Chapter 7 007
~LYKA~
(The Day of the Pack’s Duet)
“What did you hear?” I asked quietly, my eyes fixed on Phoebe as I leaned closer to her. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as we strained to listen for any sign of movement beyond the thick stone walls. At the moment, we were trying to confirm if the ceremony was already in full bloom and whether it was truly the perfect time to make our escape.
Our plan had been carefully perfected over the days...every step, every turn, every possible risk considered. All that was left was to execute it without drawing suspicion from the men guarding this place. I knew, deep down, that no plan was ever flawless, but I also knew this was our only chance to free ourselves from the Demon Alpha’s clutches without unnecessary bloodshed.
“Yes,” Phoebe whispered after a brief pause, her head slightly tilted as she focused on distant sounds only she could hear. “The ceremony is in bloom, but… I don’t think all the pack members are present on the field the way we predicted.”
I creased my brow in confusion, my pulse quickening.
Shouldn’t everyone be present if there was going to be a ceremony of this magnitude?
“Are you sure about what you’re saying?” I asked her again. Phoebe was the only one among us whose hearing could reach far distances with frightening accuracy. If anyone could tell, it was her.
“Yes,” she replied confidently, though a hint of uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “But I still think we’ll be fine. We should stick to the original plan and avoid making any mistakes. I don’t think anyone here can afford to mess up… unless you want all of us caught,” she added pointedly.
The girls nodded in agreement, their expressions grim and tense.
I quickly went over the plan once more, instructing each of them on what they needed to do and where they needed to go. They all agreed, their voices firm as they promised not to mess things up.
“A little word of morale before we leave, shall we?” Amanda suddenly said.
We all turned to look at her.
“What is it?” I asked, already dreading her next words.
“If this escape fails,” she said casually, wearing a strained smile, “I will die. I hope we all remember that and keep our sense of comradeship intact.”
A heavy lump rose in my throat as her words settled in. The atmosphere instantly grew awkward, thick with unspoken fear. I cursed inwardly as I noticed how she had singlehandedly managed to dampen everyone’s spirits.
Fuck, Amanda.
“Let’s go,” I said firmly, forcing confidence into my voice as I moved toward the gate, gripping the key I had slipped off a guard days ago.
The metal scraped softly as I unlocked the gate, my breath hitching at every sound. I led the girls out carefully, signaling for silence, but before I could take another step, Amanda grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
“Are you sure you want to leave?” she whispered urgently. “I mean… he’s your mate, and...”
“He is nothing like that to me,” I interrupted sharply. “He’s just someone I happened to meet by chance. Nothing more.”
I heard my wolf grumble angrily in my head...she had been unusually quiet all this while...but I ignored her protests.
“Okay,” Amanda muttered, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t come snatching my mate when I finally find one.”
I hissed in frustration and followed her as she walked out.
We moved silently through the dark passageway, our footsteps barely grazing the stone floor. Every breath felt too loud, every heartbeat too fast. Just as we predicted, there wasn’t a single guard on duty. Relief washed over me briefly...but it didn’t last.
Suddenly, my wolf stirred violently.
I brushed it off at first, thinking she was reacting emotionally to leaving her mate behind. But when an unfamiliar, oppressive aura washed over me, I froze.
This wasn’t paranoia.
My steps halted immediately as I heard faint footsteps approaching. My brows furrowed in confusion, but Phoebe’s panicked expression confirmed my worst fear.
Someone was coming.
“We need to hurry,” Phoebe whispered urgently, her voice breaking. “Someone’s on our tail!”
My mind raced as I made a split-second decision.
“Go without me,” I said, pushing them forward. “I’ll stay behind.”
Their shocked, reluctant looks told me they weren’t ready to leave me...but before anyone could argue, a wave of cold swept through the hallway, making all of us shiver violently.
“The Demon Alpha is here!” Phoebe exclaimed.
My heart dropped.
“You all go,” I insisted. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t follow you.”
“That’s not possible!” they chorused.
I grabbed Amanda and pulled her aside. “Take them. Make sure they’re safe,” I pleaded.
She shook her head, panic flashing in her eyes. “Lyka...”
“He can’t kill me,” I said firmly. “You know that.”
The sound of heavy footsteps grew closer.
“Fine,” she said hurriedly. “But if you die, I swear I’ll hunt you down in the afterlife.”
She hugged me tightly before I pushed her away, urging her to take the others and run.
They hesitated, but Amanda finally led them away. The hallway grew colder, darker. I knew he was already here.
A tear slipped down my cheek as I watched them disappear. I turned quickly, hiding behind a stone pillar, clutching the knife in my trembling hand as I prepared to attack.
Then I heard his voice.
“I was just about to check on my mate,” his deep baritone echoed through the hallway, sending chills down my spine, “but who would have thought she was running away...with my prisoners?”
Fear twisted violently in my stomach.
“I won’t ask twice,” he roared. “Come out. Now.”
I scoffed despite my shaking hands, tightening my grip on the knife.
Attacking someone like him was courting death...but I didn’t care.
With a sharp cry, I charged forward…
And the next thing I knew, I was flying across the hallway.
“Pah!” I hissed as my body slammed painfully against the stone floor. My vision blurred as I looked up, my eyes burning.
He stood over me, towering, wearing a cruel, satisfied smirk.
“Hi, mate,” he said smoothly. “Did you miss me?”
I hissed in pain, fury burning through me.
That demon.