The escape

Alpha Keal's POV

The moon hung high in the sky, its cold silver glow creating eerie shadows across the palace walls. The night was unusually quiet, but my mind was full of noise. My wolf fighted restlessly within me, its claws scraping at my determination. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t push the thoughts of her away.

Leah.

Her name was a drumbeat in my chest, a constant reminder of how she challenged me at every turn. She wasn’t like anyone else—fearless, defiant, and madenly stubborn. She made my blood boil, yet I couldn’t stop craving her presence. Tonight, the pull was unbearable.

“Enough,” I whispered to myself, standing up suddenly. My wolf growed in agreement.

I couldn’t endure the distance anymore. Before I knew it, I was standing outside her room, my racing in my ears. I grasped the doorknob, pausing for just a moment. What was I even going to say? But the thought of seeing her erased any doubts.

I pushed the door open.

The room was empty.

My breath caught as my eyes scanned the place. The bed was perfectly made, the curtains still, and there was no sign of her. The faint scent of her lingered in the air, but it was fading fast, like a ghost slipping through my fingers.

“What the—?” My voice came out low and dangerous, a growl that made the air feel heavier. I stepped further inside, scanning every corner.

“Leah!” I yelled, the sound echoing off the walls. My heart raced as I yanked open the wardrobe, pushing clothes aside, then dropped to check under the bed.

But Nothing.

Panic and rage clashed inside me. My wolf’s anger surged, clawing at my insides, demanding release.

The door burst open, and the guards stationed outside rushed in. Their faces were pale, their movements stiff with fear.

“Alpha?” one of them stammered, bowing low.

“She’s gone,” I growled, my voice barely human. “Where is she?”

The guards exchanged anxious glances, their hesitation only fueling my rage.

“Speak!” I shouted, my claws extending as my wolf began to surface.

One of them, a younger man just starting his duties, stepped forward. His lips parted as if to speak, but the words didn’t come fast enough. My hand lashed out, striking him hard across the face. He crashed into the wall, a small trickle of blood staining the corner of his mouth.

“Alpha, please!” he gasped, shaking, “No one has left the palace! She must still be here, hiding somewhere!”

“Hiding?” My dripped with venom. “You think she’s playing games? You were meant to keep an eye on her, and now you stand here spouting nonsense?”

The shaking guard flinched as I raised my hand again, ready to strike, but another voice cut through the tension.

“Keal!”

I turned sharply to see Marcus, my Beta, standing in the doorway. His expression was serious, his arms crossed as he took in the scene before him: the fearful guards, my half-transformed state, and the chaos in my eyes.

“What’s going on here?” Marcus asked, stepping forward.

“She’s gone,” I said with my clenched, struggling to control my wolf. “Leah’s no way to be found.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “Are you serious?”

“Do you think I’d waste my time on something I wasn’t sure about?” I snapped.

Marcus’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. Instead, he turned to the guards, his voice sharp. “You were stationed outside her door. Where were you? How did this happen?”

The younger guard, still shaking, stammered, “Beta, we didn’t see anyone leave. No one has passed through the gates. Leah is... stubborn. She’s always been difficult, even before she was brought here. Maybe she’s hiding somewhere in the palace.”

His words only added fuel to the flames raging inside me. My claws extended fully as my wolf let out a growl that reverberated through the room.

“Stubborn?” I releated, moving closer to him. “You think this is some game? She’s gone, and you stand here making excuses?”

I raised my hand again, and the guard flinched, bracing for the blow. But before I could strike, Marcus stepped in, grabbing my wrist.

“Keal, stop,” he said firmly.

The challenge in his tone made my wolf stir. My muscles tightened as I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. “Do not challenge me, Marcus.”

He stood his ground. “You’re allowing your anger to cloud your judgement. We need to think clearly if we’re going to find her.”

“Think?” I shot back. “While you’re thinking, she’s out there, and every second wasted puts her further away. If you can’t handle this, Marcus, then step aside.”

“I’m trying to help you,” he replied, his voice calm but persistent. “If you keep giving in to your rage, you’ll lose control—and that’s not going to help anyone.”

“Do not block my way again, Marcus,” I warned, my voice low and deadly. “If you do, I’ll remind you who the Alpha of this pack is.”

For a brief moment, we stood there, the tension between us thick enough to cut. Then, slowly, Marcus stepped aside, his jaw tight.

“Understood,” he said, though his tone showed his frustration.

Turning back to the guards, I let my fury ignite in my eyes. “Search the palace. Every room, every corner, every shadow. I don’t care how long it takes—find her.”

The guards hurried to comply, bowing low before rushing out of the room.

“If you fail,” I added, my voice cold and sharp, “you’ll regret it. I’ll lock you up and starve you for five days.”

They didn’t look back as they disappeared down the hall, their footsteps resonating in the stillness.

Marcus remained, his arms crossed as he watched me. “We’ll find her, Keal,” he said quietly. “We always do.”

I didn’t respond. The truth was, a part of me feared we wouldn’t. If Leah had truly escaped, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to forgive myself—or anyone else.

And the thought of losing her was a pain I wasn’t ready to face.

I paced the hallway like a caged beast, my claws scraping the walls as my frustration boiled over. The guards’ incompetence was unbearable, and Marcus’s interference still grated on my nerves. I had to clear my mind before I ripped someone apart.

My wolf growled, urging me forward, and I began to stalk the corridors, my senses on high alert. The faint trace of her scent hung in the air, blending with the essence of the palace—the polish of the wooden floors, the lingering smoke from the fireplaces, the subtle fragrance of lavender from the maids’ cleaning oils.

But beneath it all, there was Leah.

As I turned toward the kitchens, a new sound caught my attention. Laughter.

I paused, my sharp senses focusing on the noise. It wasn’t just any laughter—it was loud, carefree, and completely out of place in the tense atmosphere of the palace. My brow furrowed. The sound came from the direction of the kitchen, and the voices were unmistakable: the cooks.

I moved closer, my footsteps silent on the polished floor. The closer I got, the clearer the laughter became, the women’s voices intertwining as they gossiped and chuckled over whatever mundane nonsense they found amusing.

But then, just as I was about to dismiss it, another sound coming from the kitchen—a voice that stopped me in my tracks.

It was Her voice.

Leah.

My breath caught, and my wolf surged forward with a growl that rumbled in my chest. Every nerve in my body came alive as her voice echoed faintly from the kitchen. She was in there. She had been hiding here all along while I was tearing the palace apart looking for her.

I clenched my fists, my claws digging into my palms as I struggled to keep my composure. But the taught of her laughing, carefree, as if this was all some kind of game—it sent a fresh wave of rage within me.

I strode toward the kitchen door, my steps swift and determined. The laughter continued uninterrupted, unaware of my presence. When I reached the door, I knocked hard enough to jolt the wood on its frame.

“Open this door,” I barked, my voice resonating with authority.

The laughter stopped instantly, replaced by a tense silence. No one moved to answer.

“Did you not hear me?” I roared, slamming my fist against the door. “I said open this door!”

Still, no response.

My patience shattered. With a snarl, I threw my weight against the door, the hinges groaning under the force. The door creaked but held firm, and my wolf howled in anger.

“Don not force me break this apart!” I warned, my voice filled with threat.

From inside, I could hear urgent whispers and the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. It only intesified my rage.

“I’ll give you to the count of three,” I growled.

“One…”

“Two…”

They didn’t wait for three. Before I could reach the last number, I heard hurried footsteps and the latch clicked open. I pushed the door open with force, stepping into the room, my eyes blazing as they scanned the scene before me.

And there she was.

Leah.