Chapter 004
1195 Words
CLARA'S POINT OF VIEW
I stood motionless for hours until I was certain Vlad had fallen into a deep sleep.
Although the full moon granted him power, it simultaneously left him utterly exhausted.
His sleep extended until afternoon during nights like these, and he didn’t wake until then.
The greatest problem stemmed from Vlad's tendency to sleep lightly. His hearing was so acute that he could awaken to the sound of a falling pin. His eyes snapped open and blazed with rage as he prepared to attack.
I turned to glance at him. His breath moved rhythmically while his elongated eyelashes gently met his defined cheeks. His face showed not one imperfection. The fact that numerous she-wolves desired him came as no surprise. But he had rejected them all.
Vlad's feelings about having a mate remained unknown to me, but his determination to keep me close was unmistakable.
And I hated him for it.
He had stolen everything from me. My freedom. My dignity. My life. My escape depended entirely on this singular opportunity.
I made a small shift to escape from underneath his oppressive arm. His hands grasped me tighter while a growl from his chest accompanied his movement to draw me nearer. I held my breath, waiting. The moon remained high above while I was certain that the sun would soon break through the horizon.
I had to move fast.
When his breathing steadied once more, I began to try to free myself using a slower approach. The position where he pinned my wrists above my head earlier left them burning. My whole body ached. The need for sleep reached out to me and murmured for me to let my body rest.
If I allowed myself to sleep, I would find myself trapped in the same recurring nightmare.
A slave. A toy. The cycle would continue.
No. I couldn’t let that happen. The moment I had to escape my entrapment was now.
Determination surged through me. I lifted his arm with deliberate slowness, moving one inch at a time until I managed to slide free from beneath him. His body moved unexpectedly, and my heart pounded fiercely against my ribs while I remained frozen.
A soft groan escaped him as he shifted his position. I watched him, barely daring to breathe.
Then, silence.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself to continue moving. My legs escaped his grasp little by little until I completely freed myself.
I remained kneeling beside the bed on the floor as I felt my chest rise and fall quickly.
I was out.
But I wasn’t safe yet.
I pushed myself up to stand, but a sharp, searing pain instantly coursed throughout my body. I felt my legs give way, followed by my body dropping to the ground as I gasped.
My shackled wrists clanged against the floor as they struck the surface.
Panic seized me as I glanced back at Vlad while I bit my lip forcefully. Under the sheets, his body shifted while he stirred slightly. My chest throbbed painfully against my ribs as the dread enveloped me.
Please, don’t wake up. Please, don’t wake up.
His breathing evened out again.
A silent breath escaped me as relief washed through.
The pain in my legs was unbearable. As I glanced down, I noticed blood flowing slowly down my thighs. I took a quick, sharp breath to regain my balance.
Vlad had been rough.
He always was.
The full extent of his violence escaped me until I was forced to move, as I had never needed to get up before. I pulled myself back under the bed, where I curled up overwhelmed with pain and suppressed my memories.
But now, I had to run.
I had to get away.
I forced myself to stand upright while suppressing a whimper as my legs nearly gave out once more. I made my way to my wardrobe and reached for the sole nightdress available. Clothes were never purchased for me by Vlad because he believed that my lack of leaving the house eliminated the need. In his anger, he ordered me to remove all my clothes.
I had lost my shame years ago.
As I put the dress over my head, each movement sent new pulses of pain coursing through my body. My eyes welled up with tears, which burnt at their corners even though I suppressed them. I didn’t have time for this.
I had to keep moving.
Vlad slept soundly while I stealthily approached the window. As I steadily drew back the curtains, my breathing caught when the chilly air touched my skin.
The drop wasn’t too high.
The height presented a serious risk of injury if I landed improperly.
I hesitated.
If I jumped and sustained injuries, it would compromise my ability to run. Remaining here means losing my opportunity to escape again.
My gaze flickered back to Vlad.
I examined all the scars that Vlad had inflicted on my body. Every bruise. I cherish every broken piece of me.
No.
I couldn’t stay here.
After swallowing hard, I made my way onto the windowsill and swung my leg across.
The chilly night air sent a tremor through my spine while my hands shook as I clung to the frame's edge.
My position up here made the height seem much greater than before.
My mind raced with memories. Every scream. Every night was filled with pain and suffering. Every whispered plea went unanswered.
And then, before I could second-guess myself—
I pushed off.
For a brief moment, I was weightless.
The ground rushed upward to collide with me.
I hit the ground with force as my legs took the full impact. My body erupted in agonizing pain, which made a strangled cry burst from my lips before I could control it.
My entire body shook as I covered my mouth with my hand. My foot throbbed in agony. I forced myself to look down.
I looked down at my foot and saw my toe twisted at an alarming angle.
My eyes started to fill with tears, which I managed to blink away. I didn’t have time for pain.
I looked around, my pulse racing.
Trees.
The house was surrounded by thick woods. Vlad had always rejected social interaction by choosing to live far from the rest of his pack.
That worked in my favor.
I could reach the pack borders before anyone noticed if I managed to run at full speed.
I pushed myself up onto my feet while pain ripped through my leg, causing me to gasp. I staggered but didn’t stop.
I had to move.
I had to run.
This was my one chance at freedom.
I refused to allow this opportunity to disappear from my grasp.
I moved toward the tree line with a crippled gait while my breathing came in quick, sharp gasps.
I would never submit to s*****y once more.
As I reached the edge of the woods—
A fierce growl emerged from my backside on a low pitch.
My blood ran cold.
Had he woken up?
Was Vlad coming after me?
I didn’t wait to find out.
I ran.
- Writer
