Three

I had no idea when I'd fallen asleep, but when I woke, it was in complete darkness. I was also freezing, and by the sound of it, still very much alone.

I straightened and stretched out as I yawned quietly, before carefully making my way over to the cavern wall, and along it, tracing it with my fingers as I edged towards the opening that led out to the hidden pool.

Out here, the almost-full moon shone brightly, and I was able to see well enough to gather some kindling for a small fire. And it would have to be very small, I realised, to not announce my location with a plume of smoke. I cleared a patch of ground near the opening, where there was some cover, and set to work getting the fire going.

Once it was burning on its own, I huddled close, grateful for everything Mama had taught me about survival. She'd always been insistent on that, though I'd never really understood why. Judging by our last conversation, there was clearly a lot I didn't yet understand about her. I just hoped she'd be here soon to explain.

I continued to wait, warming myself, until the soft light of pre-dawn filled the sky, then covered the fire with dirt, stamping it out. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself, as much from fear and uncertainty as from the cold itself. Where was she? Did something happen to her? Where would I even go from here, if she failed to turn up?

My stomach turned, beginning to feel sick with worry, more and more so as the sky became brighter, the first rays of dawn filtering through the trees on the cliffs above.

Shit. She still wasn't here, and I had no way of reaching her. Or anyone. Abigail had always forbidden me from having any kind of electronics, and anything at all except the bare necessities, really - leftover food, hand-me-down clothes, and worn-out linens. She had always seemed resentful of her husband's 'charity', in allowing Mama and I to stay with the pack. It was really no surprise that her sons had also treated me poorly.

I guess that didn't matter now though. I had to leave. I just wish I knew why. I sighed, running a shaky hand through my hair. I can do this, I told myself, several times over. I have to. Mama wouldn't tell me to go if it wasn't serious, and I knew she wouldn't let me down if she had any kind of choice. Something must have happened, and that meant.. I was on my own.

I drew a deep, shuddering breath, and stepped back into the cavern, checking it for any signs of her just in case. There was nothing. I took a moment to wipe a tear from my cheek, then headed out through the gap behind the fall, and as I stepped out from behind the water, I froze.

Matteus and Tyler were lazing on a large rock by the edge of the water, smirking as they looked up and over at me. I took half a step back, and they laughed softly, "Don't bother, little nitch," Matteus said mockingly, "We know as well as you do that it doesn't lead anywhere you can escape from."

He was right. But maybe.. I took off as fast as I could, scrambling around behind the rock they were on, and past them, running as fast as my legs would carry me. I knew they'd catch up quickly, but maybe if I could just reach the border of their territory, they'd stop and consider letting me go. After all, Lycans were notoriously particular about their territories.

I bolted frantically, without care for the uneven, rocky ground, or the branches that scratched and stung as I raced through them. I heard them both swear loudly, calling for me to stop, as they chased after me, caught off guard and slowed by their more careful steps. The ground grew more even though, the further from the water we got, and they picked up their pace quickly.

I pushed harder, surprising myself - and even them, by the sound of it - with my speed, and assumed it was merely raw adrenaline. I knew the border was close now, though not exactly where, and despite the burning in my chest and my legs, I kept pushing hard, desperately hoping that they wouldn't cross into another pack's territory, even just long enough to pin me down.

I was wrong, I found out moments later, as they continued right on my heels, until Tyler suddenly sprung forward, tackling me to the ground and pinning me there. I struggled wildly, though futilely, pleading with them to let me go, until I realised they'd fallen deathly silent. Even their breathless sounding pants had ceased.

"Get off me," I growled, trying to squirm under Tyler's heavy form, and heard a gruff laugh in response. "I can't say I've ever seen a pair of Lycans quite so eager to catch a witch before," a deep, masculine-sounding voice said with a touch of humour, and I felt Tyler tense on top of me.

Feeling the stranger's eyes on me, I looked up, as his gaze swept over me, seeming to notice every detail. He looked.. fearsome. Much larger than any of the Lycans I'd grown up with, and far more imposing. His eyes lingered a moment on the metal cuffs, before turning back to the twins, "And a powerless one at that. What'd she do, insult your mother?"

Quiet, mocking laughter came from a few others standing behind the intimidating figure, and I suddenly felt cold with fear. We'd clearly just been caught in another pack's territory, and this pack was not one that was known for its forgiveness.

"Alpha Saxon," Matteus almost choked the words out, the edge of fear in his voice obvious. "Yes?" the man responded, his tone sharper this time, "Is this the part where you make excuses for your willful trespassing?"

His question was met with silence, the twins seemingly rendered speechless, and he stepped forward, his heavy, black combat boots now inches from my face. "No excuses then?" he asked, and I gasped as Tyler was lifted off me, then thrown back towards Silver Waters' territory. Saxon lowered himself, and his voice, sounding a little kinder as he offered me his hand.

"Are you hurt?" he asked gently, and I shook my head, pushing myself up off the ground, but taking his hand gently as I stood. It felt impolite to ignore the gesture, and the Alpha of Crimson Forest pack was not a man I dared be rude to. His smile held a hint of amusement as I straightened, brushing myself off.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you, Alpha," I answered, keeping both my voice and my eyes lowered. He reached for my chin, tilting my face up towards him, and I swallowed, tensing as he deliberately made eye contact. My breath caught in my chest, my heart suddenly pounding. The man looked every bit as terrifying as his reputation, and then some, as he towered over me, meeting my eyes with a pair of piercing, icy blue ones, in a way that felt like they were penetrating my very soul.

His heavy, dark brows narrowed into a slight frown, "You hardly look it," he said gruffly, his thumb reaching to gently touch one of the scratches on my cheek. I winced, pulling away at the sudden sting, and immediately apologised, my eyes widening, "Sorry, Alpha. I guess the adrenaline.." I trailed off as his brows drew down further, and a low, dangerous sounding growth came from his throat.

He turned to the twins, much further back from us now, where Tyler had been thrown, Matteus having helped him to his feet. They clearly heard the growl too, turning to Saxon with looks of undisguised fear. "Why were you chasing her?" Saxon asked, with no small amount of anger, as he dropped his hand and stepped around me, his full attention on the twins now. "She's ours! She was trying to leave.." Tyler began petulantly, cutting off with a swift nudge and head shake from Matteus.

Saxon stepped closer, his posture menacing, even from where I stood behind him, "Yours?!" he growled, and Matteus moved in front of Tyler. "He means.. our pack's," he said unconvincingly, "She.. works for us. Her, and her mother too. She wasn't supposed to be out here.." His face was drained of colour, and his voice sounded desperate.

"'Works for you?'" repeated Saxon, sounding sceptical as he turned to look me over again, before turning back to Matteus. "Under what kind of conditions?" he asked, and both Matteus and Tyler shifted uncomfortably as their eyes did the same. For the first time ever, it seemed like my old, worn, ill-fitting clothing actually bothered them.

"I.. our father.." Matteus began, but Saxon suddenly stepped forward, backhanding him hard enough he stumbled and fell. "Your father?" Saxon growled, looking between the two of them, as Tyler rushed to his brother's side. "Yeah, our father. Alpha Yannick," he said as he lifted his chin pridefully, his eyes flashing with anger.

Saxon's demeanor changed in an instant, and he burst out in loud, mocking laughter that ceased just as abruptly. "Your father's dead, you sniveling little brats. That's why I'm here. Your Gamma wants to talk merger." The twins froze, shaking their heads in denial, and Saxon stepped closer again, looming over them as he lowered his voice threateningly, "So I guess I'll be your new Alpha."