The Keeper

Chapter 2

Later that night, after cleaning the kitchen in silence with Margret and a few others, I sat down for my meal of the day. That’s right; I was permitted one measly meal at the end of each day, the leftovers from everyone. Alpha Sampson had always said,

‘The scraps go to the trash.’

I always thought of the Alpha as the ultimate caregiver. They protect each and every member of the pack. Before the Luna’s death, that was what Alpha Sampson was like, though now I am positive he would sacrifice me to save his fleas. He made his life mission to make me as miserable as he is; my scars are an everlasting reminder of his hatred towards me.

As I sat at the edge of my bed, a rickety frame with a mattress that had more springs than foam, with my arms at my side, fingers dug into the mattress and my head hung low. I took a deep breath to try and calm my mind. Each night was the same, having to ease myself into sleep knowing what was to come. The nightmares of Luna’s death along with everything after, replaying in my dreams like a horror movie. I lay down and pulled the sheet over myself, and stared at the moon through my window until I fell asleep.

“Wake up, Celeste.” I didn’t know this voice, but I had just gone to sleep, and I was not ready to start work that day or any other day for that matter

“It’s time, Celeste. Wake up.” The voice continued, slowly opening one eye at a time, I looked around to see no one in my room.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” I demanded.

“Celeste, I am not in your room, but rather in your head and heart. But now is not the time. You’re no longer safe here. It’s time to go, I will help you out of here and explain when we are clear, but you must go now.” She pleaded.

“Okay.” I said slowly.

If I had to trust anyone, it would have been I at that time in my life. I threw the flimsy sheet from my bed and grabbed the first pieces of clothing I could find. A tattered sweater and a pair of gym shorts, I was sure, had belonged to a 13 year old boy before I fished them out of the rubbish, I put on my shoes, then I asked,

“What now?”

“Head straight to the kitchen; I sense your path is clear. Once you’re out the door, go to the southernmost border.” The voice said.

I stuck my head out the door and checked to see if the path was indeed clear. With one foot in front of the other, I made my way through the house to the back door, closing the door quietly. I let out the breath I’d been holding in, and my heart was racing. I am blindly following the unknown voice to escape an invisible danger.

Running as fast as my legs would allow, being that my fitness isn’t as great as it could be. I’d say it has something to do with the lack of sustenance and training that all other children gain in the pack, I might be 17, but I look like a 14 year old boy. The boy part is because the last time the alpha was angry he took it out on me, the next pack over would not sign an alliance for whatever reason, he gave me a beating then he publicly and forcefully shaved my head.

“Stop here, get under the bushes until I say” the voice said

Shimmying under, I stay frozen with fear, fear of what I’m not sure yet, but I listen carefully. The sounds of mumbled chatting and leaf matter crunching under their feet begin to get so close that I stop breathing altogether.

“Can you believe their plans? I mean, I don’t know her origin, but it can’t be that bad. She was a child when she arrived here.” One patrol guard said

“I know, man, she is his mate, reject her if you must, but to kill her, it’s a little extreme.” The other replied with distaste.

Shit are they talking about me? I came as a child; I don’t know my story…

“I wish we could help, but the Alpha compelled us all to stay away, even talking to her is punishable”

They are talking about me, they planned to kill me, and my mate is Jaxon. I want to puke. What kind of game are you playing moon goddess. I kept listening as they moved on, knowing the voice was right; I have to get out of here now.

“Go now, you will know when you have crossed the border, and when you do, you must denounce the pack and reject the mate you were given.” The voice sounded noticeably more urgent.

I ran the short distance from my hiding spot to the invisible border, and the voice was right, I felt it when I crossed, the safety of the pack lands gone, not that it was ever safe for me.

“You have to do it now, hurry! Use your real name, Celeste Whitlock.” It screamed at me.

“I Celeste Whitlock denounce The Shadow Pack and the Alpha Sampson Black as my Alpha.” I had no idea of my last name.

“I Celeste Whitlock reject you, Jaxon Black as my mate.” The pang of pain radiated through my body

“Run” the voice said as a howl of heartbreak resounded through the air.

I picked myself up and kept running, I don’t know where I was going to go, but I trusted the voice more than ever now, so I’ll follow it wherever it will take me. I lost a shoe somewhere along the way. The tattered sweater was sticking uncomfortably to my sweat covered body, but I knew I had to keep going. The howling of the wolves following me getting louder, I must push harder, I have to keep going, I refuse to die at their hands for reasons unknown to me.

“Can they track me through my scent?” I ask the voice.

“You have no scent, but you have to keep going.” It replied.

“Who are you? Where are you? Why do I have no scent?” I ask again.

“You will find all the answers soon, but you must get to where you need to be.”

Well, I do love a good mystery book, but this is a little weird. I feel like I have been running for days. My shoeless foot is cut and bleeding, I decide to take off my other shoe and throw it as far as I can in the other direction. I can only hope I am going the right way, the voice hasn’t said otherwise and now the sun is starting to rise, I must be close.

I can see buildings in the distance, and I start to slow down, surveying the area around me for anything that could be a threat to me. I am sore, tired, and starving.

Coming to the edge of the little town I have come upon, I can sense this is a human town; maybe I could hide here and rest for a minute.