Help Me, Alpha

HAYLEY

I notice the engulfing darkness, contrasting the morning’s light that used to pierce through my tiny peephole.

I peek out my “window” to see that all the pack members are gathered, but without my wolf, I cannot hear what they are saying.

Every year on my birthday, my mom’s death, the pack comes together to mourn for their fallen luna and to pray that she is well and happy with Selene, the Moon Goddess.

I hate my birthday. It is just another reminder that I killed my mother and that I am a horrible, disgusting human being.

My head lowers in shame and tears pour down my face as I break down in grief.

I look back out my cell window as I hear howls. The pack is shifting to howl for their widowed alpha and the death of their luna.

This is my chance. My only chance to escape this hellhole.

All the guards that would have been on patrol are at the meeting for their luna, so I will have a quick escape.

Quickly, I lift the mattress and breathe a sigh of relief to find the keycard still tucked underneath it. For once I am thankful to have just a battered mattress instead of a bed frame.

I leap the meter from my “bed” to the cell door. I peek out, just in case, checking both ways.

Nothing.

My heart starts pounding and my hands dampen. I reach my hand with the keycard out to place it into the lock, but my fingers slip and I drop the keycard onto the concrete ground. My heart stops.

I crouch on my knees and press myself to the cell bars, as close as I can and stretch my hand forward. I’m too short to reach it.

I keep pushing myself to grab it. This is my only shot to escape, so I have to keep trying. My fingernail briefly scratches the keycard.

I keep doing a reach and drag method, and when it is close enough, I scoop it up into my hand.

I still have a chance! Being more careful this time, I place the keycard in the lock, and I hear a buzz. The gate opens. It’s open!

Slowly, I push the gate, hoping to muffle the screeching of the door. This is the first time I would step out of my cell since I was seven.

I stick my toe out and the rest of my foot follows until it is flat on the floor. I repeat it with my other foot. I’m out.

I double-check to make sure no guards are down here.

My dad would always come from the left, so that’s where I turn to. Sprinting down the dim hallway, I keep running until I see another door.

I search around for a key, but I can’t find anything. However, I see another lock just like the one on my cell door. I place the same keycard into the lock and I hear another buzz. The door opens.

I’m going to escape! I can do this!

I head up a set of stairs that leads to a trapdoor. It’s wedged. I keep pushing with all my strength until it opens with a loud bang.

The trapdoor lies on the ground. I start clawing my way out of the hallway and into the outside world.

I have dreamed about this moment countless times. Being free and able to feel the grass again.

But the thought of being caught overrides those glorious feelings and makes me step my bare feet onto the ground and just take off into the nearest forest without looking around.

I don’t know if they can hear me with their heightened senses. I do not know how far a fully grown wolf’s senses extend. I sprint as fast as my legs will allow me, but it is not very fast.

Even though I have alpha blood inside of me, it is useless with no wolf, so I run as fast as my human strength will allow me.

Whizzing through the trees, everything turns into a blur. My only mission is to leave the territory.

They would never follow me into a territory that wasn’t theirs. Other packs could take it as a sign of wanting to start a war.

Bloodnight Pack has a massive amount of territory, so I am going to be running for a while to escape them. After running for about forty seconds, I am out of breath.

Being stuck in a cell for twelve years means you have no stamina, so running even a short amount of distance is tiring.

I lean against a tree trying to catch my breath, but it is stolen again by loud paw prints hitting the ground, heading in my direction.

I take off again, using all my adrenaline to help me win my freedom. They're gaining on me and I cannot tell which direction they are coming from.

I must be getting closer to the border as I hear wolves snapping and yapping their teeth at me.

I push myself so hard, trying to outrun a pack of wolves. I’m so close. I’m nearly there.

I see the borderline ahead. I keep going. I do not look back, just keep looking forward and only forward.

Luckily, the moonlight creates something of a pathway toward my new life, which is hopefully a better one.

I’m so close…

A snarl echoes through the woods as my first foot steps over the borderline and my other foot follows close behind.

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

I no longer belong to Bloodnight Pack. I am now a rogue. I belong to no one. I am free.

I did it. I escaped…