Escape (2)
Luna was determined not to let that man touch her, and with that resolve, she did something daring. Once she felt better, she immediately ran into the room, carefully exiting what turned out to be an empty chamber. She ran down the corridor and hid in another room, an empty bedroom.
Luna quickly walked to the balcony and looked down. She murmured happily when she saw a more oversized balcony below. After ensuring the situation, Luna pulled a bedsheet, tied it to the sturdy balcony railing, and climbed down using the tied sheet. Since the sheet was long enough, she could land on the lower balcony without injuring her legs.
“Now all I need to do is find a hiding place and avoid the Guards,” she thought, taking a deep breath.
With adrenaline pumping and a strong sense of rebellion, Luna ran inside, finding herself in a larger sitting area adorned with luxurious furniture and thick carpets. She exited the room, ran down the corridor, and always ensured no guards were present at each intersection she reached. Whenever she encountered patrolling guards, Luna would hide behind objects or long window curtains, feeling her heartbeat quicken every time she was almost discovered.
She heard a commotion in the distance when she reached the palace’s main hall. It seemed her escape attempt had been discovered, and the psychopathic emperor was terrorizing the servants and guards. Luna giggled at the thought of the emperor’s face and ran through the main hall to the next corridor. This time, she saw guards and several well-dressed men she guessed were nobles working in the imperial palace. Luna had to find an exit. It was better to hide outside than inside the palace. Still, unfortunately, she heard the psychopathic emperor’s voice not far from her, and Luna cursed the man’s superior abilities.
Luna looked left and right, found an open door, and ran inside. She closed the door and barricaded it with whatever she could find before standing anxiously waiting on the other side of the room. She glanced toward the window and peeked outside but quickly hid behind the wall upon seeing two men standing not far from her hiding spot.
Luna peeked out, watching the two men engage in a serious conversation. She sharpened her hearing, not caring that she was eavesdropping. “Are you sure this is what the Alpha wants? Doing this is tantamount to inciting a war with Foryeust.”
“Yes, Savon. On the one hand, I understand Alpha’s reasons, but on the other hand, I know it’s a rash decision,” the other man replied with a heavy tone.
Luna frowned. Was the Alpha they mentioned the psychopathic emperor? Alkrevas? “At least for now, I can prevent him from destroying the temple.”
Temple? Luna was increasingly confused and curious.
“I will try to speak with Alpha once the situation is stable. The presence of that mortal creature is making Alpha even more irrational. Mathias, do you think that woman is truly Alpha’s soulmate?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen the woman in person, but whatever it is, I trust Alpha,” Mathias replied with solid conviction.
“Alright. I will ask Foryeust to do something to hide the portal. We must prevent Alpha’s intention to destroy the temple in the sacred forest.”
WHAT? THAT PSYCHOPATHIC EMPEROR WANTS TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE?
If that happened, the only way back to her world would be gone. Luna bit her lower lip in panic. She moved away from the window so the two werewolves wouldn’t notice her presence. One of them could hear her heartbeat or smell her scent. Luna sat on the other side of the room, curling up in the darkness that seemed to embrace her with its coldness.
No. This must not happen. She had to leave immediately, return to the temple, and go home before the psychopathic emperor’s plan came to fruition. If the portal were destroyed, Luna would be trapped here forever.
She didn’t want that to happen.
…
Alkrevas deliberately spent more time than usual working and dining at the banquet. He even allowed the counsellors and ministers to speak to their heart’s content about their hidden agendas in dominating politics. All this he did to give his soulmate more time to prepare.
He sipped his wine while imagining his soulmate waiting in his private chamber, looking beautiful and bashful. However, that was unlikely, given her attitude toward him earlier that morning. Alkrevas sighed inwardly. The image of a small smile on her lips only made his heart more restless. Both he and Norris could no longer wait to meet their soulmate. Completing the mating process would bind her soul to his, reducing her chances of leaving because Alkrevas knew that even a short distance between them would make her body and soul react. Not just physical pain but mental anguish and anxiety would make her choose to return to his side.
With this thought, Alkrevas placed his glass down, stood up from the banquet chair, and walked out of the dining hall. Sigmund and Zyne, along with several imperial guards, followed behind him. Alkrevas walked with long, quick strides toward the emperor’s residence. Impatience swelled within him, making his steps even faster, ignoring the guards, servants, and palace staff he passed.
When he reached his chamber door, he saw Luna’s servants and guards standing vigilantly. One servant, noticing his presence, immediately bowed respectfully, followed by the others. “How are Luna’s preparations?” Alkrevas asked.
“Going well, Your Majesty. Miss Luna did not resist,” the servant replied with a bowed head.
“Is she inside?” Alkrevas asked again.
“Yes, Your Majesty. She is in the bedroom waiting for you. We checked before stepping out of the chamber.”
Alkrevas nodded briefly. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, I hope you’re not sleeping to avoid me.
Of course, that might happen, but he hoped Luna would wait for him as he imagined. She couldn’t go anywhere with the servants and guards on watch at the door, but Alkrevas wasn’t sure. He dismissed that possibility from his mind and stepped toward the door. “I’m going in, so you can leave now.”
Alkrevas stepped into the chamber, ignoring the servants who bowed obediently, letting one of them close the door behind him. He walked through the sitting room and stopped at the bedroom door. Alkrevas took a deep breath and turned the door handle. His entire body tensed, and as he stepped into the bedroom, a calm and quiet atmosphere greeted him. Alkrevas’s brow furrowed slightly. The magical stone lamps illuminated the room dimly, creating a romantic ambience. Still, due to the light, he realized that Luna was not waiting on the bed. Alkrevas sharpened his senses.
Nothing. He didn’t hear a heartbeat or breathing. He searched for Luna, hiding in the darkness with his vision, but there was no sign of her. He walked to the dressing room, rummaged through the wardrobe, and came back out. A low growl escaped his lips.
“Luna? Little mate? Are you trying to make me angry?” Alkrevas hissed, his eyes slowly turning red, and his fangs and claws began to emerge. Anger started to infiltrate every vein. Norris was beginning to rage inside him, and if Alkrevas couldn’t hold back Norris’s urge, his wolf spirit might have taken over by now.
Then his eyes glanced at the floor, where a chemise lay. Luna’s distinct scent of cheddar, roses, and a hint of musk, unique to her, was strongly present. Alkrevas walked over, picked up the nightgown, sniffed it, and growled. He couldn’t believe it. His soulmate dared to escape to avoid the mating ritual.
Annoyed, Alkrevas walked out of the bedroom with the nightgown in his hand. He roughly opened the chamber door, startling the servants and guards nearby. He looked at all his subordinates, showing his red eyes, which were both terrifying and stunningly beautiful, as only Alkrevas had ruby-like red eyes when his wolf spirit dominated. “My Luna is not in the bedroom. It seems she has gone somewhere. Find her and bring her back to my chamber. Now!”
“Yes?” murmured everyone in confusion.
“Do I need to repeat myself?” Alkrevas hissed, holding back his anger.
The frightened servants responded with fearful squeaks. Alkrevas ignored them and slammed the door shut again. He removed his coat, revealing his muscular and well-built body clad in a white shirt. He returned to the bedroom and took a deep breath, trying to detect where his soulmate had gone by following her scent.
Alkrevas closed his eyes before opening them again and directing his red gaze toward the balcony. He quickly walked to the balcony and looked down. “Has that woman gone mad?” he growled to himself. The cold night could not calm the fiery rage burning within him.
…