22
Kaya’s POV.
With each passing second that we root deeper into the depths of the alley, my stomach is filled with blue butterflies.
Melissa and I are grabbing each other’s hands; the aura of delight is obvious in our connection. When we are finally out of here, I’m sure I won’t be able to thank her enough.
She really did give me a chance. She saved me from an eternity of pain. She didn’t have to, but she did, risking everything—risking her life.
My jaw drops to the ground metaphorically at the sight before when we arrive at the end of the alley—it’s the woods.
Oh, my... I cannot believe this. I’m actually inside the woods. I turn to my back to see the alley, now seeing that it’s a canal that leads into the woods. But I am amazed at how the gate is opened, not chained close.
Our escape seems so easy, but then, when you think about it, I don’t want to doubt Melissa’s motive, so I keep my thoughts to myself. I’d be an ingrate to do so anyway.
“Now, we run into the woods.” She shakes my head, readying me for the pace.
Taking a hold of myself, my legs pick up the pace, merging with hers. We continue to run and run and run into the woods till it’s very dark, and not even the rays of light from the moon can penetrate the canopy made by these tall woods.
It’s dark, eerie, and silent in here, and my spirit of delight made me absolutely unworried.
When we finally settle down on Melissa’s command, I draw myself close to her. The cold here is freezing my palms.
A brief moment later, I stand up and stare at where we are coming from. My smile creeps back up, plastering itself with grace on my face, and I let it out.
I clutch at my chest and whisper. “You’re free now. Finally. You’re out of the clutches of those evil triplets. All you need to start working on is how to get over the trauma.” A larger part of me fears that forever I’ll continue to live with their thoughts in my head. I fear I may not be able to control my thoughts or do my own things as I want anymore without them telling me to do them or having control over my emotions.
For example, I can still feel myself afraid even though we are quite far away from the kingdom. Something lurks in the back of my mind that I’m not free yet, and that’s probably something I’d have to disagree with for the rest of my life.
I walk over to Melissa. A conversation would be better than us keeping quiet and letting the darkness of this forest capture our thoughts. “Don’t tell me you’re about to bombard me with questions.”
I tick my head in an up-and down, “actually, yes.”
She groans as she glances away from me. “Darn, why?”
I roll my eyes at her, still acting all toughened up. “Release those muscles. We are out anyway.” A small chuckle escapes her lips, to which I hit her shoulder and wink at her, causing her to wave off her hand at me. “I’m curious how the metal gate was left open. It’s all weird to me.”
I shrug, my question coming from a harmless place, and I hope that she sees it that way. “Well, you don’t expect me to run the escape plan by myself. I had an opportunity even though it’s a high cost, and I grabbed it.”
“How do you mean?” One of my brows is being raised in perplexity.
She clears her throat. “This isn’t the time for this discussion. Just know that I had help from some high-ranking people. They should be here anytime.“Melissa has barely finished when I jump to my left side.
The sound of a branch breaking reaches my ears, and I run behind Melissa. She, on the other hand, doesn’t look bothered at all; rather, she’s calm.
Three bulky men walk out of the shadows. Because of the night, I can’t see their faces. One of them asks, his voice coarse, ripping through his throat, “Is the witch with you?”
Wait, what?
While Melissa replies, “Yes, she’s with me. Can we leave here as soon as possible? It’s dangerous.” My brain scans the intention behind their discussion.
I feel something is fishy, but I don’t understand it. Why did the stranger refer to me as that?
Out of nowhere, it clicks in my head like a bell, ringing continuously. Shit! They are werewolves. How could werewolves save us when Melissa herself is a human and I am a witch?
They hate our kind. Our breed is never one they want to help, no matter what. At least, that’s what I’ve learned so far on this cruel globe.
I step back, away from Melissa, which she notices. Her forehead wrinkles at my action. “Let’s go, Kaya.”
“What is happening?” I ask her, still stepping backwards until my back hits a stony material. Well, that was what I thought at first, but I realized there are another three werewolves, which adds up to six werewolves surrounding us.
Melissa grabs me to force me to look into her eyes, and she enlists. “Hey, you told me you’re willing to do anything to escape that hell, so why are you fidgeting now? Would you like to go back or be left alone here? These people are here to save us in the best way they can. Do you understand? I know I haven’t been clear with you, but you’d get your freedom either way you wish.”
The way she keeps mentioning me getting my freedom without clarifying if I’d be completely safe is alarming, but I swallow my fear and agree with her.
I have no choice here. She’s helped me so far to get to this spot, so I might as well continue the journey.
The men’s patience seems to be running thin by the time we join them.
We continue to walk for a while that I lose count of how long we could have been trekking. My feet hurt a bit, but my entire being still feels unsafe.
Maybe it’s because of these men—I’m not sure—or because Melissa is still hiding some things from me—or could it be something else?
For an unknown reason, I turn to my back but don’t see the three men behind us there anymore. I pause in my gait, which calls Melissa’s attention as well.
“What is it again, Kaya?” Her voice trails into silence when she notices that the men are gone too.
“Where...did they go somewhere?” I ask even though I have a feeling that isn’t what happened.
Hearing a grunt from behind, we twirl and see the triplets.
Oh, no. No!
This is surreal. It must be a dream. I don’t believe it.
I shake my head, cupping my cheeks and smacking them as I close my eyes. My feet suddenly feel like Jell-O as they take me backwards till I hit my back against a tree, and I continue to whisper, “No, this is not happening. No, this is not happening.”
I repeat the words like a mantra till a scream forces me to snatch my eyes open, only to see Melissa caught in the throat by Kieran.
His eyes are on me, which glow at me with a bloodshot expression. His eyes glow with scarlet around the ring of his lens, and there is a smirk on his face that is stained with blood.
I wonder how he feels only delight from killing off those people. Then, I shift my gaze to Kyle and Kade, who just finished wrecking butcher-like attacks on the men’s bodies, torn their bodies into pieces that wet the ground.
While Melissa is forced to look into Kieran’s eyes, I can’t bring myself to breathe.
“Please don’t kill her. It wasn’t her fault. I caused it. I brought up the idea. Take me instead.” The words kept dropping into my head, but I couldn’t say them out. My lips can’t help but tremble as salty tears rip through me.
“You shouldn’t have been that traitor.” Kieran speaks as he tightens his grip on her.
“I have no choice.”
“So, you decided to sell our toy to the Alpha of the Crestwood pack instead. At the expense of your own freedom to live comfortably, she should be killed?”
My mind blows like explosives at Kieran’s words.
I can’t believe him.
Melissa couldn’t have had such a motive. She couldn’t have meant the opportunity as using her as her own escape.
No!