Logan's laughter echoed through the night, chilling me to the bone. "Did you really think you could escape from me so easily?" he taunted, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic pleasure.
My heart pounded in my chest as I looked from Logan to Jenna, who was struggling in the guard's grasp. "Please, let her go. This is my fault, not hers," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.
Logan waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, don't worry about her. She will be dealt with accordingly. You, however, need to understand your place."
The guard dragged Jenna away, her eyes wide with fear and regret. I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew it would be useless. Logan was too powerful, and I was just a rejected mate, a lowly werewolf in his eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Logan's expression darkened. "You exist. That's enough. Now, come with me." He grabbed my arm roughly and started pulling me back towards the castle.
As we walked through the dimly lit corridors, I couldn't help but feel the weight of my fate crushing down on me. The hope I had clung to was shattered, replaced with a cold, numbing despair.
Logan pushed open a door and shoved me inside. "Stay here until I decide what to do with you," he commanded, slamming the door shut behind him.
I looked around the small room, which was sparsely furnished with a bed, a small table, and a chair. The window was barred, and the door locked from the outside. I was trapped.
I sank to the floor, my knees pulled to my chest as tears streamed down my face. How had my life come to this? The moon goddess had forsaken me, and now I was at the mercy of a cruel Alpha who saw me as nothing more than property.
As the hours passed, I couldn't stop thinking about Jenna. What would happen to her? Would she be punished for trying to help me? The guilt gnawed at me, making it hard to breathe.
I didn't know how much time had passed when the door finally creaked open. I looked up to see a young woman standing in the doorway, her expression soft and compassionate.
"My name is Lily," she said gently. "I'm here to help you."
I stared at her in disbelief. "Why would you help me?"
Lily stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "Because I've seen what Logan can do, and no one deserves to suffer like this. We need to get you out of here, but we have to be smart about it."
A glimmer of hope flickered in my chest. "But how? Logan has guards everywhere. Jenna tried to help me, and now she's probably being punished."
Lily nodded, her expression serious. "I know. That's why we need a better plan. I've been working in this castle for a long time, and I know some of the guards. Some of them don't agree with Logan's methods. We can use that to our advantage."
I wiped my tears and stood up, determination replacing the despair. "What do we need to do?"
Lily outlined a plan, detailing how we could use the guards who were sympathetic to our cause to create a distraction. It was risky, but it was the only chance I had.
As the night wore on, we prepared for our escape. Lily brought me a change of clothes, and we gathered supplies. My heart pounded with a mixture of fear and anticipation.
Finally, the time came. Lily led me through the castle, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the guards who were loyal to Logan. We reached a hidden passageway that led to a rarely used exit.
"This is it," Lily whispered. "Once you're out, head to the forest. There's a safe house there where you can hide until it's safe to move on."
I nodded, gratitude welling up inside me. "Thank you, Lily. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
She smiled softly. "Just stay safe, Tessa. You deserve a chance at a better life."
With one last look at Lily, I slipped through the passageway and into the night. The cool air hit my face, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a spark of freedom.
I ran towards the forest, my heart pounding with each step. This was my chance to escape, to start a new life away from Logan's cruelty. I didn't know what the future held, but for now, I was free.
The cool night air bit into my skin as I sprinted towards the forest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I could still hear the faint echoes of Logan's laughter in my mind, a grim reminder of what awaited me if I were caught. The trees loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, but they also represented my best chance at freedom.
I plunged into the forest, the underbrush scratching at my legs as I forced myself deeper into the woods. I needed to find the safe house Lily had mentioned. I just had to keep moving.
Behind me, the castle's alarms blared, and I knew the guards would be on high alert. Logan would spare no effort in hunting me down. I had to stay ahead of them.
I ran until my legs burned and my lungs ached. Finally, I allowed myself to stop and lean against a tree, listening intently for any signs of pursuit. The forest was eerily silent, the only sounds were my own labored breathing and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Suddenly, I heard the distant bark of dogs and the shouts of men. They were getting closer. Panic surged through me, and I pushed off the tree, continuing my desperate flight through the woods.