Chapter 4
812 Words
Chapter 2
Obviously, I agreed.
At least, I think I did.
The next thing I clearly remember is waking up alone in the woods. My head was pounding, and the back of my skull hurt like hell, as if I had slammed it against something. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember what had happened the night before.
The first thing I noticed was that Mom was gone.
Panic immediately flooded through me, and I jumped to my feet, searching the surrounding trees. Her scent was nowhere to be found. There was no sign that she had ever been there.
Then I remembered her words.
If we ever get separated, run. Don't come looking for me.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and forced myself to stay put. She had promised she would find me if she could. So I waited.
And waited.
As the hours passed, hope slowly began to fade. By the time darkness settled over the forest, I knew she wasn't coming back.
At least not tonight.
I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to think of a plan, but my thoughts refused to cooperate. Everything felt numb.
A cold drop landed on my hand.
Then another.
Confused, I looked up toward the sky, expecting rain.
There wasn't a cloud in sight.
Another drop splashed onto my pant leg.
Looking down, I realized the drops were coming from me.
I was crying.
Of course I was.
My mother was gone.
I was completely alone.
I had no home, no pack, and no idea where I was.
I didn't even know which direction to walk.
The tears kept falling until my eyes burned and my chest hurt from trying not to sob.
Eventually exhaustion won.
The woods would be dangerous after dark. Predators would be hunting, and unlike every other werewolf my age, I didn't have a wolf to help protect me.
So I did the only thing I could.
I gathered wood and built a small fire.
When the flames finally crackled to life, I curled up beside them and let exhaustion drag me into sleep.
Six months.
Six months had passed since I had last seen my mother.
Six months since I had spoken to anyone for longer than a few minutes.
The only company I had encountered were the occasional rogues wandering through the territories between packs.
Thankfully, they usually left me alone.
Since I didn't smell like a wolf, most of them seemed to view me as nothing more than a strange human passing through the woods.
About a month ago, I had stumbled across a pack territory.
For the first time since losing Mom, I had allowed myself to hope.
The Beta had been the one to greet me at the gates. He seemed kind enough and even offered me food and water while we talked.
Unfortunately, the Alpha wasn't there.
According to the Beta, he was away attending a gathering with several neighboring Alphas. Because of that, strict orders had been left behind.
No newcomers were allowed into the pack until the Alpha returned.
The Beta had offered me a place in a safe house located about a mile from the pack lands until the Alpha came back.
I almost accepted.
Almost.
Instead, I thanked him and told him I would be fine on my own.
The truth was, I wasn't sure I wanted to get attached to another pack just to be rejected again.
So I left.
Since then, I had crossed through the borders of several pack territories.
I never stopped.
I never stayed.
And somewhere along the way, I think I stopped looking for a home altogether.
Maybe being alone was safer.
At least if I was by myself, nobody else would get hurt because of me.
Nobody else would become a target for Alpha Samuel.
Even after all this time, I still didn't know why he wanted me so badly.
I only knew that he did.
And that people died because of it.
The one positive thing all this running had given me was strength.
I was stronger than I had ever been.
Faster too.
I had discovered that little fact the hard way a few nights ago while hunting.
My stomach growled loudly at the memory.
Food had become increasingly difficult to find lately.
I picked up the spear resting beside me.
Months ago, Mom had helped me make it, and now it was one of my most valuable possessions.
I glanced toward the darkening woods.
A rabbit would be nice.
A deer would be even better.
Honestly, I'd settle for anything.
I hadn't eaten properly in days, and my body desperately needed the energy.
Maybe tonight would finally be my lucky night.
Adjusting my grip on the spear, I stepped deeper into the forest.
Something told me tonight was going to change everything.
- Writer
