Chapter 4 - The pack run

Cassandra’s point of view:

I poked my head out of my bedroom door. It sounded as if no one was around.

It’s been three days since I’d been here but I’ve never noticed the hallway this deserted.

I crept down the hallway which appeared to have stretched further.

Was it always this long or was it just my mind playing some tricks on me?

For the past few days, I’ve been wandering around, all alone, in the Crescent Moon pack, trying my best to avoid Marcus.

But I knew that I wouldn't be able to hide for long. Just the thought of Marcus catching me had my heart racing at an unbelievable speed. I shivered when a tremor traveled up my spine.

I glided silently across the pack ground and slipped behind a large bush.

My heart missed a beat when I heard footsteps coming nearer. I readied my body to move. I let out a sigh when the person passed by until his footsteps became one with the wind.

I stealthily made my way out from behind the bush and dashed down the pathway leading to the pack house.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marcus walking out of someone’s house while adjusting his pants. Begging my legs to move faster, I ran in the opposite direction.

I stopped to catch my breath. As a werewolf, I was used to sprinting long distances at once but this time, I was forced to slow down.

Nervousness and fear clogged my throat and made it hard for me to breathe, harder to swallow and even harder for me to run freely.

Looking up, I checked my surroundings to find myself standing five feet away from the perimeter of the training field. I could see the pack members training both in their humans’ forms and werewolves’ forms from here.

I climbed up a nearby tree and settled down on a firm branch to watch their fighting strategy. I had nothing else to do and this seemed like a good hiding spot to stay clear of Marcus.

My heart skipped a beat when I spotted Alpha Dalton training his soldiers in a distance.

He was shirtless. Sweat coated his exposed chest, and as he wiped his brow with his forearm, his biceps flexed. In that sweat, his skin looked more beautiful and more glowing.

Realizing that I was checking him out, I chided myself. Still, my eyes stayed stuck on him. What the hell?

With a gulp, I forced my eyes elsewhere as I felt a cold yet hot breeze passing over me like a ghost at a séance.

“Hey you, get down here!” A voice yelled from below.

I sat upright with a jolt and looked down at the owner of that voice.

It was one of the pack guards. And right now, he didn’t seem the slightest pleased to find me sitting up here.

My heart dropped to my stomach seeing the fierce look on his face.

“Will you get down on your own or should I help you down?” He suggested in a serious tone. I was momentarily stunned.

“Wait, I’m coming down.” I briskly said when he reached for the tree trunk. He ceased his movements and looked back up at me.

Taking a deep breath, I jumped down.

I stumbled as I landed down on the ground, caught myself, and instinctively took a fighting stance to protect myself.

But when I eyed the guard standing in front of me, I stepped back.

“Are you spying on us?” He questioned me with his eyes narrowed down in suspicion and seized my collar to stop me from backing away.

“No!” I cried indignantly.

“My Alpha hates spies the most.” He stated.

“I’m not a spy.” I insisted.

“Well, we’ll let the Alpha decide what to do with you.” He declared and started dragging me towards Alpha Dalton.

I squirmed, trying to get away.

“Trust me, I’m not a spy. I was just watching the training.” I protested in a total panic.

My heart literally stopped beating when Alpha Dalton looked in our direction.

A frown was etched on his forehead when he saw me being dragged before it was gone. He must have heard me. We weren’t that far away from him anymore.

I acknowledged him with a nod and casted my eyes downwards when I was pulled in front of him.

“It’s okay, I know her.” Alpha Dalton said, stopping the guard from explaining the situation midway.

“What were you doing here?” Alpha Dalton queried once we were alone.

It didn’t sound like he was interrogating me. He was just genuinely curious to know what I was doing here of all places.

“I was just watching the training.” I said, barely above a whisper as I felt my heart acting up again. What the hell was wrong with my heart?

“If you want, you can join us.” He said in a soft, gentle voice.

I glanced up in shock.

He gazed into my eyes.

The way he spoke with such a deep warm voice sent my stomach churning with butterflies. That was such a weird feeling but at the same time, it felt pleasurably good.

