Lucy’s POV
While changing in my room, I kept trying to block out the memories I had of seeing Scoot in that position with Anabella. The only little consolation I had was that he at least looked to be enjoying himself and didn’t appear to have been forced or coerced into such an act. Thinking about it made my stomach turn a little, but I couldn’t turn back the hands of time or change anything. He had chosen what he wanted, and it was as clear as day that he no longer felt anything towards her.
“But why does it bother you?” something from within asked, gentle and inquiring. “Did you not wish for him to find happiness in another since you chose his brother?”
Since I had no response to that which I could trust, I kept my lips shut, and took off my gown.
I stared at the ruined piece. It was the kind of dress that didn’t do well with hand washing and had to be specially cleaned, and from how long I had stayed with the stain on my body, I would have been lucky if it was even still a possibility to completely get all the stains out. The realisation pricked my heart because Shaun had gotten me the dress, and I loved it.
As his name flitted into my mind, I also got a vivid reality check. The screaming, shouting, and roars moved to the front of my mind, and stirred up a whole wave of urgency inside of me. Shaun was still out there, maybe fighting or doing something incredibly dangerous. How could I have even allowed minutes to pass without thinking of him?
I rushed to my wardrobe and took out fresh, clean clothes, ignoring the fact that my body still smelled a little bit like the wine that Anabella had spilled on me. Underneath my breath I kept muttering prayers to the goddess to keep my love alive and safe, even as I put on the light blouse and pants that would have granted me free movement.
I arranged my hair into a ponytail, noticing how much paler they had become. But before that too could take my attention on the task at hand away, I pulled my thoughts away from it and rushed out of the room and back outside. I didn’t even bother going to look for Seth.
As I reached the doors, two guards stopped me. “You can’t leave,” one of them said. “Please, remain indoors.”
“My mate is outside! I can’t sit inside here while knowing he’s out there,” I said, trying to force my way through-and failing woefully at that. “Please.”
The one speaking to me shook his head, but looked genuinely apologetic that he couldn’t allow me to leave. “We’re sorry, Miss. But those are the Luna’s orders. We’re only trying to keep you safe.”
“Just . . . let me go,” I persisted. “I can’t-I can’t remain here.”
At that point, they no longer paid me any attention, and simply reverted to staring straight ahead as though I didn’t exist. Only moving to stop me when I tried to go past them.
Infuriated, I stomped away from them. Surely, there must have been another exit I could take, or a window I could go through. And so, my second search started.
–
The other two exits I found were guarded as well, which meant that passing through a window had to be the way.
I went deeper into the halls, searching for a place with windows close enough to the ground that I could jump out of.
Before I even went far, I saw Agatha walking up to me. As she usually did, she first looked shocked to see me, before she changed her look into a smile.
“Oh hello, dear,” she greeted warmly, but I was in too much of a hurry for pleasantries, so I simply nodded to her, while using my peripheral vision to check for any openings in the wall I could sneak through.
“Are you looking for something?” she asked, stepping close until I was bathed in her perfume. “You look . . . worried.”
Did she not know about what was happening outside? “I’m doing alright. I must have had too much sugar at the party,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Oh, I can understand. Trudy always goes all out with the dessert at her parties. One would think that she is hosting growing children and not adults with how much sweets she makes available.”
I nodded along, still keeping my smile on my face while hoping that she left me alone soon.
“Perhaps there is something else bothering you, child?” she asked, concern filling her eyes.
I shook my head. “Not at all, Aunt Agatha. Please, if you’ll excuse me now, I really need to use the ladies’ room,” I said, not even waiting for her to reply me or say anything. I could always find another day to catch up with her, but that moment was one that I couldn’t have wasted talking to her.
I rushed off, allowing the wolf on the inside of me to take over. This was one of the things I appreciated since my complete awakening. In my earlier years, I was seen as a weak Omega wolf because of my inability to fully tap into my Lycan heritage, but since my 21st birthday, things had finally changed.
But that wasn’t all there was to me.
My father had managed to tell me a little bit about who I really was before his death, and I was incredibly grateful for that. He told me that I had come from a long line of Apex wolves-werewolves capable of great power and shifting capabilities. Apex Wolves usually became Alphas because of their immense strength and abilities, but something strange had happened when it came to our family. Usually, the Apex trait was more common in males than females for some odd reason that no one ever really questioned. In my own case, my brother missed the gene, and thus, didn’t become an Apex Wolf, a trait usually known right from birth via the expression of glowing golden eyes that lasts for about a week. I had been the one who showed the trait from birth, and thus, I was the second Apex wolf in our household after my father.
Although it hadn’t been a secret in Bloodbath, many didn’t believe that I was truly an Apex Wolf, especially since I spent most of my formative years without expressing any special abilities. What made things worse was then I turned 17 and still hadn’t found a mate.
Nameless had hinted at something like that before he was defeated, and I still wondered how he knew about such concerning me, since I wasn’t even originally from Moongrowl. But if things were true, and he was really originally a Halfling from Bloodbath, then it might have been possible that he was one of the people who might have taken the news of me being an Apex Wolf seriously.
I raised my nose up and took a deep breath, tasting and sniffing the air. If I could just focus enough . . .
There. A distinct scent of the earth and grass pulled me, and led me all the way to the lower levels of the palace. I kept following the scent until I stepped into a hall smaller and darker than the rest.
Like a miracle, a small door sat at the edge of the little hall. Underneath it was marked with dirt and little traces of dried leaves.
It was a smaller door to allow people in their wolf forms to come inside after a run, most likely. I could just smell it.
Without wasting any more time, I pushed the door open, and slipped outside, finally free.