CHAPTER THREE

In reality, it's only been an hour or so since I left Ben, but it feels like a lifetime.

I want nothing more than to lay down and sleep, to let the grief wash over me. But I know I can't. I know I'm not safe.

The pack will be coming for me, if they're not already. Once Sheila tells them her lies, they won't stop. In their eyes, I am a traitor now. I have betrayed them, and that betrayal must be avenged.

I need a plan if I'm going to have any hope of getting out of this alive. I need help.

I have heard of a Rogue named Parker. He left the pack years ago and never came back. He knows how to escape. How to survive on his own.

If I can find him, maybe I can survive, too.

Unfortunately, it is not going to be easy to find Parker. He is a wolf. He doesn't live in the city. He lives on the outskirts. He has no phone, doesn't go to the store. He probably knows nothing of the outside world. But, he's the only one who can help me.

I start my search near the border. I hope that he's nearby. I hope that he doesn't have any reason to get too far away from the pack.

I'm not going to tell anyone what I'm doing. I don't want anyone to know where I am. I can't trust anyone. Not anymore.

I can't go back to the barracks. That's the first place they'll look for me. So, I walk. I walk until my feet are aching, until they are blistered. And then I walk until they are healed, and I do it all over again.

It's a week before I find one of his tracks. I follow them to the cave. He's here. I know he is.

I crawl inside the mouth of the cave, move through it. The ground crunches beneath my feet with every step I take, and I'm suddenly conscious of how loud I must be. I wish I could be quieter, but it's too late for that now.

I reach his front door and knock on it ever so gently. I'm not sure he'll hear me, but I knock again.

And then, suddenly, there he is, standing in front of me. Parker. The rogue. My one chance at safety.

Parker has a scowl on his face, and he looks me up and down.

"What do you want?" he says.

"I need your help," I say.

For a moment, it looks like he's going to slam the door in my face. Instead, he takes a step back and lets me inside.

I walk in, sit down on the floor.

He looks me over.

"What can I do for you?" he asks.

I sigh. "You can save my life," I say. "I need to get away. The pack is hunting me, and I don't know how to survive without them, much less how to escape their clutches. Please, Parker. I need your help. My life depends on it.

He scoffs.

"Please," I say. "My name is Rachel. I think you knew my father. John?"

He sighs, looks at me. Studies my face. His expression shifts, just slightly.

"If I help you," he says. "I want you to promise that you won't return to the pack. No matter what happens, no matter what they say or ho much you miss them, you can never go back. If you choose to return, I will hunt you down and kill you."

I take a deep breath.

"I promise," I say. It feels like an impossible promise to keep, but the truth is that I couldn't go back if I wanted to.

"Alright," he says.

He walks over to his kitchen, opens the door, and returns with some water.

"Drink," he says. I do.

I stare at Parker. I don't know what to make of him. He is gruff. A bit frightening. Definitely not someone I would spend time with if I didn't have to.

But I need him. I know that.

"Have you eaten today?" he asks.

"No," I say.

"Eat," he says.

He hands me a plate, some bread, some berries. I eat. I'm starving.

"Stay here tonight," he says. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'm going to teach you how to survive on your own."

I nod.

"I can't thank you enough," I say.

"You don't need to," he says. "This will be the only time I help you. Once you're on your own, I don't want to see you again. Understand?"

I nod.

Suddenly, I am exhausted. The events of the last few days hit me like a brick. I want to cry, but I am too tired even for that. I can barely keep my eyes open.

"Sleep," Parker says.

I do not have a bed--no soft place to rest my head, but it doesn't matter. I am asleep in a matter of moments.

I am awoken a few hours later by a the sound of stirring outside the cave, and I know immediately what's happened.

They're here. I'm not safe.

I wonder if I will ever be safe again.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of Parker's footsteps heading towards the entrance of the cave.

"They're here," I say.

He nods. "I know. Stay here."

I nod.

He steps outside.

The first thing I hear is a howl. Parker is shifting.

Then, there is a growl followed by the sounds of the fight.

I stay in the cave. I don't want to be seen. I don't want to be known. I don't want to be part of any of this.

I sit in the corner of the cave, my knees pulled up to my chest. I wrap my arms around my knees, and I rock.

I try to calm down. To breathe. But I can't.

I want to be safe. I want to be left alone. I want to forget this ever happened.

I want to forget Ben and Shelia and Lance.

I want to forget everything. I want to wake up and find that this was all just a dream.

But it isn't. I know that.

There's a thud as something hits the floor. It must be Parker, I think. They've killed him.

I wonder how long I have before they kill me too. I wonder if I can make it out of this cave before they do.

I wait for a moment, listen for any sounds of danger.

Silence.

I slowly let my legs down. I wait for a moment and listen again, my ears straining for any signs of trouble. More silence. I take a step forward.

And then another.

I'm at the mouth of the cave, looking out into the night.

There is nothing out there. I am alone.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

And then, suddenly, I hear someone else breathing right behind me.