Chapter 2

HAYLEY

The darkness is thick, a stark contrast to the morning light that used to sneak through my tiny peephole.

I glance out my makeshift “window” and see the pack members huddled together. Without my wolf, their words are just a murmur.

Every year on my birthday, the day my mom died, the pack gathers. They mourn their lost luna and pray she’s at peace with Selene, the Moon Goddess.

I despise my birthday. It’s a harsh reminder that I’m the reason my mother is gone. That I’m a terrible, repulsive human being.

My head drops in shame and tears stream down my face. The grief is too much.

I look back out my cell window when I hear the howls. The pack is shifting, howling for their grieving alpha and their lost luna.

This is my moment. My only chance to escape this nightmare.

The guards who would usually patrol are at the mourning ceremony. My escape should be swift.

I lift the mattress quickly, relieved to find the keycard still hidden underneath. For once, I’m grateful for my bare-bones mattress.

I make the short leap from my “bed” to the cell door. I peek out, just to be sure, looking both ways.

Nothing.

My heart races and my hands start to sweat. I reach out to slide the keycard into the lock, but my fingers slip. The keycard clatters onto the concrete floor. My heart freezes.

I drop to my knees and press myself against the cell bars, stretching my hand out as far as it will go. It’s just out of reach.

I have to keep trying. This is my only shot at freedom. My fingernail grazes the keycard.

I keep reaching and dragging until it’s close enough to scoop up.

I still have a chance! I carefully slide the keycard into the lock. There’s a buzz. The gate swings open. I’m free!

I push the gate open slowly, trying to quiet its screech. This is the first time I’ve stepped out of my cell since I was seven.

I step out, one foot at a time. I’m out.

I double-check for guards.

My dad always came from the left, so that’s the direction I choose. I sprint down the dim hallway until I reach another door.

I look for a key, but find nothing. There’s another lock, just like the one on my cell door. I slide the keycard in and hear another buzz. The door swings open.

I’m going to make it! I can do this!

I climb a set of stairs that lead to a trapdoor. It’s stuck. I push with all my might until it swings open with a loud bang.

The trapdoor falls to the ground. I claw my way out of the hallway and into the open air.

I’ve dreamed of this moment so many times. The freedom. The feel of grass under my feet.

But the fear of being caught overpowers those feelings. I step onto the ground and bolt into the nearest forest without a second glance.

I don’t know if they can hear me. I don’t know how far a fully grown wolf’s senses reach. I run as fast as my legs will carry me, but it’s not fast enough.

Even with alpha blood in my veins, without my wolf, I’m just human. I run as fast as my human strength will allow.

The trees blur as I race through them. My only goal is to leave the territory.

They won’t follow me into another pack’s territory. It could be seen as a declaration of war.

The Bloodnight Pack’s territory is vast. I’ll be running for a while to escape them. After about forty seconds, I’m gasping for breath.

Twelve years in a cell doesn’t do much for stamina. Even a short run is exhausting.

I lean against a tree, trying to catch my breath, but the sound of paw prints hitting the ground steals it away again.

I take off, using every ounce of adrenaline to fuel my escape. They're gaining on me and I can’t tell which direction they’re coming from.

I must be getting close to the border. I can hear wolves snapping and growling.

I push myself to the limit, trying to outrun a pack of wolves. I’m so close. I can see the border.

I keep going. I don’t look back. I just focus on what’s ahead.

The moonlight creates a path to my new life. A better life.

I’m almost there…

A snarl echoes through the woods as I step over the border.

I feel it then. The bond to the Bloodnight Pack snaps. I thought I would have felt it when I lost my wolf, but I didn’t.

I’m no longer a part of the Bloodnight Pack. I’m a rogue. I belong to no one. I’m free.

I did it. I escaped…