19

"Why are you here?! You're not supposed to be here without the Alpha's permission," I said, pouring as much venom as possible into my words.

"You don't seem too pleased to see your mate," Zen said sardonically. "Is it because you're a different breed that you have so much control over yourself while meeting your mate? If it were a regular omega, she would already be on her knees for me to claim and make mine."

Because of Alex's mark, I couldn't fully feel the bond between us. However, I could sense Zen's pheromones filling the space. It seemed that as long as Zen didn't mark a new mate, no Alpha could completely erase our bond and take possession of me. Also, my wolf didn't accept Alex as its mate. So, I was caught between a thread, connected to both Alex and Zen.

"You'll get into trouble if the guards find out. Please, leave," I said firmly, ignoring Zen's mockery.

Zen's face hardened as he asked in a cold tone, "Do you think some mere guards can stop me from coming here?"

Zen approached the bed and leaned down, bringing his eyes to my level. He whispered, "That idiot dared to mark what belongs to me. I'm sure you felt disgusted."

"To be honest, I'm feeling quite disgusted right now. Could you please go away?" I asked, averting my gaze.

Zen seemed surprised by my boldness. I didn't dare to look at him because I could already sense his intense gaze tearing me apart. He grabbed my shoulders tightly, but I remained unfazed, determined not to show any weakness.

"It's bold of you to say that to my face. Do you think just because you are my mate, you can say whatever you want? Do I seem that desperate to you? Just because two Alphas are fighting over you, don't let it get to your head. Remember, you are just an omega breed," Zen said through clenched teeth.

"I never considered myself special. I am not enjoying any of this chaos either. I am well aware of my position in this pack. That's why I have no intention of entertaining either of you," I said, giving Zen a fierce glare. "Also, because of this, Alex can sense that someone else is trying to make a move on his marked partner. Do you want the Alpha to find out about this?" I threatened Zen, pointing to the bite mark on my neck, hoping he would leave. The last person I wanted to be with at that moment was Zen.

However, a mysterious glimmer flickered in Zen's eyes. Instead of getting angrier with me, he burst into laughter. He raked his fingers through his smooth, silky hair and straightened his posture.

"Are you making too much effort to seem interesting?" Zen asked, giving me a sarcastic smile. He sighed and said, "Alright, I admit it. You've definitely piqued my interest."

Zen moved closer to me, leaning towards the bed. He grabbed my chin, making me meet his gaze, and whispered, "And now I can't let you go. I take back my rejection."

"Don't," I managed to say despite his grip on my chin. Zen scowled at me as I continued, "I have no intention of being your Luna. So please, set me free."

What bothered me more than Zen looking down on me was the fact that I felt like a trophy being fought over by two Alphas. My mate rejected me and now wanted me back simply because he couldn't bear the thought of me having a new life with someone else. I couldn't believe how ridiculous that sounded.

And as for Alex? I had no idea what he was thinking. Humans or wolves, none can reject him? People would sell their souls to have him? I chuckled to myself. Indeed, not even the earth itself could resist his beauty, and that's what fueled his obsession with me because I wasn't desperate to have him. If I had accepted Alex's advances earlier, he probably would have tossed me away like everyone else.

"Set you free?" Zen interrupted my thoughts, his words snapping me out of my reverie. "If you truly wanted freedom, you shouldn't have awakened my desires."

Zen deliberately moved closer to me, his lips gently brushing mine as he spoke. Suddenly, he pulled away and straightened his posture, scanning the room with a disapproving look on his face.

"This place reeks," Zen muttered to himself. His gaze shifted back to me as he declared, "I will find a way to get you out of here. Just wait for me."

As Zen exited the room, I collapsed onto the bed once again, feeling like a wrecked doll with conflicting emotions. I simply waited for the night to grow darker, a faint smirk forming on my lips as I remembered Zen's earlier words. He had no clue about his mate. It wasn't just about me either. Lexa was even more desperate than I was to break free from the bond that tied us together.

Finally, the moment arrived. With darkness enveloping the pack, I heard soft knocks on my door. A guard entered and whispered that Uncle Zaden was waiting for me at the end of the Valley.

I was taken aback to see a guard aiding me and Uncle Zaden in our escape. I couldn't help but feel grateful at that moment, realizing the immense risk these individuals were taking for my sake. If they were discovered by the Alpha Lord, they would face immediate execution.

However, I couldn't dwell on these thoughts for long. I needed to make my way to the Valley alone. It would be problematic if Alex or Zen sensed my presence during our escape.

The guard seemed to understand my concern and informed me that both Alex and Zen were attending a meeting in the hall. He suggested that I should transform into my wolf form and escape through the roof.

I was confident that if I could shift in time, jumping off the roof wouldn't be an issue. I could escape without anyone in the packhouse noticing. However, shifting was a real challenge for me. I had never successfully shifted before.

I followed the guard cautiously as he led me to the roof, keeping me hidden from the other guards. When I reached the rooftop, I hesitated, looking down. Was it possible to survive such a jump? What if I injured myself and had to return to the cell? I doubted that Zen and Alex would still obsess over my crippled body.

I took a few deep breaths and attempted to shift, but failed. We were running out of time. The other guards would soon realize I was missing from the room. Suddenly, the guard grabbed me and leaped off the roof. I wanted to scream, but he covered my mouth.

We landed on the soft grass. The guard made sure I fell on top of him, so I didn't feel any pain as we hit the ground. I was amazed at how they could jump from such heights without shifting.

"I can't help you any further. You know how to get to the valley," the guard said, helping me up. My knees were still trembling as I nodded slightly.

I arrived at the Valley where Uncle Zaden was waiting. Uncle Zaden's face brightened up when he saw me. He carefully examined me from head to toe to ensure I wasn't injured. Without wasting any time, we set off towards the border.

We managed to cross the border without anyone noticing. Uncle Zaden took us through a safe route in the woods where the Sapphires didn't have any bases. However, to my dismay, Alex and Zen sensed that my wolf was trying to escape.

Alex and Zen quickly left the hall, leaving everyone in the assembly confused. They went to my room and discovered that I was gone. I felt a sense of chaos and unrest within my mates. Both Alex and Zen tried to use their Alpha commands to stop my wolf from running away, but I fought with all my strength. There was no way I was going back to that terrible place.