford that. If they found out I had been pretending, there was no telling what the savage beasts of this world would do to me. 

Finally, my escape came wrapped in marigold leaves.

I first noticed it when the healer massaged them into my skin. A warm, tingly feeling spread through my body, making my limbs feel loose and weightless. 

As expected, my eyelids grew heavy. The plant made me feel like I could just drift off into the best sleep of my life. But I fought it, biting the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

Marigold leaves were supposed to be soothing. Harmless. A simple remedy for sore muscles and restless nights to put body and mind at ease. Hence, why it was being used on me: the Lycan king’s precious gift. 

But I knew better.

Oh yes. 

In fire, marigold leaves could turn into something much worse.

And that, right there, was my escape plan. 

I stole a few leaves when no one was in my room and tucked them under my pillow, hoping they'd still be fresh when I was ready to use them. And then, I waited and finally found my “when” in my escape plan. 

The night before the arrival of the Lycan prince

Outside my window, I could hear the preparations. From horses riding in to drop goods or orders, to servants rushing, warriors barking orders, cooks working themselves to the bone. 

The corridor was in chaos all day, and the maid who had been sent to look after me appeared to be tired. There were dark circles underneath her dim red eyes, and I knew there could be no better time. 

The  grand feast at dawn only  meant everyone would be exhausted at night. Exactly what I needed. 

When the halls finally quieted and the last of the warriors switched shifts, I moved.

I crept to the fireplace after I pulled the marigold leaves from their hiding place.

 The fire crackled amidst the winter breeze, casting flickering shadows against the walls. I held my breath and tossed them in with a smile on my face. 

The flames swallowed them in an instant.

A thick, syrupy scent filled the room,  dangerously sweet. 

I hurried to my bed and quickly grabbed the cloth that had been used to soothe me earlier. I made sure to tie it tight around my nose and mouth. It will all have all been for nothing if I succumbed to the scent of the leaves. 

My heart  was pounding  so hard I swore they could hear it from the other side of the door. I told myself I wasn’t nervous, but that was a lie. 

My plan had to work. It just had to. 

I laid that way for hours waiting for the smoke to spread to other rooms.

I moved to the door and cracked it open, just enough to peek out.

The wind carried the scent down the hallway. I could feel the warmth of the smoke from the furnace. 

One minute. Two. Three. 

I wiped my sweaty hands against my dress. Come on. Come on. 

Then…thud.

My heart jumped for joy and I all but screamed at the sound.

Another thud, then another.

A slow smile crept onto my face as relief washed over me. It was working. 

The guards were dropping. One by one, they slumped to the floor, slipping into a deep, drugged sleep. The workers had all retired for the night to the separate cabin I had overheard they shared. There was no one to stop me! 

I stepped out into the hallway, light on my feet.

I did it. I actually did it.

I peeked through the window at the entrance. The men at the gates had collapsed too. 

A small laughter tore through my throat. 

I couldn’t believe it. I had just knocked out an entire fortress.

By myself.

I forced myself to swallow my laughter down. I didn’t have time to celebrate. Not until I was completely free from this hell hole of impending doom. 

 I slipped outside, the winter air biting at my skin. It didn’t matter. I was free. And the snow? I stuck my tongue outside to let little bits drop on it. 

It sure tasted like freedom. 

Then, without a second thought, I started to run.

The snow crunched beneath my feet as I bolted toward the woods, my breath puffing in the air. 

My legs weren’t as strong as they should be due to the much time I spent locked away. I had never been a particularly strong or fast wolf anyway, so I fought hard to make sure they moved faster. 

The trees grew closer. I wasn’t sure where or what they were leading to, but as long as I made it out of Lycan territory in one piece, I could make it anywhere. I just had to…

A low, rumbling growl stopped me dead in my tracks.

Oh… shit.

I turned slowly. 

Two figures stalked out of the trees, massive and monstrous, their golden eyes glowing in the dark.

Wild Lycans. Two of them. 

My eyes widened, breath hitching in my throat I swallowed hard. The cold suddenly sent deadly shivers down my spine. 

Goddess, please. 

These were not like the trained warriors I had often peeped at from the fortress. 

No. They were different.

Bigger. Meaner. Their fur was thick and black,  their claws dug into the snow  as they took menacing steps towards me.

I  had known I was in Lycan territory, but I didn’t think wild lycans were a thing. 

“Heavens, help me. Please.” I muttered to myself as I took a step back.

They took one forward, seemingly enjoying watching me squirm. 

I frowned. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction, so I did the only thing I could think of doing at that very moment, 

I ran.

Or at least, I tried to.

I barely made it three steps before the first one slammed into me. A blur of fur and fangs knocked the air from my lungs and I hit the ground hard. My elbows scraped against the ice.

“Ouch!”

I gasped, rolling just in time to avoid the second one’s claws.

Move, move, move. Please, for goodness's sake! 

But I couldn’t.

I was pinned.

The first Lycan loomed over me as its hot breath steamed against my face.

I reached for the only thing within arm’s length. It was a rock.

I didn’t wait to think. I just swung, and bashed the rock against the head of the beast. It was a miracle it didn’t bite off my arm before I managed to land a punch.   

The beast let out a strangled snarl, stumbling back.

I scrambled to my feet, but the second one was already coming. This time, I wasn’t fast enough.

It tackled me, shoving me into the snow.

I fought. I kicked, clawed, anything to push it back. But it was too strong. Its jaws snapped inches from my throat, drool dripping onto my skin.

Tears burned my eyes, the winter wind threatening to freeze them to my face.

This was it.

I was going to die.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the bite…

It never came.

Instead, warm blood splattered across my skin, my dress, even my face. 

My entire body trembled with shock as my  eyes flew open just in time to see the Lycan’s body jerk violently, before falling to the side. 

What the hell? 

I dared to look up, only to find a shadow looming over me.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. A black hooded cloak billowed around him.

He was straight out of a nightmare, and a deadly fantasy at the same time.  

Silver grey eyes gleamed in the dark as he smiled at me with the blood splattered across the right side of his cheeks. 

His eyes were the most sinful pair of orbs I had ever seen, and he looked down at me, piercing through me with his sharp gaze. 

A shiver crawled down my spine. It wasn’t only from the cold. 

He tilted his head as his lips thinned further. Then, slowly, he stretched out a hand.

I looked down at it, then up at his face. 

A smirk curled on his lips, dark and dangerous.

“Hello, rabbit.”