Escape

**\[ALICE’s Point of View\]**

“Here! You told the boss you’re bored to death, right? You can kill time cleaning this hallway. When you’re finished, you can clean the kitchen area too!”

I couldn’t believe what that mohawk-haired guy just threw at me!

A broom and a dustpan crackled on the wooden floor of my room. I glared at him and bared my teeth in defiance but he just rolled his eyes at me as if telling me he had no time to deal with another of my mood swings. 

I snatched the objects and threw them at him instead. He flinched in shock when he saw how pissed I was. “You go and clean them yourself! I am not your f*cking maid here! I won’t clean after your mess and don’t you ever treat me like a f*cking servant here or I swear I’ll find a way to slit all your throats while you are sleeping soundly at night!”

The surprise on his face was replaced with a bored look again, “Oh, really? If you can, you already did, princess. So take those things and start cleaning the f*cking hallway or I’ll starve you to death!” he bellowed. I cringed and stepped back when I saw his saliva flying as he yelled.

Goddess, I couldn’t take one more day in here!

He slammed the door shut as he left and I slumped myself on the edge of the bed, crying in anger. I couldn’t take this. I had to go and look for Maverick. He couldn’t treat me like this! After deceiving me that he had my father just to have a chance to take me away from Alpha Zenon, now he’s punishing me for refusing to submit to him and join his f*cking harem! There is no way I could accept this!

Scared of what might happen here if I didn’t find a way to get away from Maverick and his pack of bandits, I decided that it was time for me to wait for anyone to save me. I accepted there was no way for me to get out of this place but to be brave and face the truth that only I can help myself and no one else.

I would never let myself rely on anyone anymore.

I could do this. I could get out of here and start by sneaking out when everyone was sleeping.

But first, I had to make them look as if I was slowly losing hope and think that I wasn’t strong enough to make such an attempt. So even though I hated the idea that I had to clean the hallways and the kitchen, I snatched the broom and the dustpan as I marched outside my room for the first time. Maybe I could use this opportunity to study the whole place and plan my escape route.

*****

\[ALPHA BELLAMY’s Point of View\]

I couldn’t help but notice I had been running in circles in this forest.

It was as if I was trapped by something magical in there. There were rumors that said this place was used by witches as a hideout to save themselves from shifter packs that wanted them dead. Maybe the curse stayed in the forest even after they were annihilated—it was an indirect revenge against werewolves like me who had no choice but to use this path to find my mate.

I had to mark the trees I passed and I swore when I saw the same mark for the third time. I was going nowhere. It had been hours and I couldn’t keep worrying about what had happened to Alice when Maverick had a sick desire to put her in his harem of women as a new trophy. My chest aches as I feel that fear in her through our mate bond. She was near. But this g*dd*mned forest trapped me like I was in a labyrinth!

While I was catching my breath, I heard low growling sounds coming from low bushes not too far from me. It was starting to get dark and the fog was thick and heavy. I had to get out of this place. I sensed nocturnal predators starting to wake from their deep slumber, ready to hunt for their dinner.

I flexed my fingers as I glared at the spot where I heard the rustling of the leaves. Branches snapped as if something stepped on them and that’s when I crouched, ready to shift into my werewolf form in case of danger. There was no way I would let myself die in here! Alice needed me! I wouldn’t let Maverick ruin her life and make her a breeder.

Everybody knows what happens to the women that Maverick brings to his territory. And I would never let him do that to Alice.

A snarl ripped in my throat when I felt that strong presence coming towards me. My wolf sensed something familiar about it. But because of the thick fog, it was hard to perceive anything with my instinct screaming danger all over the place.

I clenched my teeth. I prepared myself to lunge toward the beast but to my shock, it wasn’t what I expected.

Petit. Brown-haired. Blue eyes. Our eyes locked on each other for a minute as she jumped out of the bush where she was hiding.

I didn’t know what to feel or what to do at that moment. My body was paralyzed, as if I couldn’t believe that she was finally there, standing in front of me with a pale face and teary eyes. She was shivering from the chill, and that’s when I perplexedly moved to give her my jacket.

“Alice…” I breathed. I thought the fog was playing images in my head but she was real. She was soft and warm as I put my jacket around her shoulders. She didn’t complain, though, despite what happened between us back in the resort. It was as if she had no choice but to take the jacket from me.

“We have to move,” she hissed at me as she looked back. “They are not far behind me. We have to get away before Maverick finds us here!”