Soren's Blackfire Luna(Breeder#5)

Chapter 5: I Have to Get Out of Here

*Mila*

My head pounded. It felt swollen and huge. It was so heavy, I couldn't lift it. That's when I realized I was lying down.

“If not, I'll send someone after him," a sudden voice echoed around me.

It was him again. It was the voice I'd been dreaming about, the voice that had kept me grounded… Soren.

He pulled me from the darkness. I started coming back to myself and my body. My mind hovered between unconsciousness and wakefulness. Back and forth I drifted from being aware and being unaware.

It was as if I was part of two worlds, the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Would I ever be able to wake up? Would I see daylight again and be free of this endless dream?

I was trapped in a prison. A prison made by my own mind and body. I didn't even know if it was real or part of the dream. Regardless, I clung to that voice hoping it would pull me back to reality completely.

“Are you sure you should be putting so much effort into this girl?" a female voice asked. I vaguely remembered hearing her name… Ashley.

I tried to open my eyes but my eyelids were too heavy. They stuck together, refusing to let any light in. I couldn't see who was talking or where they were. Whatever they were talking about was important and I had enough sense to listen.

“I know you've been keeping an ear out. Have you heard anything in the town or from outsiders?" Soren asked, clearly ignoring the original question.

“Not much," she replied, her answer was a bit curt.

“Ashley, tell me." Soren obviously didn't fully believe her.

Ashley complained, “You know I don't like to listen to gossip and I don't believe rumors. It hasn't been easy to figure out what is true."

“There has to be some truth in them," Soren chuckled, like a spoiling big brother trying to persuade his naughty baby sister to do her homework.

“So says you. I know otherwise. You can't trust the rumors spread by drunk shifters. They tend not to see reality."

If I could have smiled, I would have. She sounded like someone I would get along with. I tried to smile but my mouth wouldn't move. I didn't even know where my mouth was.

“Alright, that is all true. So what you've heard? Mind sharing so I can determine what is worth investigating?" Soren suggested patiently.

“If that's how you want it. Well, one rumor that seems to be common is that she is a fugitive from the crown. You know the Alpha King's preferences… a pretty girl like that. She could be on the run from him."

I had nothing to do with the Alpha King… if anything, I was the total opposite of a royal.

“Hmm… No, that seems unlikely. She was on foot. It would be hard to get far from the palace on foot with all the guards. And if she was one of the Alpha King's, then you can bet he had a lot of security on her. What else?"

“Well… I did hear something else. The details are a bit sketchy. I'm not sure how much you want to read into it."

“Go ahead," Soren encouraged.

“There's a pack looking for someone but they wouldn't reveal who they were looking for, only saying that it's their Alpha's order. Do you have any guesses on what they might be after?"

My mind spun again and I hoped Soren would speak before I lost consciousness and missed out on the rest of their conversation.

Soren grunted coldly and scoffed. “What else could they be after? Power and wealth of course. Not much else gets them so enthusiastic, or secretive."

“You think she has power and wealth?" Ashley asked.

Soren didn't answer her. I wished I could see his expression. After a little silence, he finally said, “Let me know if you hear anything more about this pack and who they are after."

“I'll keep you informed."

Dread welled inside of me. This male whose voice kept me solid was just like everyone else! He was nothing more than an ambitious jerk that wanted to use me for his own benefit. That's exactly what I'd been running from, wasn't it?

He was only keeping me around until he could figure out exactly how I could be used to benefit him.

I just wanted my freedom.

What was worse, if what Ashley said was true… If there was a pack searching for “someone," it could have been the Norwind Pack.

I knew the “someone" they were looking for.

Me.

“Soren, what if their… ventures have something to do with this girl?" Ashley asked, echoing my fears.

I wondered if I'd somehow telepathically communicated that to her since it echoed my concerns so perfectly.

“We should find that out, sooner rather than later," Soren said gruffly.

Suddenly, a memory flashed behind my closed eyes. I remembered running through the desert. The sand was so hot it blistered my bare feet. My throat was dry and raw, making it impossible to swallow or talk. Wind tossed the sand around and grains pelted my skin like little bullets. No matter how far I went, danger closed in on me.

