You thought…..
I felt a chill run down my spine. The idea of being sold off to another kingdom, to be used as a bargaining chip or worse, filled me with dread. Memories of my time in the previous pack house flooded back, and I struggled to keep my composure.
“Is there nothing I can do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Is there no way I can prove that I’m not a liability?”
Simon sighed and stood up from the bed, towering over me. “That’s not for you to decide, Ashley. It’s for us to determine what’s best for the kingdom. But if you really want to prove yourself, then stop being so weak. Start acting like someone who belongs here, like someone who’s worthy of being our mate.” He paused for a short while, letting out a laugh before saying, “even though you don’t fit in any way possible.”
His words stung, but I nodded slowly, realizing that arguing with him would get me nowhere. Simon glanced at the door, his expression unreadable.
“Stay in your room for now,” he said, his tone softer. “Lucas and I will discuss what to do next. And Ashley… don’t do anything stupid.”
With that, Simon turned and left the room, closing the door behind him with a finality that echoed in the silence. I sank onto the bed, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. The reality of my situation was more dire than I had imagined. Being sold off wasn’t just a possibility; it was a decision that could be made at any moment.
I knew I couldn’t just sit back and let it happen. Somehow, I had to find a way to prove my worth, to show that I wasn’t the weak, defenseless omega they thought I was. But how could I do that when every fiber of my being was filled with fear?
As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, a resolve began to form within me. I couldn’t let them send me away-not without a fight. I didn’t know how I would do it, but I would find a way to survive. I had to. My very life depended on it.
The hours passed slowly as I waited, my mind racing with possibilities. Every sound outside my door made me jump, fearing that Simon or Lucas would return with a decision that would seal my fate. But the night wore on without incident, and eventually, exhaustion overtook me.
When I woke up, the room was bathed in the soft light of dawn. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep, but now that I was awake, the anxiety from the previous night came rushing back. I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.
I got out of bed and started pacing the room, my thoughts churning. If I was going to prove myself, I needed to show them that I wasn’t just a burden. But what could I do that would make a difference? How could I demonstrate that I was capable of more than they gave me credit for?
As I racked my brain, an idea began to take shape. It was risky-dangerous, even-but it might be the only way to prove my worth. I had to find out who was behind the attacks on the kingdom, the ones who were using me as a pawn in their schemes. If I could uncover the truth and bring it to Simon and Lucas, maybe then they would see that I was more than just a weak omega.
But this would mean leaving the safety of the mansion, going out into the world where my enemies could be lurking around every corner. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, but I also knew that I couldn’t trust anyone within the mansion to help me. I would have to rely on myself, on my wits and instincts, to navigate the dangers ahead.
Steeling myself, I began to prepare. I didn’t have much, but I gathered what little I could-a few supplies, a cloak to disguise myself, and a small dagger for protection. My heart pounded in my chest as I made my way to the window, knowing that once I stepped outside, there would be no turning back.
With one last look around the room that had been my prison, I climbed out of the window and dropped silently to the ground below. The early morning air was cool and crisp, and I pulled the cloak tighter around me as I set off into the unknown.
I didn’t know where this journey would take me, or if I would even survive it, but one thing was certain: I wasn’t going to let them sell me off without a fight. This was my chance to take control of my destiny, to prove that I was more than what they believed me to be.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I quickly rushed over to the back of the mansion, where I had planned to take off for my little heist. It didn’t even take 10 seconds after I got down from my bedroom window before I was immediately caught by a guard.
“Hey you! Stop there, right now!” he yelled from behind me, and my eyes widened in shock. Why did this have to happen? For a few seconds, I stood on the spot, thinking about what to do. Do I stay back and surrender, or do I go on and continue with my little heist? Either way, I ended up not getting the chance to decide because he suddenly started running toward where I stood. I immediately took off as a result, which made him call for backup. He yelled out for the other guards around the vicinity to help catch the supposed “trespasser,” as he had been calling me. I didn’t stop but kept running in a state of panic. However, it didn’t take long afterward for me to get caught by a guard who had come from absolutely nowhere.
The whole situation was just so crazy because this guard in question tackled me from wherever he had jumped out from. Only the goddess herself can tell, to be honest. As a result of this, I consequently found myself on the floor with my cloak still on my face, thankfully keeping my identity hidden from everyone there.
