Chapter 4 The Escape

(Hilda)

The cabin’s suffocating walls form a prison that makes me almost lose myself completely. So I am pleasantly surprised when two of Damon’s men grab me and throw me on the cold hard ground outside. I look up and there are a dozen or more of them all standing around me with bow and arrows in hands.

Then the realization hits me. They want to hunt me for sport.

I thought Damon’s cruelty had reached its limit, apparently not.

“Go on, little wolf. I’ll give you a head start!” Damon says, smiling maliciously at me.

I know it’s not a smart move to comply, but every fiber of my being screams for freedom.

The night was my ally. The moon is high, casting a silver glow over the forest. I move quickly, my footsteps silent against the forest floor. Each step takes me further from the cabin, from Damon’s grip, and towards the unknown. But I know this journey won’t be easy. 

As I push through the underbrush, the sound of men shouting and the pounding of feet against the ground fill the air. They are right behind me. 

Panic surges through me, and I force my legs to move faster. My heart pounds in my chest, matching the frantic rhythm of my thoughts. 

“Don’t let her escape!” A voice shouts from behind me. 

The urgency in their voices spurs me on. I dodge trees and leap over fallen logs, the forest blurring around me. My muscles burn, and my lungs scream for air, but I can’t stop. I won’t stop. 

The twang of a bowstring cuts through the night, followed by the whistling of arrows. Terror grips me as I realize they started shooting at me. 

I zigzag, hoping to throw off their aim. The first arrow grazes my shoulder, sending a searing pain through my body. I stumble but keep running. 

A second arrow finds its mark, embedding itself in my leg. Pain explodes, and my vision is blurred. I cry out, my steps faltering. With a final, desperate effort, I roll down a hill, tumbling through the undergrowth. The world spins around me, and I come to a stop at the bottom, gasping for breath. 

I use up my last strength to crawl into a thick bush, my body trembling with pain and exhaustion. The taste of blood fills my mouth, and I can feel the darkness closing in. As I lose consciousness, I pray that they won't find me. 

In the darkness of my mind, I dream of a great wolf. Its fur is silver, shimmering like moonlight. It stands before me, its massive head bumping against mine. A warmth spreads through me, soothing my wounds and easing my pain. I feel a connection, a bond that goes deeper than anything I have ever known. 

When I finally come to, the world is hazy and disorienting. My body ached, but the searing pain had dulled to a manageable throb. I tried to sit up, but a gentle hand held me down. 

“Easy now,” a soothing voice says. “You’re safe.” 

I blink, trying to focus. A strange man is holding me, his eyes full of concern. His touch is gentle, and I can feel a strange energy radiating from him. My wolf stirs within me, whispering a truth that I can hardly believe. 

It can’t be…

Even though I know logically, me and Soren are no longer mates. But a second chance mate this quickly?

Confusion and hope wars within me. I search the man’s eyes, looking for answers. “Who are you?” I croak, my voice weak. 

“I found you injured in the forest,” he says, his voice calm and reassuring. “I brought you here to heal.” 

I look around, and realize we are in a small, cozy cabin. The scent of herbs and wood smoke fills the air, and a fire crackles warmly in the hearth. I can feel the power of the earth around us, a soothing presence that helps to ease my mind. 

The man’s touch is warm, and I feel a connection to him that I can’t explain. It is as if my soul recognizes him, even though we have never met. My wolf’s certainty gives me comfort, but the reality of the situation weighs heavily on me. 

Can I trust him?

“Damon’s men… they were chasing me,” I say, my voice trembling. “I need to get away from here. They’ll find me.” 

The man’s expression hardens, and a fierce determination shines in his eyes. “You’re safe here. They won’t find you. I’ll make sure of it.” 

I want to believe him, but fear still gnaws at me. “Why are you helping me?” I ask, searching his face for any sign of deceit. 

He smiles softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Because you’re my mate. And I protect what is mine.” 

The words send a shiver through me. The bond between mates is sacred, a connection that can’t be easily broken. But the idea of a second chance mate is something I have never considered. The pain from Soren’s betrayal is still fresh, and the thought of opening my heart again is unthinkable. 

 I have already lost so much in such a short amount of time, I barely know where to start. I need to focus on survival, on finding a way out of this nightmare. 

The man seems to understand my hesitation. “I know you’re been through a lot,” he says gently. “I won’t rush you. But know that I’m here for you, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” 

My rescuer stands watching me, offering his silent support. His presence is a balm to my wounded soul. He looks up at me, his eyes full of concern. 

Maybe it is the exhaustion, or the way he looks at me, but something about it feels right. It feels safe. 

Tears well up in my eyes, and I nod, too overwhelmed to speak. The relief of finding someone who cares, who wants to protect me, is almost too much to bear. I want to dwell in this moment a little longer, even if all of this turns out to be another lie.