CHAPTER 2

She heard her name faintly and tried to open her eyes. There was a throbbing pain in her cheek. "Mummy, mummy," she heard her daughter's voice and her eyes flew open immediately. 

"Desi?" She called out. Desi sat on the floor watching her mum. Lara stood up from the floor in search of her mate. 

"Where's your father?" She asked Desi.

"He left," she answered. Lara felt something cold on her face and touched her nose. There was blood pouring out from her nose. 

She ran to the bathroom and tried to wash it off. Some drops of blood had already stained the white gown she wore. She didn't care and raised her head after washing her face in the sink. 

Lara froze. Her face was swollen. With trembling hands, she touched her face. It seems now was the best time to run. It was already dark and while she didn't know where to go, she knew she couldn't stay any longer.

With determination brimming from her eyes, she went back to the room. She brought out her bag and went through it. It was still intact. She turned to Desi.

"Did you tell your Daddy that we were supposed to play hide and seek?" She asked her. 

"No, I'm hungry mummy," Desi answered. Lara touched her daughter's face. "Mummy will get you something to eat later," she murmured. 

"Come," she pulled Desi with her. They went to Desi's room and carried her bag. It was too heavy, she observed and decided to leave some things. She took out some clothes from her daughter's bag. 

"Come on, get on my back," she told her. Desi climbed her back and held on tightly. Lara knew Desi knew they were running away. Her daughter had seen her get beaten by her father too many times. 

She held their bags and together, they ran out of the house. The night was cold and the air was chilly. It was still the first month of the year. Her inner wolf mourned their mate like he was dead. 

Lara listened for any suspicious movements as she ran to the stables. She knew the minute she was caught, that would be the end for her and her daughter. She couldn't afford to make any mistake at such a crucial moment. 

The stables were very quiet. There were little torches placed everywhere. She removed a torch from its shelf and walked into the stables. The only horse she had been allowed to ride belonged to her mother. 

She walked around looking for the horse. He was an old horse but he was all she got. She finally saw him at the end of the stables.

"Hey there, big boy," she touched his face. He wasn't sleeping. "I need your help. Can you help me?" She whispered and pulled him out with his reins. She had to be careful so as not to disturb the other horses. 

"Mummy I'm hungry," Desi reminded her again. Lara sighed and brought out a sandwich she had wrapped in her handkerchief. She dropped the bags down and went to look for a saddle. 

"Here, now keep quiet," she cautioned her. She saw a saddle and took it to the horse. She placed it on him and ran to pick up her bags. Moving with Desi at her back made her slow. 

Suddenly she heard some voices. She pulled the horse behind the stables and hid. The voices got closer. She held her breath. After some seconds, she heard them turn around and walk away. She sighed in relief. 

Lara placed Desi and her bags on the horse while she pulled the horse to the field. She glanced back at the mansion where she had spent her whole life yet couldn't feel a little bit of attachment to it. 

Once they left the field, she climbed the horse and pulled the reins. Finally, they were off. She placed Desi in front of her, holding onto her tightly. 

"Hiya," she whipped the resins, making the horse run faster. George's house was at the end of the town. It made it easier for them to run away without being noticed. 

They ran out of the town before anyone could notice the horse. Lara held Desi tightly. Her inner wolf mourned the loss of her mate. She was severing every bond she had with him. 

Lara had never left the town before. She didn't know where she was going. After running for about an hour, she slowed down. Her inner wolf urged her to go south so she followed the advice. 

"I'm tired mummy," the little girl cried out.

"We'll stop soon," Lara promised. She was confused about where to go. They went further south until they got to a forest. She was skeptical but urged the horse further into the woods. 

"I'm scared," Desi whispered. Lara placed a hand on her daughter's head and noticed she was burning up. She tried not to panic, urging the horse deeper. 

After some minutes, she pulled the reins of the horse and it stopped. The woods didn't look safe but she needed to stop for the night. She came down from the horse and pulled Desi down. 

"Stay here," she told her. She brought down one of the bags. As she opened the bag, she felt the presence of someone and turned around. Her eyes glowed and her fangs came out. 

Someone was watching them. She held Desi's arm and pulled her behind her. Upon hearing footsteps, she scooped up Desi and fled, abandoning the horse.

The footsteps got closer. She stopped and hid Desi behind a tree. "Wait here," she told her. 

She turned around and shifted into her wolf. In seconds, a beautiful silver wolf stood where Lara once was. She turned to Desi and smiled. Desi smiled back. She knew the wolf was her mother. 

As the footsteps got closer, she growled out. "It's a wolf," she heard a voice. The running footsteps stopped. 

Lara took a tentative step forward and heard a gunshot. She froze. There were hunters in the woods. She glanced at Desi and shook her head. She didn't want Desi to come out. 

She ran towards the sound of the gun. The man saw her and raised the gun towards her. She hits the gun away and growls. He brought out a silver dagger and attacked her again. She raised her paws and clawed his face. 

The man fell. She bared her fangs at him. He looked stricken with fear. Another gunshot sound was heard and Lara whimpered. She looked at her stomach and saw that she was bleeding. 

She tried to move and fell instead. She howled in pain. Another man came out from the woods with a gun raised at her. 

Lara was in intense pain. She tried to stand up but fell again. The man walked towards her and smirked. He raised his gun at her and fired. She closed her eyes expecting the bullet. 

"Arghh," the man yelled. She opened her eyes and saw a huge beast attack the man and shred him to pieces. The other man beside her stood up to run but another beast came out and shredded him to pieces. 

She felt shivers run through her as she watched the beasts save her. The beasts walked towards her and growled. She whimpered in pain and fear. 

"Mummy," she heard her daughter's cry. Lara turned around, scared for her daughter's life. She took a step forward and collapsed due to the huge loss of blood.