Free Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimée Carter

last opened a door to find a dingy stairwell. Fluorescent lights flickered above the concrete steps, and he swung his backpack over his shoulder as he closed the door behind him and then bolted down the stairway. Twice he tripped, but he caught himself before he barreled headfirst down to the landing below. After that he took the steps more cautiously, straining his ears for any sign that Orion was following him. But as far as Simon could tell, he was alone. It was almost too easy, but he couldn’t afford to think about that right now. He had to get out of there and find his mother—that was all that mattered.
    Forty floors later, he reached the ground level and peeked through the doorway. The elevators were only a few feet away, and beyond them, a security guard sat at the front desk. Simon looked around, but he didn’t see any other way out. Sneaking past the desk wouldn’t work; the guard would see him in the open lobby. That left him with only one choice.
    Gathering his courage, Simon walked toward the exit with as much confidence as he could muster. He was Orion’s grandson. That had to count for something, and if the guard asked—
    â€œFifteen minutes. I expected better from you, Simon Thorn. You’re a disgrace to seasoned runaways everywhere.”
    Simon stopped. Lounging in a plush armchair near the door was Winter, book in hand. She didn’t bother looking up.
    â€œYou can’t stop me,” he said. “I’m leaving.”
    â€œYou see that guard?” she said, nodding to the tall man behind the desk, who watched them out of the corner of his eye. “And the doorman who looks like he wrestles bears for fun? They’re not going to let you set foot outside Sky Tower. Even if you did manage to make it past them, there are a hundred rats swarming the sidewalk outside. You won’t get to the end of the block.”
    Simon glanced through the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the street. Just as Winter had said, the rats were back, and so were the pigeons. They weren’t fighting alone this time though—a swarm of robins and sparrows had joined them, doubling the bird kingdom’s numbers in their attempt to defend their territory. His throat went dry. There was no way he would be able to get past all of them.
    â€œThere has to be another way out of here, one the rats don’t know about,” he said, his voice cracking with desperation.
    Winter shrugged and climbed to her feet. “Wait until you grow wings, and then fly away. The rats won’t be able to touch you.”
    â€œThat could take years,” said Simon. “Please, Winter. If it was your mother, wouldn’t you—”
    â€œMy mother’s dead, too.”
    Simon’s heart sank. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œDon’t be sorry. Be smart. You’re not going to get around the Alpha’s guards, and she’s been trying to end Orion’s line for ages. Even if Orion’s right and your mother’s still alive, the Alpha won’t give her back just because you asked nicely.”
    â€œI have to try. I can’t let my mother die if there’s anything I can do about it.”
    â€œAnd what if there isn’t?”
    Simon opened and shut his mouth. What then? “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. I have to try, Winter. She’s my family. Would you sit here locked in a tower if she had taken Orion instead?”
    Now it was her turn to hesitate, and she looked out the window again. “There are only so many places in the city where the Alpha would keep her, and Orion’s already scouting them out. If he can’t save her—”
    â€œThe Alpha has to know he’s going after her,” said Simon, his mind racing. “But she won’t expect me to try, too. She’ll be ready for him, but she won’t know I’m coming. It’s a long shot, but it’s something.” He took a deep,