“Who are you? Where are you from? And who sent you here?” The guard chasing me authoritatively questioned me, and I could only shake my head, knowing it wouldn’t be long before they revealed my identity.
“Can’t you speak?” he thundered once more, and I whimpered in fear. There was silence for a short while before I finally felt the cloak on me suddenly yanked off.
“Miss Ashley?!” someone yelled as soon as my face was exposed for all to see.
“What are you doing moving about with a cloak over you?” I bit my lip in embarrassment as my eyes remained nowhere else but the floor.
“Miss Ashley, you haven’t answered my question yet. This is a very compromising position for us to be finding you in.”
“I know, and I also know that you probably feel like I have some devious agenda or something, but that is far from what I am doing. I am actually trying to assist with the investigations currently going on in the kingdom regarding all the weird appearances, including what happened to me some days ago,” I started, trying my best to avoid the persistence that would later bring about me being questioned by either Lucas or Simon, or even worse, both!
“I can’t be too sure about that since no one made mention of such to me. I’m afraid we will have to look into this even further, Miss Ashley.”
“Oh, shit!” I cursed, shaking my head at my pathetic fate.
“Well, the thing is, I honestly don’t mind you guys doing your job. My main worry is, however, having either Lucas or Simon know or be involved with anything related to this, so please, can you try to keep this between us only?”
“What exactly are we keeping between ourselves now?” I heard a voice say from behind the guard, and I gulped anxiously. Now it is finally over for me.
“Oh my goodness, Ashley! What the heck are you doing on the floor like this? It’s very demeaning, you know,” she went on, and a frown instantly settled on my face. Of all people to witness this, it just had to be the witch herself: Veronica.
I got up from the floor, wiping my bum and the back of my thighs as I prepared to face one of the biggest forces of evil.
“You know, looking at this place, it almost looks like you were trying to do something by sneaking out of the mansion. Too bad our very reliable guards were able to catch you red-handed before you could get away with whatever.” I hissed out loud as soon as I heard her going on and on, whereas all I could think about was how to get myself out of this crazy situation.
As soon as we got in, the first thing that struck me was the fact that both Simon and Lucas were seated in the living room, having a discussion. They both turned at the same time as soon as they noticed our entry, and this situation made my heart start beating about three times faster.
“What’s going on now?” I heard Lucas say, and this instantly brought back my anxiety.
“Greetings, Your Highness Lucas, and Your Highness Simon. Actually, I think I need to meet with you both about what just happened not too long ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the thing is actually about Miss Ashley over here.” Although I didn’t look up or in their direction, I could still feel their intent gaze, especially that from Simon.
“What happened now?”
“Your Highness, I was busy doing my usual patrol around the house when I heard a huge thud coming from one of the windows close to the back of the mansion. I saw a standing figure wearing a cloak that covered them from head to toe. I managed to chase the person alongside my other colleagues until I finally caught him-or should I say her. We ended up finding out that it was Miss Ashley, and now I cannot even tell what we are supposed to do next about this.”
“So basically, you brought her here to see what we have to say about the whole thing?” Lucas asked, and the guard nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, alright then, you may all leave,” he said one more time, and they all made their way out.
“What was that about?” Simon asked, and I fidgeted with my hands behind my back.
“I am sorry, I just didn’t want to feel like a liability, so I wanted to do something that would make you two not have a reason to just sell me off.”
“And so you thought sneaking out and doing whatever you like would help?”
“No, I-”
“Just save it! I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” Simon said, and I bit the inside of my lip nervously. I looked over at Lucas, but he didn’t bother saying anything. In fact, he had his attention completely diverted from what was going on, almost like he didn’t care at all, but could I really tell what was going on in his mind? No!
“Lucas, aren’t you going to say anything?” Simon asked, and that was when Lucas finally made an effort to pay attention to what was happening.
“I don’t even want to say anything right now because I am already so stressed with work. Just do whatever you feel should be done,” he said finally, walking out, leaving Simon to take charge.
I stood there on the spot with my hands still interlocked behind me. My gaze didn’t leave that one spot on the floor, but despite not looking, I could still feel the intensity of the stare Simon kept giving me from where he sat!