NO ESCAPE
1448 Words
THE NEXT DAY
The car drove into the city. Rain had stopped, but the streets were still wet.
Inside the black car, the atmosphere was tense.
The car drove into the city. Rain had stopped, but the streets were still wet.
Inside the black car, the atmosphere was tense.
Laura sat by the window. She didn’t say a word. Her eyes kept scanning. People. Shops. Crowds. An exit.
Nathaniel sat beside her, scrolling through his phone. Two bodyguards sat in front.
“Where are we going?” Laura finally asked.
“Jewelry store,” Nathaniel answered without looking up. “To pick the ring. The real one.”
Laura clenched her fists. This is my chance.
When they arrived at the mall, Nathaniel got out first. His bodyguards flanked him. Laura was pulled out too.
The mall was crowded. Music. Lights. People.
For the first time in days, Laura felt air that wasn’t owned by him.
They walked to a luxury jewelry store. While Nathaniel was busy talking to the staff, one of the bodyguards got distracted by a call. The other one looked away for 3 seconds.
3 seconds was all Laura needed.
She ran.
“HEY!” one guard yelled.
Laura didn’t look back. She pushed through the crowd. Slipped into the bathroom. Out the emergency exit. Into a taxi.
Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would break.
“To... to the end of a small alley in South Jakarta. Please hurry!” Laura Scream
20 minutes later. She was home.
The same small rental. The same broken door.
She was free.
But when she pushed the door open...
Her blood froze.
Nathaniel was sitting on the shabby sofa. Legs crossed. Still in his black suit. Like he’d been waiting for hours.
And in front of him, her father.
Bram was being held by 2 bodyguards. His face was bruised. Lip bleeding.
“Welcome home, Laura,” Nathaniel said softly. He didn’t even stand up. “I was starting to get bored.” Nathan Said
Laura’s legs gave out. She collapsed to her knees on the cold floor.
“Please...” her voice broke. Tears fell instantly. “Please don’t hurt him. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Laura Begging
She crawled forward. Grabbing the hem of Nathaniel’s pants.
“Please have mercy. Hit me. Punish me. But let my dad go. Please...”
Nathaniel looked down at her. His gray eyes were unreadable. Cold. Disappointed.
He reached out. Tilted her chin up, just like that first night.
“You ran from me,” he whispered. Dangerous. “In public. With hundreds of people. Do you know how much danger you put yourself in?” Nathaniel Ask
Laura sobbed. “I’m sorry. I was scared. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Nathaniel sighed. He signaled with his hand. The bodyguards let Bram go. He fell to the floor, coughing.
“Take him to the hospital,” Nathaniel ordered. “Best one. My treat.”
Bram was dragged out, still crying. “Laura...Sorry ...”
The door closed. Now it was just them.
Nathaniel crouched in front of Laura. Brushed a tear off her cheek with his thumb.
“I gave you a choice, remember? 1 year. And I would let you go after.”
His voice was low. Hurt. “But you chose to run.”
Laura shook her head. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please... just don’t lock me up. Don’t hurt me.”
Nathaniel stared at her for a long time. Then he stood up.
“Get up,” he said.
Laura obeyed, trembling.
“We’re going back. Now.” Nathan said
He grabbed her wrist. Not rough. But final.
“And Laura... there won’t be a second chance.” He continues
As they walked out to the car, the ring box was still in Nathaniel’s pocket.
Unopened.
And outside, the moon was getting fuller.
5 days left until the blood wedding.
Laura had tried to escape.
And failed.
Now she understood.
There was nowhere in this world she could run from the Wolf King.
PACK RULES & THE FIRST NIGHTMARE
The ride back to Blackmoon Mansion was silent.
Laura stared out the window. Her wrist still burned where Nathaniel had held it. Not from pain. From the finality of it.
There won’t be a second chance.
The car stopped in front of the 4-meter iron gate. It opened slowly, like the gates of hell.
“Get out,” Nathaniel said. His voice was flat.
Laura obeyed. Her legs felt like jelly. The moment she stepped onto the marble floor of the mansion, 20 people bowed again.
“Welcome back, My King. Welcome back, Miss Luna.”
Miss Luna. The title felt like a leash around her neck.
Nathaniel walked past everyone without looking at them. “Mira.”
The head maid appeared immediately. “Yes, My King?”
“East wing. Double the guards. No one enters or leaves without my permission. And…” he paused. His gray eyes swept over Laura. “Teach her the rules. All of them. Tonight.” Nathan said with angry eyes
“Yes, My King.”
Then he left. His footsteps echoed down the hall until they disappeared.
Laura was alone again.
THE RULES
Mira led her to a small study room. The walls were lined with old books. The smell of paper and dust.
“Sit, Miss,” Mira said gently. Too gently. Like talking to a wounded animal.
On the table was a thick black book.
THE LAWS OF BLACKMOON PACK.
Mira opened it. “Rule 1: A Luna never leaves the mansion without 4 guards and the King’s permission. Violation: 3 days in the isolation room.”
Laura wrote it down. Her hand shook.
“Rule 2: A Luna never speaks to outsiders. No phone. No internet. No letters. Violation: your tongue will be cut.”
Laura’s pen stopped. She looked up. “What?”
Mira’s face didn’t change. “That is the law, Miss. But don’t worry. The King won’t let that happen… if you obey.”
“Rule 3: A Luna must attend all pack meetings. Must stand beside the King. Must smile. Violation: public punishment.”
“Rule 4: A Luna must bear the King’s mark before the full moon. Violation: death.”
Laura dropped the pen. “Bear his… mark?”
Mira closed the book. “The bite, Miss. The blood marriage. It is not just a ceremony. It is a bond. After that, you will feel him. And he will feel you.”
Laura felt sick. “I’m not an animal to be branded.”
Mira’s eyes softened for one second. “No, Miss. You’re a prisoner with a crown.”
For the next 4 hours, Mira drilled her. History of the pack. The 12 other packs. The curse. The war 200 years ago.
By 11 PM, Laura’s head was spinning.
“Rest now,” Mira said. “Tomorrow is harder.”
Laura was escorted back to the east wing. 4 guards now. Two outside the door, two in the hall.
She locked herself in the bathroom and cried until she had no tears left.
DINNER ALONE
At 8 PM sharp, a knock. Dinner.
Steak. Mashed potatoes. Wine. All untouched.
At 9 PM, another knock.
Nathaniel.
He came in without waiting. Still in his black suit. Hair messy like he’d been running his hands through it.
He looked at the untouched food. Then at her. Sitting on the floor by the window.
“You didn’t eat,” he said.
“I’m not hungry.” Laura answer
“You ran today.” He said
Laura didn’t answer.
Nathaniel sighed. He sat on the chair across from her. Not too close. “Do you know what happens to wolves who run from their Alpha?”
“What?” Laura Ask
“They’re hunted. And when they’re caught… they’re broken.” Nathaniel explain to Laura
Laura hugged her knees tighter. “Are you going to break me?”
“I don’t want to.” His voice was honest. Too honest. “I want you to choose to stay.”
Laura laughed bitterly. “That’s not a choice. That’s a threat.”
Nathaniel stood up. Walked to the window. Stood beside her. Not touching.
“5 days, Laura. Then the moon is full. Then we’re bound. After that, you can hate me all you want. But you’ll be alive. And so will your father.”
He left a tray of sandwiches before he walked out.
“Eat. Please.”
The door clicked.
Laura picked up a sandwich. Cried into it. And ate.
- Writer
