*Livia's POV*
Lilly and I were both overflowing with joy as we ran freely through the vast forest of the Moonlight Pack.
I wasn't worried about being seen by ordinary humans, since this forest belonged to the pack and was strictly off-limits to outsiders.
The penalty for trespassing was severe, and I knew we were safe. Lilly was reveling in the freedom, racing through the trees towards the edge of the forest where the highway lay beyond.
> "Finally! We're free, Livia!" she exclaimed, her happiness palpable.
I was thrilled to see Lilly so carefree, and it reminded me of the first time she had felt such joy - when we had found our mate. But that happiness had been short-lived, crushed by Aldrake's reckless and abandoned.
Now, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. If only I had left him sooner, Lilly's pain and sorrow might have been brief.
"I'm glad to hear your happy voice again, Lilly. Forgive me for filling your heart with sorrow and pain by choosing to stay with Aldrake," I said, my voice tinged with sadness.
Lilly's pace slowed, and she eventually came to a stop. We had run far enough that it was unlikely the pack warriors would catch up to us, even if they realized I had escaped during the chaos.
Speaking of which, I still couldn't believe what had happened in the hall. The man who had approached me at the party, who had shown me the way out to save me from embarrassment, and who had escorted me to the pack house, was actually a superior.
I had expected him to be a leader, which was why Aldrake's introduction of him as Gamma hadn't sat well with me.
But I had never expected him to be more than just a leader - and now, the thought of facing him again for the third time filled me with shame.
I didn't think I could bear to look him in the eye again. I had called him Alpha Aldus, which I knew had offended him. From now on, I would make sure our paths would never cross again.
> "Livia, I've never blamed you. I understand, because if I were in your shoes, I would have done the same. I'd try to stay, to endure, until I'd had enough. So don't apologize, because we've both been hurt equally. Now that we've been given a chance to escape and start anew, let's not waste this day," Lilly said, her words a balm to my soul.
I nodded in agreement, grateful that my wolf didn't harbor any resentment towards me. Instead, Lilly seemed to understand and empathize with me, our bond stronger than ever.
> "Actually, I was wondering if you noticed the way the Lycan King looked at you earlier," Lilly said, bringing back memories of the scene in the hall.
"What about it? Did his gaze mean something, Lilly?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
To be honest, I had felt like there was something in his gaze, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
> "Nothing, really. It's just that his eyes seemed to be saying something, or maybe I'm just reading too much into it," Lilly replied, her words leaving me speechless.
> "Where are we headed once we leave this forest, anyway?" Lilly asked, changing the subject.
Her question jogged my memory, and I realized I hadn't thought about our plans beyond escaping the pack.
Where would we go? I didn't know anyone outside of the pack's territory, and I didn't have any close friends here, having been confined to the pack house since marrying Aldrake.
I could only leave when he required my presence at certain events as the Luna.
I fell silent for a few minutes, deep in thought about where we would go. We had no destination in mind, and we didn't have any belongings or money with us.
I had deliberately left everything behind, including my wallet and phone, to avoid drawing attention to our escape plan.
If I had gone back to my room to gather my things, Aldrake would have likely noticed my absence from the hall, and our plan would have been foiled. Now, all we had was each other, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
My prolonged silence was suddenly broken by the thought of the old woman who had healed me after the battle in the forest.
I couldn't think of anywhere else to go, so I decided to consider seeking help from the old witch.
Despite feeling a sense of fear towards her due to her intimidating appearance and the fact that she was a witch, I thought it might be worth a try.
"Lilly, do you remember the way to the old witch's house who healed us?" I asked her.
> "Sorry, but I was too weak that night, so I don't recall the way to her house," Lilly replied, her answer leaving me disappointed.
Our only hope seemed to have vanished, and it looked like we'd be wandering aimlessly once we left the forest.
"Alright, let's shift forms, Lilly. We're getting close to the forest's edge, and it wouldn't be safe for you to be seen by humans," I said, trying to focus on the present moment.
After shifting back to my human form, I continued walking while keeping a watchful eye out for any potential witnesses or familiar faces.
We couldn't afford to be recognized, especially now that we'd come so far in our escape.
I didn't want to be dragged back to the pack house, and I was determined to avoid that at all costs.
After walking for about five minutes, I finally reached the road. I looked around cautiously to make sure we were clear, then turned to Lilly and asked.
"Lilly, which way should we go? Right or left?" She replied promptly, > "Let's head left for now, and then we can ask people about the old healer when we encounter some."
I nodded in agreement, and we set off in the direction she'd suggested.
"Good idea," I said, following Lilly's suggestion to head left. The road was bustling with cars, and I kept my head slightly lowered to avoid being recognized.