CHAPTER 5
1079 Words
L E I L A N I
Two weeks had passed since my encounter with the strange Alpha, and I had yet to be able to leave the compound. My body still ached from the whipping I had received, and the other prisoners had taken to taunting me.
But today, I was having a breather because their long awaited mating ceremony was tonight, and they were all excited.
I was relieved. I would get a reprieve from their abuse.
I was released from the cell a few days ago, still weak from having little to no food and getting sick from the bacteria that had gotten into the cuts from the whipping.
The pack was busy preparing for the ceremony, and I took the opportunity to slip away and explore the woods surrounding the camp.
As I walked through the trees, I couldn't help but wonder how the wolves were able to sustain themselves. They didn't seem to have any jobs or sources of income, and yet they were always well fed and clothed.
It was a mystery that would probably never be solved.
I have finally come to a decision. I was running away today. It was the perfect timing. When no one would notice that I was gone, and even if they did, they wouldn't care. Or would they?
They were too busy with their own celebration.
I couldn’t afford to be caught, it was going to be a straight death sentence if they did. And I wasn't ready to die yet. Not until I've made them pay for all the pain they have caused me.
The ceremony began in the night, the full moon was out and Alphas from various packs were present. The pack was bustling with activity, everyone was dressed in their finest clothes, and the air was thick with excitement.
Unmated female wolves were paraded around like show dogs, and the males were vying for their attention.
It was a sickening display, and I wanted no part of it.
But I couldn't tear my eyes away from the spectacle.
The wolves were beautiful in their own way, their bodies strong and powerful, their movements fluid and graceful. They were a sight to behold, and for a moment, I almost forgot that they were monsters.
Almost.
And I saw him. The Alpha from that night. He was standing on a dais, a crown of golden leaves upon his head. He was the center of attention, and every wolf in the room was vying for his approval.
He looked even more breathtaking than I remembered, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light. He was a king amongst his people, a god in their world. One could tell that they all feared him. He was so mysterious.
I felt a pang of something in my chest, a strange mix of longing and envy. I wanted to be up there with him, to be the one he chose, but at the same time, I knew it was a foolish dream.
He was a monster, and I was a human.
We were from two different worlds, and we could never be together.
I should be focusing on my escape, not on a monster who had used me and discarded me like a piece of trash.
But I couldn't help but stare at him, a moth drawn to a flame.
I needed to get out of here before I did something stupid.
Their mating usually happened with the wolves being fully transformed. They would find their mates, and then they would consummate their union under the full moon.
It was a barbaric ritual, and I wanted no part of it.
And then turn by turn, the Alphas started to transform. The sound of bones cracking and reshaping filled the air, and the sight of them shifting was both terrifying and mesmerizing.
The wolves were a sight to behold, their fur glistening under the moonlight, their muscles rippling with power. They were a force of nature, and I was a mere human, a pawn in their game.
The sound of their howls filled the night, a primal call to the wild. Their beast in its form would immediately detect their mates and they would then run off into the woods together to consummate their union.
And just like that, the wolves started to pair off, their howls echoing through the night.
I stood there, frozen in place, as the wolves transformed and paired off. I was a spectator to a ritual that was both beautiful and terrifying.
And then, it was just him. The last Alpha left standing on the dais.
He hadn't transformed.
He was looking around, a frown on his face. He was searching and sniffing for something, or someone.
My heart hammered in my chest, and I took a step back, hoping to disappear into the shadows.
But it was too late.
His amber eyes locked onto mine, and a jolt of electricity shot through me. He had found me.
And he uttered one word that made my blood run cold.
"Mate."
And I did the first thing that came to my mind.
I ran.
I ran for the freedom I craved that was about to be stolen from me if I do as much as waste another second.
I pushed through the crowd of wolves, ignoring their shocked gasps and angry snarls. I didn't care.
All I cared about was escaping.
I ran for my life, the sound of his furious howl echoing through the night. I ran until my lungs burned and my legs ached, but I didn't stop.
I couldn't stop.
I had too much at stake. I couldn’t live another life, being under their thumb. No. Never. I had promised myself that I would never allow myself to be a prisoner again.
I was not theirs.
They will not claim me again and leave me to another round of torture and humiliation.
So, I ran.
And as the sun rose over the horizon, I finally stopped, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
I looked around, trying to get my bearings. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I had to keep moving. I could still hear their howls in the distance, but they were growing fainter.
I had escaped.
For now.
But the fear in my chest remained.
Because I knew that he would never stop hunting me.
He would never let me go.
Because I was his mate.
- Writer
