Chapter 38 Escape

**Valerie**
I had stayed in this room for two days.
Other than Samantha and the guards, I didn’t see anyone else coming, which I had no idea if it’s a good sign or not.
Samantha had explained a bit more about the current situation of The Red Moon to me. Though she acknowledged very few about what had exactly happened, she gave me some useful clues to put together for the whole picture.
She told me that Caser Murphy was never willing to hand over the crown but his physical condition had been deteriorating continuously after losing his left arm in the war. Shortly speaking, he had never been qualified for being an Alpha’s role.
The Red Moon had been the greatest wolf pack across the continent for such a long time. Wolves would die for the becoming the leader of it. As upheavals grew intensively within the territory, they were in need of a new Alpha.
Despite of Caser’s reluctance, he would still rather to crown his son than anyone else. And he had supposed the boy barely of age would be easy to control and manipulate.
But Xavier was never a puppet king. After he had taken the throne, he replaced most of the guards who used to serve at Caser’s pleasure in close proximity.
Unlike his father, Xavier was more respected by his members than being feared. The whole pack were apparently inclined to their new Alpha, even including some of Caser’s old fellows. So he had to seek for assistance from the outside, for example, another wolf pack in power.
“So it must be Caser Murphy! The marriage, the celebration...all of those were his evil maneuvers!” Samantha huffed in a rage.
I furrowed my brows while pondering on her utterance.
It did seem like that Caser Murphy was the villain in this story. But why at this point? It was actually a bit weird that he took actions right after the celebration.
If I didn’t remember it wrong, he was still in the castle when Xavier and I had the breakfast two days ago.
I expressed my concerns to Samantha, though she insisted Caser was the only one to blame.
“You got a point, Val.” She nodded thoughtfully, “and the north guests are still here. So if he wants a big fuss, he should have bring them to the Red Moon as well.” She rolled up her eyes in distain, “Conflict between the father and the son had reached its height since Caser’s arrangement of that marriage, so there’s no way he would waste this…”
*The Eclipse were still here…
So Caser wouldn’t…*
A sudden realization stroke me hard like a thunder.
I grabbed Samantha’s forearm hastily and blurted out, “What if something happened out of Caser’s expectation?”
“What does it mean?” Samantha was baffled.
“It means that maybe it’s not a scheme, but a real accident.”
My heart was thumping against my chest quickly as I contemplated the possibilities.
I might be right.
Considering how scrupulous Xavier was, I didn’t believe he would be completely unprepared for his father’s insurrection. And if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be so delayed for his promise to me.
The accident to Red Moon could be unforeseen by both Xavier and Caser Murphy.
Upon this guess, I decided for an escape.
I had to visit The Red Moon myself and figure everything out.
I wasn’t overestimating myself by thinking I had the power to truly assist Xavier. And of course Samantha was strongly against my decision. She said that the plea she made two days ago wasn’t serious at all. She believed in her Alpha and she couldn’t let me to risk my life on this.
But my decision to escape was an impulsion or out of empathy. I had thought it carefully and considered the dangers behind it.
I couldn’t just waste time here, waiting for the trial of my fate and begging for its mercies. I wasn’t the incapable girl five years ago any more.
Now since I acknowledged that Red Moon had all explanations to the secret behind my family and my lover’s absence, how could I gave up the chance to be there?
I must go to the place and get everything I needed.
***
**Third POV**
When the clock stroke at 7 pm, the guards on night shift met with the ones who just finished their work at the hallway for a brief handover.
The outside façade of the castle was off-guard temporarily.
“God!!! Someone jumped out of window from the second floor!” All of a sudden, a harsh scream broke the silence.
The captain of the guards was alerted. As he swiftly turned around to rush outside the castle, a horrible guess formed in his head.
It was the human girl in Alpha Xavier’s study.
No…the girl couldn’t be hurt or missing, otherwise he would break his vow to the Alpha.
He shook his head while racing to the ground under the window sill of that room. In short distance, there was a human-like body lying there, still dressing up in the same yellow gown as the servant had reported this morning.
*It was motionless*.
Beads of perspiration oozed across his forehead before he nervously walked over to the body and crouched down to inspect it closely —— it wasn’t a human body, but a plumped pillow stuffed into same the dress.
This well-experienced captain immediately realized the tricky plot behind the “fake jumping”.
It’s luring them out of their usual position!
“Don’t panic! Guard the doors!” He roared fierily.
But his command was a bit of late, as the guards stationing at the doorway of that study had darted to the ground floor and was eager to check the ‘body’ outside. Valerie had already took the chance to slip out of the room.
But she had underestimated the guards’ quick responses. When she was about to dash down the floor and escape through the side door, she heard the stern voice coming from the end of first-floor corridor.
“Guards the door!” The guards bellowed, making sure everyone in this castle acknowledge his order, “No one is allowed to leave!! Gather up all servants in the hall now!”
With that, he stalked onto the stair with a sudden face, getting close to where Valerie was squatting at.
Valerie hided herself behind the banister in great frustration. She tried to steady her breaths and dope out a Plan B.
Not everyone knew how she looked like so most of the guards wouldn’t be able to recognize her on their own. She was wearing the uniform Samantha secretly brought to her yesterday. That could keep her safe momentarily, but was not a resolution.
If she couldn’t find a way out here, it might involve Samantha and put her in terrible danger.
Clenching her fists tightly against her chest, Valerie stood up and eyed at the guards before turning up on her heels and walking in the opposite direction.
Her heart was racing with worries and fear.
*Come on, Val!
Think up something!*
Moisture grew intensively in her palms as the footsteps on stairs sounded closer and closer, as if a countdown to her death.
At that moment, the door in front of her was pushed open, slightly. A girl stuck out her head through the gap. She called Valerie tensely with a lowered voice, “Come here!”
It was Alyssa Woodland, the daughter of North Alpha.
Valerie flared her eyes wide. Licking her lower lip nervously, she contemplated Alyssa in suspicion.
It wasn’t an easy move to accept the ‘kindness’ from a stranger, especially a stranger who was about to get engaged with your lover.
Her intention was unknown.
“Quick! They’re coming!” Alyssa nearly shouted, but she had to keep the voice down.
Valerie’s had dug her nails deeply into the flesh, being twisted between the hesitation in her mind and the urgency of this situation.
At least there was a hope with the unknown…
Valerie took a deep breath before running into Alyssa’s room. The moment they closed her door, the captain had just reached the platform of second floor with a small group of guards following right behind.
They all put on a severe face, shooting stares at every corner in this place like a hawk.
The inspection started.