Chapter 41: ⁴¹: escape

Athena’s POV:

"According to this map, the stream was supposed to take me to a clearing... but this is just a tree!" I grumbled, clutching my head in frustration as I unfolded the map for what felt like the hundredth time.

I carefully traced the route with my finger again.

"There doesn’t seem to be any mistake..." I muttered to myself. "From the common area to the herbal grounds, then follow the stream north and you will reach a clearing."

I frowned. "That is exactly what I did."

I slowly lifted my gaze toward the enormous tree standing before me.

The stream ended here... But there was no clearing. Only this giant tree. My eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Did that girl make a fool of me?" The horrifying possibility suddenly struck me. "What if she was just pranking me and I handed over all my hard-earned money for nothing?!"

I gasped overwhelmed before dropping onto the grass with a defeated groan.

"Oh no..." I buried my face in my hands.

"After working twelve hours a day for ten whole days... this is what I get?"

I let myself fall backwards until I was lying beneath the tree, staring up at the sky through the thick branches. What a scam. I had honestly thought I was finally going to escape.

After waking up in this mysterious pack and learning that I had somehow survived, I had made up my mind. I had to return. I had to go back to my pack.

I had to expose Harry in front of everyone. But reality had slapped me in the face almost immediately. I didn’t even know where this hidden pack was.

Which also meant... I had absolutely no idea how to return home. Naturally, I had gone to Luna Selene to ask for directions. Only to receive an immediate rejection.

According to her, I was still recovering from my injuries, and until Mother Elena declared that her soul-cleansing ritual had completely removed the pain from my wounds, I wasn’t allowed to leave the pack for any reason whatsoever.

Not even for a single day. As if I could simply sit around while the man who betrayed me continued living peacefully.

No. Every extra day Harry spent free felt like an insult.

That was when I decided I would simply leave without informing any of the elders.

If they wouldn’t let me go... Then I would find my own way. Unfortunately...

Finding the way out of a hidden pack turned out to be much harder than I had expected.

Which eventually led me to the librarian of the pack. Coincidentally... Her name was Athena too.

But now after sneaking out with such difficulty, I am here sitting on ground not knowing what to do.

Instead, she had looked at me with the most emotionless face imaginable before saying,

"Having to provide such vital information, that too without Luna Selene’s order would have a price."

And not just any price. A very expensive one. Ten whole days of working from sunrise until late into the night just to earn enough money to buy that precious map.

Ten days... For this? I let out another pitiful groan before lightly banging my head against the tree trunk behind me.

"What a robbery..."

"Athena did not give you the wrong map." The sudden voice instantly made me freeze. "And neither did you read it incorrectly."

My head snapped upward. Standing only a few steps away was Damian Moonvel wearing an easy smile, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as though he had been watching me for quite some time.

"Mr Moonvel?" I shot to my feet so quickly that I almost lost my balance.

"What... what are you doing here?"

In my panic, I hurriedly crumpled the map and stuffed it into my pocket hoping he didn’t see it.

Damian only raised an amused eyebrow. "I don’t know," he answered with a shrug. "I followed you here."

Then he tilted his head slightly. "So maybe you should be the one telling me...What exactly are we doing here?"

He slowly crossed his arms over his chest, the small smile still resting on his lips, but there was something sharp hidden behind it. The playful expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"You... followed me?" The blood drained from my face. A strange sense of panic began creeping into my chest.

He followed me? Since when? Did he know everything? Did he know I was trying to escape the pack?

If he did... Then he would definitely report this to Luna Selene. And if that happened... There was no way she would ever allow me out of the pack again.

I instinctively took a small step backwards, clutching the folded map inside my pocket. Now what was I supposed to do?

"Yes..." Damian said, nodding slowly. "And, like you must be wondering, I also know exactly why you are here."

He glanced toward the pocket where I had hidden the map before looking back into my eyes.

"Your partner in crime..." A small chuckle escaped him. "...and partner in name has already told me everything about the little deal the two of you made."

The smile that had been resting on his face disappeared completely. In its place came a stern expression. One that made my heart sink.

Everything I had feared... Was about to happen.

"What?" I forced out an awkward laugh. "H-Ha... what did she tell you?" I hurriedly waved my hands as though trying to dismiss the whole thing. "I assure you, I only came here to get some fresh air! There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about."

I did my best to keep my voice calm and natural, hoping he would believe the lie. Because if he didn’t... There was no doubt he would drag me straight back to Luna Selene like some runaway prisoner.

Ever since the day we first met, I had been so busy working twelve-hour shifts just to earn enough money for this stupid map that Damian and I had barely spoken to each other.

And now... That very distance was coming back to bite me. If we had become even a little closer... I could at least hope he would help me, but now... This felt like a completely lost cause.

"Fresh air?" Damian repeated, raising an eyebrow. He took a slow step toward me. "But according to everything I’ve found out..." His voice became noticeably firmer. "...you are trying to leave the pack and return to your own despite Grandmother specifically forbidding it."

My heartbeat stopped for a second. He knew! He knew everything! My legs suddenly felt weak beneath me. They trembled uncontrollably as panic slowly crawled up my spine. By the look in his eyes... There wasn’t the slightest chance he intended to let me go.

"Mr Moonvel..." I took an unconscious step toward him, desperation slowly replacing my fear. "T-There is nothing like that..."

"I... I don’t want to go against Luna Selene." I lowered my eyes for a brief moment before looking back at him.

"But I have to do this." My voice became quieter. "You know what happened to me and I don’t want to waste another single day while the people who betrayed me continue living peacefully."

I was now, looking at him with a pleading expression. It was not that I wanted to act like this in front of him to gain his sympathy. This... Was simply my reality.

However, his expression didn’t falter . "I know what you must be feeling, Miss Athena." His voice was calm. Almost apologetic. "But I cannot betray my pack."

He took one step back before raising his voice. "Guards."

My entire body froze.

"Arrest her."