Anonymous

"Run"

Chapter 1:

POV Catalina (Cata):

“Run or die.” That’s what the voice inside my head told me even though my legs were screaming for me to stop running. I have been kept locked up for years, abused by a sadistic man who claimed to be my father, so this much running was new to me. “Catalina, get back here now.” Roared my rogue father, Emilio. Unlike my father, I have never shifted, and I was weak from being chained, beaten, starved, and tested on for the past 11 years, but I was prepared to run until I died of exhaustion.

“Run into that cave and focus Cata.” Said the voice inside my head again. I looked over to the cave and made a sharp turn. However, I did not see the tree root that was sticking out of the ground and tripped. I fell and rolled into the cave, hitting my head on a rock. I touched my head and felt the gushing of blood. I was slipping out of consciousness, so I prayed to the moon goddess, “please help me.” Then everything turned black.

*Dreaming* I was in a beautiful field full of lilies. I had no pain or hunger. “I must be dead.” I said out loud. The most beautiful laugh was heard as a beautiful woman came out and said, “Now why would I let my most beautiful child die? You have a great mission to accomplish in your life, and a great story waiting for you to finish. You are merely in a state of rest that your wolf put you in, so your body can heal.”

“A mission? What great mission could I do? I can barely run for my own safety,” I asked, surprised. She just smiled and cradled my face in her hands. “Trust me, and trust yourself and trust your wolf,” she said as she started to walk away. Suddenly, the most beautiful white wolf with black paws and a silver moon on her forehead came up to me. I looked into her crystal blue eyes, then she snuggled into my neck. I don’t know why, but tears formed in my eyes as she walked away. I knew she was my wolf and I knew we would meet again, but it still hurt that it felt like she was leaving me alone. I laid back down on the field and let the tears flow, not only because of feeling abandoned, but for years I couldn’t cry for the mistreatment of my “father.” However, for right now I am safe and not being tortured, I told myself as I closed my eyes and drifted to the first peaceful sleep I have had in the last decade.

POV: Emilio

"WHERE IS SHE?!" roared Emilio. He was not going crazy. He was this close to catching her, then she stumbled, rolled and disappeared into thin air. Not only did she disappear into thin air, but so did her scent. He couldn't stay there and look because they were in a pack's terrority. Emilio was crazy, but he was not suicidal. He knew to never stay in a pack's territory for long. "Sir we cannot find her," said his second in command, Alan. "You can run and hide for now, daughter, but I WILL find you so enjoy your temporary freedom," he said to himself. He cleared his throat and told Alan, "Let's get out of here before this pack realizes that we are trespassing." Emilio knew he would find his daughter one day, and he would finish what he started and teach her who is in control here.

POV: Third Party:

Emilio and his rogue crew walked away and, since they were so distracted by trying to capture their prey, they didn't realize they were being watched the whole time. As soon as they were gone, Amelia, the pack's healer, went into the cave that was visible to her and came out of the cave holding Catalina's unconscious body. As she pushed her silver hair out of her face she whispered, "Don't worry child, I will keep you safe." She did not know this abused, neglected child, but she felt a pull to protect this child with her life. She just hoped that the pack's alpha would allow her to take care of her. She made the walk carrying the underweight child, praying to the moon goddess that the rogues would not come back. She mind-linked her Alpha to meet her at the pack hospital as soon as possible.

When she got to the pack hospital, Alpha Eddie was there already. He looked at Amelia, sighed and asked, "Should I even waste my breath trying to argue about why we should not have this strange child that apparently has no scent here?" Amelia smiled at the Alpha and said, "Absolutely not, big brother, so glad it only took you about 25 years to realize that I will always win." Eddie just shook his head and help put Catalina in the hospital bed.

"So are you going to at least give me a backstory here?" he asked his baby sister. "Of course. I was out studying plants when I heard a commotion. I saw this poor child running for her life and heard a man call her Catalina. She tripped and rolled into a cave. Now the weird thing is, the people who were chasing her not only could no longer smell her as you can't, but could not even see the cave. I waited until they left and went in to check on her. I knew instantly I needed to protect her, and so I bought her here," Amelia explained. Eddie looked down and saw the new bruises and faded bruises, her sunken cheeks and how dirty she was and felt that same pull to protect her with his life. He vowed to ensure that she was protected right then and there. "You're right, little sister. I don't know what she has been through, but she will finally be safe here." He had nurses come in and clean her off and change her into a hospital gown. "Run every test on her and do everything you can for her." He ordered the staff.