Chapter 5
Chapter 5 My Escape Plan
SASHA MOORE
“Dad, Adrian betrayed me. He used your treatment to force me to stay quiet. He knew you're the only family I have left since Mom died, yet he still threatened to stop your medicine if I refused to protect Vivian.”
My father’s expression hardened. “Really?”
I nodded, tears falling freely. “Yes. Then he made everything worse. The Silver Moon Pack released an official statement claiming Adrian and Vivian have been together for years, and they made me look like some shameless woman trying to destroy their relationship. People are attacking me online, calling me a homewrecker and saying I should leave them alone.”
Dad clenched his fists. “How dare he do this to you?”
“He even announced Vivian as his official mate,” I continued, my voice breaking. “He wants Vivian standing beside him in front of everyone as his Luna.”
“That is unfair,” my father said angrily. “You are his fated mate!”
“I told him that, but he doesn't care.” I wiped my tears and shook my head. “He keeps saying Vivian is weak, sensitive, and needs his protection, while I'm strong enough to handle the hatred. He thinks that gives him the right to humiliate me.”
My father looked at me for several seconds before asking, “What are you going to do?”
I leaned closer and lowered my voice. “We’re going to leave.”
His eyes widened. “Leave the Silver Moon Pack?”
“Yes.”
“Sasha, but I’m sick. Where will we go?”
“I don't know yet, but I'll find somewhere. I'll work if I have to. I'll find another healing center. I would rather struggle with you somewhere else than stay here and let Adrian control both of us.”
My father slowly squeezed my hand. “When?”
“During the mating-announcement banquet.”
He stared at me.
“Everyone will be watching Adrian and Vivian,” I explained. “The pack elders, guests, guards, and media wolves will all be focused on the ceremony. I'll use that moment to get you out of the healing center, and we'll leave the territory before Adrian realizes we're gone.”
“Sasha, if Adrian discovers the plan—”
“He can't know.”
My father remained silent, then finally nodded. “All right.”
I looked at him in surprise. “You agree?”
“I agree because I would rather face an uncertain future with my daughter than watch you sacrifice your life for a man who doesn't respect you.”
I leaned down and hugged him carefully. “Thank you, Dad.”
After spending another hour with him, I returned to the Blackwood estate under the watch of two pack guards. My mind was already focused on the escape plan, but the moment I stepped into the main hall, I stopped.
Adrian was standing near the staircase. Vivian was beside him. They are laughing like a sweet love birds.
The moment Vivian saw me, her expression changed completely. She quickly stepped behind Adrian and gripped his arm with both hands, her body trembling as she looked at me with frightened eyes.
“Sasha,” she whispered.
Adrian immediately moved slightly in front of her.
“Don't come any closer,” he warned.
I stared at Vivian.
The woman who had smiled triumphantly at me in the hotel was now trembling behind Adrian like a frightened wolf pup.
“Are you afraid of me?” I asked.
Vivian lowered her head. “I don't want to fight with you.”
“You didn't look afraid when I was unconscious.”
Her eyes immediately filled with tears, “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Of course you don't.”
Adrian's voice became firm. “Sasha, stop.”
I looked at him. “You really believe her?”
Vivian tightened her grip on his arm. “Adrian, please don't let her hurt me.”
I almost laughed.
There it was again.
The helpless act.
The trembling voice.
The fake tears.
Adrian immediately turned toward her. “Nobody is going to hurt you.”
Then he looked at me, “Stop!”
“Why?” I demanded. “Because she's crying?”
Vivian shook her head quickly. “Sasha, please. I never wanted to cause problems between you and Adrian.”
“Then why did you go to that hotel with him?”
Her lips trembled, “I was sick.”
“You were drugged?”
“Yes.”
“And you called Adrian instead of the pack healing center?”
“I was scared.”
“The Silver Moon Pack has dozens of healers.”
Vivian looked down. “I only trusted Adrian.”
I stared at her.
Adrian's face softened.
That reaction made my stomach turn.
Vivian suddenly moved closer behind him, “Adrian, maybe I should leave.”
“No,” he replied immediately. “You don't have to leave because of her.”
Vivian looked at him with tearful eyes. “But I don't want her to hate me.”
I shook my head. “You don't care whether I hate you.”
Vivian looked wounded, “You're wrong.”
“Then apologize.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Apologize for what you did.”
Her eyes became even wider. “I didn't do anything to you.”
“You knew Adrian was my fated mate.”
“Yes.”
“You knew we were supposed to announce our mating alliance. And you still allowed yourself to become the center of this scandal.”
Vivian's tears began falling, “I never asked Adrian to stop claiming you as his mate.”
I laughed bitterly. “You didn't need to ask. You knew he'd choose you.”
Adrian stepped forward. “Enough!”
Vivian suddenly grabbed his sleeve. “Adrian, please. Don't fight with her because of me.”
He looked down at her hand. “It's all right,” he said gently. “You don't have to be afraid.”
I watched them in disbelief then I looked directly at Vivian, “Stop hiding behind him. I know exactly what you're doing. You're playing the victim because you know Adrian can't resist protecting you.”
Vivian shook her head desperately. “That's not true.”
“Then apologize.”
She remained silent. Vivian looked at Adrian as if begging him to save her. Adrian immediately moved between us.
“Sasha, that's enough!”
“Fine!”
Adrian's voice dropped. “What are you planning?”
I smiled despite the pain in my chest, “Nothing you need to worry about.”
His eyes narrowed.
Vivian suddenly whispered, “Adrian, I'm scared.”
He turned toward her immediately. I watched him comfort her, exactly as I expected. Then I walked away.
Neither of them noticed the small smile on my face. The mating-announcement banquet was tomorrow snd Adrian believed I had surrendered.
He was wrong. Tomorrow, while the entire Silver Moon Pack watched him stand beside Vivian, I would take my father and disappear.