Chapter Five

Kiandra

"I found you!" I exclaimed loudly, finally locating the book I had been searching for. I descended the narrow ladder, the steps creaking and showing their age, but I had no time to be cautious. I hurried through the library, eager to find my sisters and prove to them that I had a solution for our survival. I knew a whole new world would await us once we left the safety of these walls.

I turned a corner, almost losing my grip on the worn wooden floor with my shoes, but there was no time to stop. Excitement surged through me. However, I wasn't far from the doors when they suddenly swung open. The Masters dropped what they were holding and immediately knelt in a submissive gesture to the Alpha fighters who had entered the sacred place.

The Alphas growled in satisfaction, while I let out a scream at their presence. They all turned to me, something dark flickering in their eyes as they scanned me from head to toe. My Omega instincts urged me to kneel before them and submit. They warned me that running and showing them my back would only trigger their instincts, but I couldn't help glancing behind me. If I submitted, I couldn't help my sisters.

The group of Alphas growled at me, their bodies expanding, and I took a hesitant step back. They cautioned me not to do something so foolish, but I had to save my sisters. I turned on my heel and sprinted away, and they immediately gave chase. However, I knew the place like the back of my hand and managed to confuse them as I darted through the labyrinthine bookshelves and staircases. But I wasn't na?ve. I knew they would catch up to me soon.

So I raced toward the secret entrance to the tunnels, desperately searching for the handle or mechanism that would open it. I tried pressing on the stones again, but the bookshelf remained immobile. An idea struck me, and I began pulling books off the shelf, pushing them to the ground and berating myself for treating the sacred knowledge this way. But time was of the essence.

I looked back over my shoulder, hearing the Alphas tearing the place apart to find me. Just as I turned my attention back to the bookshelf, my hand grasped a book that seemed out of place. I yanked harder, and I heard a satisfying click. The bookshelf swung open. I pushed it wide and then slipped into the darkness, sealing it shut behind me.

I remained in the darkness, listening to my own breathing, while on the other side, I could hear the Alphas growling and shouting in frustration. They were baffled by how I had seemingly vanished into thin air, and I prayed to the Gods that they wouldn't discover the secret entrance.

After a while, their anger at not finding me seemed to outweigh their determination, and they left once more. I had no idea of the state of the library, and my instincts urged me to go out and assess the damage, but I knew I didn't have time. I needed to find my sisters. If the army was already here, I feared my sisters had been captured.

I turned around, but I couldn't see anything. I listened for sounds on the other side of the bookshelf, but it was completely quiet. I reached for the stone that opened the bookshelf, then poked my head out. Other than books and scattered wood, there was no sign of any Alphas. I reached for a small torch hanging on the wall before closing the bookshelf and plunging myself back into the darkness.

"You've got this," I whispered to myself. First, I had to figure out where my sisters were and then find out if I could free them. I began walking through the tunnels, gradually becoming more familiar with them. Sometimes, the sounds from outside echoed throughout the hallways, guiding me to where most people had gathered. I glanced at the book, hoping to determine my location, but my disorientation made it difficult. Instead, I searched for any openings that might reveal the world outside.

As I followed the loud echoing voices, I finally came across what I believed was another door, but I couldn't see any light streaming in. However, the edges of the door gave it away. I tried to push it forward, and it made an awful lot of noise, but the sounds on the other side drowned it out. I pushed harder until light streamed in. I cautiously poked my head out and noticed a heavy fabric covering me. I reached out and pushed it to the side, letting out a small gasp.

A whole party had gathered in one of the common rooms. Food was being served, drinks were being consumed, and some were even sparring for entertainment. However, soon, moaning reached my ears, and I turned my head to see an Alpha fucking one of the servants. They were right up against the wall, in full view of everyone, yet it didn't seem to bother anyone. I had heard that the Tesarian Wolves lived more openly, but I hadn't expected such a blatant display.

I turned my head away from the scene and moved to the other side of the fabric. From my new angle, I saw my sisters sitting on the ground in front of what was unquestionably High Alpha Cartan, with his most trusted fighters right behind him. My sisters already had chains around their necks and hands, a clear symbol of their lost freedom. Omegas weren't fighters, so the chains were entirely unnecessary. The sight angered me, but I couldn't jump out and save them. I would have to wait.

Yet Cassia's eyes shifted to the side and found me hiding in the darkness. They widened at the sight of me, and I gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her without words. Cassia nudged Vivina on her left, and she turned her head. Cassia, without looking at me, subtly nodded in my direction. Vivina glanced toward me, expressing the same surprise and then fear. I instantly understood her message through her eyes: run.

I shook my head and sent her a silent reply. I knew she could read me. I knew she understood that I would come back for them. She shook her head slightly, indicating that I shouldn't. I continued to smile at her as Cartan ordered some of his fighters to take the princesses to their new "chamber."

I watched as the fighters brought my sisters to their feet while I slipped back into the darkness, placing the stone door back into position. Then I began forming my plan in my head. My sisters needed provisions, clothes, money, and herbs to survive out there. I had to pack the essentials for them.

I looked at the map in front of me, trying to decipher how I could return to my room, but it seemed as if I were missing some information. Could it be the guidance for the tunnels had been divided among multiple books? The long row of bookshelves suddenly made more sense to me. Yet I couldn't return. I didn't have the time. So instead, I used the sounds, the knowledge I had of the castle, and the part of the map I had to guide me.