Riley POV
Just like she promised, Stacey smuggled a dress and accessories downstairs to me, while I gaped at her. The dress was stunning, a white strapless gown with a sequined waist that flowed to my mid-thighs. There was a zipper down the side. It was almost bridal and she had included shimmery ballet flats so that I could walk with ease. There was a matching mask as well. "About that hair" she began looking at me intently.
But I was through hiding. I was through being less than what I was. I was through being the victim. I had thought long and hard about this. About constantly accepting the abuse, of accepting what life threw at me and never fighting back. Of always being the one who had to bear with the punches and never take a stand. That ended now. It ended today.
"The hair stays," I said quietly "Because while I appreciate the effort that you have gone to, truly, I will not be going to the party as you intended for me. I'm sorry."
I apologized, sincerely as she looked at me confused. But my voice was steady and there was a hint of fire in my voice that had not been there before. She looked at me closely, sensing there was more to it than that.
"You're not planning on staying here though are you?" she asked softly "You're not going to stay in a cell anymore like an animal trapped in a cage?"
I smiled at her softly as I put the shoes on and turned to her. "I had time to think," I said quietly "and I don't want to remain here on my mate's whim while he does whatever he wants. I've been an idiot to think he's ever going to accept me. To think he'll ever love me when all he does is fear me. I've spent so long being hurt and being somebody's punching bag that it's all I know" I whispered as she looked at me with sympathy "but I don't want that for me anymore."
"So what is your plan?" she asked softly "at this moment the omegas are setting up for the party outside. Guests are going to be arriving within the hour and soon the grounds will be flooded with both pack members and guests from other packs."
I met her eyes "That's what makes it so perfect" I said cocking my head "there will be so many people mingling about that he won't have time to think about me or even see me if I begin to enter the crowd. I should be able to slip through and go straight towards the forest."
She raised a brow "You intend to leave for good? But where will you go? I'm told you have no family" she said softly.
"I don't, although my brother has apparently made a run for it" I answered nonchalantly "but if I stay here, I risk losing who I am, everything I'm capable of doing for the sake of a man and that's not right. At the very core of it, if you take away the fact that I'm a siren what is left?" I asked her, my voice filled with desperation.
She blinked, not expecting such a question. She looked at me hesitantly. Almost as though she didn't know quite how to answer.
"A girl," I said softly as understanding dawned "a teenage girl who wants what every other girl her age dreams of. Love, family, marriage. I want to know what it's like to be cared for and showed affection. I want to have romantic walks on the beach and watch the sunset with somebody I love. I want all that sentimental crap" I laughed through the tears that threatened to fall "I want everything that has been denied me up till now. I want a life that isn't revolved around an arrogant shifter too big for his britches."
Stacey's eyes were shimmering "Love is precious," she told me looking nostalgic "it's something that can't be faked or forced. When you experience it, it's like something out of this world and you can't live without it. If you ever find somebody that loves you for who you are, embrace them with both hands and never let them go" she said sadly "you never know just how much time you have with them."
I could see the look of pain in her eyes and heard the longing in her voice. She was remembering and she was hurting. I felt nothing but grief for her.
"You don't have to do this. I don't want you to get the blame" I said, looking at her fretfully.
She shook her head. "Nobody saw me sneak down here, nobody will see me leave. I wanted to see you one more time and it turns out it might be the last time. You are something else Riley" she laughed softly, "and your path is going to take you somewhere you didn't envision. I don't envy Alpha Jaxon when he discovers you are missing and not waiting around for him to make a poor decision. I wish you the best of luck" she told me solemnly "and you should head south, away from where the supposedly feral alpha is. You don't want to be torn limb from limb" she said evenly.
"No" I agreed "but I don't fear a feral shifter anymore, I fear the wrath of a mate when he realizes I'm gone and there's nothing he can do about it."
She smiled and then hugged me softly. "Good luck Riley and may you find the happiness that you deserve."
"Goodbye Stacey" I whispered past the lump in my throat as I hugged her back "I appreciate everything you've done for me."
"If it goes pear-shaped" she paused and pulled back, her eyes narrowing "you sing for your life siren girl. Use the powers that the moon goddess saw fit to gift you. Your mate won't be affected, but the others will be. It should be enough to get you out," she said softly "god speed and good luck little Siren girl."
She let go of me and turned, heading towards the stairs as I watched regretfully. I would have liked to have spent more time getting to know her and her friends but I had already made up my mind. For once I had resolve. I was focussed and my own interests were at the forefront of my mind. I was putting myself first, instead of leaving myself at somebody's mercy. I put the mask on and smoothed the feathers that were on the edges of the mask, feeling how soft they were. Stacey had put a lot of effort into the mask and I wondered why. Had she thought maybe I would change my mind or had she wanted me to stand out from the crowd? Knowing Stacey it would have been the latter.
I had time to spare. The party was still being set up. The omegas would still be rushing to and fro and it would be chaotic. I needed to wait until most of the guests had arrived before I could even attempt to leave my cell. I sighed. More time to wait, more boredom. At least I was the only one in the dungeon, I consoled myself. I knew that everybody would be too busy to come down and see me. Stacy had brought me food but I didn't dare eat in case I spilled food on the dress. I wasn't hungry, I was more nervous than anything. I needed tonight to go smoothly. I needed to head straight towards the border and keep running. I knew Alpha Jaxon would feel me pass the boundary line. I shivered even though it was warm in the dungeon and musky.
"I cannot say that I'm going to miss this place" I murmured, touching the hard stone of the walls with my fingers.
It still felt strange to have my voice back. I touched my throat and felt it seize up. I shook my head. All those years of not having a voice and now I had one and could barely use it still. The irony was not lost on me. I sat on the mattress, curling my legs up beneath me. I had patience. Plenty of it. I glanced up towards the ceiling, listening intently to the sounds of the omegas as they moved about in the pack house, heard the clanking sounds of silverware and glasses as they transported them and smiled slowly. Now, it was just a matter of time. I sang and the cell door shut, leaving me confined, but not for long. Freedom was within my grasp and only an hour or so away. I could feel the music gathering in my ears and in my mind as I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the eeriness of the voice that begged to be let free once again.