CHAPTER 5

Elena ran as fast as her legs could carry her, but she found that she was losing strength quickly. Her mouth hung open and heavy hot breaths escaped her lips. She could feel a burning in her lungs, her steps were starting to slow very gradually. 

The cold night wind crashing into her made her realize that she was still naked. She cursed her ignorance silently, wondering why she didn't grab her clothes before she ran away. With bitterness she remembered what happened before she ran.

Marcus took advantage of her.

She skidded to a stop, leaning on a tree trunk. She drew in large gulps of air, trying to calm her racing heart and burning lungs. She was cold but beads of sweat tricked down her forehead and back. She discovered that she was trembling, but she wasn't sure if it was from fear, excitement or a mix of both.

She shivered and hugged herself tighter. She had put quite a bit of distance between her and the pack house, now she wondered how she was going to survive.

She didn't even have clothes on her back. People that ran away at least had some clothes on them, and probably some money as well. All she had was her skin. 

The moon overhead was full and shone down in it's full silvery glory. Elena looked up to the moon, tears clouding her vision. The moon seemed to smile down on her, as if it knew what she was going through.

"Oh goddess, show me mercy," She prayed, her lips barely moving. The dagger Nina had given her fell to the forest floor with a dull thud. She clasped her hands together and fell to her knees. "I don't know what to do, where to go. I need your help, show me a sign or something."

The initial euphoria she had from wolfing out had dissolved into despair. Elena bowed her head and hugged her body close. The cold was biting, the thin sheen of sweat on her body was rapidly cooling and giving her chills. Her lips were trembling, her teeth starting to chatter. She felt heavy, she felt tired. The pain between her legs wasn't helping, her core burned and added to her grief. The wounds on her back stung in the cold air. She could perceive the faintest smell of the spirit Marcus had emptied on her back.

She was naive enough to believe that Marcus wanted to help her.

The tears that gathered in her eyes began to fall, dropping to the earth at her knees and being absorbed into the ground. She felt like lying on the floor there and slowly sinking into the ground, becoming one with the earth and forgetting all her worries. Her shoulders shook with sobs, miserable chocked sounds that spilled from her lips.

"Please..." She sobbed, unsure of who exactly she was pleading to at this time. "Just show me a sign, any sign at all, please... please..."

Her fingers closed around the dagger Nina had given her. Wolfsbane, Nina had said. If she stabbed it through the heart of a werewolf it would mean instant death, there was no antidote. 

Elene looked up and grabbed the dagger. It's blade glinted in the moonlight, whispering the promise of reprieve. She turned the blade, admiring the intricate designs on its hilt. As she ran from the pack, she entertained the thought of driving it through Marcus' heart. Now, she wasn't so sure anymore.

Could this be the sign from the moon goddess ? To take her own life?

Elena dropped the dagger and shook her head wildly. The cold was driving her mad, there's no way she could actually kill herself. If for no other reason, she had wolfed out. That meant that she wasn't useless after all. 

Anger suddenly bubbled in her belly. She looked up at the beautiful moon, a glare on her teary face. "Is this your sign?!" She screamed, her voice cracking at the end. "Are you serious right now?! You want me to kill myself?!"

The forest was silent as death.

Elena pulled her hair, screaming in frustration. "Just give me a sign okay?!"

"You silly child." 

Her entire body seized up the moment she heard the voice that spoke. A million thoughts and no thoughts ran through her mind all at once. There was no way, there was no way he'd found her this early! She had made sure to put a lot do distance between them!

"Are you surprised?" Marcus said, his voice taunting. She could hear his footsteps move closer and closer to her. She was frozen, rooted to the spot she stood. Goosebumps broke out all over her skin. She felt her stomach twist and churn with fear and disgust

"Marcus," Her voice was a barely audible whisper. 

"Hello, Elena." Marcus said and appeared in front of her. His eyes were darker than the night sky above their heads. And he was smiling, but there was no joy at all in that smile. It was just a chilling expression. "Miss me?"