Wherever I was, I wasn't safe!

I had to leave this place. I had to wake up and run!

I mustered as much strength as possible and tried to will my body to move. It wouldn't but I could feel my arms and legs. They were heavy as lead.

“Help me, Moon Goddess," I called out in my mind. “Help me find a way back to my body and my life. Please, guide me back to the real world so I can find safety."

In the darkness, a pinprick of light appeared above my forehead. It grew as it got closer to me. Slowly, it descended into my forehead.

My body Instantly felt light and as if I was floating. My movements were still slow and sluggish, but I could sense myself again.

All the mist, fog, and darkness I'd been drowning in cleared in my mind and everything inside of me got lighter and brighter. I thought I was in a dark cave, that I'd been spinning around endlessly looking for the entrance, and now I could finally see it.

A light came from the entryway and I got up and ran toward it.

As soon as I ran through the door of light, my eyes opened, but my eyelids were extremely heavy. I wasn't sure how long I would be able to stay awake like this.

The next second, my body flared with pain. My joints ached, my skin burned, and my hands and feet were so sore. Every muscle was like being stabbed with a million needles.

Each breath was agony so I inhaled faster and shallower.

Tears stung my eyes, leaking out the corners. They were searing hot on my skin like someone was pouring scalding hot water on my face.

How could I be in this much pain!? I hadn't felt it at all while I'd been unconscious.

Now, the blood in my veins was on fire, burning me up from the inside.

My mind grew fuzzy again and the fogginess started tugging at my ankles. It was tempting for me to give in to it, because in the fog, I'd been numb, and my suffering would stop.

No! I had fought myself awake and I needed to stay awake. I needed to get out of there!

For the sake of my survival, I slowed my breathing down. I needed to know where I was and who was nearby. If I focused on that, I could force myself to push through the worst of pain.

I was lying on a bed. The room was unfamiliar. It looked like it belonged to an inn or tavern of some kind, yet I didn't recognize the decor or anything about the room.

How had I gotten there?

I tensed against the excruciating agony and finally managed to turn my head just enough so I could see who was in the room with me.

There were two people standing near the door talking to each other.

One was a tall man. He was well-built and muscular. He had a pair of stunning grayish blue eyes and jet black hair. While he was slightly older, in his thirties, perhaps, he was one of the most handsome men I'd ever seen.

Also, somewhere in my mind, he seemed familiar, and I wanted to be close to him…

I snapped out from my illogical thoughts of the man and checked out the woman next to him. She looked younger and defiant but she was definitely respectful when talking to him.

As my vision cleared, I strained my eyes and looked around the room. It wasn't a typical customer room at an inn, instead, more like someone's personal, private space. Nice and cozy.

Try as I might, I couldn't remember where I was or how I'd gotten there.

I closed my eyes and another flare of pain shot through me. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out!

My only advantage right now was they didn't know I was awake. I wanted to keep it that way until I could figure out how to escape from them.

“Oh, it looks like it is time to change her medicine," Ashley commented, a bit annoyed for some reason. “Lee also included a painkiller? For what reason? It doesn't seem like she has visible wounds!"

Frantically, I slowed my breathing down and relaxed my face and my eyelids, pretending I was still unconscious. It was the only way I could think of to protect myself at this moment.

In any case, medicine was welcome, especially if a painkiller was offered.

Both the woman and the man were so close to me that I could feel them moving just inches away. I was completely vulnerable. If they knew I was awake, they'd want answers.

I just had to focus on remaining still and calm until the painkiller kicked in.

Still, calm, quiet. I repeated those words to myself again and again until that was all I knew and all I embodied.

Ashley administered the medication with a shot and I managed to stay still. Now all I had to do was wait until they left. Then I could escape.

However, the painkiller given to me wasn't enough to ease my discomfort entirely. I kept my body as still as possible, but I was distressed.

Suddenly, someone's hands came down on my skin, although they were warm and soft, a bolt of pain shot through my arm like lightning.

An uncontrollable tremble rippled through me and Ashley immediately pulled her hands away.

Crap! I had no idea Ashley would rub cream over me. Now they must have realized I was faking it!