The Gift chronicles novel Chapter 1

Book 1 Chapter 23

I laid down for two hours, waiting for the ceremony to start so I could begin escaping. An hour ago, I heard the last guard leave and the prison was completely empty, not a soul in the building.

I was surprised he really let all of the guards off duty for the night. The Blood Moon must really be important to this pack. I realized I didn't know much about their history, I just knew that Blood Lake was extremely old—fashioned and connected to the Moon Goddess through following old traditions. The Red Crescent pack, my former pack, was much more modernized and although had certain traditions, we did not take them as seriously as Blood Lake.

I got off of the hard ground and readjusted my cloak and pulled my mask on. I summoned a saw, and was pleased that I was able to, despite the fact that I felt weakened by the Wolfsbane.

I sawed the chains as close to my ankles as I could, but knew I wouldn't be able to get the shackles completely off. They were too close to my ankles to saw, and I didn't want to risk having to escape without my feet.

After my legs were freed, I moved to the cell bars and began sawing. This proved to be a more difficult task than I foresaw, and I had to saw for about thirty minutes before there was a hole big enough for me to climb through.

After I exited my cell, I cautiously walked through the prison, waiting for a guard to appear. To my surprise, Alpha Cain really had let everyone go to the Blood Moon ceremony. It really must be a bigger deal than I thought, and it made my interest pique further.

I opened the prison door and was greeted with harsh winds. I looked up at the cloudy sky for the first time in a month, breathing in the fresh air deeply. I relished in the feeling of my bare feet against the soft grass. I wasn't given shoes while I was imprisoned, only clean clothes once a day, the same pair of black leggings and a black t—shirt.

I looked around wildly, waiting for someone to jump out, but I couldn't sense people anywhere near my vicinity. Far in the distance, I heard drums beating loudly, and I assumed that's where the celebration was occurring.

I ran in the opposite directions of the sound, despite the fact that the music was calling directly to my wolf, urging her to come towards the sound.

I continued running in the forrest for hours, elated that I had escaped. I had a feeling that Alpha Cain wouldn't find me so quickly like he had the other times.

My feeling was confirmed when it began pouring rain. The rain meant he wouldn't be able to track my scent.

Laughing wildly, feeling free for the first time, I opened my arms up to the sky, thanking the Blood Moon for its occurrence

I let the rain wash away the dirt and dried blood that had accumulated over a month, and I felt happiness for the first time in years.

I kept moving through the woods until I came across a cave, which I took shelter in.

I summoned 5 wooden stakes and rubbed them together to create fire, since the twigs outside were too wear from the rain to be lit aflame.

I took off my clothes and let them dry by the fire, and I fell asleep, utterly peaceful.

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When I woke up in the morning, the fire was now in ashes, and my clothes were dried. I got dressed and headed out of the cave. The sky was still stormy, but it didn't smell like it would be raining anytime soon.

I continued to move deeper in the forrest. My best chance at eluding the Alpha would be to either stay on the run forever as a Rogue or seek refuge in a foreign pack. I could prove myself useful as a pack warrior, and they likely would let me join their pack as long as I would fight for them.