Ordinary

Trashy Super Natural Novels

DeAnne

As Charlotte curled up on my bed and drifted into a fitful nap, due to her body temperature. I sat beside her and began reading the novel she'd crammed into my hands. After a couple of hours, I put the book down and looked at my daughter curled beside me. Tears filling my eyes.

This simply wasn't possible. Charlotte was only 19. But if the book in my hands was accurate and not simply fiction, she was overdue to meet or attract a mate. And because she was in heat, she'd either found one or her body was attracting the strongest male in her proximity to mate and claim her. To form a permanent bond for the rest of her life.

Against her will.

How had my daughters gotten involved in this madness? I couldn't let this happen to her. If the book was correct, it was likely too late for Serenity. And I hoped it had been her choice alone, but Charlotte was still young. Innocent. I had to get her away from this place.

Serenity visited us a couple of times that day. Even opting to have lunch with us in my quarters. After she protested that I smelled as well,.. I showered and finished the book Charlotte had given me. I kept her as cool as I could, but she was restless, almost appearing to be in pain.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful. My children coming and going, sometimes alone. Sometimes in groups. As the quiet of the night settled over the castle. I rose silently and began tying together the linen curtains.

We were getting the hell out of Wrenhaven.

I woke Charlotte, placing my finger over her mouth. Her eyes focused in understanding. "Follow me" I said, tipping out to the balcony. Throwing a leg over the baluster rail and repelling down the makeshift linen drape rope.

Once my feet hit the dirt, my heart stuttered in disbelief. I can't believe I just did that. Charlie bumped into me unsteadily, sweaty glistening on her skin. Not just exertion, but the heat consuming her body.

We darted from shadow to shadow, quickly making the treeline. The best option would be to make it to my SUV, but I wasn't sure how we could get outside that gate. We'd have to go on foot, until we could find help.

Carrying the pilfered water and snacks in a bundle over my shoulder, I grabbed her hand and pulled her behind me.

The woods were dark, the moon not even able to penetrate the canopy to light our path. Charlie, pushed me behind her. She seemed to be able to see better than me in the murky darkness.

She stopped short, I bumped into her back. She felt like she was made of Steele as well. What were they doing to my children in this mysterious place... i mused silently.

Frantically, Charlie grabbed my hand and began to run at full human sprint, fleeing as if being chased by the shadows surrounding us. Of course, I could hear nothing, but the sounds of nature quieting around us. That should have been warning enough, but I was human. We don't listen to our instincts.

But Charlie could hear them. The alarms. The pursuit, the patrols trying to surround us. Trying to drive us towards a place where they could corral us and stop our flight.

Then I could here them.

I stopped. Not allowing her to pull me further. Frantically searching for a place to hide.

But what did I know of wolves? What had I learned? They were tracking our scent.

I pushed her down, into the soft mud...caking us both in the muck. Then I pushed her towards the largest tree, and forced her to begin climbing.

They weren't bears or panthers. We should be fine,

Perched high above, we would wait them out. In the morning, we would make our final push to freedom. I secured a linen wrap around Charlotte as she panted against the tree, ensuring she wouldn't fall. I hugged behind her, trying to offer her some comfort. At least a mother's healing touch.

Despite my exhaustion and the waning of my adrenaline, I couldn't drift off. The circling patrols below in full wolf form didn't cease, creating an ever decreasing circle around our location. I watched them pass below no fewer than six times, before a final group met at the bottom of the tree and stopped.

These wolves were larger than all the others. One seemed to be having trouble controlling himself. Clint?

But it wasn't Clint. As they shifted. My gasp gave us away.