Chapter Three – Lost

Ella's POV

I ventured deeper into the unfamiliar forest for hours, every step became a struggle. The pain in my ankle intensified with each hobbling movement, a constant reminder of my wounded state. The darkness surrounded me, and the night air carried a chill that seeped into my bones, causing me to shiver uncontrollably.

Alone, I desperately sought any signs of familiarity, any landmarks that could guide me to where Amelia explained. But I only became confused, foreign terrain offered no solace, no familiar landmarks to anchor my hope. I was a wanderer in a vast wilderness, with no sense of direction or purpose.

My mind raced with worry, as I felt some sound and conversation of the Alpha River's warriors, they must be on my trail, and I began to fear. Their menacing presence loomed behind me, driving me to push beyond the limits of my physical endurance. But with each agonising step, my ankle protested, sending waves of pain shooting through my body.

I shivered in pain and decided to hide for a while. While I treated my swollen ankle, I scoured the surroundings, searching for any sign of life or refuge. And then, a glimmer of hope flickered within me as I stumbled upon a cluster of herbs, their healing properties evident even in the dim moonlight.

....

I pondered upon which herb to pluck that would be the fast healing herb for my ankle, my trembling hands seemed guided by Lea, my wolf, I could feel the presence, Lea, stirring within me, her instincts merging with my own.

"Lea," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. "Which herb should we use? Which one will soothe the pain and aid in the healing?"

Lea's voice echoed within my mind, a soft, reassuring presence. "The purple blooms, Ella. They hold the power to ease your suffering and hasten the mending of your wounded ankle."

Her words brought a sense of clarity, and I carefully selected the purple blooms, their delicate petals cradled in the palm of my hand. I crushed them and added the right mixture, their fragrance intensified, carrying with it a soothing and healing properties, I felt relief. With a delicate touch, I applied the herbal paste to my throbbing ankle, a mixture of hope and desperation in each careful stroke.

Yet, even as the herbal remedy took effect, a new sensation coursed through me. It started as a subtle stirring deep within, a restlessness that mirrored the unease I felt in my own heart. Lea felt it too, shared in this restlessness. We both sensed the presence of our mate, an inexplicable connection that defied all logic.

Lea's voice grew excited within my mind, mirroring my own thoughts. "Ella, our mate is near. Can you feel it? The bond between us calls out, yearning for completion."

The realisation struck me like a bolt of lightning, that's why my sense is dulled and I end up following the smell of my mate instead of where Amelia describes, it's filling me with a mixture of hope and trepidation. How could this be? How could our mate be so close, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty? But there was no denying the truth that resonated within our souls. And I was grateful for escaping at the right time.

"I think I found her" A man called the attention of his companions "come this way I think someone's here" He called out to them. I was lost in yearning to bond with my mate and let my guard down.

I saw a group of Alpha River's men appear not far in the forest, their voices growing louder as they closed in. Panic surged within me, but Lea's presence anchored me, her instincts taking over.

"Shift, Ella," she commanded, urgency lacing her words. "I'll distract them. Trust me."

With a deep breath, I let go of my human form, allowing the transformation to envelop me. I don't shift into my wolf form regularly because I don't want Alpha River finding out, I stay the weak and fragile omega who can't even transform. I can feel the sensation of fur replacing skin, bones reshaping, and my senses heightening filled me with a primal exhilaration. Lea, my wolf is tiny but fast and agile, perfectly adapted to navigate these treacherous terrains and have great healing and mind link abilities.

Lea darted forward, her sleek snow white fur blending seamlessly with the shadows. She unleashed a series of haunting howls, drawing the men's attention. As they gave chase, Lea skillfully lured and evaded them, leading them on a wild chase through the underbrush.

With their focus diverted, take a break but my paws pound against the forest floor. And my hind leg caught in a hidden pit, causing me to tumble to the ground with a yelp of pain.

Shifting back into human form, I cradled my injured ankle, feeling the sharp throb radiate through my body. And making my ankle worsen.

"We can't stay here, Ella," she urged, her voice laced with urgency. "I can sense our mate nearby. We need to keep moving."

Through the haze of pain, I could sense the truth in her words. I can't wait to meet him. I had to find him, to discover the one who would be my anchor in this chaotic world.

Lea was restless and the hurting limb I was was weak but I can back down now, I summoned every ounce of strength to rise to my feet and moved forward, albeit more slowly, each step accompanied by a searing jolt of pain. But the anticipation of finding our mate fueled my determination and kept me going. I can't let them find me. I can't go back to that hell of a place.

Going deeper into the forest and following the scent, it was stronger, and it had a mixture of pine and earth. It enveloped me, it was everywhere now making me stop in my tracks to know which way to go, but the bond only grew stronger. It was as if an invisible thread pulled at our hearts, guiding us to our destined union.

Standing in the darkness and lost in the sweet smell, I felt a sharp pain in my leg, it must be a scorpion bite, or something worse, because the venomous sting of a that pierced my skin make my vision blurry making me I doubled over, and panting heavily as the venom coursed through my veins.

With each passing second, the world around me blurred, and consciousness slipped through my fingers. But amidst the encroaching darkness, and before the venom took over I felt the undeniable presence of my mate, and saw some shadows and heard some rustle near me. Before I could fall, I felt a comforting warm arms wrapped around my waist. I blinked lazily taking in his face, he was in his wolf form, his white fur covered his face and his honey eyes shimmer in the moonlight, he had a black patch on his left eye. And somehow now I've seen this wolf before.

"It's okay, I am here with you now." his sweet voice was soothing and what I needed the most at that time. Feeling secure and at ease, I let the darkness enveloped me. As I nestled into his warm arms.