Esther’s POV
The morning air carried the sharp bite of change.
For weeks I had thought of nothing but escape. I traced the map of the packlands in my head every night, memorizing routes, rivers, and the shadowed trails that cut through the woods. I rehearsed excuses for slipping away, replayed every possible scenario until I could breathe it like muscle memory.
Now the opportunity had finally come.
The Blood Moon Pack had broken ground on a new hospital. It was a massive construction site that demanded manpower more than skill. The pack was in desperate need of more hands to help.
Nicholas had ordered every male omega from the palace to report for duty. The corridors, usually crowded with their footsteps, were suddenly quiet.
It was the kind of gap in vigilance I knew would not come
