Chapter 42 Escape Plan

Chapter 42 Escape Plan
CHAPTER 42: Escape Plan

Seraphine's POV

I wasn’t stupid. Weak, yes and ungry, definitely. Chained up for two days with only a skeleton for company? Also yes. But stupid? Never!

The moment the three Lycans stepped fully into the torchlight in their wolf forms with muscles flexing under their fur and fangs bared like they couldn’t wait to tear me apart, I knew the truth. In my current state, I could maybe take one if luck was feeling generous. Three? Yeah.. not happening.

That didn’t mean I planned to lie down and die politely. I adjusted my grip on the sword, ignoring how my arms trembled and rolled my shoulders like I was just stretching before a sparring match instead of standing barefoot in a dungeon hallway facing death.

“Well,” I said while forcing a grin, “this feels unfair. Three against one? No gentleman among you?”

The wolves snarled. Good. Angry wolves made mistakes.

I lifted the blade slightly and tilted my head.

“Come on then. Or are you all bark and no...”

They charged and I braced myself with my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat when suddenly all three wolves skidded to a halt at the exact same time. Their heads snapped to the right with their ears flattening as a new presence entered the corridor.

There were footsteps.. heavy, calm and unhurried and then someone stepped out from a side hallway.

They were tall and dressed head to toe in dark armor with a visor covering their face completely. They had no sword and no spear.. just a single dagger sheathed at their waist.

I sighed.

“Great,” I muttered. “Reinforcements.”

The wolves turned fully toward the newcomer, growling low with their bodies tense and then the armored figure moved.

It was so fast my human eyes struggled to follow. One second they were standing there, the next they were inside the wolves’ space with their hands snapping out with brutal precison! A sharp elbow to one throat.. a twist, a crack and a sweep of the leg that sent a massive body slamming into the stone wall.

I just stood there, mouth open.

The second wolf lunged and the armored figure ducked, grabbed its foreleg and used its own weight against it, slamming its head into the floor hard enough to rattle the torches.

The third barely had time to snarl before a boot connected with its jaw and sent it flying backward.

Silence fell as all three wolves lay unconscious and unmoving.

Aric..! It had to be!

Warmth flooded through me so sudden it almost hurt. Of course he came. Of course he couldn’t leave me here. I knew it! I knew him!

“Aric,” I gasped and I didn’t think.. I just ran. I threw my arms around the armored man and hugged him hard, pressing my face into his chest, armor and all.

“You’re late,” I muttered with my voice shaking. “But I’ll forgive you.”

For a second, he froze then his arms came up and wrapped around me holding me just as tight. It wasn’t long.. just a brief squeeze but it felt like everything.

He pulled back gently and didn’t say a word. Instead, he tilted his head toward the dark tunnel behind him and motioned for me to follow.

I frowned but immediately followed him anyway.

We moved quickly through a maze of narrow tunnels twisting and turning with the air growing cooler the farther we went. I stumbled more than once and each time he caught me without a word, steadying me like he’d done it a thousand times before.

Still, something felt… off. Aric was many things and quiet was not one of them.

Eventually, moonlight shone ahead of us and we emerged into the forest. A horse waited nearby, already saddled with packs tied securely to its sides.

The armored man stopped and finally reached up, removing his visor. My heart dropped straight into my stomach immediately.

“Oh,” I said flatly. “You’re not Aric.”

Beta Caspian gave me a tired smile.

“Took you long enough to figure that out.”

I stared at him for a second and then sighed.

“Okay. That explains why I didn’t feel him. Also explains the lack of brooding and dramatic yelling.”

Caspian chuckled softly.

“You’re welcome.”

I stepped back with embarrassment creeping in.

“So… where is he?”

Caspian’s expression darkened.

“Being watched and trapped.”

I shook my head.

“Isn’t he the Lycan King?”

He let out a slow breath.

“Being king doesn’t mean being free.”

I frowned.

“Who’s watching him?”

“The council, the elders and half the pack,” Caspian said. “Right now, Aric can’t make a single move without someone twisting it into weakness.”

My chest tightened.

“Because of me.”

Caspian didn’t deny it.

“The Lycan way is complicated, Seraphine. To us, there’s nothing worse than being cut off from the pack, being isolated and exiled. And that’s exactly where Aric is heading.”

My throat burned with guilt.

“Because he didn’t let them kill me.”

“Because he loved you,” Caspian said quietly.

I looked away, blinking hard.

“He sent you.”

“Yes.”

“So he cares,” I whispered.

“He does,” Caspian said. “Enough to risk everything by letting you go.”

I swallowed.

“What happens now?”

“You leave,” Caspian said gently. “You ride back to your people, you stay alive and we hope Aric can survive what’s coming.”

I nodded slowly then hesitated.

“Wait.” I stepped closer. “Tell him something for me.”

Caspian raised a brow.

“I’m listening.”

I took a shaky breath.

“Tell him… tell him I never lied about loving him.. not once. Tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t fix this and tell him...” My voice broke. “Tell him he’s not alone. Even if I’m far away.”

Caspian inclined his head.

“I will.”

I mounted the horse, adjusted the reins and kicked it into a gallop just as alarms began to echo faintly in the distance.

I didn’t look back.

Tears streaked silently down my face as the forest blurred past with my chest aching with every breath. Leaving hurt more than staying ever could.

I felt useless and broken like I’d failed at everything I touched. I hadn’t uncovered the truth behind my parents’ murder!

I tightened my grip on the reins with my jaw set.

“I’m not done,” I whispered into the night…