2

J A D E

There’s always a point in time when one can only endure so much before you lose it and crack. The cold air brushed my fur as I ran past the pack houses. I had ripped my wedding gown before shifting into my wolf form and diving down the window. The sun was setting and my white fur was being stained by dust.

(Stop!) I heard suddenly through the pack’s mindlink.

My heart flew to my throat as I turned back to see the wolves fast on my heels. All of them at the beta ranks as they chased after me. Their sizes were enormous with their golden-colored eyes staring right back at me.

I ignored the warning from the mind link, as I headed for the forest up ahead. My heart pounding as they gained at me, inching closer with every pacing minute.

(Please, don’t chase me. I can’t marry him. He will kill me!)

I pleaded through the mind link but they didn’t seem to care. They chased after me regardless of my pleas, determined to catch me at any cost and take me back to him.

(Stop right now, Jade!)

Definitely not.

I increased my pace, my heart thumping loudly in my ears, as I silently hoped that neither Mason nor his dad would join in this chase. Outrunning an Alpha is no easy task and I didn’t want to have to try.

I could barely maintain a considerable distance between the Betas and me. They didn’t seem to want to give up, as was I.

Soon, the forest came into view, and panic set on my face. I was scared of what I was doing and I knew it was a wrong move to want to seek solitude within the woods.

There had been news—rumors about a beast lurking within the forest. No one had seen the beast and those who did, never made it out alive. Those who managed to survive such an encounter never spoke and some days later, committed suicide.

That was how I lost my parents as well and became an Orphan. Both my father and mother were beta wolves and were sent to the forest to investigate the beast. They eventually came back though— Just as corpses and in pieces.

I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind, it was only going to slow me down right now.

(Jade!)

My heart thudded even more loudly, as Mason’s booming voice, reached me through the link. I dared not turn to look but I almost peed myself in fright. My fate had been decided for me.

It was evident that I had no other option than to face whatever lurks within the forest. There was no way Mason was going to let my actions slide. No, he’d chain me up and beat me until I lose consciousness, before depriving me of food and freedom.

(Jade, don’t move!)

He was furious and this time, I could feel his fur against my tail. He was right behind me!

I could feel my fur stand on end. Panic coursing through my veins before I felt a Sharp pain at the end of my tail. I could feel a weight on it and realized that he had bitten down at my tail, to stop me from moving.

I turned my head to look at him, his red orbs staring back at mine. He was going to compel me to stop and immediately, I summoned the courage to bite hard on his ear. As soon as he let go with a whimper, I dashed straight for the forest, missing him by an inch.

I didn’t dare to stop but to continue running, going deep into the heart of the forest. It was slowly getting dark and I knew there was going to be a rain storm, as the clouds darkened.

I couldn’t hear the pounding of their paws anymore, but that still didn’t stop me from running.

Lightning struck across the sky and thunder boomed immediately after. My paws were throbbing terribly and I had nowhere to go. The forest creatures seemed to be absent. I was a bit frightened as I imagined that they must have run away because of the beast.

I shifted into my human form, before leaning against a tree trunk, my heart beating rapidly. I was exhausted, hungry and wounded. I needed time to heal, before deciding on my next course of action.

A few minutes in, and the sounds of flapping wings hit my ears— Birds. But, they seemed to be in fright as a number of them flew right past. The rain was pouring and the moon was already out.

To my right, I heard the sounds of a twig snapping and I sat upright, my heart pounding. “Who’s there?” I asked, my voice shaky and I grabbed a broken branch with trembling hands.

My eyes scanned my environment as a clicking sound reached my ears. My heart pounding against my chest as I held onto the branch like my life depended on it.

“I haven’t had a sweet visitor in a few days.”

The cold voice sent a chilling shiver down my bones. It didn’t sound human, but demonic. It sounded like a thousand voices overlapping one another. It was quite low and yet loud and it was accompanied by the clicking sound from earlier.

“Who are you? S-show yourself!” I yelled, my eyes turning into a tint of light yellow. I stared around me frantically, terror coursing through my body.

“Mhmm, your blood smells good. Pumping so fast with fear and that makes it even more exciting, doesn’t it? Sweet bloods are always filled with fear. My favourite.” The voice said, this time, sounding a bit closer.

Though, I could see in the dark, I couldn’t see the creature that had spoken. It scared me to death to know that the deadly creature could probably see me while I could see nothing, which meant that it had some level of intelligence.

“C-come out now. I- I don’t fear you.” My stuttering already gave it away. He could smell my fear, and I was definitely going to die by the beast that killed my parents.

“Are you sure about that?” The voice reached me again and a chuckle followed.

“What are you?” I asked, my heart racing and tears threatening to pool in my eyes. A part of me wanted to beg for my life but I didn’t want to appear as weak as I’ve been made to believe, all my life.

“As you wish.”

I stepped back in panic, as a creature slowly stepped out from a shrub right behind me. It’s eyes were pitch black, and it’s maw were huge with sharp bloodied canines. A hunch wolf kind of creature, standing on its two paws.

It’s claws so long that they dug into the soil and dragged along lazily. It had dark furs as well and it seemed to have a smirk on. It towered over me, approaching me with steady steps.

“P-please,” I said, taking a few steps back and I knew right then that I'd made a grave mistake coming into this place.

“Let’s play a game.” It said, saliva dripping from its mouth as it stared at me. It’s eyes narrowing in on my face. “You run and I catch. If you escape, I’d let you live but if I get you, you die!”

My heart pounded even more as every nerve in my body seemed to wreak havoc. My brain yelled at me to bolt or stand and fight, but my legs refused to give in.

“Little bird…” the creature said, before lowering its head at me and locking gazes with me. “RUN!” It mumbled and at that moment, thunder boomed the skies.

Immediately, I shifted into my wolf, running through the woods. My paws leaving prints in the mud but I didn’t care. I could hear the monster laughing behind me.

No matter how far I’ve run or what I do, I could still hear it behind me. I could feel its breath on my furs but couldn’t see it.

Lycans shouldn’t exist but one was chasing me. If only the pack knew what beast lurks in the forest, they’d actually understand just how scary it was and avoid it.

I noticed the creature, running towards me from the side but before I had the time to move towards another direction, it collided into me. It’s speed was insane and faster than even an Alpha.

I hit a tree and fell to the ground. I had cracked my ribs and could feel my eyelids threatening to shut. I noticed the creature approach me, its claws parting my hair, as I shifted into my human form.

“It will be over before you know it.” I finally gave in to the darkness, resigning myself to fate and at the mercy of the hunger creature.