Prologue

Prologue

Vanessa

" T ake her," ordered King Armon.

My life seemed to be crumbling before my eyes. My hands wrapped protectively over my pregnant belly. King Armon had just announced he would put me up for auction after my baby was born.

And the Royal Pack would keep the baby.

I studied his face to see if he was serious, and he looked like he was. It was his daughter that I helped get kidnapped, after all. I should have never trusted Voss. He was only watching out for himself. I had told him where Princess Lyra would be so he could kidnap her for a remote village, gain his people's trust, and take over the kingdom.

I didn't think he'd actually try to kill her.

The room seemed to spin after King Armon gave his final verdict. I couldn't believe it. Maybe I deserved it.

The guards grabbed my arms, and I didn't have the strength to fight them as they walked me down the stairs. Was I going to live in the dungeons now?

Everything got darker and darker the further down we walked. Fear gripped my heart as they opened a cell door as if I was a prisoner. There was nothing but a bare, dirty mattress on the stone floor.

"Are you serious?" I shouted at them. They shoved me inside and shut the door, locking it behind them.

Without a word, the two guards clomped up the stairs. I was still gripping the cold metal bars by the time the deathly silence reigned around me. The steady drip drip of water above me and the howl of the cold gust of air swirling around were frightening.

"Let me go!" I screamed again, shaking the bars.

After all my hard work and determination to climb the social ladder, this is where I would end up in. Tears burned in my eyes as I released the cold metal bars. The darkness around me was overwhelming, and I shut my eyes tight. Maybe I was in a nightmare.

I opened my eyes, still seeing that I was trapped down here. I lifted my dress as I walked towards the filthy mattress on the ground.

My dress was drenched at the edges as I gingerly sat cross-legged on the mattress. I rubbed my hand over my belly protectively. I had to get the hell out of here with my baby intact. The Royal Pack would not take my baby. Especially if my baby was going to be raised by the old hag Queen Ophelia.

I did nothing but try to better my life after meeting King Armon at the Omega Ball last year. I remembered the night as if it was yesterday…

"Stand up straight bitch," said Aunt Helen. Aunt Helen took me in when I was twelve, after my parents died during the Great Moon Revolt. She was strict along with my Uncle Gabe.

I straightened my shoulders as we walked into the Omega Ball. I never saw anything like it. Lights and chandeliers everywhere. Musicians were playing their instruments, and there were beautiful people everywhere.

I swallowed with nervousness.

I had to impress an alpha pack, or else I'd have to go home with my aunt and uncle tonight. I fucking hated them. The isolation and the lonely little closet they'd put in me were too much to bear. I needed out, and I would do anything to get an alpha's attention tonight.

And I did.

The night at the Omega Ball was the most magical fucking night of my life. The kings had fallen for me, and despite the existing omega in their relationship, they still took me in with open arms. They secretly courted me one by one, even though rumors about us were spread all over Howl's Edge island.

All they wanted was a child that their omega wife couldn't provide.

But now…they were going to take my child.

The days and nights passed as I stayed huddled on the mattress. My pregnancy was advancing day by day, and I still hadn't found a way out of this cell. My body felt increasingly tired, but the urgency to escape grew like fire in my heart.

I had to find a way out for my baby and I.

I couldn't tell when it was night or day anymore.

I only knew the time of the day when the maid would bring me my meals. It was the only way I kept track of the days passing by. Dirty plates were stacked up in the corner of the cell, and a loose plan was formulating in my brain. Maybe there could be a way out of here after all.

"Your breakfast, ma'am," said the beta maid shakily, handing my plate through a small slot between the bars. I lazily lay on the mattress, one hand on my swollen belly.

"My back hurts, and I can barely move," I groaned, my hand moving to my lower back. "Could you please be a dear and bring in my food? Also, there's a ton of dirty plates here, and I can't stand the smell."

I covered my nose weakly, pretending to retch, but nothing came out. The beta maid stood there uncertainly and then shook her head.

"Of course, I will pick those up right away," she said. "I feel so bad they put a pregnant omega in these conditions."

My stomach leaped excitedly as she unlocked the cell door using a large ring of keys. When the door swung open, I had to keep the look of jubilation off my face, still pretending to act weak for her to trust me. She slowly set the plate of food in front of me and then proceeded to walk over to the dirty plates in the corner of the cell. As soon as I saw her bending down to grab the plates, I gathered up my dress and made a dash for it.

"What are you doing?" she yelled.

I shut the cell door behind me. I didn't dare look back as I ran up the stairs. My legs felt weak, but this was for my life. My legs burned with every step on these dreadful stairs.

This was my last chance.

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I reached the top step. I heard the cell door squeak open as she chased after me. She grabbed my ankle somehow.

"Please," I begged quietly. "They'll kill me."

She blinked and then opened her mouth to scream. I kicked her hard in the face, and she fell backward, knocked out cold on the ground. That bitch was going to let me die anyway.

My legs pumped under me as I dashed through the hallways and out the back door to the terrace. The sun hit me in the face as I ran towards the graveyard. I knew there was a way out of this compound through there. It was early in the morning, with the sun nearly blinding me. I hadn't seen the sun in days.

I couldn't believe I was finally outside.

I took a breath of fresh air as I ran wildly past the trees and the graveyard. I heard bells ringing behind me and shouts in the air.

The Royal Pack knew I escaped. There were guards perched everywhere who could have seen me running across the fields.

I could barely catch my breath as I ran faster out of the compound.

As I ran into the streets, people were giving me odd looks here and there. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I had to leave Howl's Edge now. I couldn't stay here any longer.

I kept running and stopped when I felt a stitch at my side. I looked around and saw the palace guards from afar scanning the area for me, guns out. I ran behind one of the luxury diamond stores, shutting my eyes and just praying they wouldn't think to look over here.

Supply planes left every Tuesday, and my brain whirled with plans to escape Howl's Edge for good.