15. A vain Escape.

Astrid's POV

×××

It was the perfect opportunity to slip away without anyone noticing. Everyone was busy with the contents of the scroll…whatever the scroll that was pasted there held.

"Co-coast is clear". I muttered surveying the area. It was almost evening so the time was right since everyone was distracted.

I hurriedly walked to the farming fields. I made my way inside the ready-to-be-harvested plants and crops. I was being careful so I wouldn't step on any of them and at the same time, I needed no one to see me.

When I popped out after a tiring time going through the field, I caught sight of several enforcers surveying the territory.

"wh-what are they doing here? Wh-why are they here? Let's…let's move to plan B, Astrid".

I exhaled heavily and turned back, entering the farm fields again and manoeuvring my way carefully through the plants so as not to be caught.

I finally came out of the fields and moved towards the square of persecution.

"Yeah, well, hello". I heard Gina call behind me.

I turned to her and smiled without uttering a word. She had her arms crossed.

"What is that?". She asked with a disgusted look on her face.

"Wh-what?".

I looked confused.

"That!". She pointed at me. "That smile is creeping me out. Yeah, don't smile at me".

My smile immediately faded and I folded my lips.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know you have work to do?".

Oh no! Not when I was about to flee from this place. Ugh!

"Yeah, come on, dafty ". She turned and walked away moving and swaying her hips as though she was in a fashion show.

I sighed and followed her with my head hanging low. I entered the laundry cottage but didn't see Gina so I stood waiting for her to show her face.

"Wh-why do I feel this way?". I inquired rubbing my neck.

"Yeah, you have to get this whole basket of linen ironed for the Alpha's quarters".

"S-sure". I replied itching the back of my neck.

"Ahhh…." Gina screamed and I jumped.

"What is that?". She fretted. "Why is your neck itchy? Is it a communicable disease?"

"N-no it…"

"Stay away from me". She yelled and quickly moved to the door.

"I need to sanitize my whole body". I heard her say before she disappeared out of the cottage.

"G-great!". I rolled my eyes. "But which of those plants did this to me? I didn't know they'd itch me".

I stared at the basket of linens.

"W-well, I don't have time to waste. I…I should carry out plan B".

I went out of the cottage and looked around. The crowd that had surrounded the scroll had reduced.

I walked past them and headed to nowhere in particular. I just wanted a way out of here.

I halted when I saw some guards filling a carriage with bags and drums of whatever was inside.

I turned to walk away but stopped and looked back at the carriage. The guards had gone inside the barn. I smiled.

"Is…Is that what I'm thinking? Yes it is".

I hurriedly walked towards the carriage looking behind and around for anyone.

I quickly climbed the carriage and hid myself beside a huge drum.

It was dark already so I hoped they wouldn't see me. I braced myself as I heard footsteps approaching.

"This will be taken out of the territory to wise old Garrett's house". I heard a guard say.

"I'll check the goods to be sure everything is intact". Another said moving towards the carriage.

"Let's just go back. Everything is just as the Alpha instructed".

I held my breath until they were gone before I finally exhaled slowly not wanting to make even the slightest sound.

I stayed there for a little while before I felt that the carriage had started moving, I felt so excited but had to stay composed. I was finally leaving this place for good.

The carriage suddenly came to a halt and my heartbeat accelerated.

"Goods to be delivered to the wise Garrett as a token of appreciation from Alpha Logan". The person riding the carriage said.

One of the scouts walked towards the Carriage and hit his staff on the drum I was hiding behind.

"Carry on".

I closed my eyes sighing as the carriage started moving.

"Stop".

The scout said and my heartbeat picked up again.

"Be careful with the goods".

He called after the carriage rider.

The carriage rode off a distance away from the territory before I slowly took careful steps to come down from it.

The light illuminated by the moon was bright enough for me to see. I jumped off the carriage and immediately started running.

I ran until I came to a stop and bent halfway with my hands on my knees as I panted excessively.

I stood upright and looked around me. My mouth fell.

"Wh-what? H-how can it be that I'm still around this territory?".

I didn't believe that I had been running for a long time only to come back to the same place I had dropped off.

"Was…was I running in circles then? Wh-what is happening?".

I was confused myself but I decided to take the opposite direction. I walked and walked for a while until I decided to take a rest behind a tree.

