Chapter 9 Running away
"Don't kill me." I begged immediately when I saw one the guards enter the cell, towards me.
"It's the Alpha's orders. I'm afraid there isn't much I can do," He said, shaking his head while his claws elongated.
“You trespassed,” he went on. “You fought his Luna. You talked back. You disrespected him.”
He listed everything like reading from a page, as if reminding himself why this was happening.
My heart stopped when I saw the claws extend, glinting faintly in the dim light.
"I didn't. I came here by accident. I didn't mean to." I moved back, slamming my back against the cold wall. I couldn't run, not from here. It was nearly impossible.
He sighed heavily, stepping closer.
“Intent doesn’t matter. Alpha said you die, so… you die. If I don’t do it, I answer to him. And I’d rather not die today.”
His fingers reached toward my throat.
Everything inside me screamed.
"Whether or not you meant to, the Alpha's orders are clear. This will be quicker if you simply be quiet and let me finish my work." The man came closer, his claws not completely elongated, and reached for my throat.
"No!" I screamed, tugging on the chains and throwing my legs at him till he pushed backward. At the slightest impact, he only moved a few inches away. His strength was nothing compared to mine. "Don't kill me. Please. I don't want to die like this and I don't want to die tonight "
“Wait—!” The word tore out of me again. “I’m pregnant.”
His hand froze mid-air.
He blinked. “What?”
“I’m pregnant,” I repeated,
“I left my old pack because of it. One of their men, he’s the father. I’m carrying his child.”
It was a lie. A desperate, reckless lie. But desperation was all I had left.
“You… ran away?”
His voice changed , no longer cold, just confused.
“They were going to kill me,” I said quickly, feeding the lie with trembling urgency.
They didn’t want the pups of a low-ranked girl. They said I was Worthless My throat tightened, but I forced myself to keep going. “If you kill me, he’ll know you killed his child. And he won’t stop until he rips your entire pack apart.”
The guard swallowed hard.
I could see the fear settle into his eyes. Not for me. Not even for the imaginary father.
For himself.
“Alpha Kael didn’t mention anything about a pregnancy,” he said stiffly, but his voice cracked just enough for me to hear it. “He… he would’ve said something.”
“He doesn’t know,” I whispered hoarsely. “He didn’t ask. He didn’t listen. He just wants me dead. But if I die, if the pup dies they will blame you. Not him. Because you carried out the order.”
The guard froze at my words. His grip slackened, his claws retreating just enough that I could draw a ragged breath. His eyes hard and feral just moments ago narrowed as though something within him battled against his orders.
“You pregnant?” he repeated, his voice low, as if the words themselves carried danger. His gaze darted toward the door of the dungeon as if fearing someone might have overheard. “Do you speak the truth?”
I nodded frantically, desperation pouring out of me. “Yes. I swear it. I didn’t choose to trespass here. Please… please don’t let me die like this. My pup needs to live",
His jaw tightened, muscles ticking with conflict. For a long, suffocating moment I thought he would still finish me, duty outweighing mercy. But then, with a growl caught in his throat, he shoved me back against the wall not in cruelty this time, but as if he needed distance from his own decision.
“I’ll regret this,” he muttered. Then, with quick jerks, he bent to the chains, his claws slicing through the locks until the metal fell away from my wrists. Blood rushed back into my hands, sharp pins of pain prickling up my arms.
“You didn’t see me,” he said, his voice harsher now, as if layering stone over the crack of compassion. “I was never here. If you value your life, you’ll run. Disappear before anyone knows I disobeyed. Because if the Alpha learns…” His eyes hardened again. “We’ll both be corpses.”
I staggered, barely able to find my footing, my legs trembling from too long spent in chains. “Th-thank you,” I whispered, my throat raw where his claws had grazed.
He turned away, pacing toward the door. “Don’t waste your words. Run.”
That was all I needed. My bare feet slapped softly against the cold stone as I darted from the cell, heart pounding in my ears louder than the echoes in the corridor.
The night air struck me when I finally burst out of the cell’s back passage. It carried the scents of pine and smoke, of wolves that did not belong to me. The pack was awake; voices carried from the settlement, laughter and arguments mingling with the thrum of life. If I ran into the open fields, I’d be hunted in minutes. I couldn’t shift. My body was too drained, and fear clawed at my insides with every breath.
So I did the only thing I could, I threw myself into the crowd.
The pack members eyed me curiously as I stumbled among them, but I lowered my head, pulling my torn dress tighter around me to hide my bloodstained throat. My pulse thudded as I kept my pace steady, not too fast, not too slow, weaving myself into their numbers like a shadow slipping into sunlight.
I tried to steady my breathing, to look like I belonged. A servant, perhaps. A wanderer with errands. Anything but a chained trespasser meant for death.
Behind me, I swore I still heard the guard’s voice in my head: Run.
I tried to run but It was endless-the streets. I had been walking for more than an hour yet I couldn't find a sign where it mentioned I was leaving town.
My eyes snapped open upon hearing the sounds of several engines roaring to my right. I glanced at the roads, finding them empty but the sounds were still there. Instantly, I knew I had been found.
But how?
I stood up from the ground and began running on the opposite direction. The alleyway ended a bit farther away with a large bricked wall in the middle. Just before it, there was a small staircase leading to the door. I quickly slipped inside upon hearing footsteps.
"How do you suppose she's here?" A man questioned, voice familiar.
I slid into the room and it was a garbage room, reeking of a disgusting smell. I held my breath while looking into the small window on the door.
It was him, the Alpha and two men by his side.
How was it possible? I barely rested for a moment and I was already found. How could they know where I was?
"There is no one here, Alpha. It's empty." The man said, dashing his head left and right.
The alpha glanced around, sniffing and moving ahead, closed to the end of the alleyway.
"I can smell her. She's here," He said, voice warmed with rage. "Come out wherever you are, little omega, I promise I'll spare your life."
My lungs seized. He can smell me.
How was it possible? I wasn’t yet their pack member. It was only him who could smell me.
At the same time he spoke, I watched as his fingernails extended into claws. He intend on killing me-nothing more. A small gasp fled my throat and I stepped back from the door.
I couldn't go out there. No matter if I rotted inside the garbage room or not, I couldn't go out there.
"Search around the area. Find her and bring her to me, alive. And question anyone that is around, ask them if they have seen her." The Alpha turned to the man beside him and said.
The two men soon scurried out of the alleyway and began searching for me around. Thankfully, no one had seen me. I had yet to collide with one of their town people.
I waited till the Alpha left, but he didn't.
He stayed on his feet, looking ahead into nothing. I pressed my lips together while remaining inches away from the door. The smell of the garbage filled my nose but I held myself back from puking and creating a scene.
On the opposite side of the building, there was a door, on the same place-another garbage room.
The Alpha headed straight there and as soon as he stepped in, I stepped out and began running away.
Anywhere.