Chapter 4: A Deal To Escape

DEXTERA

In a way, Kestrel was right. I had somehow survived the fifteenth night, but there was no guarantee what would happen on the sixteenth.

Tonight.

Normally, that thought alone would have terrified me. But right now, something else consumed my mind far more.

My child. The tiny life growing inside me.

I hadn’t planned for this. I hadn’t expected it. Yet somehow, despite everything, the thought of losing my baby made my chest ache in ways I couldn’t explain. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t place a child in my womb without reason.

So, I made my decision. Instead of going to Dr. Mira like Kestrel had ordered, I walked straight back to my room with only one thought in mind.

I was leaving Bisclaveret forever.

Valeria was already waiting when I stepped inside. The moment she saw me, she rose quickly from the bed.

“What did he say?” she asked anxiously.

The look on my face must have answered for me because her expression fell almost immediately.

Without speaking, she guided me toward the bed and sat beside me. I stared blankly at my trembling hands.

“I knew it,” she muttered quietly. “Trying to reason with Alpha Kestrel was pointless.”

Silence stretched between us, then she sighed shakily.

“I just… don’t know how a child can survive under circumstances like this.”

I slowly looked at her. There was no cruelty in her face. Only fear. She was scared for me, and for what was coming.

I swallowed the tight knot in my throat. “I’m keeping the baby,” I announced.

Valeria’s eyes widened. “Dextera…”

“I’m serious.” I spoke. “I’m not killing my child because Kestrel told me to.”

She looked torn apart inside.

“But how are you going to do this?” she asked helplessly. “Kestrel watches your every move. And tonight, is the sixteenth. The entire pack will be alert.”

I inhaled deeply. “That part is already handled.”

Valeria frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I’m leaving the pack.”

The shock on her face was immediate as I dropped the bombshell.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“Dextera, that’s dangerous.”

“Staying here is even more dangerous.” I stood abruptly. “If I remain in Bisclaveret, Kestrel will force me to get rid of this baby and my life wouldn’t get any better. It’ll remain the same, if not worse.”

Valeria looked completely unsettled now. “You’re really going through with this…”

“Yes.”

She hesitated before speaking again. “How exactly do you plan on escaping?”

I looked toward the door. “Through Adira.”

Valeria stiffened. “Adira?” she repeated carefully. “You trust her enough for that?”

“No.” I let out a bitter laugh. “But she hates me enough to want me gone permanently. I’m counting on that and I believe she would be more than happy to help.”

Valeria didn’t look convinced.

“She offered me a deal earlier, remember?” I continued. “This time, I’ll offer her one instead.”

Valeria grabbed my wrist suddenly.

“Think carefully before doing this,” she urged softly.

“There’s nothing left to think about.” I gently pulled free. “Time isn’t on my side anymore.”

Before she could stop me again, I turned and left the room. My mind was already made up and hesitation would jeopardize the courage I had manage to build within me.

--------

Adira’s maid allowed me inside almost immediately after I arrived at her quarters.

The room smelled heavily of expensive perfume and burning candles. Adira lounged lazily in a silk robe across a velvet couch, her long, dark hair cascading down her back. She looked every bit the perfect Luna.

The moment she saw me, a slow smirk curled her lips.

“Well,” she drawled. “Looks like reality finally hit you.”

I ignored the jab, as painful as it was. “I came to make a deal.”

Her eyebrow lifted with amusement. “A deal?”

She tilted her head, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "Go on. Let me hear it."

“I’m leaving Bisclaveret.”

That caught her attention instantly. For the first time, genuine surprise flickered across her face before disappearing. Then, her mocking laughter rang through the room, and she went ahead to clap her hands together as if she’d just heard the best joke of the century.

“Interesting,” she murmured. “Go on.”

“I need your help leaving before nightfall.”

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 gaze locked on me, unflinching, but she said nothing and I forced myself to continue.

“If I leave, Kestrel will be free of me, and you’ll 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.

A long silence stretched between us before she finally exhaled and smiled. “Fine. I’ll help you.”

I felt instant relief slide through me, but before I could so much as thank her, she held up a hand.

“On one condition.” She smirked.

Of course, there was a catch.

"What condition?”

Adira leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with schemes.

“Under no circumstance,” she said slowly, savouring 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 body go rigid. 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 what choice do I have left?  If this was the price of my freedom, I was ready to 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.”