It was like the freeze spell over her was broken immediately. She bent down and grabbed the dagger. He made no move to stop her. She turned sharply, the glinting silver blade raised. She gave a war cry and charged at him. He chuckled darkly, easily evading the blow by stepping to the side. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her roughly to him. 

Elena cried in pain, bringing up the dagger and slashing at his hand. Before the blade could connect he yanked her hair roughly, forcing her to drop the weapon. He gripped her hair tight and pulled her such that her back was pressed up against him.

"What were you even thinking?" He whispered in her ear, his breath hot. "Did you think your little stunt worked? Did you think I wouldn't find you?"

"Please...." Elena cried "please just let me go." In that moment she had surrendered. All strength felt like it had evaporated from her body. Her scalp was aching from how hard he was pulling her hair. Her eyes fell to the dagger on the floor, it looked as dejected as her.

"Why should I do that?" Marcus scoffed. "Do you know how hard it is to find a maid now?"

Elena began to cry. "I'm sorry! Please just let me go! Please!"

Marcus didn't reply to her. Instead he began to drag her by her hair back to the pack house. Elena grabbed his hand, trying to pull him off her. He wouldn't even budge a bit. Her cries got louder in volume as he dragged her even faster. He held no regard for her whatsoever, dragging her through the forest. The twigs scraped her legs and cut into her skin, causing her to bleed and lose even more blood. His ears had been tuned off from her, he paid no attention to her screaming.

"Please just kill me," Elena sobbed. She was heaving with exhaustion. Her scalp hurt to the point she was sure it was bleeding. Cuts littered her legs and arms, some on her stomach. The pain was intense and unlike anything she'd felt before. 

"You asked for a sign." Marcus said calmly. Up ahead the pack house was coming into view. Dread settled in the pit of her belly. "This is your sign, Elena. You're not escaping me, not even in your dreams."

Elena trembled all over, goosebumps covering her skin. He was taking her back to that hell. And this time she just knew that he would treat her even worse. Overhead the moon stared down at the scene. Elena felt despair. This wasn't the sign she had in mind when she asked for a sign. 

Was this the end for her? 

Was this how she died? Dragged through the forest like a common slave?

Black dots were appearing on the corners of her vision. Her ears were starting to ring and the sounds around her began to muffle. She could feel her consciousness slipping through her fingers. Marcus seemed to notice this because each time her eyes drifted shut he would yank her hair and snap her back awake. Elena wished she had the dagger. She wished she could drive it right though his wicked heart and end his life.

"I didn't do anything!" She wailed. "Why are you so mean to me?!" 

The front door of the pack house was open, and Elena was horrified to discover that they had an audience. It settled on her that she was naked, bruised and bleeding, exposed for all to see. Shame burned it's imprint into her face, she felt the cold evaporate from her skin as the shame lit her body up in a red hue. She covered her face with her hands, trying to maker herself as small as possible and just vanish. Marcus didn't slow his pace as he dragged her into the pack house. The concrete banged her legs and knees, opening even more wounds that would never have enough time to heal. Then suddenly he paused. 

"All of you, look up!" Marcus' voice rang through the air. He sounded seriously angry. Elena peered through the cracks of her fingers. To her absolute horror, he had dragged her to the servants quarters. The horrified looks on their faces made her blood run cold. 

"She," Marcus said and pushed Elena forward, still holding her by her hair. "Tried to escape."

Horrified gasps filled the air, followed by mumbles. Elene scanned the maids, she saw Nina in a corner tears in her eyes. Tears and pity.

"Do I not treat you well?" Marcus asked the servants.

"You do, alpha." They replied. Obedient and rehearsed. Elena wanted to puke.

Marcus turned to Elena. "You will pay very dearly for this, I promise you."

The mumblings stopped. Elena stared into his cold black eyes, there was no ounce of mercy whatsoever in those eyes. She knew that it was over for her.

"Just kill me, please" She whispered so that only he could hear.

"You will wish you were dead."