Chapter 12: Bessie’s Escape
Night had fallen, and the area around the dungeon was illuminated by lights, but the atmosphere inside the dungeon was eerie.
Bessie sat on the ground, her expression cold. There was only one guard outside. Not being able to kill Hazel meant her mission had failed. She had expected Cyril to kill her today, but he had released her instead.
“Bessie, Bessie, tell the guard outside that you want to leave. He’ll let you out. Go deep into the forest to find me,” a familiar voice echoed in Bessie’s mind. It was a mind link from her Alpha.
Bessie’s eyes showed a hint of change. This familiar voice was her Alpha communicating with her. He still had a plan.
Bessie abruptly stood up and realized that the guard outside was one of their people. After some thought, she walked to the door and softly said to the remaining guard outside, “I want to leave. Let me out.”
Upon hearing her voice, the guard immediately opened the door and released Bessie. “You should leave quickly,” he told her, his gaze determined.
A smile appeared on Bessie’s face. Alpha Cyril thought his Pack was invincible, but she had already inserted a few spies. The Iron Star Pack wouldn’t last much longer. Once her Alpha successfully took over The Iron Star Pack, both Hazel and Cyril would die.
“I’m leaving,” Bessie said and turned away. Instead of leaving through the main entrance, she jumped out of a window from the dungeon. She couldn’t use the main entrance; that would alert Cyril.
Bessie ran out, trying to conceal her presence. If Cyril caught her scent, she would be captured quickly.
Unbeknownst to her, the Cyril she mentioned was standing at the highest point, watching Bessie’s fleeing figure.
“Alpha, are you really letting her leave like this?” Theo suddenly spoke, standing next to Cyril.
“She’ll leave sooner or later. It’s better to use her to draw out the person behind her,” Cyril’s expression was inscrutable. He knew Bessie was just a pawn, and there were more dangerous individuals behind her.
“Yes, Alpha,” Theo said respectfully.
“The guard, go take care of it,” Cyril said, then continued to watch in the direction Bessie had left. There could be no disloyal individuals in his Pack.
Theo nodded and left.
The small town became less peaceful.
Bessie ran desperately until she reached the deep forest. She sat on a tree stump to catch her breath, surrounded only by trees. She had to ensure she wouldn’t be easily discovered.
“Bessie,” she heard a voice and turned to see a man in a black robe appearing behind her.
“Master, you’re here,” Bessie’s voice was filled with delight, completely oblivious to the danger she was in.
“Bessie, you’ve worked hard,” the man in the black robe patted her on the shoulder.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
“Master, I failed, but don’t worry, I’ll find another opportunity to go after Hazel,” Bessie expressed her loyalty to the man in the black robe.
“Bessie, the Pack doesn’t keep dead weight. Have you forgotten?” The man in the black robe’s voice was cold, and his words took Bessie by surprise.
Bessie took a step back, swallowing hard. She seemed to understand what was happening. Her master wanted to abandon her!
“Master, I… I’ll go kill Hazel right now,” Bessie turned to leave, but in the next moment, the man in the black robe grabbed her by the throat.
“Bessie, you don’t have this opportunity,” the man in the black robe chuckled and increased the pressure on her.
A wolf howl echoed through the forest and then returned to silence.
When the alarm went off, Hazel had already changed her clothes. She hadn’t slept all night. Hazel stared at her red eyes in the mirror, feeling a bit helpless.
“Grandma, what’s for breakfast today?” Hazel walked into the kitchen, trying to appear normal.
“Oatmeal with cornflakes, and ham sandwiches,” Grandma placed breakfast on the table.
Hazel picked up a ham sandwich and began to chew. The ham was delicious, but the bread was a bit dry.
“Maybe we’ll go on patrol today,” Hazel spoke to her grandmother’s back.
“Be careful if you do,” Grandma’s eyes showed a trace of worry. There were often rogue individuals near their Pack, ruthless and unreasonable people.
“I will, don’t worry,” Hazel smiled at her grandmother.
“Hey, take a look at this,” Grandma walked into the room and brought out an exquisite little box.
Hazel was puzzled.
“Open it and see,” Hazel looked at her grandmother with a questioning expression. She opened the small box and found a delicate button ring with her name engraved on it.
Hazel exclaimed, “Grandma, did you make this yourself? And it’s engraved with my name.” She admired the ring in her hand.
“Yes, I made it last night. Do you like it?” Grandma looked at Hazel lovingly. “I know the ring your father gave you was very important, but now that he’s gone and the ring is missing, I’m giving you a new one to take care of you.”
“I hope this ring from me brings you good luck.” Grandma touched Hazel’s head, just like when she was a child.
“Thank you, Grandma,” Hazel hugged her. She cherished this precious gift.
“If you’re going on patrol, you should leave early,” Grandma walked back into the kitchen.
Hazel kissed her grandmother’s cheek and then set off for the training ground.
There weren’t many people at the training ground, maybe Hazel had arrived a bit early; she usually came later.
“You’re quite punctual today,” Alpha Cyril’s voice sounded behind Hazel. He was shirtless, looking like he had just finished showering.
Hazel saw his bare chest and was reminded of their time in the clear spring. Her mouth felt dry, and ever since the close encounter with Cyril, something felt off. She had primal urges and often felt exhausted. Her attitude towards Cyril had also shifted a bit.
“Just couldn’t sleep,” Hazel answered truthfully. Cyril noticed that her eyes seemed like she had been crying. What had happened?
“It seems you’re learning to obey your Alpha,” Cyril lightly laughed with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Hazel rolled her eyes at him. She would never learn to obey Alpha Cyril.
The other pack members arrived at the training ground one by one, standing to the side, waiting for Alpha to issue commands and tasks.
“Alpha, everyone is here,” Parrish put the list away and confirmed that no one was absent, then spoke to Cyril.
“Today, your task is simple: find Bessie,” Cyril’s gaze lingered on Hazel, as this matter concerned her. “That’s right, Bessie escaped last night.”
Cyril’s words were like a bomb, jolting everyone awake. Find Bessie? Wasn’t she supposed to be trapped in the dungeon?
Hazel widened her eyes as she gazed at Cyril. Bessie had escaped? Someone managed to escape from The Iron Star Pack’s dungeon? This was highly unusual.
Cyril could sense Hazel’s perplexed look, but the matter at hand was of utmost importance, and it wasn’t Hazel’s responsibility to handle.
“Form groups of four, each in a different area, and bring her back immediately when found,” Cyril’s voice was both hoarse and commanding.
Rankin distributed group names and maps to everyone.
Hazel looked at the names of her group members: Eloise, Elmer, and Pansy.
Eloise and Elmer had quietly approached Hazel, and the three exchanged a knowing smile.
“Which one is Pansy?” Eloise asked, checking the group list, her gaze scanning the surroundings.
“I’m here.” A girl with a high ponytail emerged from the crowd, her eyes resembling crescent moons as she smiled.
“Are you Pansy? I’m Hazel, and these are Eloise and Elmer,” Hazel introduced them to each other.
“After finding your group members, you can set off with the map,” Cyril’s voice sounded once again.
Hazel had already started moving and running, with Eloise and the others following closely behind her as they headed into the deep forest, the wind brushing against their cheeks.
Their journey to find Bessie had begun.