KATIA

“That's ruthless even for our Alpha,” I heard as I walked towards the servants quarters.

It's been a week since Carl punished me by burning some of my people in a hot ball of fire. Everyday I remember their screams. When I closed my eyes I could see them trying to crawl out of the tombs.

I begged Carl to put out the fire. I pleaded with him to spare the life of those far away from the fire but he didn't.

Instead he dragged me down the tower, and towards the tomb where my people could see me helpless as I watched them burn.

The next day I struggled to get out of my bed. I couldn't eat, my heart was bleeding, and the tears wouldn't stop flowing down my cheeks.

Now I'm hearing how ruthless he is about to be. I don't think anything will surpass what he has already done.

I stood beside the wall, hoping to hear more of what was being discussed.

“He is doing what is right by our pack,” I heard another voice, and sighed.

“I think he is doing it for more power,” the first person I heard said.

“If an alliance with the Lycan will give him more powers to protect us from the other wolf pack I say go for it,” immediately I heard that my heartbeat increased drastically.

“What about the alliance with the Cambridge Pack. The Lycans are their worst enemy.”

I rested my back against the wall and slid down. I crawled up my legs, and tried to hold myself together.

“What alliance?” The other one scoffed. “With a princess that is a slave. The only people who think there is an alliance are the people in Cambridge. As far as Leavenworth is concerned there is no alliance. It's just another tactic to keep one werewolf pack from moving against us.”

There was a bit of silence then she spoke again. “If you ask me, I think it's hot, and during the party I will make sure Alpha Carl's sees me, and needs me,” I didn't need to ask what she meant by that. Her flirtation tone said it all.

“What are you doing here?” I heard the controller's voice, and stood up immediately.

“Apologies controller, I was just getting some fresh air,” I said with my head now. The two girls who were in the servant quarter ran out. Surprise and shock filled their faces as they saw me.

“There is no time for slouching. We are expecting guests in the next few hours, and there are lots of things that need to be done,” she said as she walked around us.

“Yes controller,” we all said at the same time.

I followed the other servants into the hall. My legs were heavy, but I moved anyway. The pain in my chest never left. It stayed with me, like a shadow.

We scrubbed the floors, dusted the windows, and cleaned every corner of the hall. They said the guests would arrive by sunset, and everything had to shine.

I worked in silence, keeping my eyes on my task. A few servants whispered and laughed behind my back. I heard my name once or twice, but I didn’t react.

They didn’t matter. Not anymore.

Carl made sure I had nothing left to fight with. Not even pride.

“Faster!” one of the older servants snapped. “Do you want the Alpha to see this place like a pigsty?”

I nodded and moved quicker. I needed to. I need to come up with a plan to get myself, and my people out of here before the end of this party.

If Carl is really having an alliance with the Lycan, it means I'm not safe, my people are not safe as well.

“Line up!” The controller yelled, and we all formed a straight line.

“You have all done excellently well, the Alpha will be pleased. Now, this is a masked party, and we are going to dress appropriately. There is a cloth, and a mask on each of your beds. Dismiss!”

Everyone scrambled away, straight to the quarter. But I didn't, with my heart beating as fast as it could I raced to the supply warehouse.

The supply warehouse was quiet, almost too quiet. I opened the door slowly, checking to make sure no one saw me. When I stepped in, I quickly closed it behind me.

Rows of shelves lined the room, filled with cleaning, and food supplies, fruits, exotic drink, spare uniforms, tools, ropes, and a few old weapons we weren’t allowed to touch.

I didn’t have a full plan yet—but I needed something. Anything.

Rummaging through one of the wooden boxes, I found a small dagger. The handle was old, rusted, but the blade still looked sharp.

I tucked it into the side of my dress, under the apron, making sure it wouldn’t fall. My hands were shaking, but I pushed through it. I couldn’t afford to be weak right now.

Next, I grabbed two small pouches. I filled them with a lot of fruits, food and a few weapons. We will need it if we find any trouble on our way back to Cambridge.

After filling them, I raced towards the east gate deep inside the woods. Although I had no plans to escape, I have been monitoring the patrols of this particular area, and I know the system.

As I got closer I could hear the voices of the guards. I could feel the sweat emoting in my forehead as I tried to find a place to hide the pouches.

I crouched behind a thick bush, heart pounding in my chest. The guards were close—too close. If they caught me, I would be whipped… or worse.

Their voices grew louder as they moved past the gate, laughing about something. I held my breath and waited.

One minute. Two. Then silence.

I peeked out from the bush. They were gone, for now.

Quickly, I crawled out and ran to a hollow tree near the gate. I had found it weeks ago. The inside was dry and hidden from plain sight.

I stuffed the pouches inside, covering them with leaves and dirt. No one would find them unless they were looking for something.

I looked around one last time, then ran back toward the servant quarters.

My feet moved fast, but my mind was even faster. I had a small window of time during the party. If I was lucky, I could sneak out with two of the girls and get to the tree. From there, we’d run. Even if I didn’t know what waited for us outside Leavenworth, I knew staying here meant death.

As I walked towards the building, a group walked past me. “Lycans,” I hissed.

Their scent hit me first, strong, wild. But one of the scents stood out. Smelt, and felt familiar.

Familiar, like the faceless man in my dream. I stood still, my legs couldn't move.

The scent filled my nostrils, and it built a burning desire in me.

A Lycan is the faceless man in my dream.