Escape (ii)

Chapter 6

Remilia's POV.

My heart pounded as I sprinted through the forest, my feet pounding against the damp earth. The moon cast shadows, brightening the path for my frantic escape, which I was immensely grateful for.

I had to put as much distance between herself and Nightborne Pack's territory as possible.

The memory of Eryndor's snarling face still haunted me. His eyes, once filled with warmth and admiration, now burned with hatred and ambition. How could I have been so foolish not to notice his annoying attitude? I always knew he was jealous but never imagined that he was going to take it this far.

It wasn't my fault in any way that I was a genius. I had tried to numb my intelligence so that it didn't rub off wrongly on him, but guess who ended up with the shorter end of the stick? Me.

I shuddered internally recalling the night he had taken control, ousting me as alpha. The pain was too much for me to handle but I guess I was foolish enough not to understand.

I even went on to reason with him, appealing to our shared history, with high hopes that he was going to reconsider and return to his senses. I didn't know that I was talking to a wall.

Eryndor was consumed by his thirst for power. It was at that moment I should have realized that I was going to become a liability, not only that but also a reminder of the pack's true heritage.

The trees blurred together as I ran. My eyes misted with tears in remembrance of the unusual chance I gave to a man who decided to ruin my life beyond borders. My lungs burned, but I pushed on, propelled by fear and determination. My first move to getting revenge was getting out of this hellhole called a Pack.

My children, Ryker and Reese, were safe, at least I hoped so after sending them to a small town on the outskirts of the pack lands. I had ensured their protection by entrusting them to a loyal friend. But couldn't join them, at least not yet. Eryndor's influence stretched far, and that'd only mean I was putting my children in danger.

I finally slowed after crossing the borders with a small smile on my face. My pace faltered as exhaustion claimed the better part of me. I leaned against a towering oak, panting and scanning the surroundings.

The forest was unusually quiet, except for the distant howling of wolves, signifying life.

With a heavy sigh, I rose and continued my journey. Staying there wasn't going to do me any good. I was going to find a way to reclaim my pack, but now survival was my priority.

My legs weighed heavily against the ground as I trekked on. I needed to restore balance and justice to my pack. They didn't deserve to be under such a brutal leader.

A beam of light radiated from a distance and I decided to look it up. It could probably be an inn. On my way, I heard the sound of a carriage rattling down the dirt road. I hesitated, weighing my options. While the carriage might offer temporary safety, it surely comes with risks.

My instincts screamed caution but my weary body and heavy heart overalled my doubts. I flagged down the carriage just before it could pass by. What if I didn't see any other means of transport? How long was I going to stay here before Eryndor and his guards discovered my absence? They were probably on their way already.

I approached the carriage just as it stopped. "Room for one more?" I asked the driver, a wrinkly old man.

This was all shades of wrong but sometimes the best things came in the unseemly packages. He eyed me suspiciously but nodded. "We are headed to Oakwood Village." He responded.

It wasn't my destination but I needed to leave this place as soon as possible. I smiled softly, I was going to discuss the fare later. I climbed aboard, settling beside a young couple and an elderly woman. I smiled at them sheepishly but they didn't respond. I didn't blame them because I would do the same if the roles were reversed. I didn't need anyone to point out that I probably looked insane, or probably dealt with a heavy hand by the goddess.

The carriage creaked forward, announcing its ancientness. I looked around, enjoying the scenery as I was carried farther away from Nightborne and the life I once knew.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax, surrounded by murmurs of strangers lulling me to slumber.

My serenity was short-lived as a shout pierced the air, followed by the thunder of hooves and snarls.

My heart sank. Eryndor had found me!

"Get down!" I yelled, shoving the elderly woman to the floor. She was going to be the first target and trust me when I said she wasn't a match for Eryndor.

Wails pierced the air again as the passengers began to lament over the journey, centering on the fact that they weren't supposed to board this carriage, especially through this route at night.

The carriage halted and the chatters died down, replaced with trepidation at the outcome hanging heavily in the air. We were going to be attacked!

"Everyone, come down!" An authoritative voice commanded.

My wolf took over, surging past my resistance and transforming me into a sleek, powerful wolf.

The driver was also on my side, and we fought alongside each other and the young couple, but we were outnumbered.

I had suffered many gashes to my neck... Whimpers escaped the lips of my fellow soldiers in tandem. Silver!

My thoughts flashed to my children, and I continued fighting with everything I had in me.

I suffered another damning blow to the head and my steps faltered before going down. I was pinned by another stronger wolf.

Just as all hope seemed lost, a figure burst from behind the tree: a towering werewolf with piercing blue eyes. He growled, reverberating through the forest before morphing into a giant wolf.

He tore into the fray, tearing the men apart with precision. A neat kill.

I sighed softly when the weight was lifted from my body. Watching in awe as the stranger saved my life as I morphed into my human form, I whispered, still panting, "Thank you,"

The stranger nodded, his gaze lingering on mine. "You're safe now."

My instincts screamed at me but a glimmer of hope filled my heart. I smiled just before everything went black.