The Escape Plan

**The present**

Astrid's POV

Sunlight creeps in through the window in the dining hall, shining on my face, along with the other slaves on my line, facing the window.

“Today, as you know, is a very important day to us…”

Madame Celine, our head slave, addressed us as she always does every morning, standing on the slightly higher ground at the center of the hall. She stood stiffly, accessing each and every one of our faces as she spoke.

“....and misconducts of any kind will not be tolerated.”

Not like misconduct has ever been tolerated in the pack house, but today, like she said, is indeed different. Because today was the full moon ceremony. 

It was a ceremony the werewolves have celebrated for as long as I knew. Where a werewolf, who has passed the normal mating age of 18 years, has a chance to meet their mate. Not like they can't find their mates on any other regular day, but the chances are way higher on the full moon night. I could never understand why they addressed one another as mates, but it's none of my concern. And it certainly isn't my concern what our head slave is saying, because tonight, at the peak of the celebration, I've decided to escape.

I know it's a very bad idea, hell, it's a stupid idea. But the thing is, I have watched the werewolves for years on end, learning and grasping all I needed to know about their abilities. I know about all the hidden doors in the pack house, how many guards are stationed at each door, what time they take their breaks. And I knew there was no better time to do it than on the full moon night.

I know. Trying to escape werewolves is insane. Punishment for such offence is met with death. But that's how I feel with every passing day in this forsaken place. Working tirelessly for creatures that do not appreciate our existence. Creatures who saw us as weak and fragile. Is it the looks of disgust they send our way? Or the lustful looks hidden behind those stern looks the guards wear when they see us? Rape isn't tolerated in the palace so they could only look. But humans aren't exactly worth any kind of punishment in this place either.

Someone nudged my shoulder, interrupting my thoughts. 

“Do you hear what the others are saying?”

Ophelia asked, her brown eyes glittering with excitement, the way it does whenever she wanted to spill gossip.

Ophelia is my very close friend. I met her the day I was brought into the castle. She had gone out of her way to put me through everything so I wouldn't be in a lot of trouble, because wolves rarely needed a reason to punish us, given the feud between humans and werewolves and all. We have been very close ever since.

“What did you hear?” I asked as we left the hall with the others, heading to our respectful posts. Ophelia and I are on kitchen duty.

“I hear that the Alpha is going to attend tonight's mating ceremony” she said excitedly.

“And why should that bother us?” I asked skeptically.

 The Alpha rarely came out for any event, let alone the full moon ceremony. The few times I heard of him leaving is to conduct meetings with other pack officials, and only a select rank of slaves were allowed near him. Other times, he stayed in the second floor of the pack house, which was off limits. I've almost never seen him. I wondered what could make tonight any different.

“Loosen up a little! Do you not at least want to know what he looks like? He has been the center of the topic all over the palace since this morning” She said, her round face masked in playful mischief.

I mentally shook my head. Ophelia has been obsessed about the Alpha ever since. Almost all the maids here were. the way their eyes lit up whenever they spoke of him, this is something I could never understand.

“Ophelia, how many times do I have to remind you that the Alpha doesn't regard people like us. He sees us as mere dirt on his shoes. It is evident in the way they regard us. They think they are more superior than us.”

Ophelia shunned me with a wave of her hand.

“Of course he is superior….he is the Alpha King after all. Tsk……what would you know?” She said knowingly.

I scoffed.

“All I know is I'm not the one obsessing over a wolf who can kill me with just a snap of his finger.”

Ophelia laughed cheerfully

“well…what can I say? I guess I learnt from you, the queen of endangering herself.” She teased, causing us both to laugh as we entered the large kitchen. Slaves scattered here and there, trying to keep the place in order.

“Um…Astrid?” Ophelia started and I turned to her. “Are you really going to try and escape tonight?” Her cheerful face turned into one of concern.

I nodded, smiling faintly.

I had told her some days before about what I was planning to do, as I couldn't just leave without a proper goodbye. I even tried convincing her to come with me, but she refused, saying she couldn't risk getting attacked by rogue wolves and not eating for days on end.

“I'll be fine,” I said, holding her hands reassuringly.

“Make sure that you bid me farewell one last time before you leave. Okay?” her face scrunched up like she was about to cry. I knew how well she would miss me. I'll miss her very much too. But I had to do this. 

We went about our kitchen routine, but my mind was already somewhere else. I don't know, I kept having that unsettling feeling that things won't go well tonight. But I shook it off. I planned this escape really well, so everything should go smoothly.