II

If anything vaguely good had happened to me in this year of captivity, it was probably Kendrick. He was Benjie's son, but he was kind and discreet. I often wondered if he really shared the blood of that monster. He always brought me water and food on the sly, and more crucially, he had helped me plan several failed escape attempts.

Sometimes my heart ached for him. He was only fourteen years old and surrounded by barbaric men who called themselves werewolf hunters.

“I'm tired, Kendrick,” I replied. “You don't have to risk yourself anymore. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me.” My voice was barely a whisper.

He looked at me with an expression of deep sadness. “We have to try. My plan won't fail this time. Come on.” He insisted, entering the room. I noticed he was wearing a large, rough robe.

“What's that for?” I asked, frowning and pointing at the garment.

“There's a dirty old rogue guarding the front door,” Kendrick explained. “You have to put on this robe. It will mask your wolf scent.” He handed me the fabric. I took it, but made no move to get up.

“It's okay, Kendrick. I really appreciate your help, but we both know it's impossible to escape from this place.” I replied sadly, trying to offer him a reassuring smile to ease his distress over my situation.

But Kendrick was a perceptive child, and he knew I was faking it.

“You have to go now, Blair. I heard my father. He bet you to the Raven Clan. If they return with the Alpha's head, they'll have you as their reward.”

My heart seemed to stop for a moment. The idea, so raw and horrible, hit me with icy force. It wasn't enough for Benjie to abuse me; now I was a bargaining chip.

“Please, we don't have much time. We have to go now,” Kendrick urged me, his eyes filled with terror.

Next step: Would you like us to narrate the escape attempt, including Blair's interaction with the “dirty old rogue” and how he manages his fear and physical pain as he moves?

I remembered the Raven Clan: a family of ten men, as ruthless and bloodthirsty as Benjie. They had earned their name for the brutal way they attacked and slaughtered herd after herd.

“We have to escape now, Blair. We're going to die tonight at the hands of the Ravens!” Kodaline's voice was a sharp stab of fear and apprehension in my mind.

“What's your plan, Kendrick?” I asked my protector, feeling despair wash over me. The thought of becoming the Raven Clan's “reward” filled me with frantic energy.

“Put on the robe and follow me, Blair,” Kendrick replied, turning and leaving the gloomy room. I got up as quickly as my aching body would allow, wrapping myself in the rough fabric. I followed Kendrick.

My knees trembled with every step. I was exhausted, filled with nerves. One chilling question pierced my mind: what punishment would Benjie's staff impose on me if they caught me trying to escape again?

“Hurry, time is not on our side, Blair,” Kendrick whispered. He turned sharply, and we entered a narrow, dark alley. Despite the darkness, the enhanced vision Kodaline gave me helped me see the way.

We walked down that cramped passageway for almost five minutes until my eyes spotted a ladder rising from the ground to the top.

“I can only take you this far, Blair. You have to climb this ladder and use this key to open the door at the top. Then, please drop it so I can pick it up and take it back to my father's office.” Kendrick handed me the key. I took it, the cold metal feeling heavy and crucial in my palm.

“What about you, Kendrick?” I asked, feeling a knot in my chest. “Your father will kill you if he finds out you helped me. Why don't you come with me? We could run and find a safe place together.”

I couldn't help but worry about him. He would be in immense danger as soon as his father noticed my absence and his complicity.

“I'll be fine here, Blair. You have to go now,” Kendrick said, gently pushing me toward the stairs. I had no choice but to start climbing. I was halfway up when his voice called out to me, faint but audible.

“Blair.”

I paused for a moment and looked down, where Kendrick stood in the darkness.

“Yes?”

“Keep running south. Father and the Raven Clan are heading north. You'll be safe as long as you go south.”

I nodded, though I doubted he could see me in the darkness.

“Thank you, K-Kendrick,” I said sincerely, fighting back tears. "I'll repay your kindness someday.

Please stay safe here." Kendrick simply smiled back at me.

I continued my ascent until I reached the end, where the door was locked. Using the key he had given me, I unlocked the door, then dropped the key. I heard it clink softly as it fell into the alley below.

“Until we meet again, Kendrick,” I whispered my farewell, and finally pushed the door open. I closed it carefully, and the last image I had was Kendrick's serious but hopeful face. I would definitely miss that boy.

As I stepped outside, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. A strong wind, cold and invigorating, caressed my body. It was cold, but strangely comforting, because it felt like freedom.

“Finally out of that horrible place,” I said to myself quietly. I wasted no more time and started running south.

I hoped Kendrick was right; as long as I ran south, I would be safe. I would be free.

I don't know how long I had been running for my life. Sweat soaked my robe and exhaustion consumed me, but I forced myself to keep moving, to gain as much distance as possible from the place where Benjie had imprisoned me for almost a year.

When Benjie realized I had escaped, I knew he would spare no effort to get me back. He held such a grudge against me that he would not let me go. He would do everything in his power to find me because, to this day, he could not accept my mother's death and blamed me entirely for it.

My mother had done everything she could to protect me from him, but in the end, it had not been enough. Benjie had killed her, and as much as he tried to call it an “accident,” I knew the truth. That's why he hated me: he couldn't accept that my mother chose to protect me over him.

“Let me take over, Blair. You're exhausted, and we can cover more ground if you're in your wolf form,” Kodaline suggested.

I stopped running for a moment and leaned against the rough trunk of a huge tree, trying to catch my breath.

“I just need a minute to rest,” I replied mentally to Kodaline, closing my eyes to try to clear my dazed mind.

After a few seconds of silence, a slight crackling sound nearby made me open my eyes wide. I scanned the surrounding darkness to see if anyone was there.

“This land belongs to a pack, Blair, we have to get out of here now. You need to change!” Kodaline shouted frantically through our bond. His panic was palpable. I stopped arguing; I could sense a presence nearby, someone approaching at high speed.

Immediately, I allowed the transformation. I let Kodaline take control, changing into my wolf form. We wasted no time and fled at full speed. Now I was sure; someone was following us. It appeared to be this pack's border patrol.