Page 10 of Cursed By Fate

The compound was quiet. Most of the pack was asleep, but I knew there were guards out there somewhere. I kept to the darkness, staying as low as I could. The night air was crisp and cool on my skin, sending shivers down my spine as I moved through the open corridors. The thrill of escape pulsed through me, mingling with a constant undercurrent of fear. I was close,so close I could almost taste it. All I had to do was stay one step ahead of the guards.

I paused at a corner, listening for any sign of movement. My senses were on fire, sharper than they’d ever been. Every creak of wood and rustle of leaves seemed magnified. I held my breath, waiting for the right moment to sprint across the clearing and into the cover of trees.

There it was. A shout from the east side of the compound.

I didn’t wait to see if it was meant for me. I dashed forward, my feet silent against the earth, my heart pounding like a wild thing in my chest. I ducked behind a building and leaned against the wall, catching my breath and scanning the area. No guards. No alarm. I was still safe, at least for now.

I took off again, this time slower, more careful. A single misstep would give me away, and I couldn’t risk it. Not after coming this far. I was in the open now, fully exposed and painfully aware of it. I crossed another patch of grass and slipped between two trees, trying to blend into the night.

Another noise caught my attention, and I froze.

A howl pierced the air, long and loud and lonesome. I could hear other wolves joining in, their voices echoing off the walls of the compound to the sides of the mountains all around us. It wasn’t the sound of a hunt, and it wasn’t meant for me. Not yet. They’d find my empty cell soon enough, but by then I’d be long gone. I hoped.

I crept through the compound, every sense tingling with anticipation. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, picking out shapes and shadows that I could use as cover. I spotted a guard to the south, but he didn’t see me. He was preoccupied, staring off into the distance, unaware that I was slipping away right under his nose.

I pushed on, using the commotion of the other wolves as a distraction. They were restless, just like me. A few lightsflickered on, and I ducked behind a pile of crates to avoid being seen. I couldn’t afford any mistakes now, not when I was this close. The air thickened the deeper I moved through the compound, as though the mountain was reluctant to let me go. Its magic wasn’t loud, but it pressed against me—curious, judging.

When I was sure the coast was clear, I moved again, weaving between buildings and trees like a shadow. It felt good, this freedom. It felt right. The way I’d always wanted it to. I was no one’s prisoner, and soon I would prove it. I could almost taste the air outside, crisp and clean and wild. Just a little farther and I’d be free.

I finally reached the outer wall, its edge looming before me like a promise. I took a moment to breathe, to steady my racing heart and clear my mind. This was it. This was my moment.

I glanced over my shoulder one last time, half expecting to see guards rushing toward me, the young wolf pointing and shouting, “There she is!”

But it was just me and the night.

I slipped through a gap in the wall, barely wide enough for my frame, and took off into the open. The forest loomed before me, dark and full of possibilities. I sprinted toward it, my legs pumping and my lungs burning, the scent of pine and freedom filling my senses.

The ground was soft underfoot as I crossed the field, feeling the rush of cold air against my skin. It woke me up, made me alive, made me think I might really be free. It was everything I’d hoped for. I was out. I was gone.

And then it hit me. I didn’t know where I was going.

I was free. But freedom without direction was just another kind of prison. I had no home. No pack. No plan. Just the ache of being unclaimed in a world that didn’t want me.

The idea landed like a punch in the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I stumbled to a stop, catching myself against a tree and panting for breath. I thought I had a plan. I thought I knew what I was doing. But now, alone and out here in the woods, it was clear how little I understood.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t go back to Silver Ridge. Not yet. Not ever, if I could help it.

I closed my eyes, steadying myself. The forest stretched out before me, vast and unknown, and I took a step toward it. Then another. My heart slowed, my mind cleared, and I started to run.

This was my chance. I wouldn’t let it slip away.

I pushed into the trees, leaving the Stormvale compound behind. The cool night air wrapped around me, filling my lungs and fueling my drive. I had to keep going, to find my own path, to discover the truth about my curse and my fate. I couldn’t let anyone hold me back.

Not my father. Not the pack. Not even myself.

The forest opened up around me, and I disappeared into it, a wild thing finally set free.

I ran, the dark woods closing around me like secrets. I couldn't stop, not when I was finally out, not when I was so close to being free. My own pack was behind me, but their betrayal was an open wound. I had to keep going, to find the truth. The real reason for my father's warnings. Then I saw something. Someone. Up ahead, just beyond the next row of trees. My heart stuttered, skipping beats and hope. Had the pack sent someone after me? Was I already caught?

I crouched low, peering through the tangle of branches and leaves. The figure moved closer, and my pulse quickened. My mind raced through the possibilities. I thought about the young wolf and wondered if he’d given me up. I thought about my father and his cold, unforgiving eyes. I thought about my otherpack members, each one eager to bring me down. I couldn’t let them find me, not yet, not ever.

The trees seemed to close in on me as I backed away. I had to be careful. It could be a trap, a ploy to draw me out of hiding. The ground was damp beneath my feet, every snapped twig and crushed leaf a potential alarm. My breath was loud in my ears, ragged and uneven as I tried to steady myself. I needed a plan, but all I could think about was running.

Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this. Maybe my father was right, and I’d be back in the cell by morning, tail tucked between my legs. My whole body tensed at the thought. I turned and prepared to bolt, but then I heard something. A voice. A familiar voice that stopped me in my tracks.

“Serena?”

The relief was instant and overwhelming, crashing over me like a wave. It wasn’t anyone from the Stormvale pack. It wasn’t my father. It was Lila. I straightened up, heart still racing, and watched as she came into view. She was breathless and wild-eyed, but alive and safe and exactly what I needed.

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