Chapter 3 The Escape

CHAPTER 3: THE ESCAPE

Ava's heart pounded in her chest she could have sworn it had leapt out. But she calmed down as soon as she heard Adrian's voice. He must have heard her heartbeat and decided to speak up.

She rushed to open the door, pulled him inside quickly, and locked it behind them.

"Ava, what's wrong?" he asked, watching her walk over to the bed and sit down, her hand on her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

"I... I thought you were Elijah. I kind of ran off and left him when we went out to walk, but it's fine. He didn't come running after me." She gave a weak smile, trying to pass off her anxiety.

Adrian looked at her skeptically but sighed, deciding not to press her further.

"I'm glad it wasn't anything serious," he said. "But Ava... if you're really scared about this union, remember you're aging, yes, but you still have a choice. And if you ever feel like you need to leave, the door to our home will always be open to you."

He chuckled softly. "Your fiancé sure knows how to let the creep in. Your heartbeat scared me. But I guess running and that knock would do it."

He walked toward the door and opened it, turning to glance back at her.

"You really do look beautiful, sis. Goodnight."

With that, he closed the door behind him.

Adrian sighed as he walked down the hall back toward the celebration. On his way, he spotted Elijah approaching, but their father intercepted, asking where Ava had gone.

"She's not feeling too strong. She just needs a little rest," Adrian replied.

Their father was about to protest when Elijah stepped in smoothly.

"It's alright. I can imagine the stress she must be under. Even I'm feeling it," Elijah said calmly, bowing slightly with a hand over his chest.

The older man nodded, appeased. Adrian forced a smile to match Elijah's tone, but his mind remained restless.

--- five years later

That night, under the cover of darkness, Ava slipped out of the mansion.

She had packed all the essentials food, water, clothes, and the map she had hidden for years. Her heart thudded with both fear and excitement. She had been planning this escape ever since the night of her engagement after seeing Elijah nearly kill someone from his own pack.

She wouldn't be missed she thought to herself after all as an omega in a family of alpha she wasn't important, her father made sure she understood that.

And now she was taking the leap. To rid herself of the fear and guilt of being engaged to Elijah and a disgrace to her family.

Ava darted through the woods, checking her path, careful not to leave tracks. She took a left turn, double checked the map, and kept moving. Getting caught was not an option. By the time they realized she was gone, she wanted to be far out of reach.

As the sky lightened with the first hint of dawn, Ava realized the map she'd taken was incomplete. Her heart sank.

Still, she pressed on. Trusting her instincts, she chose a path she hoped would lead to the human city-though she knew it could just as easily lead into vampire territory. The forest around her was unfamiliar now, dense and silent. She walked for hours but saw no signs of civilization.

Exhausted, Ava collapsed beneath a tree and opened her bag for a snack. The food gave her a momentary sense of relief, but it was short-lived.

When she stood up, she misstepped and twisted her ankle.

Pain shot up her leg, sharp and blinding. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying out-if someone or something heard her now, she wouldn't be able to defend herself.

As the sky began to dim again with the coming sunset, Ava knew staying put wasn't an option. She forced herself up, limping toward the sound of rustling leaves.

Then she froze.

A young woman stood a few feet away, watching her with wide eyes.

Irene had just finished her hunt and was heading home when she spotted Ava. From the girl's scent, she knew immediately-she was a werewolf, and an injured one. And she was definitely not supposed to be here.

"Hey," Irene called out cautiously, stepping forward. "You need a hand?"

Ava's eyes narrowed. She instinctively backed away despite the pain.

"You're a vampire. There's no mistaking it," Ava said, her voice shaking.

Irene nodded. "Yeah. But you're a wolf, and trust me-vampires don't like wolves crossing into their land. Patrols are going to start any minute now. If they find you here, injured... you won't make it out. I can help, but you'll need to decide fast. I don't want my mom worrying about me either."

Ava hesitated. Her instincts screamed not to trust a vampire-but she wasn't in any shape to keep running.

"I don't need your help," she said, trying to sound brave. But even she could hear the doubt in her own voice.

Irene blinked, then shrugged. "Suit yourself. But the next vampires you meet won't offer you help."

She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Ava called out. "I... I suppose I do need assistance."

Irene smiled slightly. She walked over, knelt beside Ava, and gently examined her ankle. With some fabric and quick hands, she wrapped the sprain tight enough to help her walk.

"Thanks," Ava murmured.

"I'm Irene," the vampire said, helping her stand. "What's your name?"

"Ava."

Together, the two girls walked slowly through the forest, heading to Irene's home.

It was smaller than the mansion Ava had grown up in, but it was warm, lived-in, and filled with laughter and gentle voices. Irene's parents welcomed her without hesitation.

Ava sat quietly as they spoke around her, offering her food and comfort without expecting anything in return. A lump formed in her throat.

For the first time in her life... Ava felt like she belonged.