Chapter 4 Rejected

Daria's POV

I began planning my escape the next morning.

Mira arrived at dawn with a basket of bread and cheese, her expression carefully neutral in case anyone was watching. The moment my door closed, she grabbed my hands, her grip fierce and desperate.

"Tell me what you need," she whispered.

"Supplies. Food that won't spoil. Water skins. A warm cloak." I ticked items off on my fingers. "Money, if you can get any. And a map of the northern forest routes."

"The northern path has the fewest guards," Mira said immediately. She had already been thinking about this. "But Daria, it's dangerous. There are rogues in those woods. And you are pregnant..."

"Staying here is more dangerous." I interrupted. "At least out there, my baby has a chance."

Her eyes glistened, but she nodded. "I'll get what I can."

Over the next three days, Mira became my lifeline.

She smuggled supplies to my room piece by piece. Nothing large enough to be noticed missing. A water skin from the kitchens, tucked under her apron. Dried meat wrapped in cloth from the storage cellar. A dark traveling cloak from the donation pile meant for omegas in need.

I kept to my room as much as possible, playing the part of the quiet, obedient omega. Grateful for the Alpha's "generosity."

The staff began to relax around me. The guards at the gates stopped watching me so closely. Even the maids barely glanced my way anymore when they brought meals.

It was perfect.

I avoided Lucius entirely, though it wasn't difficult. He made no effort to see me so our paths never crossed. It was as if I didn't exist to him at all.

On the third night, Mira slipped into my room just after sunset. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking as she pressed a small leather pouch into my palm.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Everything I've saved over the years." Her voice cracked. "It's not much, but it's yours. For the baby."

"Mira, I can't. You..."

"You can, and you will." She gripped my shoulders, her eyes hard despite the tears. "Promise me you'll survive. Promise me you'll give that child the life they deserve."

My own tears spilled over. "I promise."

She pulled me into a tight embrace, and for a moment, we just held each other. Two omegas who had been dealt the worst hands life could offer, clinging to each other in the darkness.

"When will you go?" she whispered against my hair.

"Tomorrow night. The moon will be dark so no light will give me away."

She pulled back, nodding. "I'll make sure the staff is distracted. There's a celebration in the main hall tomorrow evening. Most of the guards will be drinking."

"Thank you." The words felt inadequate for everything she had done, everything she was risking. "Thank you for being my friend."

"Always." She squeezed my hands one last time, then slipped back out into the hallway.

I spent the rest of that night packing.

I didn't sleep. Just sat by the window, watching the stars, one hand resting on my stomach.

"We are going to be okay," I whispered to my unborn child. "I won't let him hurt you. I won't let him use you. I promise."

°°°°°°°°°°°

The next evening arrived too quickly and not quickly enough.

I dressed in the dark clothes Mira had stolen, rough wool that wouldn't catch on branches, sturdy boots meant for traveling. I strapped the bag to my back, tested the weight. It was heavy, but manageable.

From the main hall below, I heard laughter and music. The celebration was in full swing. Mira had done her part.

Now it was my turn.

I moved to the window and the moment I pushed it open, cool night air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

My room was on the second floor. Not a terrible drop, but far enough to be dangerous. Far enough that I could hurt myself. Hurt the baby.

But staying was certain death. And jumping was only a risk.

I climbed onto the ledge, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Below, the garden stretched out in shadow.

"For my baby," I told myself. "Everything for my baby."

With that, I jumped.

The force stole my breath. Pain shot up through my legs, jarring my bones. I rolled instinctively, the way I had seen warriors do in training, and came up in a crouch.

Nothing was broken or twisted.

My hand flew to my stomach. "Please be okay. Please."

I waited, holding my breath. There was no pain. No cramping. Just my racing heart and the adrenaline flooding my veins.

"Thank the Goddess."

I didn't waste another second. I ran.

Through the gardens. Past the stables. Toward the tree line at the edge of the estate. Every shadow made my heart leap. Every sound sent panic spiking through me.

But no one shouted. No one raised an alarm.

The forest swallowed me whole.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day One

The northern route Mira had described was barely a path, more like a deer trail winding through dense undergrowth. Branches caught at my clothes and hair. Roots tried to trip me with every step.

But I kept moving. One foot in front of the other. Away from the Blood Pact. Away from Lucius. Away from everything.

By the time dawn broke, I was miles from the mansion. My legs burned and my lungs ached, but I was free.

I found a small stream and refilled my water skin, then forced myself to eat some of the dried meat even though my stomach twisted with nerves. The baby needed food.

I kept walking.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Two

My supplies were already running low.

I had rationed carefully, but the dried meat wouldn't last more than another day. The bread was gone and I had been surviving on berries I found along the path, praying they weren't poisonous, and water from streams.

My body ached everywhere. Blisters had formed on my feet. My muscles screamed with every step.

But I couldn't stop. Lucius would have discovered I was gone by now and he would send search parties.

I had to get as far away as possible before they picked up my trail.

°°°°°°°°°

Day Three

I was lost.

The forest all looked the same now with endless trees, endless shadows. I had tried to follow the stream, thinking it would lead me somewhere. But it had petered out into marshy ground that sucked at my boots.

My water skin was nearly empty again. The dried meat was gone. I had eaten the last of it this morning.

All I had left were the berries. And hope.

My hand rested on my stomach as I walked. The baby. I had to think of the baby.

"We are going to make it," I whispered. "I promise. We are going to make it."

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Four

I could barely stand.

Hunger gnawed at my insides like a living thing. My vision blurred at the edges. Every step was agony, my feet were raw and bleeding inside my boots.

But I kept moving. Because stopping meant dying.

I found more berries. Shoved them in my mouth without even checking what kind they were. At this point, it didn't matter. Poison or starvation-either way, I was dying out here.

The forest seemed darker and colder today. Like it was closing in around me.

My wolf had gone silent days ago. Too weak to even whimper.

I was alone.

°°°°°°°°°°

Day Five

I couldn't walk anymore as my legs simply gave out.

One moment I was stumbling forward, the next I was on my knees in the dirt. The world tilted sideways, and I couldn't tell which way was up.

I needed water.

I heard it nearby-the gentle sound of a stream. It was so close. If I could just reach it...

I crawled.

Hands and knees through the undergrowth. Leaves stuck to my sweat-soaked face. Thorns tore at my palms. But I kept crawling, dragging myself forward inch by inch.

Thankfully the stream came into view with clear and beautiful water flowing over smooth stones.

As I reached for it, my arms gave out.

I collapsed face-first into the dirt, my outstretched hand just inches from the water's edge. I had been so close.

Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the dirt and blood. "I'm sorry," I whispered to my baby. "I'm so sorry. I tried. I tried so hard."

My vision darkened at the edges. The forest sounds faded, birds, wind, water, all growing distant and muffled.

This was it. This was how it ended. Not at Lucius's hands, but out here in the wilderness. Alone and forgotten.

At least my baby would never know pain. Never know what it felt like to be used and unwanted.

But then I heard voices. They were distant and muffled. Like I was underwater.

"...found her by the stream..."

"...barely alive..."

"...with child..."

I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids were too heavy. Triedto speak, but my throat was too dry.

The world swayed, then everything faded to black.