Rejected by my cursed mate

ia'

ng my escape t

ssion carefully neutral in case anyone was watching. The moment m

you need," s

loak." I ticked items off on my fingers. "Money, if you

. She had already been thinking about this. "But Daria, it's dan

s." I interrupted. "At least o

but she nodded. "I

ree days, Mira b

. A water skin from the kitchens, tucked under her apron. Dried meat wrapped in cloth from

aying the part of the quiet, obedient ome

gates stopped watching me so closely. Even the maids

s per

lt. He made no effort to see me so our paths never

ter sunset. Her face was pale and her hands were shak

this?"

rs." Her voice cracked. "It's not m

I can't

yes hard despite the tears. "Promise me you'll survive.

spilled over.

t held each other. Two omegas who had been dealt the worst h

o?" she whispere

on will be dark so no l

s distracted. There's a celebration in the main hall

everything she had done, everything she w

nds one last time, then slip

est of that n

e window, watching the stars,

o my unborn child. "I won't let him hurt

°°°

ived too quickly and

n't catch on branches, sturdy boots meant for traveling. I strapped

ghter and music. The celebration was

was m

pushed it open, cool night air rushed i

le drop, but far enough to be dangerous. Far

tain death. And jum

so hard I thought it might burst from my ches

old myself. "Every

hat, I

, jarring my bones. I rolled instinctively, the way I h

s broken o

y stomach. "Pleas

no pain. No cramping. Just my racing he

the G

te another s

line at the edge of the estate. Every shadow made my

uted. No one r

swallowed

°°°

y

ke a deer trail winding through dense undergrowth. Branches caug

f the other. Away from the Blood Pact.

s from the mansion. My legs burned

forced myself to eat some of the dried meat even thoug

t wal

°°°

y

were already

ther day. The bread was gone and I had been surviving on berries I found

ers had formed on my feet. My m

have discovered I was gone by no

ay as possible before

°°°

Th

as

s. I had tried to follow the stream, thinking it would lead me somewh

in. The dried meat was gone. I had

were the berr

ch as I walked. The baby.

" I whispered. "I promise

°°°

y

barely

My vision blurred at the edges. Every step was ag

g. Because stopp

checking what kind they were. At this point, it didn't ma

and colder today. Like it

lent days ago. Too

s al

°°°

y

nymore as my legs

was on my knees in the dirt. The world tilted

ded w

ound of a stream. It was so cl

raw

to my sweat-soaked face. Thorns tore at my palms. But

view with clear and beautiful

for it, my

my outstretched hand just inches from

irt and blood. "I'm sorry," I whispered to my

forest sounds faded, birds, wind, w

ot at Lucius's hands, but out here in

ow pain. Never know what it fel

hey were distant and muffl

her by the

rely a

th chi

eyelids were too heavy. Triedto

, then everythin