3

THREE

The zipper of my duffel bag whined as I dragged it across the teeth, securing the sparse contents of what I could call mine. My hands shuffled through the drawer one last time, searching for a cloth that didn't scream neglect or poverty—a task akin to finding a diamond in a coal mine. All I found were tattered jeans and faded shirts, each holding the scent of despair like a stubborn stain. I let out a frustrated sigh.

I pulled out a simple, worn dress that had once been blue but now bore the uncertain hue of the twilight sky, dulled by too many washes. It was the best among the worst, and with shaking fingers, I folded it into a neat square, laying it atop the pile of clothes.

My heart hammered against my ribs, each beat an echo of the fear swirling in my chest. The decision to leave was a wild beast pacing within me, its presence terrifying yet somehow empowering. I would face the auditions to be one of the Alpha king's breeders, a thought that sent shivers down my spine, not from excitement, but from the terror of the unknown.

But the allure of freedom, of escaping this house that had become my prison, overpowered the dread. Every bruise from Kelly's spiteful hands, every cold glance from my stepmother, every dismissive nod from my father—they were the fuel to my resolve. I couldn't spend another day suffocating under the weight of their indifference.

"Escape or endure," I muttered to myself, gripping the fabric of the dress as if it were a lifeline. The choice lay before me, stark and irrevocable. With a deep breath that did little to steady my nerves, I zipped up the bag, ready to step into the unknown. Because anything—anything—was better than the life I was leaving behind.

The window had always been my secret exit. I stood before it now, my bag slung over one shoulder, ready to slip through once more. This time, though, I wouldn't be coming back.

A sharp knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. My pulse quickened; the simple sound felt like a thunderclap in the silence of my resolve. Fear prickled at the base of my skull. Kellys mocking tone or my stepmother's cold reprimand loomed behind that door, waiting to shatter my plans into pieces.

"Freya?" A voice, soft yet firm, whispered. It wasn’t Kelly or her mother. it was Gerard.

I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I was holding and approached cautiously, as if the floorboards might betray my escape with their creaks. My fingers grasped the doorknob, hesitating for only a moment before swinging the door open to reveal the house butler. His kind eyes met mine, carrying a silent understanding that spoke of shared hardships.

"Gerard," I whispered, my voice barely above the hum of my frantic heart. "I—I can't stay here any longer."

"Miss Freya." His use of formality a veil for concern. "What's this about?"

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I explained. "The palace... the auditions for the Alpha king's breeders. Its madness, I know, but I need to go. To get away from..." My voice cracked, the litany of grievances rushing forward—Kelly's barbs, her mother's disdain, my fathers neglect.

"From all of this," I finished lamely, motioning to the room that felt more like a cage than a sanctuary.

Gerard's eyes softened, his aged face crinkling not in judgment, but in empathy. He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Who knows, indeed," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "You might just be what the Alpha is looking for, Miss Freya."

Gerard was the unwavering support in this household who had ever looked at me and seen more than a burden or a plaything. "Thank you, Gerard," I managed to say, my throat tight with emotions I couldn't afford to indulge. Not when freedom was so close, yet still so faraway.

Gerard's hand rested on my shoulder, a gesture that held me to the moment. "It is a huge honor, Miss Freya," he said, his voice imbued with a warmth that filled the chilly room. "Many young ladies would leap at such an opportunity, the greatest Luna’s are picked as the breeders." His eyes held mine. "You could find your place among the elite at the king's side." I nodded.

"Be careful, though," he continued, his tone dropping to a low note of caution. "The palace is not just grandeur and grace. There are those within its walls who wield power like a weapon, and they will not hesitate to use it against the unprotected. Please do not trust just anyone."

I smiled gratefully at his advise.

"Thank you, Gerard," I whispered, reaching out to him. My arms wrapped around his sturdy frame, clinging to the only semblance of family I had known. His embrace was strong and reassuring—a silent promise that someone believed in me.

Tears pricked my eyes as the thought of leaving him hit me. Gerard had been the only friend I had. Now, releasing him, I felt the tether to this house, to my old life, begin to fray.

"Take care of yourself, Miss Freya," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "And remember, whatever happens, you are braver than you believe."

With those parting words, Gerard stepped back, his eyes glistening with unshed tears that mirrored my own. A lump formed in my throat as I realized this might be the last time we would stand together like this—in the safety of my small, dimly-lit room where I had grown up but never belonged.

"Goodbye, Gerard," I managed to choke out, the words raw and heavy on my tongue. And with one last look at the man who had been more of a father to me than my own ever was, I turned away, ready to face the uncertain path that lay ahead.

With Gerard's final words echoing in my heart, I glanced around the small chamber that had been both refuge and prison. The bags lay by my feet, stuffed with the meager belongings I could call my own—a few articles of clothing, a cherished book, and my mother's pendant. My hands trembled slightly as I hoisted one onto my back, the other gripped firmly in my hand.

I approached the window, its frame worn from years of secret departures. Pushing it open, the cool night air caressed my face, whispering of freedom and unknown destinies. I hesitated for a moment, But tonight was different; there was no turning back. With a determined exhale, I swung one leg over the sill and then the other, my hands steadying on the rough wood as I eased myself out.

The descent was second nature to me, my fingers finding purchase on the ivy that clung to the outer walls. The moon, concealed behind veils of cloud, offered illumination, but it mattered little. I knew every inch of this escape route by heart. My feet found the ground with a soft thud, and I paused, listening for any sign that my departure had been discovered. Silence greeted me, save for the distant hoot of an owl.

Turning away from the house that never truly felt like home, I navigated through the shadows of the garden, my steps quiet on the grass. The looming shapes of trees stood as I passed, their leaves whispering secrets to the night. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were bidding me farewell—or perhaps warning me of the perils ahead.

Finally, the main street came into view. My pace quickened, anticipation mingling with the fear that writhed in my gut. The station wasn't far now, its outline visible against the skyline, a beacon drawing me onward.

I reached the platform just as the train hissed and steamed, preparing for departure. As I stepped aboard, the conductor nodded curtly, taking no particular note of me among the throng of others seeking passage to the palace.

Finding a seat by a window, I settled in, my bags stowed carefully beneath my feet. The train lurched forward, the mechanical rhythm quickly becoming a soothing mantra. Leaning my head against the cool glass, I watched as the houses and streets of my childhood receded into darkness, swallowed up by the night.

Half a day's journey lay before me, half a day between the life I'd known and the one that awaited me at the palace. As the landscape outside transformed into a blur of shadows and starlight, I closed my eyes, surrendering to the uncertainty of my future, but holding tight to Gerard's belief in my bravery and the feeling of my mom’s spirit watching me with a proud smile on her angelic face.