22- A Chance to Escape
POV Lunara Grimwald:
I would not tell him about Elowen. If I were forced to stay trapped with Edric or Alessio, then at least my sister should have a chance to live free from all of this and have a happy life.
He remained silent. I could feel his gaze burning into the top of my head while I kept my face turned away from him.
"I will kill them all, Lunara. Every damn one who steps onto my territory. Know this—if you are lying to me, their blood will be on your hands."
I raised my face, meeting his eyes for the first time, and stood up, my legs still weak. I brushed the back of my hand across my eyes, wiping away the tears that had gathered.
"Please, do me that favor," I spat. He narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head to the side.
"You should already know what I think about lies."
"Kill them however you want, if you think I’m lying to you. Kill every last one of them, in the bloodiest, most painful way possible."
He grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me toward the stairs, heading for the bedroom.
"I’m going to keep you locked up, little wolf. I can’t trust a single word that comes out of that deceitful mouth of yours."
I didn’t resist the harsh way he held me, pulling me up the stairs. His grip was hard and heavy, and it would leave marks again—but they would soon fade because of my DNA.
As soon as we reached the door, he shoved me inside and glared at me.
"Don’t do anything stupid. Be a good girl, and things will get better for you," he said, slamming the door shut and turning the key, locking me inside.
His words struck me with force.
Be a good girl, and things will get better for you.
It wasn’t so different from the way my father used to treat me, locking me in my room every time he thought I wasn’t behaving well enough. Be a good girl, and soon you’ll have your freedom. That was what he always said.
I let my body collapse onto the bed. A sob tore through my throat, followed by restless tears streaming down my cheeks.
This wasn’t what I had imagined for myself. This wasn’t what I wanted.
I had never thought much about my future, but if I had any hope of one, it was nothing like this.
I waited for all my anger and frustration to spill out before I stood up and began pacing the room.
I needed to think clearly. Get my head in order. I rubbed the back of my neck, reflecting.
Alessio had found me. He caught my scent and followed me here. And it had been entirely my fault, for not taking the right precautions. I had left my bloodstained clothes in the middle of the forest before Edric dragged me away. That was how Alessio had gotten so close.
And now, I was in more danger than ever.
He knew where I was—not exactly, but he had an idea. And if one day Edric didn’t arrive in time to help me and they managed to take me?
I had to escape as soon as possible.
Edric might get rid of Alessio’s males, but that didn’t mean more wouldn’t come after me. Others would arrive, one after another. Alessio would not rest until he had me.
This was the best opportunity I would ever get. Edric was busy fighting the wolves, and all of his males should be focused on the invasion too. No one would come looking for me, no one would even notice my absence. And by the time they realized, it would be too late.
I wanted a chance, the right moment. And it had come.
I pulled the backpack I had hidden under the bed, unzipped it, and checked if the things I had packed inside were still there. Nicoleta cleaned my room every day, even though I insisted she didn’t need to. But she hadn’t touched the backpack. At least, it didn’t look like it.
I tossed the bag onto the bed and rushed to the wardrobe, grabbing something comfortable to wear. I put on one of my new pairs of pants and slipped a tank top over my body. I laced up the sneakers Lyris had brought me the day before and threw my hair over my shoulder.
I glanced at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My eyes flickered between blue and emerald green, swollen from crying.
Sniffling, I raised my chin, filling myself with courage and determination.
I could feel Edric’s irritation, his rage. It was a bitter taste, nothing more than a faint annoyance.
Fuck him and his entire pack.
I would not be a prisoner. Not anymore.
I spun on my heels and rushed back to the bed, slinging the backpack over my shoulders.
The wood of the door was far too thick—I’d only hurt myself trying to break it, and Edric might sense my injuries.
I went to the window, examining the latch.
It wasn’t locked. Edric hadn’t bothered, because the house was too high. He must have thought I wasn’t capable of escaping.
Idiot. Arrogant bastard.
I opened the glass and peeked out, gauging the distance between the window and the ground, calculating the impact I’d suffer. I swung one leg over the ledge, welcomed by the night breeze, then the other, perching myself outside.
I took a deep breath and gripped the sides. My feet slipped on the smooth tiles.
If I broke a foot, it would take around two days to heal.
And I didn’t have that time.
My stomach churned as a heavy wave of nausea struck me. Fear and courage were dueling inside me.
I breathed again, trying to remain calm, reminding myself that I was now a mated wolf and that he could sense my panic.
I let go with one hand. My right foot slid a little farther. The owl that often circled the house made a sound from the branch of the tree where it sat, watching me.
"I know, it’s not the best idea," I whispered, speaking to the animal as if it could answer me.
I filled my lungs with air, then released my other hand from the window. I landed on my ass on the tiles, sliding down to the edge of the roof before dropping the six meters to the ground.
My feet absorbed the impact as I hit the stone floor. I staggered to the side but managed to stay standing. I clenched my teeth, trying to contain the pain that shot up my calves.
I took a step, checking if nothing had broken. My body had endured the fall.
Then I adjusted myself, grabbed the backpack, and started running, ignoring the throbbing pain in my feet.