Chapter 276
Chapter 276
+25 Bonus
“What is it this time p>
“I’m going crazy cooped up in here,” I said, gesturing at the tent around us. “I need fresh air. Someplace where I can start a garden. I want free roam of the camp p>
“You know I can’t do that, Avery.” Asher said the words slowly, as if he were speaking to a child. But he smiled faintly. “However, I will allow you to roam with a guard. In fact, I’ll give you a tour right now myself. Get dressed and meet me outside p>
I stared after him as he left, jaw tight. Well, that wasn’t what I wanted. I’d hoped to use it as an opportunity to get away. But I supposed a tour wouldn’t hurt; at least it would help me get my bearings.
I quickly put on a dress that had been brought for me, a simple linen piece that was actually quite comfortable. Once I’d combed my hair and cleaned the dirt from my face and hands, I met Asher outside.
He looped his elbow through mine. “You look beautiful, poppet p>
I resisted the urge to sneer. “Thanks p>
Asher guided me around the camp. People stared, but with him by my side, none of the males bothered me. Not that I would have noticed, anyway. I was too busy making a mental map of everything I saw. Every alleyway, every guardpost, every gate.
The
camp was haphazard, but there was actually more of a controlled chaos to it than I’d first thought. The pathways spiderwebbed outwards in circles, with straight -ish main roads leading to three separate gates.
Every gate was manned by at least one guard at all times. They stood on makeshift towers, allowing them to see pretty much everything. There were constant patrols in the streets, too.
If I was going to escape, it would certainly have to be under the cover of nightfall. I wondered if I could time it between shift rotations. If I found an opportunity to remove the silver ring, and if I got my strength up beforehand, I could shift and run.
But then what, I wondered? I didn’t know this forest. I had already gotten caught just by Asher and one guard when I’d tried to run before.
I would have to get a head start. Maybe set up some kind of distraction, or prepare a decoy in my tent. Perhaps speed wasn’t the move here, but rather strategy.
1/2
4758 p>
“This is where the slaves are kept,” Asher said, pausing in front of what honestly looked like a kennel, Rogues in chains were kneeling in cages, some moving around the area in the midst of various chores, I swallowed hard at the sight, and Asher glanced at me.
“Don’t pity them,” he said, chuckling, “They’re only here because they misbehaved, Those who behave well will eventually be released as Omegas. I’m not that cruel p>
“Right,” I muttered, not believing him at all Strangely, I didn’t see Deirdre amongst the slaves, “Where’s Deirdre?” I asked.
“Gone,” Asher replied curtly,
1 looked at him, opening my mouth to ask what he meant, but he guided me away from the kennels before I could speak. We passed by the hunters next, who were practicing their archery against dummies filled with straw.
“That Alpha’s scent was strong yesterday,” overheard one of them saying as he nocked an arrow. “Made my eyes water p>
“They do stink, don’t they?” another hunter replied, “Like a sneeze building up p>
The hunter laughed and loosed his arrow. It slammed into the dummy with a resounding thwack, I was frozen to my spot.
An Alpha’s scent.
“Avery?” Asher tugged on my arm. “You’re not sick again, are you p>
1 whirled on him. “An Alpha was here p>
His shoulders sagged. “Ah. So you heard.” His expression softened. “Yes. Gideon was here last night. He came to the camp while you were sleeping p>
My stomach dropped, Gideon was here? I didn’t sense him, but… Had he come for me?
“He came for Deirdre,” Asher went on. “Came to pick her up last night. They’re both gone now p>
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