Wind

She ran like the wild beast she was, tall and proud, racing the wind as fast as her four legs could carry her away from the betrayal of her father; how could he?

Calliope stretched her legs and let me watch from the background as she lengthened her pace, eating up the miles as the woodlands loomed closer. I gave my wolf full control as the last piece of my heart broke at Daddy’s declaration, knowing I could never go back home after this. There was nothing left for me behind those walls now.

I ran without thought, instinctively making my way through the trees like a well-met friend as the palace grew smaller, and with it the ties I had to the throne, I was done with this life. There was only one person in the whole world who had stayed loyal to me, and almost as if she knew, Calliope bought me to his little cabin and allowed me my skin back so that I could talk to my best friend. Axle would know what to do.

There were clothing drop points throughout our lands where we could mask our human nakedness after each shift. I took advantage of one close by, quickly pulling on a pair of leggings, a bra, and a t-shirt, pausing just long enough to put my hair in a ponytail before I wandered up onto Axle’s deck.

Figuring he had probably decided on an early night, I kept my movements stealthy so as not to disturb him, knowing the layout of his den from the many nights I had stayed there when I needed time out. Creeping up the stairs, I noticed mingled scents drifting in the still air that’s odd.

Maybe Axle had had company earlier, and I felt a little guilty for coming to him unannounced. However, a muffled moan stopped me from thinking moments later as I opened the door to Axle's bedroom.

Oh, my Goddess!

On the bed writhing around in the throes of ecstasy were my best friend and my maid? Was everyone lying to me now? How long has this been going on, were they even mates? Eve was human, for Goddess sake, and I know she bore no mating mark.

My eyes filled with stupid tears as the couple noticed my presence in the room. Axle leaped up from the bed in all his naked glory while Eve pulled the sheets towards herself, trying to cover her nakedness.

“I..uh...I’m sorry I should’ve knocked.“I managed to say before turning back around and bolting down the stairs. I could hear Axle curse and call my name. Still, I couldn’t stop; I didn’t want to, so for the second time today, I ran and phased into my wolf, my only honest friend, as I heard the unmistakable sound of breaking bones, I knew Axle was shifting too, probably thinking he could catch me and make me listen to him, but he underestimates my need to flee.

On feet as fast as the wind, I flew out of the cabin and back into the woodlands, only this time I was not heading back to the safety of the palace walls, with Calliope pledging to protect me, I headed south towards no man's land, towards freedom.

---

Axle’s pov

Oh God, she was really gone. I scoured the woods in my bear form, nose to the ground tracking her scent, but she knew how to hide it, even from a nose like mine, and I soon lost her wolf, roaring in anguish as she vanished. What am I going to tell the King? What the hell just happened?

She was gone like the wind...

Surely the thought of a mating ball wasn’t enough to warrant such an extreme reaction from Alina, then a memory of a few days ago filtered through his mind.

"I miss her so damn much it almost kills me. Daddy is worse, though; he thinks I don’t hear, but sometimes, late at night, he sits in their room, and I can hear him sobbing like his heart’s shattered without her. I hope I never find my mate if that’s what it feels like to lose them.”

Alina was scared of finding her mate, of handing over control of her heart to someone else, that's what set her off, and that's why she turned up at Axles. The bear shifter knew then that this wasn't just a temper tantrum, there were real feelings and fears attached to Alina's flight, and if someone didn't go after her, she might well never return.

"Where are you going 'Lina?" Axle whispered to the trees.

Lucas pov

We were almost at the vamps location when something deep in my gut made me stop. I looked out across the great expanse of no man's land, and all I could see amongst scattered trees and small outcrops of rocks was barren desert, but there was still an uneasy feeling in me that I had long ago learned not to ignore. Deacon sidled up against my wolf, nudging my rump, a wolf's way of saying 'What's up?' and all I could do was whine and look into the distance.

Finally, Deacon took matters into his hands and organized a few wolves to tail on back a few clicks to where we had just traveled, making sure no unfriendlies were looking to make a bad choice and attack the pack from the rear.

Satisfied now that something was being done, I carried on towards the vampires' lair.

Sam pov

How he ended up in the desert was anyone's guess. One minute he was playing pool in the bar, and the next, he woke up beside what could be the only source of water within a thirty-mile radius.

Sam Malone had a presence that seemed to invite trouble, and sadly this wasn't an unusual way to wake up. Groaning at the incessant pounding of his brain and the awful post-drunk breath he possessed, he dragged himself to his feet and took a good look around him.

