Desires of the Moon

Her heart was beating like insane and her lungs were burning, yet the adrenaline still pumped through her veins, and Lena knew that the slightest of breaks could potentially make the difference between life and death. She looked to her left where Lucas still ran steadily, although somewhat weakened. To her right Cody also kept up the pace still attached to her arm, yet she felt her arm pulling him more than it did in the beginning. If only they could change, then they could go a lot faster. Alas, Cody was still too young and hadn't gained control of his wolf yet, so they had to flee in their human form. And besides, their scent would be a lot harder to track if they didn’t change. She tried to listen, to see if she could hear something, but all she heard was the impact of their feet on the ground and their heavy breathing. She felt a shimmer of hope; only a few more miles and they would be at the river, find the boat that Anders had prepared, and get away from this place. They had already run around ten miles and she felt so close now. Suddenly, she felt her right arm being pulled hard. Cody had tripped on a branch and fallen to the ground. She stopped running and so did Lucas. Cody was lying on the ground and she could hear him sob slightly, yet she quickly pulled him up.      “I can’t” Cody said with a muddled voice “I can’t go any further, it’s too hard”.  He gave a small sniff and looked down at the ground. Lena looked at his tearful, brown eyes - the same eyes as their mother’s eyes - and felt tempted to give in.      “I know Teddy, I know, but you are doing so well. You are so strong and so brave, and we’re almost there, I promise you! Just a few more steps and we’ll be able to rest, okay?” Lena was holding the chin of her youngest brother and padding his back while looking at him. Cody sniffed a bit and then nodded his head.      “Okay good, good… do you need some water before we go on?”  Cody nodded his head again, and Lena turned to her other brother.     “Lucas can you find the bottle of water please?” Lucas started roaming in his backpack, while Lena looked at him. Though he was only thirteen years old, he was strong and agile. Thank Goddess, Lena thought. Hadn’t he been, they would have been screwed. Lena might have been strong for a female, but she was not that strong. Then again, had he been weak then they might not have had to run in the first place.  Lucas gave the water to Cody, and Cody started drinking.      "Do you have any strength left?"  Lena looked at the oldest of her brothers. He was still too young to answer through mind link, however, she was able to talk to him. Lucas looked at her and nodded slowly.      "Good, ‘cause you know we’re close to dangerous territory here. We’re still on neutral  ground, but keep your senses clear."  Lucas smirked lightly and tilted his head.      "Right… I guess your senses are clear already, being that we’re on the run."  Cody coughed a bit and gave the bottle back. He smiled a little.      “Are you ready to go again?” Lena asked.  Cody’s smile faded, but he nodded and took his sister’s hand. Lena gave it a little squeeze and kissed his hair.      “That’s my Teddy, now let’s go” Cody stood up, but at the same time they heard howling in the distance. Both her brothers looked at their older sister.      “Run!” They ran as if a fire had been lit underneath them, even Cody was keeping up. Lena looked up and she glimpsed the riverbank in the distance. Just a little further and we’ll be safe, she said to herself. She started to run a bit faster, almost feeling the target when Lucas shouted at her.      “Lena, look, ahead!” Behind the trees at the riverbank, Lena saw two shapes appearing. f**k! She stopped immediately and felt the panic take over. She could feel Cody's heartbeat through her palm, and her senses intensified; her wolf was pressing through.      “What do we do?” Lucas said desperately.  Lena took a breath. She could hear the wolves coming from all corners, surrounding them. Every corner but one.      “Take this and your brother and run west to Lake Maroon” Lena handed him her backpack and let go of Cody’s hand. Lucas’ eyes widened.      “What?!”     “NOW!” Lucas pulled Cody’s hand and started running west. Lena took a breath and felt her wolf taking over. f**k it, they’ve already found us. Might as well fight to the end. She growled and felt her shifting. She then turned around following her brothers. While running she could hear wolves getting closer. She looked ahead and saw a tunnel, and through that, the lake. We have to be close. I can smell it, we have to be there very soon! All of the sudden she sensed a silhouette on her left.  She looked up and a great grey wolf attacked her. She barely escaped and tumbled to the side. She heard a child scream and looked at her brothers. They had stopped.      "Lucas I swear to the Moon Goddess, get your ass running, NOW!" Lucas nodded and pulled Cody, who was yelling in distress. Lena then got up and looked at her attacker.      "Did you really think you could escape, babe?" Ivan. She hated that perverted snake. She arched her back and showed her teeth. I only have to keep them at bay until Lucas and Cody have reached the lake, they won’t dare go pass the lake. Lena and Ivan looked at each other, growling, but they weren’t alone anymore - she could sense it. She looked to the left and another, smaller wolf approached, this time going for her brothers. f*****g Kati. She turned around and started chasing Kati. She could hear Ivan following her, but she was faster and caught up with the second wolf. Lena attacked Kati, and Kati whined as she tumbled underneath Lena. Lena took Kati by the throat and shovelled her to the side before looking towards her brothers. She was filled with happiness to see them having reached the tunnel. She got up to run, when she suddenly got pinned down. She felt an immense pain in her left shoulder where Ivan had plowed his teeth into her. Lena whined and tried to get up, but Ivan had captured her with his weight.      "You’re fast, babe, but not that fast." Lena started to feel the power escape her and her wolf weakening. She tried turning to see her brothers, but Ivan only pierced his teeth even further, and she felt her wolf leaving her as she screamed out in pain. As she changed back to her human form, Ivan stopped biting and pinned her down with his paws. Kati had gotten up now and started growling, looking like she was ready to kill.      "You stupid b***h, you’ll pay for this!" Lena looked up at the two wolves, naked and weaker than she ever remembered having been. She started smiling.      “At least I’m not the one who couldn’t capture two young boys. I’m pretty sure you’re gonna pay as well, Kati.” Kati started growling at Lena and looked like she was going to kill her, when Kati’s eyes suddenly shifted and looked up. A massive shadow leaped over Lena and she heard Ivan whine in pain. An enormous black wolf ripped Ivan’s throat open. The bleeding was extreme and soon Ivan stopped moving, lying dead. The black wolf then swiftly charged at Kati, biting down on Kati’s back and threw her around ten feet through the air. Kati wailed and the black wolf growled at her but didn't attack further. The black wolf stared at Kati for some time before she got up and humped away.      “Alpha, what should we do with this one?” The voice came from behind Lena, and she noticed several shapes surrounding her. Then the black wolf turned to look at her. Their eyes met and she felt a shiver down her entire body, her wolf reacting inside of her. Mate. The black wolf stood and looked at her for a while before turning around, passing Lena. The little strength she experienced through their eye contact disappeared and she suddenly felt incredibly weak. She vaguely sensed having a blanket wrapped around her and getting picked up before she passed out.