26. Tayla

Chapter twenty-six

Tayla

Hearing the sound of the door lock, my eyes opened. My heart sank as I realized that Asher had left me trapped in this room again.

I knew that I had to escape from here, but it wouldn't be easy to break free. I threw the blanket off my body and climbed out of the bed. As I paced back and forth in the room, my mind raced.

I needed to leave and find my way back to Silvermoon, no matter what it took. I wouldn't let Asher have control over me anymore. I wouldn't be his prisoner in this tower. I slowly began to realize that I was blinded by his true nature. He wasn’t the Alpha I had hoped him to be. Though part of me still cling to the idea that his good-natured self would emerge, I had to divorce myself from the idea. I had to ignore my feelings for him and go.

The door to my room was solid and would be hard to break through.

The curtains were thick, though, and could probably be used as rope through the window, but they weren’t long enough to get me out of here.

Just then, I heard the soft footsteps of someone approaching, and my senses went on high alert. I felt my heart skip a beat as I wondered if Asher had returned. What did he want from me at such a late hour?

As I continued to dwell in my thoughts, I heard the door unlock and saw Nora standing there.

“Nora,” I breathed out, relief washing over me as she walked closer.

“We need to be quick,” she urged. “We don't have much time. Asher might realize I am not in the castle and would sense something amiss.”

“How were you able to get past the guards?” I inquired.

“I performed a spell on them. They will remain asleep until we are out of this tower,” she responded.

Nora took a step closer. “I have a plan, but you need to trust me,” Nora said, her eyes locked with mine.

I slowly nodded my head, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and fear.

“First of all, you have to promise me that you won't take off the pendant necklace,” Nora implored, her fingers reaching to touch the delicate lace around my neck.

I nodded, my brows furrowing. “Okay, but what does the necklace have to do with me escaping from Asher?”

“As long as you wear it, Asher won't be able to find you. It will keep your scent hidden from him,” she revealed. “Forever.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “I won't take it off my neck, but what's the plan?”

Nora handed me the bag from her shoulder.

“There is food, water, and a few clothes. This should last you for several days. You will need to move quickly and find a place to hide before the guards notice you are missing.”

I took the bag from her, feeling a lump rise in my throat. Was I really escaping from this pack? The thought of leaving the pack members who had been amazing made me feel broken and sad.

They'd suffered for years now from the tragedy of the pack. I tried to imagine Asher's reaction when he found out that I was not in my room; he wouldn't hesitate to kill the guards watching the tower. He would turn his back against the people and would no longer care.

At the fear of Asher hurting the people, I instinctively took a step backward. With the thoughts racing through my head, I wasn't sure if I would be able to do this. It might be the wrong decision.

He would not accept our people the way he had tonight. I felt my heart ache at the idea, and my face crumbled with sadness.

Nora stared at me, raising a brow as she wondered what was wrong.

My determination to escape the tower was now gone, replaced by a stabbing pain at the thought of Asher's treatment toward the pack.

I had prepared myself to escape this tower and leave everything behind, but now I took pity on the people. My heart was beating so fast against my chest that I thought it would explode.

I was scared of what would come after Asher's anger. To see the people suffer again would be worse than the things he had done to me in the past.

“Are you having second thoughts?” Nora asked, taking a step toward me.

“I… I was just thinking about our people here,” I said. “What Asher would do to them when he realizes I’m gone.”

“I would give you updates on how people were doing from time to time,” she assured me. “But you need to leave now before the spell wears off and the guards wake up.”

I gripped the bag tightly and slowly nodded. Relief flooded in, knowing I'd see her soon.

Nora took my arm and led me out of the room. We walked quickly, our footsteps echoing through the long, quiet stairs.

As we stepped outside the tower, the cold air slammed against my skin like a slap. I felt a swirl of emotions churn through me. I was scared but still determined to leave Asher. despite my love for him and the pack. I had to. I was sad, but I still felt a glimpse of hope.

I was leaving behind people I loved, but I was also escaping a life of imprisonment. I felt Nora's arm tighten around mine, guiding me through the dark night. The loud snores of the guards filled the night air.

As we continued walking, my mind drifted back to Asher. I thought about the memories we made during my stay here in this pack. The kind moments we had shared—both in bed and out of it. There had been goodness mixed in with the frustration and anger.

And then my mind thought back to the night before I left Silvermoon, a prisoner of the Celoria's pack. But my freedom was taken before I had to dance for money to pay out my father’s debts.

That evening, I had sat down with my father at our dining table when a carriage arrived. Some rough-looking men approached us. I quickly stood up as I recognized who the men were.

“You!” one of the men growled, walking toward my father. He made an attempt to slap him, but I quickly intervened, standing in between them. This made the man flare up, and he grabbed my wrist.

I swallowed hard. “I promise I will pay you back everything that we owe soon.”

“After promising me twice, do you think I'd still believe your lies?” The man spat in a guttural voice.

“I will pay you twice the amount we owe,” I offered, hoping the man would let go.

My father narrowed his eyes at me, but I slowly nodded, urging him to calm down.

“And how do you intend to pay me back?” he asked, his grip around my wrist tightened. “You can't even afford three square meals a day.”

His eyes roamed over my body freely, pausing on my chest. I swallowed hard, feeling my anger boil for him.

“Unless you plan to use your body to earn money,” he suggested.

I shook my head. My eyes widened in shock as I caught sight of the dagger the man was holding.

Without sparing me another glance, he turned his head to my father. “What would happen if I forced her to be a ballerina? That way, she’d be able to pay me back my money as she entertains men.”

“She has a beautiful body. Men would drool to watch her dance,” he muttered.

I shook my head, my face crumbling at the thought of what would happen if I found myself in such a situation.

“I promise to pay you—”

“Listen! I need my money, and I don't care how you are going to pay me back. There is an auction coming up in a week’s time, and I want you to join. Any money you earn from entertaining the men would go straight to me,” he said.

“Ms. Tayla,” I heard my name, pulling me back from the painful memory. I turned my head to see Nora.

“Are you alright?” She questioned.

“Yes,” I nodded.

As my feet stepped outside the gates of the tower, I felt a sense of freedom wash over me.

“We did it, Tayla,” Nora said to me, holding my hands. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling my eyes well up with tears.

When I pulled back, she brought her hand to my cheek and wiped the tears from my eyes.

“You should go from here,” she said. “The guards would soon wake. Be safe, my friend.”