Escaping Wildfire
Chapter 27: Step Four

Gema

After Jade’s visit, I walked back with her to talk to Jasmine, and we were able to convince her to take a few bites of food. Jade and I sat and talked about our day, and even though Jasmine didn’t say anything, she let me sit on the bed with her. I told them about Rory, and we discussed what Larkin, Jade, and I had talked about earlier. Jasmine seemed to perk up at the thought of being back with Jordan. “Larkin said his plan should work, but we really need your help, Jasmine.”

“I know, it’s just been so hard these last couple of weeks, and I hate having to train with this pack. All I can think is that these are the people who killed my parents. I don’t want to be forced to fight for them.” Angry tears flowed down her cheeks as she talked. “I’ll follow the plan though, I can do it. I’ll do anything if it gets us all out of here.”

“It’s just you two and the twins for now, but the more people we get out, the better the rest of our chances will be.”

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow after training then.”

I nodded and hugged both girls before heading back to my room. I had let Jasmine in on everything that had happened with Nora, and it seemed to put her in a better mood. She even smiled for the first time in weeks.

The next morning, I woke up feeling happier than I had in a while. Rory was still in my room, and Larkin had slept in the room with her to make sure she was okay during the night. She woke up with most of the swelling gone on her face, but she still had some bruising around her torso. The doctor checked on her and told us her wolf had used a lot of energy yesterday and was healing more slowly than usual but that she should be better by tomorrow.

I kept Rory company that morning as Larkin did some of his work around the pack. I had the pup training session after lunch, so I changed into some workout clothes and waited for Larkin to arrive to sit with Rory.

I rummaged through my closet and found the red dress I was looking for, the one I had worn to my first dinner with Alpha Marek. I glanced at it one more time. In another world, I might have liked this dress, but in this world, I hated it and everything it represented. I pulled on it as hard as I could, tearing the fabric in half. It felt good to destroy the dress, and I laughed to myself as I clutched the dress in one hand and marched downstairs to the dining hall, giving both Larkin and Rory a small nod before heading out.

I saw Jasmine and Jade sitting at a table with the twins. Most of the pack members had lunch at the packhouse, so the room was fairly packed with people eating and minding their own business. I took a deep breath and marched up to Jasmine, and when I reached their table, I roughly turned her body to face me.

“You bitch!” I yelled loudly and threw my torn dress at her face. “What gives you the right to go into my room and destroy my things?”

Jasmine shoved her chair back and cocked her head as she placed her hand on her hip. “You mean this trashy dress you just threw at me? I did you a favor, now you can get something more decent to wear.” She kicked the dress in my direction.

“You’ve always had it out for me. I’m just glad you finally decided to show your true colors.” I placed my hand on my hip as well, mimicking Jasmine’s posture in a show of dominance. “You pathetic, little pup…” I shook my head slowly as I narrowed my eyes at her. “You’ve always been jealous of me, and now that your mom and dad aren’t here to hand you everything on a silver platter you think lashing out at me is going to help? That won’t bring them back, Jasmine.”

“Oh, I’m the pathetic one? My parents might be dead, but at least they aren’t traitors like yours.”

“You think your words hurt me? At least I’m not wasting my life away in bed like you are.” I lowered my voice, putting every ounce of rage I could into the words. Jasmine’s eyes widened, and I saw her eyes start to water as my words cut through her.

“You slut.” I could hear the hurt in her tone, and the room around us got more quiet as the others strained to hear what we said to each other. “At least I have enough pride in myself to not fawn all over this pack and their Alpha. You walked around our pack like you owned it, always throwing yourself at my brother. I’m surprised you didn’t stoop so low as to actually beg him to make you his Luna. Luckily, he was smart enough not to fall for your games.”

“You’re just upset that Larkin’s going to be my mate and not yours.” I widened my eyes at her and got in her face as Amora growled.

She shoved me hard with both hands, and I stumbled back nearly tripping on the dress still on the ground. My anger surged, and I shoved her back hard enough to where she fell as she stumbled back. Jade rushed over to Jasmine’s side, and I was about to say more when I heard Alpha Marek’s loud voice sound out. “What is going on here!? Gema, in my office, now.”

“Yes, Alpha.” I narrowed my eyes in anger at Jasmine and Jade who were both still on the ground and left the dining hall seething. I noticed that everyone else in the room had been watching the interaction between me and Jasmine but looked away when Alpha Marek walked into the room. I was certain our fight would be the talk of the pack for the rest of the day.

Once we reached his office, Alpha Marek shut the door behind me and went over to sit at his desk as he gestured for me to take one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“Care to tell me what exactly that little performance was all about?”

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, “She went into my room, got one of my dresses, and tore it in half.”

“I thought the two of you were friends, did something happen between the two of you?”

“We’ve never been friends, we were just two ranked daughters forced to spend time with each other. She’s always hated me.”

