Chapter 4: A Deal To Escape

DEXTERA

Monthly disasters....

In a way, he was right. I had scaled through the 15th night, but there's no guarantee what was going to happen on the 16th night—tonight.

But that wasn’t my biggest concern. The only thing consuming my mind was the thought of losing my child. Of being forced to end the life growing inside me before it even had a chance.

My baby.

I hadn’t planned for this. I hadn’t expected it. But I believed it had come for a reason. The goddess wouldn’t burden me with a pup if it wasn’t meant to be.

So, I made my choice.

Instead of heading to the hospital like Kestrel had commanded, I walked straight to my room with a final decision. I was leaving the pack for good.

Valeria was waiting for me. The moment I stepped inside, she shot up from the bed.

"What did he say?" she asked.

I shook my head and her expression fell instantly. She didn’t need me to spell it out. She already knew.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled me to sit beside her. I looked away, my hands trembling in my lap.

"I knew it," she muttered. "It was pointless trying to reason with him. No one would want to bring such a child into this world."

A sharp glare shot from my eyes before I could stop it.

Valeria’s face paled. "No offense," she added quickly. "I meant… given the circumstances."

"Whatever," I muttered, shaking off her weak explanation. It didn’t matter. Nothing justified what Kestrel had demanded of me.

I inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

"I've made up my mind. I'm leaving."

Valeria’s eyes widened in shock. "Leaving? Are you sure about this?"

"Of course, I am," I said with firm conviction. "There’s no way in hell I’m going to abort this baby. I’m keeping this gift, no matter what it costs me."

Valeria stared at me, looking all worried. "How do you plan on pulling this off? Kestrel keeps a tight hold on your every move. Besides…" She swallowed. "Tonight is the 16th. All eyes will be on you. Even the children."

I nodded, acknowledging her concern. "That’s partially solved. I’ll be escaping the pack… through Adira."

"Adira? That’s a dangerous gamble, Dextera." She shook her head. "How can you be sure she’ll help?"

"She offered me a deal earlier, remember?"

Valeria nodded hesitantly.

"Only this time, it’ll be my deal. Not hers."

"Think about this carefully, Dextera," Valeria urged, concerned.

"There’s nothing to think about," I shot back, standing abruptly. "Time isn’t on my side, Valeria. I have to leave before tonight."

She opened her mouth to argue, but I didn’t give her the chance. I had already made up my mind and hesitation would only make things worse.

Without another word, I turned and made my way to Adira’s quarters.The moment I arrived, her maid took one look at me, letting me in without question.

Adira was lounging in a silk robe, her long, dark hair cascading down her back. The moment she saw me, a slow smirk curled her lips.

"Well, well," she drawled. "Looks like someone’s finally come to terms with Kestrel’s distaste for her."

Pain stabbed at my chest, but I refused to let it show. She wanted a reaction but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Instead, I lifted my chin. "I came to make a deal."

Her smirk deepened. "A deal?" She tilted her head, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "Go on. Let me hear it."

"I’m leaving," I stated firmly. "And I need your help to do so."

Adira’s laugh rang through the room, mocking. She clapped her hands together as if she’d just heard the best joke of the century.

"So, you’ve finally realized what’s best for you," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes.

I breathed heavily to keep my cool, ignoring her jabs. "I need to leave before nightfall, Adira."

She hummed thoughtfully, tapping a perfectly manicured nail against her chin. "And why do you think I’d help you?"

"Because it benefits everyone. It's going to be a win-win."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing, so I pressed on.

"If I leave, Kestrel will be free of me. You’ll have no one standing in your way and have him all to yourself" I swallowed hard before adding, "And as the Luna, you should want what’s best for the pack. With me gone, there’s no risk of another…feral incident."

For the first time, her smirk wavered. She stared me carefully for a while, no doubt weighing my words.

A long silence stretched between us before she finally exhaled and nodded. "Fine. I’ll help you."

I felt relieved, but before I could so much as thank her, she held up a hand.

"But," she uttered sharply, "it comes with one condition."

Of course, there was a catch.

"What is it?" I asked cautiously.

Adira leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with schemes.

"Under no circumstance," she said slowly, savoring each word, "should you ever return to Bisclaveret once you leave."

Her words hit me harder than I expected as it echoed in my ears.

Never return.

It shouldn’t have mattered. But the finality of it, the sheer coldness behind her demand, made my chest tighten. I clenched my fists, shoving down the feeling of betrayal. This was my home, no matter how broken. And she was my stepsister, no matter how much she resented me.

But I had no choice.

If this was the price of my freedom, I would pay it.

"Fine," I said without thinking too deep. "I agree."

Adira’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk. "Good." She stood gracefully, brushing imaginary dust off her gown. "Meet me here in thirty minutes."

Thirty minutes. That wasn’t much time. But if she hadn't given me that small time, I wouldn't know how much she really wanted to get rid of me from her life and from Kestrel's.

I turned to leave, my mind already racing with what I needed to do.

Thirty minutes later, I was done packing a few necessities. Valeria was reluctant to let me leave but I stood my grounds. I thanked her for all she's done for me, holding back tears. This very decision of mine was quite hefty but it needed to happen.

I dressed like Adira's maid as Adira ordered, to avoid suspicion and Valeria walked me, dressed as Adira's maid too. Since no one knew I was leaving, it woukdn't be bad to have at least one last goodbye from someone who really cared.

Adira successfully fulfilled her end of our deal and got me a cab just outside the pack borders so that I would be faraway in a short time before Kestrel would find out.

The moment the cab took off, I felt so relieved.

I had done it. I was finally out.

I reached for the water bottle Valeria had given me aiming to refill my energy for what's ahead as my body was exhausted from the tension of sneaking past the guards.

I unscrewed the cap and tilted the bottle, letting the cool liquid soothe my dry lips. Heaving a sigh, I felt good and a bit of ease.

But the relief was short-lived.

Not long after, a sudden, searing pain shot through my stomach, ripping a choked gasp from my throat.

What was happening?

I clutched my abdomen as the pain intensified, a scorching heat spreading through my veins like wildfire. My vision blurred and my breaths laboured into short, panicked gasps.

I tried my best not to catch the attention of the burly looking cab driver, but I couldn't after a while.

Then, I saw blood as the pain wracked strongly through my lower belly.

A sharp cry tore from my lips as I saw too much of it flowing from between my legs, staining my cloth. My hands trembled as they hovered over my stomach, the truth hitting me like a death blow.

No. No. No. My baby.

A sob wracked my body as I doubled over, feeling sheer agony take over my body. This was not just physical pain. It was a kind of heartbreak I had never known before.

Valeria.

The bottle slipped from my fingers, rolling onto the floor of the cab.

She had done this. Right. No wonder I felt her to be a bit strange when she offered me the water bottle. She acted nervous than usual but I had waived it off as her being nervous because I was leaving.

The cab driver was talking to me, asking if I was okay, but I couldn't respond. My senses were clouded by great pain.

Slowly, my mind spinned as the driver’s voice faded into nothing, darkness taking over my whole being.