Page 9 of Cursed By Fate

I smiled weakly and nodded again, feeling the warmth of her confidence seep into me like medicine. We both knew that it would take more than a promise to break me out, but it was a good start. If nothing else, I’d have an ally, and with that ally, I could get the hell out of here. My determination came rushing back, strong and fast, sweeping away my doubts.

Lila spent the rest of the day with me, making me laugh so much I couldn’t help but feel a little better. She stayed until it was nearly dark, and when she was sure I wouldn’t do anything reckless or stupid, she finally left to join the rest of the pack. I watched the sky get darker and darker until it was black and filled with stars.

And there I was, stuck in my room like a kid on timeout, afraid I’d never leave it. That I would let my father get the best of me and keep me here with his veiled threats and guilt.

That I’d be trapped forever.

I lay down and closed my eyes, forcing myself to sleep.

I twirled a lock of my hair as the memory faded, replaced by the present. The starkness of my new cell pressed in on me from all sides. It was cold and bare and exactly what I expected when they locked me up. My mark burned more sharply here, an ache that pulsed in sync with the mountain’s silence. I didn’t knowwhy. But something in this place—something buried deep—was reaching for me.

The walls felt like they were inching in, daring me to last a single day. I knew my father would love to see how long it took before I caved, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. This was my life, and he had no say in it. I was getting out of here. I just had to make a plan.

I finally stopped pacing and took a long breath. The stone beneath my feet wasn’t just cold—it was alive. There was a hum in the walls, so faint I thought I imagined it. Like the mountain was breathing around me, aware that I didn’t belong. My father was right about one thing. I was marked, but not the way he wanted me to think. I wasn’t going to let his warnings hold me back any longer. I had to escape and find the truth. No matter what he said, no matter how dangerous he claimed the outside world was, I would do it. Was he even looking for me anyway? Probably not. I wasn’t a prisoner or a child. I was strong and defiant and ready to face anything that came my way. I closed my eyes, steadying myself. I was going to get out, and I was going to break this curse if it killed me.

My wolf didn’t like this place. It stayed close to the surface, ears pinned, eyes scanning every crack in the stone. Not afraid. Just… alert. As if it knew something I didn’t.

The door opened, and a young Stormvale wolf slinked inside like a secret. I stopped pacing and stared at him, sensing both his sympathy and unease. He was too young to understand what this place was doing to me, but he was old enough to know I didn't belong here. I could work with that. If I played my cards right, I could be out and halfway to freedom before anyone noticed I was gone. “What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice as smooth and steady as I could manage.

He shifted on his feet, unsure if he should speak or run.

I didn't give him the chance to decide. “Do you like being your pack's errand boy? A lapdog for Tristan?” I tilted my head and smiled, hoping to crack his resolve.

The young wolf’s cheeks reddened, and he looked away. “I came to see if you needed anything,” he mumbled.

I held back a laugh. “How thoughtful. You could try setting me free. That might help.”

He glanced at the door, then back at me, torn between his loyalty and the allure of rebellion.

“They’ll send you away if they catch you in here,” I said, my voice dipping low. “You’ll end up just like me. A stranger to the pack, locked out, unwanted.”

The words landed like stones. I watched him squirm.

“But,” I said, drawing it out to reel him back in, “I could owe you one. A big one. That might be worth it, don’t you think?”

His eyes darted around the room, looking everywhere but at me. “What kind of favor?” he asked, barely above a whisper.

“The kind that gets you out of trouble,” I said, throwing him a lifeline. “A favor from me could come in handy when things start going bad.” I let him stew on that for a few beats, watching the gears turn in his head. He was getting close, I could see it. “So what’s it going to be?” I asked.

He swallowed hard, and his voice cracked when he spoke. “They’ll notice,” he said. “The guards.”

I waved a hand in the air like I didn’t care. “They’ve got bigger things to worry about. The wolves are out for blood.” I saw his eyes go wide, and I smiled to myself. Maybe he wasn’t so hard to convince after all. “Besides, they think I’m weak,” I said, playing my last card. “I won’t last long out there, right?”

He stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. He didn’t want to admit that he was falling for it, but he couldn’t help himself.

“You’re smarter than they think,” I said, sweetening the deal as much as I could. “Do you want to be the kid who sets me free, or the one who never even tried?”

His mouth tightened into a hard line, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll do it,” he said, like he was betraying the whole pack by even saying it. “But you better keep your promise.”

“I’m good for it,” I said, flashing a grin that I hoped would calm him down.

The young wolf approached my cell and pulled out a ring of keys, hands trembling with nerves.

I kept my eye on the door, ready to put him in front of me as a shield if anyone caught us.

He tried a few keys before finding the right one. It slid into the lock, and a tremor skittered under my bare feet—not an earthquake, not quite. More like the mountain itself exhaled, aware of the defiance unfolding in its belly. Maybe it didn’t like traitors. Maybe it didn’t like me. With a soft click of the lock, my heart raced as I heard the bolt turn. I was closer than I thought. He opened the door just enough for me to slip out, and I caught his eye as I walked past. “Don’t look so guilty,” I said. “They’ll suspect you in a heartbeat.”

He nodded, worry etched into his young face. He looked so young—too young to be playing at betrayal. For half a heartbeat, guilt coiled in my gut. But I buried it. This was survival, not kindness. I left him standing there, ducking into the shadows before he could change his mind.

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