5

Demi's pov

The darkness of the night sky descended enveloping the area just like the fear in me did, encasing my heart and sending prickles of anxiety shivering down my spine.

I could feel Haris's small fingers on me, they gripped at my skin causing indents as he clung onto me for dear life, his heart racing as well, I could hear it as it was louder than the sounds of the nights with the crickets chirping and the distant hooting of the owls.

The sky was starless and the moon was shy, hiding behind the clouds. It was a night as dark as our lives, a night that represented everything we had been through.

I had my hand over Harris's mouth, pressing my palm against his lips so as to stop him from screaming when I heard movement in the bushes.

I could feel the mud on my body drying up and on Haris's as well.

My wolf had suggested rubbing ourselves in mud to mask our scents since Logan would be looking for us by now.

We had only made away for a day and a night and now we were currently hiding in the bushes because we picked up the sound of distant howls indicating that wolves were near.

I am scared, Haris whimpered through the mind link and I could tell from the tears running from his eyes as the wetness met with my palm, what if they catch us?

It might not even be them, I was giving myself hope while trying to give him hope as well, it might be some distant pack, but we will be fine.

Are you sure is? He asked looking up at me and I nodded.

My heart caved in sadness seeing the fear in his brown eyes and I hoped he didn't recognize the fear in mine as well.

I removed my palm from his mouth and drew him closer to me with my hand around his back, I will protect you, no matter what.

And I meant my statement, I'd protect him and put him first even if it meant putting me in harm's way.

I looked down at my hand that was severed ignoring the unbearable pain that coursed through that area giving me reasons to scream but I didn't, knowing it would put us in danger.

I didn't want to think about the loss of my hand nor focus my attention on it and grieve about it too much.

That wouldn't be helping me or Haris

I needed to be strong especially now that I was away from the pack.

I need to take life by force and make sure I escape far away from Haris and give him a better life.

I needed to be a better sister and nurture him and that wouldn't happen if I was crying about my decapitated wrist.

After a while, the howls died down and I could smell that the wolves we had sensed earlier were far far far away.

"We can go now." I whispered to Haris and slowly pulled my hand away from him, "They are gone."

"Where are we going?" I pulled him up with my good hand and brushed off the grasses stuck in his hair, "Is it somewhere good?"

"I don't know where we are going yet," I replied as I took his hand leading him away, "but I promise that it will be good, you will see."

He gave me that toothy grin of his and wrapped his fingers tighter in mine as I led him out of the bushes with no direction of where we were going.

Immediately we got out of the thickets, we broke into a run as I instructed across the clear field with fireflies before us.

I clung onto Haris's hand and our feet picked pace against the ground, as we ran the fireflies flew up lightening the atmosphere and the wind blew gently playing with the strands of my hair and I could hear Haris's laughter as we went on, something I haven't heard in a while.

His joy came from running, his hand trying to catch the fireflies, and his eyes excited from seeing how they glowed.

We stopped in the middle of the field when we both ran out of breath and we fell to the grass, landing softly with quiet laughter coming from our mouths.

"Did you have fun?" I asked Haris who released a firefly from his palm.

"I did!" He nodded vigorously, "Let's do it again!"

"Not yet." I shook my head, "I am tired." My hand went to his hair soothing his head, "Let's rest here for a while before moving forward."

He agreed with me and laid back on the grass with his hands tucked behind his head and gaze pointing up to the sky.

I sat with my legs tucked beneath me with my gaze facing down as I tried to ponder over our next move and where we were to go.

I knew nowhere and we were in this vast field with a steeping hill over the edge that I didn't know where it led to and the path opposite it looked like a safer way to take but that could also bear danger as looks could be deceiving.

I feel weird Demi, Harlyn spoke while I contemplated on which path to go, take the path leading to the forest, the scary path.

But what if-

My heart calls there, She said with a tone of finality and I did as she said without asking further questions.

I got Haris up and told him where we would follow asking him not to be scared. He only nodded and held onto me as we descended down the hill.

The feeling is getting stronger, Harlyn said as Haris and I moved deeper and deeper into the forest, where are we?

You are asking me?! You are the one who instructed me to take this path!

And just as she was about to clap back, we heard a rustle in the bushes causing Haris to huddle closer to me in fright and then another rustle followed with a full-blown growl.

"Wolves, run!" I whispered to Haris and pushed him so he get him started.

He began to run and I did following him close behind I could still hear the angry growls and bushes rustling followed by a very loud howl and harsher movements that sounded like paws against the ground and I looked behind to see not one, not two but tens of wolves on our trail.

"Run Haris!" I screamed after him when he looked back, "Run without looking back, don't worry about me!"

Just then I felt paws on my back and I came crashing to the ground, dirt entering my eyes as my face met with the ground.

Haris's cries followed as the wolf attacked me.

"Let her go!" He screamed running back to where we were and began to hit the wolf till he bit him through his fur causing the wolf to throw him off.

"Don't touch my brother!" I bit the wolf as well and managed to crawl to where Haris was, "Get away!" I picked up some sand and threw it in his face, "Run!" Haris obeyed me immediately as I struggled to get to my feet.

The wolf tried to get to me again but I managed to get away from him and was on my heels soon running after Haris.

The other wolves chasing us didn't relent, they doubled their effort but I guessed they must have been tired from the Night's patrol as they found it hard catching up with us.

I can feel it again! Harlyn spoke and I almost stopped mid-way at her words as the most calming of scents possessed my senses.

It was a spicy sweet smell.

I could decipher a hint of ginger and a touch of cardamon with a subtle touch of vanilla and it was driving me mad.

I still continued to run but my pace was slowed as the scent increased wafting through my nostrils calling a primal need within me urging me to trace it and right then I heard the thudding of paws against the ground.

It sounded different, heavy, powerful and commanding.

I looked back to see the hugest wolf I had ever seen in my life.

He was brown and gigantic.

His gaze was directed at me as I ran and he chased.

His fur glistening in the moonlight as he doubled his efforts. He looked magestic with an air of calm authoritativeness that matched his scent.

"Come on Sis." Haris yelled looking back at me, "He's coming at you!"

Demi, Harlyn said and I knew whenever she addressed me by my name she was about to say something serious, I can smell him too and I th-

She never got to finish her words, the wolf jumped and pounced on me but I didn't fall to the ground, my back landed on soft fur before I was slid to the ground and a huge dark shadow shielded my vision as he stood above me.

A growl came from him as he bared his canines with a howl following when he tipped his head to the skies and a golden crown crest gleamed against his fur.

I could see from the sides the other wolves Bowing to him and that was when I felt the sparks from where his fur brushed me.

And then Harlyn uttered a word I thought I'd never have to hear again

Mate.