Chapter 3: Running Again

~one year later~

It had been exactly one year since Elleanna had become a lone wolf. Every time she ran as a wolf she would be chased, but she didn’t mind. They never caught her. She hid her scent well so no one knew who she was. She wore a blue contact to cover her one golden eye. Her hair was still the same, but she looked a bit different. She had been working at Green Street Bakery for almost a year now and loved her job. She would often be found baking and singing in the back drawing in the customers. Wolves would come in and just assume she was a human. She had moved into her own apartment just a few weeks ago. Their bakery had been chosen to bake a large cake and goodies for a ball that Alpha Romero was holding. Elleanna smiled as she walked towards the hotel pushing the big cake on in front of her. She pressed the button for the elevator and went inside with the cake when it opened. She took it up the to ballroom from the parking garage. The ball room was decorated beautifully. She took the cake the large table that was specifically for it.

“Hey Goose.”

She said as she heard him approach.

“How do you always do that?”

Jasper laughed as he stood next to her. She shrugged

“good hearing”

She said softly with a laugh. They began to put the decorations on the cake and she got caught up in what she was doing and began singing a Disney song from Brave with the accent.

“I will ride…I will Fly…chase the wind and touch the sky…”

She sang softly as she placed the delicate roses on the cake. Alpha Romero and Beta Jonathan followed by Crystal entered the ballroom and stood silently watching Jasper and Elleanna as they decorated the cake together.

They heard her singing and

were listening to her sweet voice as she sang. It was her voice that drew them to the ballroom in the first place.

“I will hear their every story…Take hold of my own dream…Be as strong as the seas are stormy…and proud as an eagle’s scream….I will ride…I will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky…I will fly…and touch the sky…”

Elleanna had completely lost the world around her as she decorated. She finished placing the last  rose then went to placing the cupcakes around the cake still singing but with the new song playing on her phone. This time the song How Far I’ll Go was playing. She was in the zone so much that she didn’t realize Goose had stopped working to stare at the people that had entered the room. Enchanted by her voice. Another Disney song played from her phone and she had stopped singing as the song changed, however she stayed in her zoned out zone of placing the cupcakes. Under The Sea blasted out of her phone and she sang along. Everyone watched and listened as she carefully placed cupcakes around the huge table. Alpha Romero watched the young woman as she sang and danced around placing the cupcakes as if no one else was there. He smiled as she sang. He liked her voice very much. This human had a voice that drew people in. She was beautiful with her long brownish red hair. Show Yourself was now playing as their eyes met briefly, she still sang, but he felt like it was just for him drawing him to her. Elleanna was oblivious to the crowd that had gathered due to her singing. Alpha Romero had specifically picked the bakery she worked at because it always had people. He now knew why. It was her that drew them all in. He felt drawn to her, but didn’t know why. He was the young age of 23, he had caramel skin that was sun kissed, dark reddish black hair, sky blue eyes, and was very fit. He had an 8 pack and was slightly taller than Elleanna at 7 Ft 4. He had just the right amount of muscle. He didn’t realize he was staring at her until his Beta tapped his shoulder.

“Alpha?”

Beta Jonathan said softly so only he could hear. Romero blinked as he realized the crowd had dispersed and she was leaving.

“Y.…Yes?”

He stuttered still entranced by the beautiful woman as she walked out towards the elevator.

“Is everything alright?”

Jonathan asked with concern in his eyes. Romero let out a dry cough before he replied.

“Yes….Who was that?”

Jonathan looked at Alpha Romero

“She goes by Ellie sir.” Jonathan said.

“She is so beautiful…”

Crystal murmured softly. Romero nodded in response before they went back to checking on everything for the ball. He hoped she would show up tonight so he could introduce himself. He didn’t have his mate yet and was considering just choosing a mate. If he did…he wanted her.

~that night~

Elleanna stood in front of her full length body mirror admiring her deep purple gown that had gold around the edges and the sleeves. She looked like a princess. Her hair was curled in ringlets that cascaded down her back ending just at her bottom. Her shoes were gold boots. Her sleeves where down to her elbows and the lace at the top of her dress ended just at her collarbone. She let out a sigh having to fight herself to even go to the ball. Before she left she placed on the plastic white face mask that looked similar to the one from the Phantom of the Opera. It covered her left side of her face so no one would she her scar that trailed down her face. She knew she would  be amongst humans and wolves tonight. She took one more look before she went unto the bathroom and put in the ocean blue contact and blinked. She smiled and walked outside and got into the limo that held Jasmine and Jasper.

“Ellie, you look like a princess…”

They both said as they saw her with shock. She blushed and thanked them from the bottom of her heart

“Thank you both so much. If it wasn’t for you I would not be here today.”

