Chapter 6. A chance at escape

Willa’s POV

I entered the room alone, immediately struck by the odd sound of humming. Alpha Nox stood by a grand window, fingers tapping against the sill as he hummed a jaunty tune. As if he were genuinely enjoying himself while I was plucked.

In the corner, a telescope gleamed, its brass fittings catching the daylight. My gaze darted to a laden tray nearby, the aroma immediately hitting me like a slap in the face. My stomach growled loudly, and I cursed it silently. It had been weeks since I’d had anything close to a decent meal.

The melody cut off abruptly as his gaze fell upon me.

"Dear heavens," he drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "You clean up rather nicely. Almost passable as a normal pack member now."

I bristled at his casual tone. "Why did you have them clean me up?"

He chuckled, sauntering closer. “Don't flatter yourself. You reeked of blood and filth. I simply wouldn't want my throne room suffocating when you're brought in for..." he paused. “My utmost judgment,” he added lazily.

"So, it was for your comfort," I said flatly.

Of course.

"Precisely." My jaw clenched as he circled me, his proximity setting my nerves on edge. “I do prefer my prisoners presentable." He gave up and walked towards a massive wooden desk, hopping onto it as if he hadn't a care in the world.

The casual display grated on my already frayed nerves. We weren't friends, weren't even allies for him to feel that much at ease in my presence … acting like he owned the room—which he did—but he didn’t have to flaunt it like this.

"You've committed grave atrocities. My people clamor for justice,” he began, his tone shifting to something more serious, but that glint still lingered in those midnight eyes. "But I'm feeling... generous. I could give you a chance to run. To escape."

That wasn't what I had expected.

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze squarely, not buying it for a second. He was testing me, and I wasn’t about to fall into whatever trap this was meant to be.

"Why should I?” I insisted, holding his gaze. “If part of my judgment relies on your Beta's recovery, then I'll wait. If I escape, that only means I am guilty. A prisoner on the run. I won't be safe no matter where I go. So, regardless, I will wait.” I paused. “I’m hoping you’ll give your people the justice they deserve for what happened to him... and for the guards.” The words tasted bitter, but I forced them out, hoping my delay for more time would work.

Heck! I had nowhere to go—running wasn’t an option. And even if it was, where would I run to? Eamon’s men were probably waiting.

I tried to keep my eyes off the food, tried to focus on his reaction instead.

“You would wait?”

“Yes.”

Nox's eyebrows rose slightly. He stared at me for a few good seconds before throwing his head back and laughing — a real, rich sound that seemed to fill the room. It was the most genuine thing I'd heard in a long time.

But I glared at him, waiting for this to be over, and only when he wiped the tears in his eyes did I add, “I think I should be returned to the cell now.” My home.

He hopped off the desk, now towering over me. The damn Alpha was too close for my liking, not to mention those smug smiles were no longer there. Even so, I wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing me step back.

“You denied all accusations 14 hours ago, in fact, you wanted nothing to do with my pack, and now, you want to wait? How fascinating you turn out to be, why is that? What are you running from?”

I pursed my lips, but remained silent.

He stepped away after a while. Suddenly, he said, "You can have the food if you want."

I blanched, caught off guard by the abrupt change.

He rests against the window, gesturing towards the tray. "It's all yours."

"Why should I? It may be poisoned.”

"Are you serious?” he said in disbelief. “What will I gain from that? It would be such a boring way to kill a prisoner, don't you think?"

I clenched my fingers, ignoring the painful twisting in my stomach. "I'll pass."

"Suit yourself," he shrugged.

———

In the end, I devoured every morsel on the tray. I didn't care if I looked like a starved goat, I just ate and ate until I was too full to worry about my self-esteem.

The playful glint in his eyes had been gone for a while now, replaced by the cold, bored gaze of the Alpha I'd first encountered in the throne room. He looked at the empty tray and I tried to look anywhere but him.