I slipped down and laid my head on the tree, closing my eyes. My head went down and up again several times and I frowned when I perceived something. What was that sound I was hearing?

My eyes fluttered open and I paid attention.

"I'm scared". I heard someone mutter. The voice belonged to that of a little child.

"Wh-what is the little girl doing out here alone?". I asked getting up and moving towards the direction I heard the sound from.

"Mama? Papa?". She sobbed.

She suddenly came into view as I moved, so I slowly walked towards her.

"Wh-what's wrong?". I asked.

She raised her head and looked at me. "I wanna go home". She shed more tears.

Her face seemed oddly familiar. What was it with me about seeing familiar faces?

"Where's your home?". I questioned going down to her level.

She sniffed and pointed further away.

"It's the Shadow pack".

This. Was. Bad!

I wanted to run away but just couldn't leave the little girl alone.

"Don't…don't worry darling, I'll take you home".

I could see that her face lighted up.

"Really?".

She asked and I nodded with a smile. It was a small but sad smile. So I was gonna go back to the Shadow pack.

She cleaned her tears and got up.

"Promise?".

She asked bringing out her pinky.

"Promise". I smiled and intertwined my pinky with hers. We also joined our thumbs together.

I held her hand and we made our way back to the Shadow pack. The place I dreaded the most.

I sighed pleading with the moon goddess to help me. We walked for a while and I discovered the little girl was tired.

"C-can I carry you?". I asked and she nodded. I squatted and she climbed onto my back.

"Yo-you have a weight that's a good sign that you're growing". I smiled.

She also smiled and I was grateful she wasn't sad anymore.

"Wh-what were you doing out there?".

"I mistakenly let my friend's butterfly out of the box and I ran after it so I could catch it back for her". She said. "I didn't want her to be sad her pet was gone".

Why did that remind me of Iva so much? She also had a butterfly pet.

"B-but don't you think your friend would've also been sad if she lost you?".

The little girl didn't answer but I felt her nod subtly behind me. And after a while of silence, I heard her snoring softly.

"Al-alrighty, have some rest". I cooed and adjusted my hands, trying to hold her firmly behind me.

I walked in the silence of the night and soon made my way into the territory.

I stopped briefly to exhale before I walked in.

"Who are you?". I was met with a guard immediately I stepped in through the same way the carriage had gone out.

I didn't say a word but simply turned my back a little so they could see the little girl behind me.

"It's her". His eyes widened and he walked in hurriedly. It seemed everyone was looking for her and I thanked the moon goddess that she was now home safely.

I was taken to the girl's home and I met with her mum who was standing outside and pacing. She ran to us immediately she busted out in tears.

"Thank you so much".

Her mother thanked me as I laid her daughter in the bed at her house. The woman's eyes were wet with tears. It seemed she had been crying nonstop.

"It's…it's okay". I smiled.

She walked over to me and held my hand.

"I owe you my all for finding my little girl. Thank you, thank you, thank you…what's your name?".

"As…Astrid".

"Thank you so much, Astrid".

"We-we're all thankful that she was found". I told her and walked out of the house after receiving several words of appreciation from her.

I walked to the laundry cottage and stood in there, ironing the clothes I had left. Gina had her hands folded as she stared daggers at me.

"So where were you? I heard you saved the day. What are you trying to prove?"

"No-nothing". I stated simply. "I'm not trying to prove anything. I…I just did what was right"

"Yeah, sure…"

The door flung open and I saw Gina bowing to whoever had entered.

"Beta Duncan".

The greeting here was so far-fetched from where I came from. They always bowed here while we didn't. It was as though they were running a royal empire here.

"What are you doing?". I heard Gina whisper. "Bow".

She held onto the back of my neck and bent it, forcing me to bow.

"To what do we owe your presence, Beta Duncan?". Gina asked. I couldn't help but notice that her voice sounded different from the usual way she spoke...at least to me.

"You!". He ignored her and called pointing at me.

"Y-yes?". I asked looking around. But there was no other person aside from Gina and me. And his finger was directed at me.

"M-me?".

"Her?" Gina asked.

"You won't be working here anymore, you'll start working somewhere else from tomorrow".

"M-me?". I asked again with my eyes wide.

"Her?". Gina asked again in shock.

"As from tomorrow, you shall serve the Alpha in his quarters". He informed.