A Mate Without A Mark

8. Challenging Traps That Nearly Killed Me

Cindy

After around three minutes of nonstop running, I slowed down and braced my body on a tree. No forest creatures could be heard other than the birds flying above.

If I wanted to win and show that I'm not a pushover, I needed to be careful. This place wasn't my terrain. Anything could be waiting for me up ahead and I wouldn't know how to deal with it.

So I speed walked instead. There wasn't much time left before Elijah and his crew would come dashing between the trees and pass by me. I could not let that happen.

Overgrown tree roots. Some areas allowed a large quantity of sunlight to pass through, some didn't. No footprints belonging to dangerous wild animals. I was beginning to think that the wild animal story was mustered up to get me to freak out. Not happening, Mr. Tough Guy.

This would have all been easier if I was a werewolf.

I shook my head and started jogging. Don't think about that, Cindy. You need to finish this as a human. Don't put yourself down.

Once I had a feel of the forest, I got more confident and began running again. I spotted the same tree with orange leaves that I saw when I was on the cliff, so I knew I was halfway across the valley. The others must have started running by now. I needed to be faster.

Just as I thought that, I felt a sting on my leg. Like a dead man coming to life, something rose from the ground, causing me to drop backward.

A rectangular contraption made out of wood with wooden stakes along the edges. That's all I could see before it fell on me. I closed my eyes, preparing for the fall.

Nothing happened. My eyes opened and I moved the hand that was shielding my face. I was stuck in a gap between two of the stakes. My heart beat rapidly in my ear. If I was unlucky, one of those spikes could have gone straight into my stomach.

Someone howled in the distance. No time to sit here. I needed to hurry.

With every ounce of my being, I used both hands and pushed the trap up as high as it could go. I maneuvered my body until my lower half was no longer being held down.

When I released the trap, it dropped to the ground with a thud. I needed to continue, but more carefully.

Spotting a long stick nearby, I picked myself up and grabbed it. This would come in handy.

_______

Glen

"You're lying, right?" This couldn't be true.

Doctor Chambers shook her head. "It's only speculation. Around the time you were born, someone recognized your mother and Alpha Colt at a festival in a town across the border."

"That doesn't mean anything." I stepped back until I landed in my chair. "They... they're in-laws. Is something wrong if they like hanging out with each other?"

"Alone?" Dr. Chambers raised her eyebrow. "Without anyone knowing?"

"Two grown adults don't need permission."

She sighed and stood in front of me. "The same day that the rumor started, the teenager who said they saw them was called into Alpha Colt's office. She retracted her statement the day after."

Well, that settles it. "See? He cleared up the misunderstanding."

"Do you know José? Trustworthy guy, right? Likes to tend to his kids and his garden."

I thought about it for a second. "I haven't heard about him since I was a child. People still mention him even though he betrayed us and moved to another pack."

"That's a lie." I waited for her to elaborate. With a shake of her head, she took up a chair close by and set it beside me. "José came to me the night before he left. He had a wound below his neck that he claimed Alpha Colt made and that he was being kicked out. I was shocked. I know what you're thinking, 'the Alpha must have had a good reason to do this'. José informed me in a whisper that he found out Alpha Colt was having an affair with someone close to him."

Anger traveled from my chest to my head. All this fuss over a bunch of rumors? "Of course, he would have every reason to lie if he was being kicked out. My uncle probably did it for a good reason! You're a respectable specialist here in Maple Pack, Doctor Chambers, but I can't believe you spent your spare time dealing out rumors instead of sticking to your profession."

"I understand why you're getting upset, and I see there's nothing I can say to convince you. How about this..."

There was no way what Dr. Chambers told me was true. I knew it in my gut. Yet, I still agreed to her plan and sneaked into my room without my mother knowing. I listened closely for her knock on the front door. Once I heard it, I knew it was time to sneak down the stairs.

Dr. Chambers and my mother have always had what I considered to be a good relationship. Maybe more than that. Though that didn't mean Dr. Chambers knew what she was talking about.

I stayed in the middle of the staircase, one wall away from the kitchen where the two women were.

As usual, Mom served her guest lemonade and asked about her day. She had her hair in a loose bun, her contagious smile on full display.

They carried on their conversation without direction. I wished Cindy was here with me. She would tell me something stupid just to weird me out to the point where I wasn't annoyed anymore.

Finally, just when I was getting bored, Dr. Chambers popped the question. "Julia, there's actually a reason I came to see you."

"Oh my, is it about my Glenny Boo?"

Mom, I told you to stop calling me that!

"Not really. He's fine by the way." She paused. "His condition, however, has a lot in common with what Alpha Colt went through in his teenage years."

"Is that so?" My mother's usually hyper voice softened. "It must run in the family."

Dr. Chambers continued. "I'm sure you heard of the rumors surrounding your relationship with the Alpha. I'm going to cut to the point. Are they true? Did you have an affair with Alpha Colt?"

Silence. No confirmation or denial. Mom, tell her it's not true. Tell her you're only friends.

Mom finally responded. "I... I remember that I haven't cleaned the living room yet. Chambers, you may leave. The cleaning solution drives my nose crazy every day, I can't imagine what it would do to you."

"Julia, come on! You know me, you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt your reputation." When Mom didn't answer, Dr. Chambers went on. "I've been hearing these rumors for years, yet I've always ignored them. But after seeing so many signs, I can't ignore it any longer."

Mom got up from her stool. "I can't listen to this any longer." She turned to the doctor. "You're asking if I betrayed my husband, the Beta of this pack. He had done so much for us and loves me dearly! Why would I commit such an ungrateful act?"

"Julia, I know you!" After realizing she yelled, Dr. Chambers calmed herself. "I know that you always get defensive when you're trying not to tell a lie."

That's it. She caused too much distress to my mother with these stupid allegations and now Mom was upset. I was prepared to walk down the rest of the steps when I heard Mom crying.

"Please," she sobbed. "Please don't tell Glen."

________

Cindy

Thanks to the dirty stick in my hand, so far I've avoided getting my leg amputated by a bear trap, falling into a ditch, a bright green spider, and a flying net. I could make out the sound of their howls. They weren't far. If they wanted to catch up with me, they would.

They were probably taunting me, thinking they could drive me crazy by announcing their presence. Jokes on them, because I have a certain prize directly in my line of sight.

A yellow and blue flag standing erect, dancing with the wind. To be completely honest, my legs were tired as hell and my heart wouldn't stop pounding all the way here. I leaned over and tried to catch my breath. At last, I'm here.

I needed to take the blue flag and hurry back. My hand almost grazed the blue flag when I felt four paws on my back.

Whoever it was used me to launch themselves forward and grabbed the yellow flag with its mouth. That's not all.

They snagged up the blue flag as well.

My eyes widened. They wouldn't...

They were in the form of a dark brown wolf. They started to run away, but they couldn't, because I held on to their legs.

"Not a chance," I spat.