She said honestly. She took in a deep breath and got the familiar scents of both her friends. Jasmine smelt just like Jasmine and rain. Jasper smelled like fresh cut grass and oak trees. The ride to the hotel was about 10 minutes.

“OH and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!!!”

Her friends said together causing her to smile. Today was her 17th birthday and she was going to enjoy it. They soon arrived to the hotel and walked to the elevator together. The elevator went straight to the hallway outside the ballroom and they all got out. The door was opened by a man in a black tux and they walked in together. Elleanna smiled at the calm atmosphere of the room. Her friends went off to socialize leaving Elleanna on her own. She went and admired the cake she had made. A man walked up to the podium that she recognized as Alpha Romero.

“Hello and thank you all for joining us tonight as we celebrate the growth of our city.”

He said in his low, manly, butter soft voice. As she listened to his speech she took a sniff of the air and thats when it hit her…The smell of fresh cinnamon apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and caramel. It was intoxicating and sent a shiver down her spine. She looked towards where the smell came from…

-“MATE,mmmmm, MATE….”-

Rose screamed in her head happily. Elleanna froze as she locked eyes with Alpha Romero. Her scent was still hidden, but she knew what his scent meant. She waited until after the speech was over and found her friends.

“I’m going to leave. I have to…”

She said with a look in her eyes that made them understand.

“I love you both and thank you…when it is safe I will reach you…”

She hugged her friends then took off quickly towards the exit. After Romero had finished his speech he caught sight of Ellie… She took his breath away with her beauty. Jonathan was holding onto Crystal lovingly and watching him. He made his way down the stage intending to speak with her. He spotted her with two people, the one he recognized as the man that was with her earlier finishing up the cake. He made his way that way and frowned when he saw her leaving in a rush. He made his way through the crowd, but lost sight of her. He mind-linked to Jonathan

—“I want you to find her please…I need to speak with her…”—

Jonathan nodded and mind linked to the others to be on the lookout for the young woman. Elleanna was making her escape when she bumped into the back of someone.

“S…sorry”

She said in a stutter as she caught herself. The man she bumped into turned around and sneered at her.

“Watch where you are going next time…”

He said in a voice she knew all too well… Jackson….… She looked up to confirm and met his gaze. He didn’t recognize her so she thankfully made her way out of the exit. She went down the elevator to the ground floor and once the doors opened she ran as if her life depended on it. She traveled out of the states for almost a year before she returned and moved to a town not too far from her friends.

~one year later~

Alpha Romero sighed as he looked out the window of the office. His mind being pulled to the beautiful memory of the girl known as Ellie. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. A year had gone by with no sightings of her. The bakery she worked at hadn’t seen her and her friends didn’t know where she had gone.

“Alpha”

Came the voice of Beta Jonathan from the office door. He turned as his thoughts were interrupted.

“What is it?”

He asked in a firm voice.

“We spotted the lone wolf again after all this time, but she got away…”

Jonathan reported while looking at Alpha Romero. Romero sighed and nodded.

“Keep extra patrols and when you do catch her. I want her brought to me alive…”

Romero said his  firm voice.

“Yes Alpha”

Jonathan said as he left the room. Romero went back to staring out the office window before a knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts once more.

“Come In.”

He said firmly. He took his seat as Alpha Auturo, Luna Anabell, Dolan, and Nolan entered the room.

“Good evening, Alpha Auturo. Luna Anabell.”

Alpha Romero said as he crossed his fingers together.

“Good Evening Alpha Romero.”

Alpha Auturo replied in a cold voice as usual. Romero arched a brow as he remembered they also had a daughter that should be about 18 by now.

“Is Elleanna with you this time?”

He asked them. Auturo shook his head before replying

“I am sorry to inform you Alpha Romero, but after the events two years ago she killed herself.”

He feigned sadness as did the Luna.

“I am sorry for your loss…”

Alpha Romero said as he looked at them. They talked about their treaties and exchanged some goods. He still couldn’t get the girl Ellie off his mind and wondered what really happened to Elleanna because he could feel their deception.

Elleanna had been running for a year. She traveled to other countries and made friends before she

finally stopped in a town about an hour from Emerald City. It was a small town filled with humans. She quickly got a job at the local bakery and a small one bedroom home near the outskirts of town. Today she had run in her wolf for the first time in awhile

to see Jasmine and Jasper. The patrol wolves almost caught her, but she gave them the slip before going to the known backyard of her friends. She quickly shifted and hid her scent still before she entered the back door and pulled a dress from the hall closet. She slid into the plain black dress and sat at the table. Jasmine and Jasper came downstairs with huge smiles

“ELLIE!!!”