“And, let me guess, you’ve always hated her back?”

“Something like that.” My usual submissive demeanor around Alpha Marek was gone today as I felt all of the anger I had pent up over my time here boil out.

Alpha Marek looked around his office, seemingly contemplating his next move.

“You’ve been adjusting well these last few weeks. Beta Griffin says the pups have improved since you took over their training. I have no issues with you. Your friend...or not friend, on the other hand, has been a disappointment. She’s weak for an alpha’s daughter…” He rubbed at his chin. “Without Nora here, you’ll need a new maid to help you. How about we make her your new maid?”

I scoffed, “Are you serious? I can barely stand to look at her right now, and you want to have her with me every day? She can’t even do hair and makeup like Nora could.” I folded my arms over my chest again. “I’d be better off if you just made her a rogue,” I mumbled that last part under my breath, but he still heard.

“A rogue?” He narrowed his eyes contemplating my words. “I can make her a rogue, but I would need something in return from you.”

“My eyes widened at him. “What would you need?” I could feel my heart beating quickly in my chest, and I was certain he could hear it.

“Move up your mating ceremony…or wedding, whatever you want to call it.” He waved his hand, “Move it up to next month and both you and Larkin must mark each other.”

I looked away as if thinking about my decision, “What if Larkin doesn’t agree?”

“Leave that to me.”

“Make them rogues, Jasmine, her sister, and the twins. I want them all gone, and you have yourself a deal.”

“You’re more ruthless than I gave you credit for. All of them? None of them have wolves, are you sure?”

“I’m certain, it’s the only way I can move on from my last pack and start new here.” I nodded firmly to punctuate my point, not moving my eyes away from Alpha Marek's.

“We have a deal then. They’ll be gone by nightfall.”

“I’d like to be there when you inform them.”

“Perfect, meet me at the training grounds after dinner. We’ll let them have one last good meal before cutting them loose.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” I stood back up, trying not to smile too broadly as I walked out of the room. As soon as I was out of earshot, I rushed to my room. Larkin and Rory were in the bedroom, finishing up their lunch, and I filled them in on what had just transpired with their father. Larkin’s heart rate spiked a bit when I told him we’d have to move up the wedding, but he quickly recovered and both he and Rory sat in as I called my brother. Cristian told me about his past two days at Brown Claw and agreed to help with the next step in my plan to escape. He was two hours ahead right now, but he said he’d text me sometime tonight.

Dinner time came, and I ate in my room with Rory as I felt nervous and didn’t want to risk seeing Jasmine again before we met with Alpha Marek. When the time came, Rory still wasn’t up for leaving the room but said she would be okay on her own for a while. Larkin and I went down together, and I saw Alpha Marek and Beta Griffin were already on the field with Jasmine, Jade, and the boys.

“What’s this all about?” Jasmine spoke up as she saw me arrive, staring daggers my way. “Am I being punished for what happened earlier when she's the one who started it?” Jasmine pointed at me.

“My sister’s right, Gema came at her, not the other way around,” Jade spoke up, bravely defending her sister.

“Gema will be our next Luna, so it doesn’t matter who did or said what first. She’s been loyal to Wildfire, unlike you.” He glared at Jasmine. “Don’t think I don’t know about how you talk back to the trainers and hole up in your room. I wanted to make you an omega, but Gema here feels you’d fare better as rogues… and I don’t disagree. You have one hour to get off my pack lands. I sever all ties with the four of you and declare you packless.”

As none of them had wolves the breaking of the pack ties didn't hurt yet. “What? No, you can’t do that. We don’t even have our wolves yet. We'll die out there.” Jasmine spoke up, but Jade and the twins stayed quiet, shocked at what the alpha had directed.

“Keep talking, and I’ll make it 30 minutes. Now go, pack your things and Beta Griffin can guide you off the territory.”

Jasmine and Jade both started crying, but Jasmine gave me one last hateful look before turning away. I just gave her a slight nod, hoping no one noticed. I felt like crying too as I didn’t know when I would next see them, but I reigned in my emotions and focused on my anger instead.

“Thank you, Alpha.” I stormed off and headed back to my room. I watched from my window, waiting for Jasmine and the others to head off territory. Beta Griffin and one of the warriors walked them into the forest and both returned by themselves a few minutes later.

I went into the closet and pulled out my phone to text my brother. Now, all I could do was wait. Rory had moved to the couch now and was attempting to distract me by putting on a movie. She had snacks brought up to us, but I had a hard time focusing on the screen.

Around 11 pm, I finally received a text from my brother. We have them, they’re safe. I breathed a sigh of relief, and I started crying and laughing at the same time with how happy I was. I turned to Rory who was giving me an odd look as I celebrated. “Is it your brother?”

“Yes, they made it! They’re safe.” Another step in my plan to escape Wildfire was now complete.