Well, shit.

Desert stretched in all four directions, not a shelter in sight to hide from the heat of the sun. As a chameleon siphon, he could only copy a form he could touch. He really didn't want to look like sand, but if he didn't change soon, the sun would burn straight through his skin and set his innards on fire. Hence, survival trumped personal preference as he resigned himself to spending the remainder of the day as sand by the stream, waiting till nightfall when it would be more comfortable to travel in his normal form.

Closing his eyes and putting his palms to the ground, Sam concentrated on the image of the sand beneath him. It was a weird sensation feeling your body dissolve, but soon enough, the flesh was gone, and in its place, the illusion of sand settled down, and Sam waited patiently.

Alina ran until her legs could run no more, her wolf was tired and thirsty, and her heart still hurt from her father's betrayal, not to mention Axle..stop!

A quick sniff in the air lead her to a nearby water source, and she lapped thirstily from the shallow water, taking pleasure in the way the cool liquid coated her throat. Then the sand at her feet began to move.

Yelping in fright, Alina jumped backward as the sand formed a small tornado. Looking on in mild horror, she squinted her eyes. Is that a person in there? And as the sand fell back to the ground, in its wake stood a young man. He smiled at her, and in a low voice, he whispered.

"Well, hello there, pretty girl, I didn't think there were werewolves in this area. Have you traveled a long way? I think a wolf form would do quite nicely."

Wait a minute, what did that mean?

The man reached out to pet her, and as his hand made contact with her fur, Alina blinked, and in his place stood a carbon copy of her wolf!

I could get used to this, an amused voice sounded in her head, and Alina startled, not knowing what or who this strange man was who suddenly looked like her and had the ability to communicate through mind l**k, but she was going to find out.

Who are you? She asked, getting straight to the point, and it was the fake wolf's turn to get a fright if wolves could drop their jaw in astonishment. That was exactly what he would have done.

Whoa, hold up, you're a female, and you can talk? Are you really a wolf? Ah, nuts, have I copied a witch's form? If so, I am terribly sorry, but you are the only living, breathing creature I have seen all day, and I was desperate to take a form that would get me home quickly. I didn't mean to offend or disrespect.

Alina's head was spinning from the rattling voice tripping over itself in her head, and she found herself growling in frustration.

Stop! She commanded, and surprisingly he did as he was told, looking meekly at her in submission.

I am Alina Deveraux, I'm a werewolf, so this is one of my natural states, which is why I can talk to you. Who are you? She repeated.

"I am Sam Malone, chameleon shifter at your service, I have no clue how I ended up here, but all I want to do is go back home."

Seeing a wolf attempt to take a bow took Alina everything she had not to laugh, and she managed not to barely. Still, she couldn't help but think that perhaps the fates had sent her a friend to travel with, he seemed harmless enough, and from the brief glimpse she got of his human form, Sam was pretty easy on the eyes, it would be nice to have company...

Well, Sam, it would seem as though we could both use a friend, if you want to mimic me long enough to find your way home, I suggest we travel together and stay in wolf form to protect ourselves if need be-the desert isn't very friendly at night.

There was an instant agreement between the two strangers, and after a brief discussion on the best direction to travel in, Alina and Sam headed off.

---

"I lost her scent, your majesty. I'm sorry."

Axle bowed deeply before the court, his head almost touching the floor as he waited for Alina's father to speak. Elijah Deveraux had aged considerably overnight, his face gaunt with the stress of losing his only daughter, and now the Beta's of the outer packs would be arriving home to tell their Alpha's of the runaway Princess.

Axle knew what that meant.

A lone princess outside Royal land was ripe for the taking. Now all of Alina's suitors would be on the hunt to find and claim her. However, a forced mark was still mateship, and he knew some of the Alpha's were getting older now and wanting to add more weight to their packs. An alliance with the Royals would achieve this immediately.

Oh, 'Lina, what have you done!

When he spoke, the king's voice was barely above a whisper, and Axle had to strain his ears to hear what the man was saying.

"Find her Axle, take whatever you need, whoever you need, but do whatever it takes to bring my baby girl back home safely. I won't survive losing her too."

There was a humbling quality to Elijah's voice as he begged for the safe return of his daughter, and Axle could only hope he would be successful. The king stood and left the court without another word, and the young bear shifter began to prepare.

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