18

I collapsed onto the enormous bed, completely drained, as I gazed up at the ceiling with a sense of emptiness. The pack had always treated me and my mother poorly. Therefore, finding myself imprisoned due to being entangled in someone else's mess was not a new experience for me.

Nevertheless, I had never felt such a powerful urge to break free from my pack until that moment. It dawned on me that I had made a mistake in the past. I should have left the pack after losing my parents. I regretted turning down Uncle Zaden's offer.

Just as I was starting to regret turning down Uncle Zaden's offer of help, I heard a knock on the door. I furrowed my brow and skeptically stared at the door as it was locked from the outside. There was no reason for anyone else to be knocking considering the lock on the outside.

"Ella, are you awake?"I heard a familiar voice whispering from outside. My face lit up with excitement as I called out, "Uncle Zaden!"

The door opened, and Zaden entered my room. Uncle Zaden walked straight towards me and pulled me into an embrace. It had been a long time since I felt the warmth of family.

Zaden let go of me and gently held my face, his expression filled with concern as he observed me closely.

"Look at what this pack has done to you in such a short time. How am I going to face your father when I pass away? He entrusted you to my care, and I have failed to protect you," Zaden said.

I could sense the sincerity in Uncle Zaden's words. Despite not being related by blood to my father, he held a deep respect for him. Perhaps even more than a younger sibling would. Although Uncle Zaden was usually shy and hesitant to visit our house when my mother was alive, he was the only person who had shown kindness and respect to her.

"Ella, do you remember what I told you before we came to the packhouse?" Uncle Zaden asked, bringing me back to reality.

"Yes, I remember," I replied calmly.

"Do you want to leave now?" Uncle Zaden asked again. "I can help you escape from this pack tonight."

"Yes, please, help me!" I pleaded without hesitation.

If I were still mateless and living my normal life as an omega, I would probably have rejected Uncle Zaden's offer once again. However, I never thought there would come a day when I would beg him to get me out of the pack.

Frustration welled up inside me as I bit my lower lip, feeling helpless. If only Zen had never entered my life, I wouldn't have to consider becoming a rogue and leaving behind the last remnants of my parents' memories.

"Alright, stay alert. Tonight, I will help you escape from this pack," Uncle Zaden said as he quickly left the room. He made sure to lock the door again from the outside.

I continued to stare at Zaden's departure, wondering how he managed to obtain the keys. If the Alpha were to find out, he would immediately label Uncle Zaden as a traitor.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that if I were to escape that night, the pack would eventually discover Uncle Zaden's connection to it. What if they also expelled him from the pack? The thought sent shivers down my spine.

"Is it fair for me to put Uncle Zaden in such grave danger just to avoid two men?" I questioned myself. However, I had already revealed my vulnerability to Uncle Zaden, and he wouldn't hesitate to protect me.

Even after getting marked by two Alphas, my wolf didn't feel any love. Neither from Zen nor from Alex. Lexa was rather annoyed. She was more impatient than me to get out of the pack already. I never thought my wolf would be able to resent its mate so much. Perhaps, because I was a breed, my emotions were not entirely consumed by the typical wolf desires.

I spent the entire day curled up in the corner of the bed, staring at the locked door. Each moment felt like an eternity until dawn finally arrived. I glanced out the window and saw the sky slowly being covered by a tangerine hue of twilight. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed the woods, where the Sapphires were lurking.

Uncle Zaden had recently returned from the allied packs and knew which routes to avoid to stay away from the Sapphires. However, I still worried about whether I would be able to escape the woods safely.

I couldn't dwell on the worst-case scenarios. "I've killed so many of the Sapphires. If they find out about my dad and what I did in the woods-"

I shook my head as I couldn't even bear to think about the consequences I would have to face. "What if I manage to escape? Will I be safe in the town, living among humans?" I questioned myself.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard the sound of the door unlocking. Without knocking, someone entered the room. I swiftly sat up, assuming it was Uncle Zaden once again. However, my expression turned sour when I saw the man who walked in.