CHAPTER TEN

We run for our lives. Through the darkness. Through the night.

We run until we can run no more.

Then we walk until the last ounce of strength leaves are bodies.

Only then, do we stop.

We sit in a clearing.

My feet are sore.

But I don't care. I am free.

"I can't believe we made it," I say.

"The village isn't too far," the girl tells me. "We should reach it by tomorrow."

I yawn. "Is it safe to go to sleep?"

She nods. "The pack won't track us. As long as we don't light a fire. Can you cope with the cold?"

I shiver, but nod. "What happens now?"

The girl smiles. "Tonight we will rest and we will speak of home and family. Tomorrow we will go to the village."

"Family," I say, thinking of my mother. "You know, you never told me about yourself. About how you came to be Romulus' mate."

She smiles. "I'm just a simple girl. From a village. I lived with my mother." Her smile fades.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Romulus came," she says. "And he took me."

"How?"

"I was out in the fields," she says. "I was picking herbs. I saw him approaching. I didn't stand a chance."

I think back to my own first meeting with Romulus. I remember the terror I felt.

"Were you scared?" I ask.

"Yes," she said. "At first."

"What do you mean?"

"I got used to the pack in a way. It wasn't so bad. Not until the weakling." Her voice trails away.

A thought hits me. "Did you love him? Romulus?"

She hesitates. She looks uncomfortable. Ashamed. "I think so. I don't know. But he became my family. I never had much of a family. My mother passed away."

"I'm sorry. And your father?"

"I never told you about my father?"

I shake my head.

"He took his own life. He left me alone."

My heart aches for her. She never stood a chance against Romulus. She needed a family so desperately she even let herself think she loved him. It was only when he discarded her she realized she had to leave. If her weakling cub had not died, she would still be by Romulus' side.

And I would not be here.

The thoughts are too heavy.

I settle down to sleep. "Thanks for saving my life."

"Thanks for saving mine," she replies.

Around us, the forest is still. I close my eyes.

I have survived.

I am free.

I drift off to sleep.

I come too just moments later.

My body aches. I am cold.

The girl is still lying beside me. The moon shines brightly above us. Everything is quiet.

But my hackles are standing on end. Something's wrong.

I look around.

I sense it.

We are not alone.

Someone else in the woods. Someone. Or something.

I scramble up. The girl stirs.

"What is it?" she asks.

I put a finger to my lips.

I can see it.

In the trees.

In the shadows.

I can sense it.

"There's something there," I whisper. "In the branches. In the shadows."

She moves beside me. "What is it?" she asks.

And suddenly, I know what it is.

I know what has been watching us all this time.

I know what is out there, right now.

"It's a cat," I say. Relief washes over me.

The girl looks at me. "A cat?"

"A cat," I repeat. I sigh. "Go back to sleep."

She shakes her head. "I can't believe you woke me up over a cat!"

Then,suddenly, I hear the sound of twigs snapping.

The girl looks at me with frightened eyes.

In a blur, a wolf pack tears out of the undergrowth.

There are more wolves than I can count.

I am surrounded.

The girl is wide eyed.

My heart sinks.

We came so far only to die now.

A wolf steps forward. He is facing me. He looks right at me.

He is massive.

His eyes are bright and his teeth are glistening.

His fur is white.

He is beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

As he moves through the pack I realize they are all like him. All white wolves.

White wolves...

Beside me, the girl is shaking. We both know we are in trouble.

I look back at the wolf pack. They are closing in.

There is only one choice. Fight.

I lash out at the wolves.

I bite and claw and kick.

The girl does the same.

We fight and fight and fight.

But we are hopelessly outnumbered.

The wolves gnash and bite.

I can feel my body being battered.

I can hear the girl scream.

But I keep fighting.

I keep lashing out.

We struggle and we fight, but we are no match for the wolves.

One of the wolves strikes me in the jaw.

The force is enough to send me flying.

I land hard against a tree.

I am dazed.

I can't fight anymore.

I can't even move.

The white wolf stalks towards me.

He stares me in the eye.

I can see his fangs.

Then he sniffs me.

I can see his mouth opening.

He is going to bite down.

But instead, he licks my face.

The wolf pack around me is staring.

I sit up.

The white wolf steps back. He looks proud.

He is proud.

That's when I realize...

The wolves aren't here to hurt us...

They're going to take us. To their lair. They are going to kidnap us.

We won't be able to escape. Not this time. We have no herb left. The silver dagger is gone.

It is hopeless.

The white wolf grabs hold of me. Another takes the girl.

We are dragged away.

Dragged into the forest.

Dragged to the pack.

I know this is the alpha. That this is my new captor. That I've made it right back to the beginning. Not Romulus, but another alpha, just as bad.

I feel sick.

"What do you want?" I ask.

The alpha stares at me.

"What do you want?" I repeat. "Why have you taken us?"

He says nothing.

There is nothing left to do. I have no fight left in me. I am bruised. Bloodied. Exhausted. Broken.

Defeated, I give in to the white wolves.

They carry me to their lair.