She bit her lip, stifling her broken tears. She couldn't bear to see her two daughters' faces.
She's so ashamed.
It shouldn't be her who cries, but her daughters, as they were born to a stupid mother like her. Obeying Ethan's order, she couldn't even let them play outside the manor, giving the excuse that the outside world is dangerous. When deep inside, she knows that this place is far more destructive. And now they might get stuck inside it for how long.
She kept muttering sorry between sobs, as there was nothing else she could say to them.
The two daughters, who took after her appearance with black hair and emerald eyes, hugged her neck using their tiny arms.
Cherish, her 6-year-old older daughter asks. "What do you want to do now, Mom? I'll support you with whatever it is."
Michelle fiddled with her fingers. "What if Mommy insists we must stay in this place?"
With a sigh, Cherish answered. "Then I'll be with you."
"Chelsea, too!" Her 5-year-old daughter chimed in, supporting her older sister's idea.
"But, aren't you always nagging me to run away?"
"I do. And still do. But what if we run away but you're unhappy in the new place? Then I will be very sad. I know he's your mate and how big your love is for that man."
Michelle's heart sank. "That man is your dad, sweety."
Cherish shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Nah. I'll choose my own dad. One who's all there in the head."
"Chelsea, too!"
"And Mom, it's not your fault to give your love to that man. It was him who was crazy."
It fascinates her how Cherish, in particular, acts like she has many experiences living in this world with her always soothing words. She believes Cherish is a genius born once every thousand years. She can't help but wonder how she could have given birth to a genius like her. Moreover, Cherish was born with special powers that have never been recorded.
Michelle took a deep breath and then spoke, "You're right. Let's get out of this place, no matter what."
Cherish's eyes sparkled like a starry night. Now, she looks more like an ordinary 6-year-old girl. Cherish filled her in with information. She said Angie, the nurse who had been watching her closely for the past year, would come at night and in the morning to check on her. She would inject a sedative, as she has been doing for the last two days.
'Oh no. I can't stay under the sedatives if I want to escape, tho.'
But knowing Ethan's personality, she was sure he would keep her under the sedative, no matter what.
"Yeah, at least until the banquet is over, Mom. But that day was our only big chance to get out of here while everyone was busy and distracted."
Cherish is right.
"When will the banquet be held?"
"Tomorrow night."
She gasps. They had little time to prepare for their escape. If they're caught, it will endanger her daughters' lives. Even if they manage to escape, they have nothing to cover their future living expenses.
'I can't let my daughters live in the open, can I?'
She quickly went through her wardrobe. She's sure she has something like jewellery, a gift from Ethan at the start of their relationship. But she's not so sure anymore because her mother-in-law and the maids in this place could steal it as if it were natural.
And her fears were correct.
She's got no money, and her jewellery box is empty. She felt like crap. She wishes to take revenge against all of them, but even revenge is a luxury for her.
After rummaging through many places, she found a diamond ring that was luckily shoved in one of her dress's pockets. She gasps in relief and is grateful for it. Now, she has to make sure that Angie doesn't inject her with sedatives for tonight and the following day.
"I need your help, Cherish."
As the genius she is, Cherish was quick to understand Michelle's instructions. With that much preparation, she thought everything was enough. The priority was to get out of this place first.
"She's here, mom!" Cherish shouted in a whisper.
Angie came that evening precisely to her schedule. She looked like she was chewing on a bug when she discovered Michelle's disgusting appearance, with vomit smeared across the front part of her body.
"Get up, you dirty assh#le."
"I… can't. I don't have the strength to walk or clean myself."
"Damn it."
Angie rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. Eventually, Angie took Michelle to the bathroom. And that's when Cherish started her task.
She reached for the medicine box brought by Angie. Using an injection, she exchanged the liquid in all the vials, which she believed to be a sedative, with plain water. Thanks to her nimble hands, she finished the job quickly.
After bathing Michelle, Angie quickly injected Michelle with the liquid she thought was a sedative while grumbling non-stop. She didn't seem to suspect anything and only wanted to run out of the room quickly.
Michelle and Cherish winked at each other behind Angie's back.
