THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

CHAPTER 1

The night was cold,I could still feel wolves running after me,while I was trying to catch my breath.But no i couldn't stop I had to keep running.I haven't eaten or rested for days ,one would would swear I wasn't a princess but ironically I didn't seem like one neither was I treated like one.The echoes of my father's voice still roamed loud and clear in my head as it if it was yesterday but I'm pretty sure so many days have passed since then,"Raya you will marry the wolf king either you like it or not,the date has been set.I care not if you agree ,you are my daughter and what I say goes."I remember mother begging him to reconsider but it all fell to deaf ears.Her wails that day meant nothing to my cruel father ,he was kind to others but to his family he was the cruelest man anyone has ever seen.But no one knows that except for my mother and I ,sometimes I wonder if he ever truly loved my mother or only married her just because of political issues.I had no fire,no food ,no warm clothes or shelter to turn to.My blood was already frozen because of the cold but still the wolves kept on hunting I wonder if they'll ever get tired,"ANGAR!!,you will not sacrifice my daughter for your stupid needs she has done no wrong why do you punish us this way!!"i could tell she could no longer hold her anger in anymore that was the first time I had ever heard my mother call father by his name.His eyes turned instantly red with anger ,he shot his glaze at her and surprisingly she did not seem fazed not even once"I think you have set yourself way above standard WOMAN!!!how dare you raise your voice at me,Guards take these imbeciles to the punishment room..."He then turned his faced and glanced at me with nothing but distgust"But make sure you don't ruin her face!!."with that he turned to leave.Everyone knew the wolf king was cruel to one could stand against him even if they tried ,he was the most powerful amongst all clans,he killed without mercy.The whips landed harshly on me but I could withstand the pain ,what hurt me most is watching my mother suffer because of me"Mother!!I'm sorry,please forgive me ,I'm sorry!!!"Some would think I cried because of the whip but no It was because I couldn't stand watching my mother get hurt the way she did.She didn't cry,she just stood there with nothing but anger and resentment in her eyes.she didn't even look at me when I cried she just clenched her fists in anger and silently endured."I can feel her stench ,she's close by!!"Damn just when I thought everything was getting better ,I had no energy left inside me anymore and yet they were getting close, way too close.I picked myself up from the oak tree I was resting on with all the strength I had in me and continued to run as fast as I could,I cannot let my mother's effort and sacrifice to go to waste.I have no Idea where I'm going or how I'm gonna get there but all I know is have to keep running.'MOON goddess please save me from this calamity, I beg of you.!'I don't know if she will respond to my silent prayer but I hope she does soon because I have no fight left in me,I have fought about 100 of these wolves but only managed to slay only a few and run from the rest.The last one injured me very badly,the blood from my injury was still oozing like a fountain which may be part of the reason they can track me so quickly.I tried tying it with a piece of my clothing but it remains inefficient to do so,I can hear the growls growing stronger and stronger but I can also feel my legs getting weaker and weaker."Raya!!listen to me if I must die to protect you than so be it ,I want you to run as fast as the goddess can carry you.I will not let his hatred ruin you,I love you so much my darling daughter now run."I wanted to protest but she had already drawn her sword shielding me from the vicious wolves and my father"you stubborn woman ,do you really believe you could stop an army!!"He laughed,his laugh was like that of an evil deity being humored by weak shamans.and with each moment it got louder,mother did not respond she just stood her ground in front of an army "Run!!!"and with that I looked at her one last time"I love you mother!!"and I ran as fast as I could.it's already dawn and I'm still running just when I thought all hope was lost I came across a small cabin ,so small that one would swear an elf lived in it.I quickly got inside to hide ,I locked the doors with a heavy breath, hoping it could atleast shield me for a few minutes before I run again,when I turned around what I saw was not a small little cabin but the space was so huge as if it was a hall.There was nothing inside only an empty space and a single wooden chair in middle, from afar one would swear that there was no one in it but the closer I got there more it was clear that there was someone "Excuse me, I am sorry to intrude in your house but I seek shelter only for a few minutes I promise I will be on my way soon"The chair rocked back and forth slowly for a long time,I felt chills run down my spine,I walked towards the chair slowly with a lot of thoughts in my head "Do not come any closer!!"a voice echoed hoarse and dry.i halted my steps and gulped"I only seek shelter I hope it will be granted."it stopped rocking for a minute and the voice echoed again" I see,quite impressive if I might say"i had no idea what he or she was talking about so I just stood there silently carrying on with my worries of what follows me."Here is the deal I shall grant you shelter but in return you must do something for me."I haven't even been here for five minutes and already I'm being asked favors worse I haven't even seen this person person"Well before we get to that may I see who your face."I heard no answer just tiny footsteps that echoed in the room my heart was beating faster than it normally did ,I don't know if it was because I was scared that I might meet another tragedy or because of the echoes that made sound way too scary but I stood still.A tall slender figure came out of the dark with long red hair and sharp pointy ears ,wearing a long white sleeved kaunake, i don't know if maybe It's because I have not seen the world much but I have never seen a creature so beautiful in my life.He stared at me for the longest time and finally said"Why have your wounds not healed yet?."I looked at him puzzled"What do you mean?","You are a wolf."I looked at my wounds still bleeding heavily heavily"Well I have not awakened my wolf yet."He stared at me attentively with a bit of what may have been like a concern"I see that you're being followed by many powerful ones of your kind."I had completely forgot about!!I Quickly ran straight to the door ready to run again with little strength I had left"Thank you kind sir ,I shall not forget your kindness and if I get to live through this I shall repay you someday."When I opened the door I was astonished for what stood before wasn't a dark,scary forest.