Katherine's POV

"What do you suggest we do?" I asked looking toward Dallas.

"Well from the meetings I had with the men before I was sold we discuss where we are going to meet. Bethany do you have any paper and something to write with?" he asked turning toward Beth.

She nodded her head. "Yeah in the bottom drawer." She said pointing to the small dresser behind him.

Dallas went over to the dresser pulling out a paper and pen. Then he started to draw what looked like a map. As he drew I began to wonder how much time I have left I know I have been gone for at least ten minutes or more. My leg began to bounce up and down trying to keep down my nerves as I thought back to Demos threat.

"Okay we are here." Dallas said pointing to the palace that was in the center of the city. "We have to meet them at the wooded area close to the border of the city. They discussed a rumor that there are people that help other people escape the city border. All we have to do is find them when we get to the woods."

"Woah. So, your telling me we have to travel that far from the palace? Dallas this is crazy. We are definitely going to get caught." I said in a panic. My nerves were wreck already about the little time I had and now this crazy plan. "Dallas, this plan seems even more crazy. The men you talked to are going off rumors. Also, there may be pack warriors on the border patrolling it."

Dallas nodded his head in agreement. "Yes I know that Katherine, that's why we are going to do this during the Winter Moon Festival that is this Saturday."

Bethany had a confused look on her face. "You want to make an escape attempt on the most chaotic day of the year. Lycans will be everywhere, Dallas." Bethany voiced her concern.

"Exactly. Everyone will be too busy to notice what we are doing. We just have to be subtle."

I began to rub my head in frustration. Dallas is making this sound all too simple when in reality it is not. "During the Winter Moon Festival I can guarantee that the palace will be loaded with guards." I said suddenly.

"Yeah, Katherine is right. I am also certain there will be an extra set of eyes on Katherine." Bethany agreed.

Dallas sat there in thought for a moment. All this sitting around is making me anxious. I really have to get back soon. "We just need a distraction."

"Yeah, but what?" Bethany asked.

"I will have to get back with you on that."

"Okay so what let's just say the first part of the plan goes smoothly. We act 'subtle' and we find a distraction to get out without anyone watching. But, have we forgotten I am one of the lucky mates of a lycan that got privileged to have a tracker in my arm. Demos will hunt me down before I can leave the palace ground." I said voicing my concern.

Bethany and Dallas just looked at me. Their expressions said it all that they did not think about that. In the middle of the silence, my nervous continued to jump all over the place Demos threat still swarming in my head. I know he will punish me, but I do not believe he would seriously hurt me. Yet, again with Demos you never know.

"Dallas, Katherine has a point." She said toward Dallas then turned toward me. "Katherine, mates of a lycan are not the only ones that have trackers...Slaves do to."

I watched Bethany rub the upper part of the arms where I am assuming she was injected at. This whole thing is becoming messier by the minute. Have these aliens actually won? Will I forever be Demos prisoner? Or will I ever see my family again?

Dallas cleared his throat and sighed running a hand through his hair. He muttered a few curses under his breath in frustration. Every turn we made in this plan making was a dead end.

The scrapping of a chair grabbed Bethany and I attention toward Dallas. we watched him pace back and forth in thought. "Okay I may have an idea, but it make the plan even more crazier." Bethany and I exchanged unsure looks toward each other. "We going to...have to take the trackers out."

My eyes widen as I looked at Dallas as if he was crazy which I am sure Bethany agrees with me.

"Okay hear me out on this. The only way we can make it out of here without them knowing our exact location is by cutting out each other's trackers." Dallas suggested.

"Dallas, we are not medically trained to cut out anything on us. What if it goes wrong?" Bethany asked with worry on her face.

"That's why we need my mother. Your aunt."

I gave him a confused look. "Why do we need your mother?"

Dallas then took his seat again and began to explain. "Before the invasion of these aliens, my mother worked as a nurse at the local hospital. If we convince her she should be able to do this."

"What if she doesn't agree?" I asked.

"Leave that to me."

I nodded my head in response. I am putting my life and trust in a strangers hand. What choice do I have? This is my chance of freedom and hopefully to be with my family again. Once I escape I am going to look for them.



We continued to discussing the plan where we are going to met when we leave the ceremony and the fact we need to cut out our trackers fast. We need to treat the wound quickly.

"I will gather the food we need for this trip." Bethany offered.

"We all need to pack light." Dallas added. "The question now is...What about our scents? I'm pretty sure Demos has yours memorized by now, Katherine"

"Well from past experience wearing someone else coat or wearing plastic can help mask your scent. That's how my dad uses to try to hide my scent."

"Maybe we can steal some coats from the other servants." Bethany suggested. "We need to find some plastic as well."

"Leave that to me." Dallas volunteered.

"If you are not back here in 30 minutes I will drag you back here and you will be punished."

Demos voice suddenly ran through my head which started my panic all over again. Who knows how much time I have left.

"Guys I have to go. Demos is going to kill me if I don't leave now." I said standing up making my way to the door.

"Wait, I will go with you." Dallas offered.

I shook my head. "No. I can't risk any of you getting caught." I began to walk away until Bethany said wait.

I turned to see Bethany holding a peach in her hand before tossing it to me. "I was going to eat it, but you need it as a good cover for your story to Master Demos." I gave her a grateful smile and left.





I was now running up the stairs as fast as I could. 'Come on Katherine almost there.' I encouraged myself still running with the bitten peach in my hand. I almost fell at one point, but managed to keep myself up.

I continued to run until I turned the corner to see Demos standing by the door of the bedroom with his arms crossed over his chest staring in my direction. My heart dropped in my stomach. Demos presents startled me. I did not expect him to be standing there waiting for me.

I watched him closely and cautiously as I made my way towards him. His eyes still gazed on me.

"W-Well, I made it back." I said as I now stood in front of him. "...within thirty minutes."

Demos just glared at me. He looked from my eye to the peach in my hand. He leaned down and put his lips to my ear. "It took you 38 minutes for a simple peach." My heart dropped once again further in my stomach. He was actually timing me? "Well since you only hunger for a peach I suggest you save that peach for tomorrow because that is the only thing you will eat tomorrow."

Demos moved away from my ear and just glared down at my guilt written face. "You will not escape from me, Katherine." He reminded me. "That's a promise." He then grabbed my arm roughly dragging me back into the room. We both got back in the bed with Demos arms around me. After a little while of just laying there in thought due to my lack of sleepiness, I looked over to see Demos fast asleep. I just looked at him with a glare and determined look on my face.

"That's where you are wrong Demos. I will escape from you and I will be reunited with my family again." I then turned back over facing the wall.



"I promise you that."