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.

-----

Thirty minutes later, I was ready.

I packed only the essentials; a few clothes, money I had saved up, and the little things that still mattered to me.

I had noticed Valeria stayed unusually quiet while helping me pack up. Several times, I caught her staring at me strangely before quickly looking away.

“You, okay?” I finally asked.

She forced a smile too quickly. “Of course.”

But something about her felt… off. From what I knew about her, she was most likely nervous and I tried not to think too deeply about it. She was obviously not comfortable with the idea of me leaving, but I stood my ground.

Valeria helped disguise me in one of Adira’s maid uniforms while she wore another herself.

“If anyone sees us, they’ll assume we’re running errands for the Luna,” she explained in a low tone.

Before it was too late, we arrived at Adira’s.

Not long after, she appeared all alone and led us in her private car, through a quieter path near the outer borders of the pack lands.

Oddly enough, the usual patrol guards were missing. There wasn’t a single one at the checkpoints and the only checkpoint where a few guards were, they didn’t bother stopping her.

Privileges of being the Luna, I suppose.

As we moved, a few unfamiliar faces lingered near the trees, dressed in dark clothing. Fear gripped me as I thought Kestrel had found out about my plan and sent his men to have me captured.

Adira noticed me glancing toward them suspiciously.

“My men,” she said casually. “They’re there to watch out for us.”

Something about the statement unsettled me a bit, but I ignored it.

This was Adira. Being overly careful and scheming was part of her nature. The very reason I sought her help.

Soon enough, we reached the edge of the pack territory where a cab waited nearby for me. As we alighted, Adira folded her arms across her chest.

“This is where we part ways.”

I looked at her quietly. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she smiled faintly.

“Goodbye, Dextera.”

I swallowed the ache rising in my throat. “Goodbye.”

Valeria stared at me, tears filing her eyes. I waited for her to say something, but I got more tears instead. She suddenly stepped closer before I turned around towards the cab.

“I packed water for you,” she said softly, handing me a bottle. “You’ll need it.”

Her hands trembled slightly and I frowned.

“Valeria…”

“I’m fine,” she interrupted quickly.

But she didn’t meet my eyes. Before I could question it further, Adira urged me to leave immediately.

Valeria pulled me into one last hug, and whispered. “You have to stay alive, Dextera.”

“Thanks for all you’ve done for me.” I spoke. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“I’ll miss you.” She mumbled against my neck.

I didn’t get the time to reply her before the cab driver pressed the horn, urging me to enter.

As soon as the cab’s door shut behind me, the driver ignited the engine, pulling me away from the pack lands.

And just like that, I had escaped.

Relief washed over me so suddenly that I nearly cried. I had actually done it. For the first time in years, the suffocating weight of Bisclaveret no longer surrounded me.

I rested my back against the seat tiredly and reached for the water bottle Valeria had given me as my throat felt painfully dry.

I twisted the cap open and took a long sip. Cool relief slid down my throat instantly.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful as I began to think of what the next few hours had in store for me. I still didn’t forget that night was the 16^th night and I wasn’t bold enough to say I was prepared.

Several minutes later into the ride, pain exploded inside my stomach.

A sharp gasp tore from my lips as my hands flew to my abdomen when another violent cramp ripped through me, a lot stronger this time.

In no time, heat spread rapidly beneath my skin. My breathing turned ragged.

What… was happening?

Another wave hit me harder. I doubled over with a strangled cry, my entire body trembling violently.

The driver glanced at me through the mirror.

“Miss? Are you alright?”

I couldn’t answer because the pain had worsened. I felt something warm trickle between my legs, and my heart stopped.

Slowly, trembling, I looked down and I saw blood.

Blood. Too much blood.

“No…”

Horror consumed me instantly.

“My baby…”

A broken sob escaped my throat as agony tore through my body again and again. The bottle slipped from my shaking fingers and rolled across the floor of the cab. Then my eyes locked onto it.

The water. That was the last thing I took.

Then it all clicked at once. Valeria’s trembling hands. Her strange behavior.

No…

No, she wouldn’t…

Would she?

Another scream ripped from my throat as unbearable pain twisted violently through my stomach.

The driver’s voice sounded distant now, panicked, and muffled.

Everything around me blurred rapidly, and I lost the battle against the threatening darkness.