I found myself slowly nodding.

“Do you want to come to the pack run next week?” His question pulled me back to reality.

Just the thought of shifting into my wolf had me excited and my wolf ecstatic. This time, I quickly replied, “I’d love to.”

With a nod, he said, “See you then.”

Deep in thought about the pack run, I left.

I spent the whole week looking forward to the pack run but I didn’t go to the pack training since I’ve been avoiding Marcus.

Before long, the day I’ve been waiting for, was finally here. I sneaked out but on my way to the forest, I bumped into Marcus and his whores.

“Where are you going?” Marcus oppressively asked.

“I’m going to attend the pack run.” I simply said.

“What?” He sounded confused, aggravated even as he came up close to my face.

“Don’t get so close to me while you are talking. I can hear you.” I quipped and pushed him away.

“Are you telling me to stay away from you? Who do you think you are, ordering me around like this?” He seized my wrist and pulled me back against his chest.

“You tell me, who am I?” I asked him daringly and stared right back into his eyes.

Furious, he wrapped his fingers around my throat. “You are nothing but a bitch that should be ready and waiting for me on my bed every night.” He snapped as his eyes darkened.

“I’m your chosen mate, not some slut!” I said through gritted teeth.

“Then be one! One of your jobs is to please me whenever I ask for it.” He whispered, low with a growl before he smirked down at me.

I pressed my lips into a straight line and maintained eye contact with him.

His hand around my throat tightened as he clenched his jaw decisively.

My gaze faltered. It was getting harder for me to breathe. Not even a second later, my chest grew tight.

“Marcus, she’ll die. Leave her!” One of the she-wolf exclaimed with her voice actually laced with concern.

But, I couldn’t really tell if she was concerned for me or for Marcus since my ears started ringing.

With a scorn etched on his face, he released me. I crumbled to the ground. Struggling to breathe in some air, I tugged at my shirt.

Marcus had a wicked glint in his eyes as he looked down at me.

“You have no right to join the pack run.” He said with a smirk.

Breathless, I defiantly glared back at him in response to his statement.

He perched down; halting once his face was at the same level as mine and stared right into my eyes.

“Once I’m back from the run, I’ll have you all to myself.” He whispered lowly, the deviant look in his eyes alerted me of his thoughts.

I seethed and pressed my lips in a thin tight line.

I refrained from drawing another deep breath and breathed cautiously when he trailed his filthy fingers along my left arm. Both my wolf and I felt disgusted with his touch.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped.

The words were out before I could stop myself. I instantly regretted it.

“What did you say to me?” He shouted into my face.

I flinched and stayed quiet.

“I asked you something. Answer me.” He pressed in a scratchy angry voice.

“Don’t touch me.” I repeated my words but this time, it sounded like anything but sharp. I failed miserably to hide my fear with my trembling voice.

“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me again!” He warned. “Do you understand?”

I quickly nodded.

“Are you mute now?” He barked.

I shook my head. “No,” I gulped before adding, “I-I understand.”

“You won’t understand like this.” Marcus wasn’t convinced.

“N-No, I understand.” I frantically attempted to persuade him into believing me.

“Let me show you what will happen if you don’t listen to me.” He seized the back of my neck and started dragging me across the ground.

“No, please, stop!” I fought as hard as I could to escape him.

But, a she-wolf like me had no match for a furious, sex-driven and determined Beta of the most powerful and feared pack.

Before long, I was being carried back to the pack house.

“Please, help me. Please!” I pleaded to the pack members but they just looked down, not daring to cross Marcus’s path. Bloody cowards!

“Shut up!” He snarled down at me.

My toes and fingers tingled when an unbelievable amount of adrenaline kicked in. My feet wobbled as my strength eked away.

“I’ll kill whoever approved for you to attend the pack run.” Marcus swore.

My eyes welled up with tears as I caught sight of the bedroom door which gave me recurring nightmares for the past week.

Great, I thought miserably. It will really be the end for me this time. I spoke too soon though.

Marcus froze when a cold and deep voice came from behind us. “I approved it.”