Cinderella In The Wilderness

A tingling sensation began to spread through River’s body and was soon followed by a low hum that reverberated from deep within the safe.

The carved symbols thumped with blue light, and then, with a click, the safe door swung open.

It worked!

Relief washed over River as jubilant laughter escaped her lips regardless of all the shits going on around her now. Her mother's letter was wrapped in a leather pouch. It lay nuzzled on a silver linen in the safe.

She sighed happily, picking it up. “Here you are.”

But the sound of approaching footsteps ruined the moment for her.

“Argh. What do they want?!” She hollered to herself with gritted teeth.

Glancing at the door, she saw shadows stretching across the floor. Time was running out.

“Shit!”

She hastily grabbed the pouch and slammed the safe shut. It didn't matter if Echo and Gonzalo were coming for her for God knows why.

She had what she came for.

Turning on her heel, she sprinted towards the window with her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she reached it, the door burst open, revealing Echo and Gonzalo standing in the doorway.

"River! Where are you going?" Echo exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

Look at her acting as though she were a mother looking out for her kid. Imagine a mother who snatched her daughter’s dream man from her.

Had Echo no shame?

"It's not your concern," River snapped back, tears welling up in her eyes once again. "Don't you come to act the mother role, Echo. You're my sister, and if you must know, I River Sassalos am no longer a sister of yours. And where I am going to? Somewhere far away from you and your lies!”

Gonzalo stepped forward with a frown on his face. "This is absurd, River. You can't just leave. Don't you know what lurks in the night? Rogues, even vampires. They prey on lone and weak wolves like yourselves. It won't do…”

What the hell?

He had the guts to throw her insecurities in her face like they weren't already hurting her self-esteem already. Gosh, she couldn't believe she had waited all her for this rotten man!

Yet, seeing how subtly his lips parted as he said those words to her did something to her insides. It made her want to…

Hold up. What the hell was she thinking about right now? Argh. Get a grip, River.

"I don't need your advice, Gonzalo," She turned to him and retorted, her anger flaring her nostrils. "I can take care of myself. Go to hell!”

Echo tried another approach. "Ry, please. It's useless to run. If you try, my men will find you and bring you back."

Huh? Now, she was trying to threaten her, wasn't she? How could she have missed this cold, heartless, and unremorseful side of Echo all of her life?

She’d be damned before she wasted any more of her time in the presence of these two worthless Alphas.

"My name’s River, you bitch. And oh, catch me if you can," River growled at her sister before flinging open the window with a crash.

The cool night air whipped against her face, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth crashing on her. It was a familiar fragrance that now represented freedom to River.

She had always thought being in the four walls of this house was freedom. Freedom from all the judgments and humiliations she faced at the hands of the pack members.

Guess none was different.

Without another word, she leaped out, landing on the ground below with a grunt. She fell on her elbow which sent a jab of short pain within her.

“River!” She could hear Echo screaming at her but she gave no damn.

For a moment, she stood there was wondering, pondering, and strategizing on where to turn to next. Realization just dawned on her that she really was nothing without the protections and four arms of Echo.

It was why the betrayal stung even harder. Yet, it was why she sought this change even hungrier. She needed away from all of this.

She wouldn't be a helpless omega anymore. She would carve her own path, a path where she was valued, not judged. She made her way into the wilderness where the pack’s borders lay.

.

.

Now, in the forest, the damp ground crunched with every step River took forward, branches and leaves getting in her way here and there.

Things had been going well for her before a sharp prick sent a jolt of pain through her finger.

“Damn it!” She cursed under her breath, glancing down at the tiny red gash left by a hidden thorn that she hadn't noticed and had gotten pricked by.

Instinct urged her to lick the wound. It was a childhood habit that brought another wave of nostalgia through her.

One thing was sure, she’d have a hard time forgetting about Echo as it’d be to forget about Gonzalo too.

But before she could lick off her wound, a sharp crack from behind her froze her movement. Her head snapped around, eyes scanning the shady undergrowth.

More cracks followed, closer this time, accompanied by the rustle of leaves. Panic gripped her throat as a cold sweat broke out on her skin.

She wasn't alone!

“Oh, no. Oh, no.” She muttered to herself, petrified.

Echo and Gonzalo would only laugh at her should she die in the hands of rogues in this wilderness tonight. She owed it to herself to survive.

Weaponless and vulnerable, she cursed her naivety. The years spent within the protective walls of the pack had left her unprepared for the wilderness. With a hopeful glance around, she spotted a large, hollowed-out log that was half-hidden under a curtain of ferns.

“I’ll just hide and wait whatever it is out.” She whispered to herself and scrambled towards it.

She squeezed inside, trying so hard not to groan out for if any of what she heard turned out to be vampires or rogue wolves, they’d pick up on the sound as easy as it was to blink.

The damp wood pressed uncomfortably against her skin as she wriggled into it. Once there, she heaved a sigh of relief and waited patiently inside.

Moments later, two figures emerged from the trees. River gulped. Here goes nothing…

The figures definitely weren't animals as their laughter echoed through the clearing. Moonlight glinted off their muscular torsos, their chests bare and exposed.

Eughh. Why were they shirtless? River squinted her face in disgust. Men without shirts only reminded her of Gonzalo.

Right now, one thing she was sure of was that those figures she had just seen belonged to Rogue wolves. In a nutshell, it meant she was deeply into shit.

However, she’d be safe if she waited them out. So, she watched them head straight for the spot she'd just vacated.

“Oh, please, no.” She groaned to herself. “That is the only path out of here.”

Muttering a curse under her breath, she cursed her ill luck. Not now, not when she needed this path. These rogues were scavengers and driven by base instincts. A lone girl, especially one as vulnerable as she was wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Yet, should they spot her, she’d have no choice but to defend herself from them. She wasn't done thinking about that when another sound came from behind her.

This one sounded clear and loud. It sounded like Echo’s men searching for her as she had promised.

“Where is she?”

“I can catch her scent around here.”

“This way!”

This time, River wasn't the only one at alert on hearing the sounds. The rogue wolves on her path also snapped into attention, bracing themselves for whatever was coming through.

Oh, gosh, River shut her eyes in frustration. She didn't ask for this. She only wanted to escape to the human world in peace. When Echo’s men arrived, a battle sure would transpire between them and the rogue wolves for sure.