CHAPTER 22 : MATE ON THE RUN

Night sky… The moon shone so bright. The thick canopy of trees overhead, blocking out most of the moonlight, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the woods, her heart pounding like a war drum in her chest. 

Leaves crunched underfoot, and the sharp scent of like filled her nostrils, mingling with the coppery tang of fear on her tongue.

Moving through trees, she could not shake the feeling that they were right behind her, that any second she'd feel their hands on her, dragging her back and stopping her from freedom.

The pack was located in New Orleans deep within the woods, away from humans. She just needed to keep moving, she could make it.

As she kept running, her foot caught on a root, sending her sprawling to the ground with a muffled cry. She wrapped her hand around her mouth as hard as she could, to stop herself from making any sound that might implicate her.

Immediately she pushed herself back up, despite the ache she felt all over her body, and kept running. 

She has hope. She was getting closer, just had to keep going.

Furthermore, she could almost taste freedom.

But before she could reach it, a dark figure came out from nowhere and stepped into her path, blocking her way.

She skidded to a stop, heart plummeting as she met the cold, dark gaze of Aiden.

He smiled. But his smile was unpredictable and deadly, it did not reach his cold eyes.

Kira moved backwards slowly, almost tripping as her legs felt weak, only to slam into a hard chest.

She did not need to turn around to know it was Bryan, as she could already feel his gaze boring into her soul.

There was nowhere left to run.

Kira's body froze as Bryan's hand gripped her arm, the strength in his hold leaving no room for escape. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine, her heart pounding in her chest.

She still tried to pull away, but he didn't flinch, instead his grip tightened with a silent warning.

Aiden had notified his warriors and trackers, calling off the search as they had found her.

As they were not saying anything, shouting or threatening her, anything at all, it increased the panic that clawed at her throat. Their silence was much more scary as she imagined what they would do to her now.

This was the worst thing that could have happened to her. Her being caught.

Her legs felt like jelly, threatening to give out beneath her as she was forced to walk beside him.

Not only that, but her legs got weaker and were unable to support her. When Kira stumbled, Bryan effortlessly scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.

The forest blurred as she was carried back, her breath catching in her throat every time a branch snapped under his boots.

Aiden was walking side by side with them, none of them saying a word. It was as if they were discussing between themselves.

On the other hand, Kira was tempted to ask what they would do to her, but the words stuck in her throat, choked by fear.

Every scenario that ran through her mind ended in pain and punishment. She was too scared to know the truth, she did not even know if she should just start pleading or something.

Whatever she tried to do, fear did not let her.

As they reached the pack, the warriors who were waiting for further orders looked relieved, others curious, but none seemed surprised. It was as if they had always known she would not get far, or rather they trusted the capability of their Alphas.

"Those who are on night patrol, stand guard. Things like this should not repeat itself, imagine if it was an enemy. I would really not want to be disappointed next time, that is, if there is a next time," Aiden said.

"Understood Alpha!", The warriors echoed

 "And we also apologize Alphas, we will do our best to make sure it does not happen again!" The head warrior of the night patrol said.

"For the rest of you, you can go." Bryan ordered.

With everything now in order, they started walking back home, or so Kira thought.

Since she was caught, that was the first time she heard their voice, and it was not even directed to her.

As they started moving, Kira frowned, confused.

"This isn't the path to the mansion," she said to herself, not out loud. 

Her heart skipped a beat as she started noticing where they were actually taking her too. Her breath quickened, goosebumps all over her body.

They were heading to the dungeon, not the mansion.

"No, please, not there!", Kira cried out, finally finding her voice. She twisted her body, trying to slip from his grasp as her voice trembled with fear, but his hold was so strong.

Even though she kept kicking her feet, her legs flailed in a wild attempt to escape.

With a low growl of irritation, Bryan shifted his grip, his hand coming down hard on her back side. The slap echoed, stinging sharply and forcing a yelp from her lips.

The sudden sting on her backside made her freeze. The shock and humiliation was almost as sharp as the pain, but it was fear that took over.

"Please", she whimpered, her voice breaking. "Please don't do this!"

Kira couldn't let them lock her away.

As they continued moving, her fear escalated. She began begging, struggling, only for his grip to become tighter.

"Okay, I am sorry, I'm sorry! I won't run again, just don't take me there, please!" The words came out of her mouth in a frantic rush, so soft and almost made them give in.

Almost.

But they didn't slow their pace. 

 

The dungeon was dark as they went in. Kira kept begging and the closer they got, the weaker her body felt.

 

The air around the dungeon was just sucking the fight out of her.

As Aiden opened the heavy door to the dungeon, she started pleading again after a pause.

"You don't have to do this," she whispered, "please… I'll do anything…"