Chapter 7

• Tessa’s POV:
• All my life I’ve lived by someone else’s rule, been someone else’s prisoner, and lived a life I didn’t choose. Not anymore.
• Today I chose to have a choice, and in doing so, I chose me.
• I waited for a little while to ensure everyone must have gathered at the garden. But, secretly, to gather strength for the unknown path that lay before me.
• If my plan works, and I manage to escape the mansion, I’m not sure what will happen next. I had no idea where I was; I mean, I was literally. I had no idea how to go home, or what even awaited me outside the mansion’s gate. The only definite knowledge I had was that Lucian’s mansion was on a mountaintop.
• “How far can home possibly be? It’s not like we aren’t still in California, after all.” I tried to convince myself.
• Slowly, I walked towards the door and creaked it open just a little. Enough for me to poke out my head and scan the surrounding area. When I saw the coast was clear, I opened the door fully and headed out, straight to the door from before with the two hefty men.
• As I tiptoed down the stairs, I could hear the orchestra playing from the back of the house, where everybody must have gathered. “Wow, the house really is empty.” I mused to myself.
• I made sure I was on full alert. I didn’t see why Lucian would leave me all to myself during this period, knowing full well that I wanted so badly to escape. I was sure he must have put in traps for me, and I had to be careful not to come into them.
• My eyes were like a hawk, scanning the area for the sight of anyone. I drew closer to the door, surprisingly without anyone noticing me.
• Holy moly! I might actually be able to make my escape. If I could make it out the door, the only thing that would be standing between me and freedom was the mansion’s gate.
• “Felix, do you think she’s actually the one?” a man’s voice chatted from the opposite side of the hall as I was about to open the door. Adrenaline rushed through me, and I surprised myself with how quickly I dashed behind a telephone stand.
• “I don’t know, man, but I sure can’t wait to find out,” the second man answered, his voice tinged with excitement. “Quickly, let’s go. The ceremony is about to start, and I don’t want to miss anything.”
• They both hurried towards the garden.
• “That was a close one,” I exclaimed, calming my beating heart. I reserved my strength and confidence and started again.
• Opening the large door, I observed that, truly, nobody was at the other end. It was empty. Everyone had truly gathered at the garden.
• “I can’t believe it.”
• Still, I held back from celebrating just yet. I still had one more hurdle to pass—the mansion’s gate.
• Using the well-trimmed plants arranged across the fence as camouflage, I dragged myself up to the mansion’s gate. I skillfully crouched my figure and pounced around to the security house.
• I lifted my head up just enough that my eyes could see if someone was in there, and disappointingly, someone was.
• No! No!! No!!! Just why isn’t he in the garden like the rest of the others?
• I needed a plan, and I needed one quickly. I ransacked my brain for an idea, and one popped in my head.
• The telephone stand!
• I could call the security post from the telephone stand inside the house. But that meant I had to go back into the house. “Is this wise?”
• I shook away the doubt. It wasn’t like I had any other option available to me. “I have to take the risk.”
• Gaining a new side quest, I turned away from the security posts and back towards the mansion. I walked through the plants faster and soon arrived by the mansion’s door.
• I pushed it open and peeked inside to ascertain the area was clear. Once I was sure no one was around, I tiptoed in and went straight to the telephone table I used as cover earlier. The call logs were on the table, and I dialed the security number.
• “Security post here,” the man rang through from the other end of the line.
• I cleared my windpipe and made my voice bolder. More masculine. “Mr. Lucian has requested that everyone gather at the garden,” I announced.
• “Oh yes, I know, but I have—” I didn’t give him a chance to complete his sentence. “I would run my ass over to the garden if I were you. You know how he can be when he gets annoyed.”
• “Yes. Yes, you’re right. I’ll be on my way now.” The frightened man dropped the call.
• A cheeky smile etched on my lips. It worked successfully.
• Knowing I didn’t have much time to waste, I dashed out the door. I knew in no time they would all be expecting me to walk down the halls into the garden, and I had to have left the estate before then.
• As I scurried through the plants, I saw the security run into the house in a nervous haste. They really did fear Lucian so much. At least that worked in my favor.
• I got to the gate and entered the empty security post. I pushed the red button that had the word ‘open’ written at the bottom, and on cue, the gate drew open. I looked on in amazement.
• It was time to leave. From the corner of my eye, I could see a flat slipper that must belong to the security man. If I were going to make this journey down the hill, these red heels just wouldn’t do.
• I took off the red heel and put on the comfortable slippers, my feet fitting right in. I made my way out the open gate, and it closed behind me.
• I stood to breathe in the air first. It felt different from the one inside. It felt more free, more alive.
• I turned to face the tall black gates; they resembled bar cages that held animals behind their imposing steel. I was happy to escape it. Happy that my plans had worked.
• “I can’t stay here for long; I have to go.” My legs turned in the opposite direction of the gate. One that led down the hill.
• “Tyla, are you sure about this?” I heard my wolf voice say from inside me.
• “You can talk to me in my mind?” I asked, surprised.
• “I told you we were one,” she reminded me.
• “I’ve made up my mind, Tyla. I’m leaving this place.” I remained unwavering in my decision. Nothing was going to stop me now that I was out. Not even my wolf.
• “Alright. But do you even know your way? Do you even know who you're going to meet?” She asked me, stylishly unearthing to me that I hadn’t planned out my next move.
• I had just been thinking of how I would escape the estate. Now that I was out, I actually didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know my way home or how to navigate the hills.
• “I will figure it out as I go,” I shot out. “After all, I have someone waiting for me on the other side.”
• “Who?” Tyla asked.
• I smiled widely. “Benjamin.”