I will never be able to outrun Reona

 Kate

One thing is for certain: I will never be able to outrun Reona.

My legs fly over a fallen tree as I push through the woods. I could transform, but I worry that Reona will take it as a challenge. After all, it’s been proven that my breathing alone is a challenge to Reona’s authority, or the authority that she thinks she has.

Air rips through my lungs as I pump my legs through the clearing. I probably should have had a plan. I probably should have thought of a way to get her off my back before I took off running.

I could turn around and apologize. As to what I’m apologizing for this time, I’m unsure.

Reona’s sharp-tongued voice calls out to me. “You’d better stop running, you’re only going to make it worse!”

A soundtrack of her lackeys’ cackles echo through my ears. I ball my hands into fists and run forward.

“Shit!”

I come to a stop in the middle a clearing that overlooks a waterfall. Damn it, this is one of the only open water sources in this area, and of course, I run right into it with Reona on my tail.

I suck in a breath. The low growl of a wolf floats into my ears. I plant my feet in the dirt and glance over my shoulder.

Reona’s massive chocolate-hued wolf hovers in front of me. Her yellow eyes slowly open and close, and a thin line of spit falls from her open jaws. My teeth sink into my bottom lip.

One by one, her three lackeys come into focus through the dark of the woods. Three skinny brown wolves sit in front of me.

This is their favorite part of the sick game that they play.

I throw my arms up in front of me so that they form an X, and Reona lunges at me.

My back collides with the dirt and my mouth flings open as the wind is knocked out of me. Her massive paws press into my chest.

I gasp, “Reona…”

She growls again and presses her paw deeper into my chest, pressing dangerously close against my ribs.

Just as I’m about to pass out, Reona eases her weight off of me and hops backwards. She transforms. Furry limbs turn into slender arms and legs. Her dark brown eyes focus on me, and a love for cruelty dances in her eyes.

“Kate, you’d think you’d get the idea that you are tonevereat before I do.”

My lungs expand as I try to fill them with as much air as possible. I rasp, “I thought you were done!”

She reaches up and sweeps a hand over her pin-straight, chestnut-colored hair. She threads her fingers through it. Just over her shoulder, her lackeys, Heidi, Sydney, and Rose hover, waiting for instruction.

Reona turns and waves two fingers in the air. “We’re done here.” She pauses and looks me up and down.

The corners of her lips turn up into a smirk. “I hope you get the idea now.”

She turns around and transforms into a wolf again, bounding off through the woods. Her lackeys are quick to follow her.

Once she disappears through the trees, I roll over and press my hands against the dirt as I push up onto my knees.

“Fucking bitch.”

My chest is sore, and I consider opening my mouth to scream but it would take too much energy.

I wish I could leave this pack. I wish I knew how to be on my own so that I could get away from people like her.

It’s always been like this. Reona has always hated me, probably since the moment I was born. She’s only three years older than me, but when I was around ten years old, I caught the attention of her and her lackeys. I couldn’t hunt as well as the other wolves, my wolf wasn’t as big as theirs, and I didn’t have any parents.

There are several orphans in my pack, but my inability to prove my strength right away set me up for failure. I’ve never had a watchful eye praying that I’ll be okay.

 

It’s always been me, on my own.

I squeeze my eyes shut and get to my feet. It’s okay. If I wasn’t worried about retaliation, I would kill her. I would sneak into her cabin, and I would turn into my wolf, and I would rip her throat out.

I sigh, then transform into my wolf. The air glides through my honey-colored fur, and I fall into a trot. The scent of our camp flows in and out of my nostrils as I bound towards home.

Squirrels and rabbits dive into hidey holes as I make my way through the woods, and inside, I warm with glee. Finally, something is afraid of Kate.

I come to a stop just on the outskirts of camp. I transform and take a deep breath before making myself known.

The pack leaders are crowded around someone. A man. He’s tall, and he stands with his back straight. His chin is high as if he’s someone important.

The last thing I need is more wolves coming into this pack, thinking that they’re important.

I move closer and step out of the woods. The soft, flickering light of the fire paints the cabins on our campsite, and the man shares a hearty laugh with Foy, one of the older pack leaders.

His laughter nearly stops me in my tracks. It’s warm and… inviting.

“…Foy, I think this will be a great arrangement. I can’t believe I found more wolves so soon. I can’t believe that there are this many of us in Minnesota!”

Foy’s massive hands clap him on the shoulder. “It helps to check out the other side of the state!”

Their laughter fills the air, and just as I begin to will my feet towards my own cabin, the man turns, and his eyes fall on me.

My breath catches in my throat. His eyes are bright blue, and they just might pierce my soul. My arms and legs begin to quiver as those curious eyes make their way up and down the length of my body.

He wears a confident smirk as he holds his hand up to the rest of the pack leaders.

“Who do we have here?”