Then the Alpha tucked his left hand in his packet. “Maybe you should know this," he said, "sometimes the best way to learn the truth is to become what others believe you to be."

I frowned.

Before I could speak, the door swung open. Marcos strode in, of course, with that look on his face. At this point, I no longer cared.

"Take her back," Nox ordered and turned away.

Marcos's grip on my arm was bruising as he dragged me from the room. The cell he shoved me into wasn't the same as before. This one faced another across a narrow corridor, the bars allowing a clear view between them.

"Think you can earn favor after trying to poison our Alpha?" Marcos snarled, shoving me so hard I stumbled, barely catching myself before hitting the back wall. I couldn't hold back a yelp of pain and surprise. "Pray to the Goddess. This will be your last day."

I know he loathes me but he doesn't have to be a dick about that.

He latched the bar with unnecessary force, then spat on the ground before stalking away. The glob of saliva glistened on the stone floor, and I cringed.

"Foolish guards," I muttered, leaning against the wall and wincing at the new bruises forming.

Across from me, I noticed movement. A young girl, clearly younger than me, was huddled in the corner of the opposite cell, her face barely visible in the shadows. I looked away— wondering what she did to end up here of all places. Even my uncle's corrupt pack hadn't been this harsh.

I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment.

Suddenly, a voice drifted from behind the wall at my back.

"Psst! Hey!"

I froze, every muscle tensing. A trap?

"Why did you let yourself get caught?" the male voice hissed. "What happened to the plan?"

Plan? What plan?

‘...become what others believe you to be.’ shit, don't tell me this was what that arrogant Alpha wanted. I took a deep breath, it wouldn’t kill to play along. With the way Marcos yelled, he probably believed me to be the assassin.

Lowering my voice and leaning closer to the wall, I whispered back, "Why do you think I am here, of course, it didn't work.”

I heard him hiss again.

I glanced towards the corridor, making sure the guard at the far entrance couldn't see me talking.

"I told you it was risky," the man growled. "You not only went against Vad’s order, you failed.”

Vad? A third party. The name meant nothing to me, but I filed it away for later.

"Don't nag me," I snapped, hoping I sounded convincing or more like the girl he believed me to be. The man must have lost all senses in here to take my voice as hers. The young girl’s eyes peeped at me, something between blue and grey.

The man's voice softened. "Listen, one of the guards is a pal. You need to escape tonight and report back to him."

The attack. Plans, now this … Vad… I needed more information.

"Can we trust this guard?" I asked, trying to keep the skepticism from my voice.

“Yes, we can trust him," the man behind the wall assured me. It seems he has so much trust in a guard who worked under the Alpha they are planning to kill.

"What about you?" I asked, I wanted to know. To be sure he was not about to learn of my true identity.

He chuckled softly. "They have nothing on me. I'm more useful gathering information in here than out there."

I glanced across at the girl in the opposite cell. She hadn't moved all day, but those eyes remained planted directly at me. The dimming light in the corridor told me night was falling, though without a clock it was impossible to know the exact time.

Just as I was drifting off, the sound of a door opening jolted me awake.

"Listen carefully," the man behind the wall whispered urgently. "Once you're out, take the route past the old storage chambers. It'll lead you to a tunnel. Follow it."

I nodded, though he couldn't see me. Despite not planning to escape, I will become the person he thinks me to be, at least until I learn something that can earn my keep here.

Footsteps approached. I recognized one of the guards who'd captured me at the border. He paused at the cell behind me, whispering something I couldn't catch, before moving to my bars.

I turned away, hiding my face. The man behind the wall might not have had the chance to see me, but this guard certainly has. He stared at me longer than necessary, then dropped something. A key. It looked accidental, but the deliberate nature of the act was clear.

Only after both guards had left did I reach for the key. This wasn't my plan, but knowing the escape route could prove useful someday.

"Don't let them catch you this time," he said as I silently unlocked my cell. Old storage chamber, then.

Heart pounding, I slipped into the corridor.