CHAPTER 23

As the end of the third month drew nearer to it’s end, Iliana Dimitri, also known as Rachel George, planned her escape from the prison she unknowingly fell into—the Silver Creek. There was no intelligent plan yet. Telling Damian anything was out of the options she had but it could potentially be a solution. However, to prevent strife, all must be kept a secret from the Shadow pack even the deaths of their beloved comrades; Samuel, Stuart and Jack. Although all hope was lost, Iliana still kept thinking for a plan to escape. It still bothered her that she could be betraying on side and greatly serving the other. In a sense, her betrayal would be service but in another her betrayal would be disloyalty and malice. Nevertheless, Iliana felt incomplete trying to escaped so early. To her she has only spent merely two weeks but to them, three months. There wasn’t enough vital information and except the secret power, Silver Creek’s plan to overthrow every other pack and the spy in the Shadow pack. Speaking of which, Iliana wondered who the spy could be. The attempt to begin to think made her realize that she is in more danger as the spy obviously knows who she is and will eventually tell the Silver Creek–if they haven’t said so already. Her trust in Shadow pack began to falter. There were some people she could trust, three of which were dead–Samuel, Stuart and Johan– and then there was Damian.

Iliana rethought of the night Samuel told her about his escape with Stuart and their encounter with an enormous werewolf. An enormous werewolf is definitely something she had to tell the Shadow pack, however, she was skeptical. Can a werewolf thrice the size of a normal werewolf exist? She thought. She had to see it for herself. But, how can she do it without being attacked? Before that, who could be this werewolf? And why are they?

Iliana turned on her phone only to be much welcomed by multiple texts from Damian and…Alexander.

“ILIANA, WHAT IS GOING ON?!” -Damian, 3days ago.

“ARE YOU OKAY?” -Damian, 1day ago.

“CALL ME.” -Damian, 15hours ago.

“Meet me by the forest this night.” -Alexander, 3hours ago.

Ignoring every message, she turned her phone off and rested on her bed. Laying on her bad and waiting for time to pass her by was the only thing she could do in that town. What will Samuel tell her to do? What will Stuart do? For a moment, Iliana closed her eyes to think.

“You can not stay here. You have hurt too many people. If I help you, I’ll only be an accomplice. You may have to run away for good.”

“Try as much as you can, your name will never be cleared. You can only survive if you stay in the Shadows.”

“There is no hope for you here. Leave here. I cannot say save yourself because it is impossible. You are doomed to die.”

“No…NO!!!!!”

“ANA!!!!”

Iliana instantly jumped awake. Breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She regained her breathing and crept out of bed. She went to drink some water and tried to calm herself.

“What kind of dream was that?”

An elusive dream. Unexplainable. Blank.

Iliana checked her watch and it seemed she was asleep for a while. It was already past seven and she thought it might be a good time to go to the forest.

On her way to the forest, she encountered something too odd and unimaginable. There were people who seemed to be frozen at a spot. It’s no doubt it is a consequence of the leaking power but this was new to her. Surely, time moving forward for some and not for some was enough to reason about, but time stopping? That was a little too much, or so she assumed.

She arrived at the forest’s entrance and there was no sight of Alexander. She did not think about going in so she waited outside the forest on a bench. The longer she waited the colder the night.

Quietly observing the environment, Rachel caught sight of Erik and David approaching. She hid her anxiety and waited for the to come for they have already seen her.

“Rachel, is that you?” Erik politely smiled at Iliana who returned the smile as he and David stood in front of her. “What are you doing here all by yourself?”

“I am…”

“Waiting for Alexander?” David completed her questions. “We’re also looking for Alexander. We’re actually looking him. Haven’t found him since afternoon.”

It didn’t make sense to Iliana. “I haven’t seen him all through today but he texted me to meet him here at night.”

“We’ve tried calling him but his phone seems to be switched off. His phone is never switched off.” Erik said.

“We even tried howling in our secret frequency that only us, the alphas of the pack can hear; we got no response.”

“Oh. Maybe he’s home doing something.”

“I don’t think he would be. That is the last place he would be. He only comes there to sleep or take a bath.”

“Speaking of which, you are his mate, yes?” Erik asked and Iliana nodded in response. “How do you not know where he lives? I’ve never seen you around the mansion”

Iliana did not see the question coming. “Oh. Alexander loves his aloneness so he prefers to come see me instead.” Iliana said as she stood from the bench “It was nice seeing you both but I must head back to my room.” Iliana said trying to avoid any further interactions.

As she walked to the motel, she couldn’t help but feel watched –watched by the same set of prying malicious eyes. She felt it coming closer; she walked faster. She felt it too close to her, instinctively, she transformed and growled at whatever it may be. There was nothing there. The malicious eyes had gone. She transformed back and went to her room. She locked the doors and turned off the lights. She reached for her phone and turned it on. There were no texts from anyone. “Where could Alexander be?”

There was an unfamiliar knock on her door–an unfamiliar that had a blood lustful presence.