Chapter 124

Cassie

I stared at her with my mouth open. And for a second I couldn't believe she was right there in front of me.  She seemed like an illusion because for the life of me I couldn't work out how she was here.

Like how?

"How-what?" I stuttered and for a second she smiled. I couldn't even be sure she was real and not some figment of my scared imagination. "Are you even real?" I whispered.

To answer she reached out and pinched the skin on my forearm. "Oww." I howled. "That hurt." Keeping my eyes on her I rubbed at the offending spot.

"Ssh." Her eyes widened as she looked over my shoulder to the dark secret corridor behind me. "Follow me Cassie. Quickly and quietly. Let's get you out all out of here."

I wanted that more that anything but something in me balked. Twisting I looked back over my shoulder. "But Julian and Ian." I shivered suddenly freezing cold. "We got seperated somehow. I don't know how. They were right behind me. I thought I had taken a wrong turn but if you are here then-" I trailed off.

"You didn't. And you cant worry about them right now Cassie. Both of them are strong powerful alphas. They can find there own way out. But we don't have time for this. I have a car waiting but we need to move now."

I didn't move.

"Move Cassie, otherwise you and those babies on your back will die in here. Is that what you want?" Her voice was rough.

"No it's not what I want. I'll come." I sighed heavily. Really I had no choice. I had to go. Scarlett was right about the alternative. Just like she was right about Julian and Ian. They would find their own way out. They had to. Following after her silently I screwed my face up and fought back the urge to cry and scream. I had always prided myself on being strong but the things I had seen and gone through over the last few weeks had been more than I could bear.  I wanted to break down now. I needed to but I knew I had to be strong just a little while longer.

Shuddering in the sudden cold air I peered over her shoulder. The breeze was fresh and it felt amazing on my skin. We were close to outside now.

"What are you doing here Scarlett?" I hurried after her. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because we are friends." She sped up and I had to speed up to keep up with her. She seemed to be on a schedule I knew nothing about.

"But you are risking your life and your pack for me? If Duncan finds you." I trailed off as we stepped out of what looked like a cave mouth in the copse of trees. The cold night air blew across my face and I lifted my face and closed my eyes.

It felt so good. So fresh and clean-  no. Not clean. My eyes snapped open and I looked around. The air felt good on my face that was for sure but it didn't smell fresh. It smelt like death and decay.

"Scarlett." I hissed , wrapping my arms around myself. I had begged for weeks to be let out of those rooms and passageways and now I was free I wanted to be back in them. They were safe. Out here stank of death. We were not safe here.

"Just leave it Cassie. Right now please just leave it." Scarlett's voice was ragged with sudden emotion. I watched as she hunched over on herself. She seemed to shrink.

"We don't have much time. I've got us a lift but it leaves in five minutes." She peered at me from beneath her lashes. "Can you run?"

I wanted to shake my head and tell her no but I knew I didn't really have a choice. This was about survival. So if I needed to sprint then I would.  I nodded. "I wish you would tell me what's happened-"

"Let's worry about that later. Let's get you and those babies somewhere safe and warm. I'm guessing you could do with a bath." She wrinkled her nose. "You smell like you could use a bath." She giggle and began to move forward. Running fast but not too fast and keeping low she kept in the tree line. Racing after her, I was out of breath is seconds. My lungs burnt with exertion but I didn't slow.

Once I was somewhere safe then I would have to work on my fitness again.

Over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears I heard something new. A rumble of an engine. "Scarlett." I called to her urgently. My body shook and it was mostly from fear.

Where we about to be caught? Right now? When we had been so close to escaping. So close that I could smell it.

Scarlett turned to me with a small smile. "That's our ride." She beamed at me. "Stay behind me whilst I talk to the driver though, ok?"

I nodded, staying in the shadows as she stepped into the road and right into the path of the truck that was barreling down the road towards her at what looked like full speed.

Scarlett didn't even flinch as the breaks slammed on and it came to a stop with just inches to spare. She moved around it to chat to the driver. Their voices whispers so I couldn't hear what they were saying.

"Come on." Scarlett motioned me forward as the driver jumped down from the cab. "I was hoping it would be a food truck but afraid not." Scarlett shrugged. "Should be pretty comfortable though." She lead the way to the back of the truck and swung open the door. I peered inside and my frown turned into a small smile.

The back was full of washing. Dirty laundry clearly but I couldn't judge and it all smelt a damn sight better than I did. I could even see some blankets. It was all piled up like a giant nest that I could just snuggle into and close my eyes.

"I can't thank you enough Scarlett." I whispered.

Her usually friendly eyes turned almost angry. "I'm not doing this for you Cassie. Not really." She turned and looked back at the wall that was barely visible in the distance.

Squinting I frowned. The outer wall looked wrong. There were lumps on it that shouldn't have been there because the palace garden walls were smooth. I knew it was smooth. So what-?

Vomit rushed up my throat. "Scarlett?"

She shook her head and turned away. Her eyes glistening with tears. "Don't Cassie." She hissed as she scrambled up and reached down to help me. I gave the wall one last look and climbed up beside her.

I knew why Scarlett had risked her life to help me a second time. She wanted revenge on the man who had put her mate on that wall of death.

And I was the best chance she had for revenge.