Chapter Three
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Amelia's Point Of View
I stood at a deserted sidewalk and lifted my head to the top of the palace.
I swallowed as my gaze caught the guards roaming around. I couldn't do it. Run away? It was impossible, except I had to do it.
"I'm not scared," I muttered to myself and tightened my grip on my tattered handbag.
I had to run away to save my life and that of my unborn child. That was my last option. I had assumed it would never come to that. I always believed that Hunter would become kinder to me. I had hoped that he would discover I was his mate and the mate bond will pull him to me. Instead, he treated me like I was nothing and ignored the Luna's cruel treatment to me.
"Let me get this straight." Lucia, who was the Luna of the pack said to me a week ago. "You intend to do nothing all day because you are carrying a child. What assurance do we have that this child is a boy? You must work like other slaves, do you understand me?."
I had cried and begged for help, but none was coming. She had even threatened to kick me out once I had the baby and I would be restricted from seeing my child.
Now, I was shivering in the cold behind the massive pack house. No one was coming to save me. It was just me and my child. I was six months pregnant and alone.
I had to take responsibility for everything. After all, I was a slave who had no one. I had to do everything by myself because no one cared for me in the world. If my step father hadn't sold me to the slave market, I wouldn't be in this mess.
Hunter assured me that I would be sheltered and kept close to my child once I birthed him. He made promises to me, promises that made me believe that I would be happy to give him a child.
But after I got pregnant and there was hope that I would bear a son, I realized it was all a lie. I was just a tool to him and Lucia. How else would I explain that instead of keeping his promises, I was on the verge of losing everything including my child?
Hunter separated me from other slaves immediately after I got pregnant. He instructed his guards to keep an eye on me at all times. The moment I discovered that he was only planning to take my child, I knew I had to escape.
For the past forty-eight hours, I had managed to keep everything together after overhearing Lucia's plans to hurt me and my unborn child because I was thinking of a solution.
And now, I had to actually escape from the palace to protect myself, and it felt like falling on a sword.
I looked up at the palace again and studied it for a while. I was giving up everything for my child. I would never know if Hunter someday discovered that we were fated to be together. I would never know if he would grow to love me. But I know that I loved him more than he deserved.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," I muttered, trying to convince myself that I wasn't doing the most dangerous thing ever. I was going to the rival pack to seek protection.
I would face another ruthless beast.
I sighed and forced my feet off the sidewalk toward the border of the pack. There was no backing up now, and I knew it.
"Excuse me, how can I help you?" One of the border guards asked, eyeing my dirty clothes.
I licked my lips. "I'll like to cross the border. I'm going to the Redmoon pack."
He didn't bother to hide his disbelief. "You? You wish to go to the Redmoon pack?"
I nodded. "Yes. I have important business there."
His eyes widened immediately. "No one from this pack associates closely with the Redmoon pack. State the real reason you wish to cross the border or I will take you to the palace."
I was beginning to get desperate. "Please, just let me go. My business is quite important and nobody will question you for my disappearance."
"Let you go? I would never do that." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Who are you? If you think you can come here and lie to..."
I searched through my handbag.
He continued. "It is almost midnight. I would say you're a traitor and I must...."
"See." I pulled out a little purse stuffed with money. "I will give you money if you let me go. I am pregnant and the journey ahead of me is quite far." I had successfully saved up money while working in the palace and I was glad I did.
"You will give me money?" He snorted. "Like you can ever afford..." His eyes caught the protruding purse and he froze. Then he snatched it from my hand and began to dig through it.
"How can you have so much money?" He asked with shock. He glanced at me and sighed. "You must not mention this to anyone."
"I know," I whispered, although my heart twisted in my chest. I was painfully aware that the money in the purse was for my upkeep. I would starve to death if he took everything. Fortunately, he agreed to leave some money for me. "Please, just let me cross quickly. I'm in a hurry."
He studied me for some seconds before speaking. "What is your name?"
"Caroline," I said, hoping he couldn't read the expression on my face and tell that I was lying.
With one swift movement, he seized my bag, and began to search it thoroughly.
"What are you searching for?" I asked, chuckling. "Do you think I would bring a gun or a knife to kill you?"
He did not answer me or return my smile. "You're clear." He said and handed me my handbag. "You may leave, please."
I swallowed, looking at the massive exit before me. "Can the Alpha of the Redmoon pack be trusted? Do you think he is cool? Funny? Anything?" The border guard stared back at me, his face impassive.
"If you really have business with the Redmoon pack, he might spare you. Now, hurry along before someone finds you here." He replied.
"Okay," I whispered to myself, slightly irritated.
I didn't need reassurance that the Alpha of the Redmoon pack was a good guy. I'd just listen to my intuition. To my heart.
Which meant I was indeed in trouble. There was a reason why I couldn't stand up to my abusive stepfather. I was also unable to defend myself from abuse at the palace.
I was too naive and stupid to actually do anything good. I needed all the help I could get to survive the cruel world. Going to the Redmoon pack was a bad choice but it was the only place that could offer me the kind of protection I needed.
I tried to make myself feel better about my situation. I tried to convince myself that facing likely death in the Redmoon pack was far better than staying back in the palace.
However, I knew I was trying to make myself feel better. I could only imagine what I could go through in another pack and if my child will ever be safe.
"For my child," I whispered before the massive turnstile opened. I walked out, and I heaved a heavy sigh.
I was no longer a slave or prisoner. I was actually free and my misery was over. Tears escaped my eyes and the wind carried my sorrows away.
"We're going to be fine," I said rubbing my stomach. We had to be fine.
With a low sigh, I began my journey to the Redmoon pack. But my heart ached for Hunter. I would miss him dearly.
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