They both squealed at seeing her. She hugged them back and they spoke of her new life. She really missed these two.

“I am so sorry for leaving…I should explain…you see…at the ball..I found my second chance mate…but I didn’t want to be rejected again…so I left…especially after I ran into the first mate that rejected me…”

She said and

sighed. Her friends hugged her.

“Girl we are just glad you are safe.”

Jasper said.

“Thanks Goose. I missed you both so much…”

She said softly. She spent around 4 hours with them before she left for home. This time she took her own car and her belongings. She made it back to the small town she now called home. Welcome to Ellisburg read the neon green sign as she passed it. She drove to her little home and went inside before stripping and going to bed.

“Alpha..”

Jonathan said while catching his breath.

“We found Ellie.”

Romero looked at Jonathan with wide eyes

“Where?”

His voice came out louder than intended.

“She moved to Ellisburg Alpha.”

Jonathan said. Romero wondered why the sudden move.

“I shall go visit Ellisburg then”

Romero said. He hoped he would find Ellie there. He had Jonathan and Crystal come with him. As they neared the town Romero felt excited to see Ellie again. He felt drawn to her and didn’t know why. As they entered the town they passed by Ellie’s house.

“That is her house”

Jonathan said to Romero. He nodded and they drove to the bed and breakfast down the road. There they went to sleep for the night.

~Elleanna found herself running. Running from darkness… Running from Jackson , from death, from rape…On the side of the road was the body of her baby that was taken from her… She kept running…the darkness closing around her fully…~

She was having another nightmare as she ran from her home in her sleep. Running and she didn’t know it. Her feet taking her into town further and further.

~she was in the middle of a large clearing. Her father came towards her with his arms open wide. She ran to her father looking forward to getting a hug from the man that she grew up with.  Then she felt sharp pain as the long knife from the hunter went through her chest and the hunters face was before her. She gasped and screamed as she felt darkness engulf her~

A scream left her lips as she fell on the hard road. The nightmare that caused her to sleep walk drifting away. Alpha Romero had been having trouble sleeping and saw when Elleanna had run from her home. He followed her as she was running. His Beta Jonathan and Crystal followed behind. They were behind her as she let out a scream and crashed to the ground. Romero ran over to her and picked her up looking over her. Then her scent reached his nose…The scent of Cookies, cakes, brownies, and baked goods with a hint of coffee. His wolf Aidrien howled in his mind MATE. He looked down at her and brushed the hair from her face noticing how she seemed to relax under his touch.

“That is why I felt so drawn to you…”

He whispered to her looking at her with love. He stood with her in his arms and began to walk back to her home.

“I finally found my mate…”

He said to Jonathan and Crystal who smiled brightly. He held her while she slept and placed a kiss on her forehead. He arrived at her home and sat on the couch still holding her so she could sleep peacefully.

“I already love you…”

He whispered into her ear.

Elleanna awoke when the sunlight broke through her the curtains of her living room window. She took in a deep breath and caught his scent…the smell of fresh cinnamon apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and caramel. She let out a soft moan at his smell then opened her eyes wide and took quick breaths as she realized she was being held. The man holding her was still sleeping soundly so she got up and looked at him. Alpha Romero…She remembered him from two years ago when she was injured after the hunter. He cared for her. She took in a shaky breath prepared to run again and then went upstairs to pack some clothes. She tried to be quiet, but was surprised to see him sitting there awake when she came back downstairs. She froze in panic as she realized that she didn’t have her contact in. She watched as Romero stood up and made his way over to her. She could hear her heart beating fast while she remained silent. Romero reached the bottom of the stairs and halted in his tracks. It seemed like time stood still. His mind was trying to piece together how she was alive since her parents had said she was dead. He recognized her left eye and the scar that ran down the left side of her face and through her eye. Her golden eye was showing. He took in a deep breath as he studied it noticing the line of ocean blue going down the middle. The front door opened as his Beta Jonathan and Crystal came in.

“Elleanna…”

Crystal said with wide eyes as she took in the sight of her. Elleanna took this opportunity to turn around back up the stairs before deciding to jump through her second story window. The glass shattered as she broke through and her body fell to the grassy ground below. She heard a crunch and let out a whimper as she landed on her left ankle wrong knowing it was broken. She took a look up at the broken window to see Alpha Romero standing there staring at her. She turned and ran through the pain and through the trees deciding she would have to leave and not look back so she couldn’t be rejected again.

“Elleanna….”

Romero whispered as he watched her run away. Sorrow filled his heart, but he didn’t chase her because he had seen the fear in her eyes.

“Please, Stay safe…”

He whispered to the direction she had run.