Chapter 11
The Escape
Nora~
I sat near the edge of the training grounds, watching the warriors spar. The clang of swords and the sound of grunts filled the air, but my attention kept drifting to Alex. Her gaze never left me, sharp and accusing, as if I were the sole reason for all her problems.
I tried to ignore her, turning my focus to the others, but it was impossible to shake the weight of her stare. What is her problem? I wondered.
A moment later, she began walking toward me. My jaw tightened as I braced myself for whatever she was about to say.
"Would you like to train?" she asked, her tone laced with something between mockery and challenge.
For a second, I stared at her, wondering if she was serious. Her hostility toward me had been clear from the beginning, so why was she asking this now?
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," I said flatly, standing up and brushing the dirt from my clothes. I didn't want to deal with her today—or ever, really.
I turned to leave, but as I stepped out of the training grounds, I nearly collided with Grey.
"The Alphas ordered me not to let you out of my sight," he said, his voice calm but unyielding.
I stopped and looked at him, my irritation boiling over. "Seriously?" I snapped. "Keal and Killian aren't even here right now. Can't I get a moment to myself without someone babysitting me?"
Grey remained silent, his stoic expression never wavering.
Why do they have to make everything so suffocating? I thought bitterly. I turned away from Grey and headed back toward the house, fully aware that he was following me like a shadow.
By the time I reached my room, my frustration had reached its limit. My eyes landed on the bathroom door, and an idea began to form.
I walked toward the bathroom, opening the door deliberately so Grey could see me.
"Are you planning to follow me in here too?" I asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
Grey didn't reply, but his silence was answer enough.
"Thought so," I muttered, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.
❧❧❧
The sound of running water filled the small bathroom as I turned on the sink. I sat on the closed toilet seat, my hands resting on my knees as I tried to think.
There has to be a way out of here, I thought, scanning the room for anything that might help. My eyes landed on a small window high up on the wall. It was barely noticeable, tucked in the corner, but it might just be my ticket to freedom.
I stood, staring up at the window. It was too high for me to reach on my own, and the bathroom had nothing sturdy enough to use as support.
"I can get us out," Lara said suddenly, her voice cutting through my thoughts.
I hesitated, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Can I even trust you?" I whispered aloud. "Every time I let you take over, you make things worse."
Her growl echoed in my mind, low and menacing. "When will you learn to trust me?" she snapped. "I am your wolf, Nora. We're supposed to work together, not against each other. Whatever pain you feel, I feel too. Whatever mess you get into, I'm stuck in it just as much as you are. But you keep shutting me out."
She paused, her tone softening slightly. "If you want to get out of here, let me help you. Just this once."
Before I could respond, a knock on the door startled me.
"Luna, is everything all right?" Grey's voice called.
My hands clenched into fists. "Give me a minute, Grey! Stop hovering!" I shouted, my anger slipping into my voice.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. "Fine, Lara," I whispered. "Just... don't mess this up."
The shift was immediate. My muscles tensed as Lara took control, though I didn't fully transform into my wolf. When I opened my eyes, the blue glow in the mirror told me Lara was in charge.
She crouched low, examining the window for a moment before leaping upward. Her claws latched onto the edge of the windowsill, and for a second, I thought we might fall. But she climbed easily, squeezing through the small opening and dropping to the ground outside.
As we landed, I heard the bathroom door slam open behind us.
"Luna!" Grey's voice echoed through the room, but we were already gone.
❧❧❧
Lara sprinted through the forest, the wind whipping past us as she put distance between us and the Bloodfang house. The trees blurred around me, and my heart pounded in my chest.
"Where are we going?" I asked her, though I already had a sinking suspicion.
"To find Dorian," Lara replied, her voice firm and steady. "You said you wanted his help. I'm making it happen."
My stomach churned. I had thought about seeking out Dorian, but now that we were actually doing it, doubt crept into my mind.
When we reached the wall that marked the edge of Bloodfang territory, Lara didn't hesitate. She leapt over it with ease, landing gracefully on the other side.
As soon as we hit the ground, I felt control return to me. I stood there for a moment, staring at the wall behind us.
"Do you think we can really trust him?" I whispered.
Lara was silent.
"Fine," I muttered. "Keep ignoring me."
❧❧❧
I took a few hesitant steps forward, but a strange sensation stopped me in my tracks. A faint voice echoed in my mind, soft but familiar.
"Nora."
I froze. At first, I thought I had imagined it, but then it came again, clearer this time.
"Nora."
"Lara," I said nervously, "what was that?"
"It's Killian," she replied, her voice unusually calm. "He's using the mind-link to talk to us. I think he already knows we've left Bloodfang territory."
My chest tightened as his voice came again, louder this time, and filled with a sharp edge that sent shivers down my spine.
"Nora."
He knew.
And he was coming for me.
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