Mine
~~~EMILY
I moved swiftly through the kitchen and stood behind the back door, praying no one would see me.
I have to escape, today.
I’ve been planning this since last week, ever since I found out I was to marry him.
I shuddered at the thought. Marrying someone I don’t even know. Someone people claim is a monster.
Not that I believe that.
Okay… maybe a little.
But it doesn’t matter if he’s a monster or not. I’m not marrying him.
I peeked through the peephole in the back door. No one was there.
I opened the door as quietly as I could. Not that it makes any noise—but I wasn’t taking any chances.
I looked around to make sure no one was watching, then slipped past the pool and into the garden that stretched toward the forest.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, even though I knew no one should be following me.
I chose this exact moment for a reason.
Dad’s at work, he won’t be home until eight.
Stepmom and Evelyn went to some charity gala and won’t be back for hours.
And the servants? They’re usually in the quarters resting at this time of day.
It’s the perfect window.
I moved through the forest with ease. I knew it like the back of my hand.
It’s always been my safe space.
When things got hard, and I just needed to breathe, I came here.
No one else ever did, or at least, I’d never seen anyone.
I headed northeast. I knew that path led to the train station.
The plan was simple:
Escape the house at noon.
Catch the train.
Get far away.
Board a plane to the United States.
Start over at Harvard.
I had everything with me—my passport, train ticket, plane ticket, and my scholarship form.
It was foolproof.
“I think I see someone over there,” a voice called out.
Panic exploded in my chest.
“There! It’s the young miss! Catch her!”
I bolted, sprinting as fast as I could.
How did they find me so fast?
I was only ten minutes away from the train station.I was so close.
Lord, please help me.
Branches scratched my arms as I tore through the forest, breath ragged and lungs burning. I didn’t care. I had to keep moving.
I was almost free. I couldn't give up now.
I pushed my body past its limit and ran as fast as my legs and lungs would carry me… maybe even faster.
I took turn after turn, ducking beneath low-hanging branches, leaping over roots. When I finally stopped, I looked around and sighed in relief—I’d lost them.
But that relief vanished the moment I realized… I didn’t recognize where I was.
I’d gone too deep into the forest.
I spun in place, trying to get my bearings. Nothing looked familiar.
“What the fudge,” I muttered, kicking a tree trunk. Frustration surged as I pressed my hands to my temples and closed my eyes.
“Okay, Emily. Okay. Calm down. You’ve got this. You’ve got this.”
I took a couple deep breaths and opened my eyes. I was calmer now. That meant I could think.
The sun cast shadows on the trees, pointing southeast. I grinned.
“That means the sun is in the northwest. All I have to do is face the shadow, turn 90 degrees to the left, and voila.”
I turned, feeling a spark of hope. “I’m so smart.”
I patted myself on the back and was about to continue when I heard it.
A growl.
I froze.
“Is that… an animal?” I thought, “Maybe a wolf?”
A chill ran through me. I turned slowly—and stopped breathing.
A man was leaning against a tree just a few feet away. His clothes were disheveled, torn in places. His head was bowed, his silver hair falling over his face.
Silver?
I didn’t have time to process it before he lifted his head—and looked directly at me.
His eyes were icy blue, almost glowing. Like the moon had come down and settled into his irises.
He stared at me with something wild. Something ancient.
Then he said it. Voice low. Rough. Possessive.
“Mine.”
