The Runaway and her Twin Alphas

The Escape Plan

Three months prior to her third escape attempt Esme began working in earnest with the voice in her head to plan her escape. The first step would be to unbind her magic. Though the first step it would be the most dangerous. Esme had to find a witch that she could trust to keep her secret. The voice in her head which she had now named Asha, suggested they use Alice. That however was quickly decided against. Alice had a family, she had children and a home and a new hybrid granddaughter on the way. She had to much to lose and to much that could easily be threatened.

The second choice was Derrick. Derrick came from the Weston family. One of the original founding families of the pack they were considered blessed in ways even the Alpha couldn't claim. Every child born to them had been a hybrid. Though every pregnant woman in the pack goes through the ceremonies there is no guarantee the baby will be born a hybrid. In the pack it is common to only have one or two hybrid children. Derrick's mother had been gifted with eight pregnancies. Though hybrids in the community were treated as upper class Derrick had been born with low energy power. This made him an outcast among the hybrids.

Due to the fact that hybrids were seen as upper class they were never given assignments, so they could focus on training their magic and controlling their wolves. Because Derrick had low level magic he spent most of his time with the wolves at the pack house. Though they welcomed him because they felt an obligation to oft times he was left behind on scouting missions or hunts. These times Derrick would spend in the bakery with Alice and Esme.

Esme had grown close to Derrick. He was kind to her and even made comments about her treatment by the pack. Once when Esme had been wrongfully accused of stealing he had stood by her side and defended her until the Alpha arrived and dismissed him.

When Esme arrived in the bakery the next day with a busted lip and a black eye Derrick had sworn he would get his father and go directly to the pack house to file a complaint. For weeks after that day Esme didn't see Derrick and even Alice voiced her concerns of what the Alpha may have done to him. When he finally reappeared and explained that his father had put him on house arrest for questioning the judgment of the Alpha. His visits were few and far between from then on.

Now Esme, knew she couldn't wait for his visit. She would have to seek him out herself. Though his magic level was generally low the removal of a binding spell would be simple even for him.

"I have somethings I need to take care of and a book I want to check out. Cover for me?" Esme asked Alice doing her best to keep her tone even. She hated lying especially to Alice.

"Of course, love. Just be sure to be back before one so we can start the prep for dinner." Alice said sweetly, brushing flower from her apron. She resumed her quiet humming as she focused back on her work. Esme slipped behind the counter quickly planting a kiss on the older woman's cheek. Alice released a giggle slapping her away with her dish towel she always kept handy.

Before slipping from the bakery Esme pauses by the door to swiftly pull her mane of long crimson curls into a ponytail and pulling a server's hat over her head. Unfortunately for her, the red of her hair stood out like a sore thumb and she couldn't risk discovery outside of the packhouse grounds.

It was an early morning Monday and that would mean the hybrids were in potions class at the coven house. A requirement made by the Alpha nearly two generations ago. Esme slid silently along the back of the coven house and waited patiently for around twenty minutes when the townhall bells rings. Slowly students begin to mill out of the building taking their morning break. It only takes a split second for Esme to spot Derrick in the crowd. Silently she slips into the crowd making sure no one looks at her directly. Luckily her years at the alphas house have made her an expert at staying invisible. When they round a corner Esme sees her opportunity and snatches Derricks hand dragging him down an alley.

"Whoa what the-" Derrick spitout shocked. His shaggy blonde hair falling in his icy blue eyes. Before he could finish Esme removed the hat revealing herself to him. "Esme what the hell are you doing here!? Do you want to be punished again!?"

"Listen Derrick, I don't have long. I need your help." she said quickly. She had to do this. She had to ask him before she lost her nerve. She looked around nervously making sure that no one could hear. "I need you perform an unbinding spell."

"What?" he asked sounding genuinely confused. "Why would you want that? The Alpha told everyone you were bound because you have no control of your magic. Couldn't that be dangerous?"

Esme bristled. Though she didn't know why her magic had been bound she did know it was not due to lack of control. She remembers even at a young age having perfect control over the ebb and flow of her power.

"Please. I know you can do this, Derrick. It's a simple spell and no on will ever know it was you who unbound me." she practicly whispered biting her lip.

"Even if no one knows it was me who cast it, what about you Esme? What will the Alpha do to you when he discovers you have access to your magic?" Derrick retorted genuine concern coming through in his boyish tone.

"He will never know unless you tell him." she whispered looking up at his face. His features were contorted in confusion. His dark blonde eyebrows hitched up and his long straight nose scrunched. At a normal time the look would make Esme laugh now it just made her feel uneasy.

"How could he not know? You know how powerful he is, he can sense fluctuations in the magic around him. Even if you have low level magic he would sense it if you were unbound."

"That's why when you unbind me, you're going to cloak me." she whispered quickly before she lost her nerve. A long silence followed as Derrick contemplated what she just said.

"Your going to run again aren't you?" Derrick whispered this time. For the first time he looked away from her beautiful sad face and scanned the area to ensure no one was listening. Derrick was filled with eternal dread. From the moment he met Esme in the kitchens, wearing her powder covered apron, a long auburn curl hanging in front of her face he had been enchanted by her. Over the last two years he had grown to like her and the thought of what might happen to her if she is caught during her escape fills him with terror. But, only as much terror as he had felt that day he walked into the bakery to find her face black and blue. He had felt helpless. Hopeless. And even more so embarrassed that he could do nothing for her.

Esme didn't reply for a long moment. She stood there, staring a her feet. After a few moments of silence she nodded. Derrick stood there silent for a few moments. He didn't know what to say. For his own selfish reasons he didn't want her to leave. She was the only person he felt he could just be himself with, and with her gone the only true friend he would have would be Alice.

"Give me some time to think about this." He whispered softly. Esme's head shot up her emerald green eyes shining with hope. "I'm saying give me time, not yes."

Esme knew as much as Derrick did, that meant that he would help her. She leapt forward wrapping her arms around his neck. She breathed his scent in deeply feeling for the first time that she actually had a chance to make it out of this nightmare alive.