"Wait." Michelle grabbed Angie's wrist. She asks. "Is Ethan still angry with me? Please tell him I am sorry for what I did yesterday, and I promise not to repeat it."
Angie hissed. "Damn it, whatever."
As Angie exited the room, Michelle and her daughters cuddled in a festive mood. They made sure that Michelle was not under the sedatives so that she was conscious enough to continue their preparations. Her arm is swollen, though, but it's okay.
By the time morning came, Angie and several maids came to make sure that Michelle was still asleep under the sedative. Not even in their dream that Michelle opened her eyes as soon as they left her.
****
"Is Charlene ready?" Ethan asked the butler while adjusting his bow tie in front of a standing mirror.
"Yes, she does, Alpha."
Ethan raised his chin arrogantly and smirked. He won the war against several packs and made them work under his terms. And tonight, those packs will pledge their loyalty to him, Alpha of the Moon Golden Pack.
Everything was settled smoothly and perfectly, coupled with the presence of his pregnant Luna, which further perfected his ambitions. He can't help but laugh when he feels his glory days are right before his eyes.
"Shall we go to Lady Charlene, Alpha?"
"Alright."
But he stopped in his tracks as he stepped outside his room. "Let's go to the third floor first."
"I understand, Alpha."
Ethan heard Michelle's message through Angie's report. He liked what he heard, which was evident on his gradually relaxed face. As he grew closer to Michelle's room, he didn't realize that his facial expression now looked brighter than a few minutes before.
"Michelle, how is your body?" He looked down at her. A glint of satisfaction radiated from his gaze when he saw Michelle lying weak.
Michelle stretched out her hand, trying to grab Ethan's hand, then spoke. "I'm sorry. I have failed you."
"So you realize that now?"
"Yes. I know you only want the best for me, Ethan."
"And you will no longer say you want to leave my side?"
"Yes. I must be crazy at that time. Where would I go if it wasn't by your side? Thank you for not throwing me out." She said so with longing in her eyes.
Ethan let out a laugh under his breath. He knew she couldn't live without him because he had made her that way for seven years. He held Michelle's hand, then lowered his face to kiss her forehead after a long time.
Ethan was satisfied when he saw Michelle's face redden, and she couldn't look into his eyes. It reminds him of when they first met many years ago.
"It's good that you know now. Sleep well for tonight, Michelle. I'll visit you again tomorrow morning." Ethan curved his eyes and smiled at her.
He shifted his gaze towards the two little girls hugging each other on the side of the bed, his eyes scanning them.
"Tomorrow, we could have breakfast together, little girls."
Cherish opened her mouth. "I understand, Alpha."
"Oh no. You should call me Daddy in this situation."
"I… understand, daddy."
"Good."
Half an hour later, the sound of exploding fireworks filled the night sky, marking that the banquet held to welcome Charlene to the pack had begun. Michelle looked down from the window and found no one below there.
She wrapped Chelsea on her back using a cloth to keep their bodies together while Cherish was ready next to the window.
"Mom, you know I'll be fine with this height, right? It is you who needs to be careful when jumping. Make sure you fall properly."
Michelle nodded at Cherish's words.
Cherish shifted to her wolf cub form and jumped first. She's so agile that she landed on the ground safely. After a while, she gave Michelle a sign that jumping was safe. Following Cherish's signal, Michelle started throwing several pillows and blankets to cushion her on her fall. After taking a deep breath, she jumped.
She feels liberated for once, that she can't help but think. 'I should have done this much earlier.'
She fell nicely on the pads. Her body did not suffer any severe injuries, so she continued running into the forest. She ran with Chelsea on her back, following Cherish's nimble steps as she showed off that she was familiar with the area. Michelle found herself giggling with so much joy.
That is until several wolves blocked their way.
The big silver wolf shifted to his human form. He appears naked but doesn't show the slightest embarrassment, proud even. His eyes and hair are silver. It's as if no darkness had ever reached them. That man is bulky, tall, and moves with dangerous grace. His appearance was so mesmerizing that she could not help but stare.
She felt so drained as if confronted a massive beasts.
"Going somewhere, little kitty?"