The Runaway and her Twin Alphas

The Recapture

Esme had now been traveling with Christian and Alexander for several hours. Though at first they did try to press her for more information, they eventually took the hint that Esme wouldn't reveal anything until they had safely made it out of the woods. For a while they marched forward in complete silence. As they trudged forward their steps seemed to echo through the dense foliage.

The longer she spent with the twins the more at ease she felt. Even in the silence as the picked their way around fallen trees and small bodies of water. They had barely spoken since they left the area surrounding the meadow but, Esme felt comfortable in the silence. She didn't know why but for the first time in as long as she could remember she felt safe. Christian insisted he lead the way and with Alexander close behind her she felt untouchable walking between the two. The fear that she was being hunted seemed to melt away and soon she even began to hum.

The beautiful melody she began to hum filled the forest around them with a peaceful aura. Alexander was shocked by the beautiful tones and found himself lost in it. The strange beautiful song seemed to wind itself around them echoing softly through the trees. Alex found himself wrapped in the beauty around him. His attention was drawn away from the path before them as he took in the woods around them. Though he had been vigilantly pearing around them the entire time now his eyes seemed to really begin to open. The sunlight filtered down through the trees casting heavenly rays down on the forest floor below. The gentle spring breeze rustled the leaves and they seemed to almost act as percussion for the song Esmerelda continued to hum. Alex watched as a family of deer, a doe and two fawn, ran alongside the path as they forged forward. They galloped forward weaving their way through the trees and over fallen foliage.

Alex stopped where he stood suddenly realizing the soft beautiful song had stopped. Immediately his gaze snapped to the path infront of him, only to find Esme missing. He froze scanning the area. A split second later his brother noticed the silence and whipped around looking for the small figure. They both looked at each other in panic and confusion.

"Esmerelda?" Christian called out marching back down the path to where she had been walking seconds before. "Esmerelda, where did you go!?"

Esme stopped humming the second she felt Alexander stop behind her. She turned quickly facing him, her heart hammering in her chest. Had he heard something? Had she given away their position?

Esme watched as he scanned her and the area around her. Panic was evident on his handsome face. His eyes darted back and forth along the path seeming to scan right over Esme as if she wasn't there.

"What happening?" She whispered to him.

"Esmerelda?" Christian's voice asked suddenly. Esme spun to look at him as he made his way back down the path eyes searching for something. The panic in his voice sent a jolt through her system and now her heart was racing. As Christian stepped forward he got closer and closer to her not giving any time for Esme to react he bulled right into her sending her backward. She fell with a hard smack just off the path they had been going down seconds before.

"Hey!" Esme yelled as she fell backward. She landed on her butt with a loud 'oomph'.

"Esmerelda, where are you!?" Christian called again. It only took a matter of seconds for Esme to comprehend what was happening. It was a cloaking spell. She jumped to her feet waving her arms like a crazy person.

"Christian! Alexander!" She yelled. Neither turned to look at her and both began to move off the trail in the opposite direction calling out to her. Esme knew she had to react immediately. Somehow the pack had found her, they knew she was with the twins and cloaked her from them. She had no idea how you could possibly cloak someone without them present for the spell but, she didn't have time to think about the possibilities.

"RUN! NOW!" Asha bellowed within her. Esme didn't hesitate. Though she hated to leave the safety of the twins she knew she had no choice. You can't protect someone you can't even see.

Esme took off as fast as her legs would carry her. No doubt the cloaking spell meant the trackers were close. She bounded up the path the twins had set her on. She only prayed it would lead her out of the dense woods.

Her system pumped with adrenaline and terror as she processed her next move. They were so close she could smell them now. At least twenty surrounded her in every direction. It was only a matter of time until she was caught. She stopped suddenly, reaching out for her magic as she prepared for a fight.

Amoung the trackers there would be at least two hybrids as was custom in all the hunting parties. She had been trapped indoors for years and had never trained in combat. She stood no chance against the wolves. Her magic had been taken from her and now was just beginning to build itself back up inside her. She had never trained to use her magic to defend herself. She stood no chance against the witches. But, there was no way she would be going down without a fight. She knew the punishment waiting for her would be worse than any she had suffered before.

Esme called for her magic. She felt it, what little she had, as it bubbled to the surface. She straightened her stance scanning the woods around her. She watched in horror as the first figure emerged into view. She recognized him in an instant. Dark almost black eyes and white blonde hair that was held in a long braid draped over his shoulder. Rylan. One of the original five hybrids. They had sent the Alphas beta himself to capture her.

"Hello Esme," He said casually almost as if greeting a friend as he slowly picked his way up and unto the path where Esme stood. Esme didn't even allow herself anytime to think. She focused everything she had on the energy she could feel building within her.

"Don't come any closer." She told him. Though she had intended for it to come out strong and sure it came out barely a whisper.

"We both know you have no where to run. And we both know your magic even unbound as it is will take quite some time to return to its full strength." He told her. His face turned upward into an evil smirk. His dark brown almost black eyes shined as he spoke. A look she had seen on his face before. The look he wore as he watched the Alpha punish her. "Be nice and come back like a good girl and the Alpha may just consider making you his chosen mate when you come of age."

Esme shuddered with disgust. The Alpha himself had made mention of the same thing on multiple occasions. Marxus had never found his true mate. After hundreds of years traveling to find her he had come up empty handed and it was the general concessis of the pack that she was likely dead. However, he had surrounded himself with pack and coven members a like who bared his children. Though he had had six "wives" he had never claimed any of them as his chosen mate. Why he would ever chose someone like Esme she had no idea. She was small and weak and all he ever did was chastise or beat her. Even though she had to suffer the consequences she made it clear to him she was not interested. She had been beaten within an inch of her life when she finally spoke up and told her she'd rather be dead.

"You would deny becoming Luna when other women have killed just to win a chance at my affections!?" Marxus had bellowed as he beat her with his bare fists.

It had been Rylan's intention to distract the girl and it had worked. The moment he saw her eyes go distant he flew forward intending to grab her before she could react.

Esme didn't even have time to think. She was pulled from her thoughts as she watched Rylan propel himself off the ground with all his force. Though her mind stood frozen her body reacted to protect itself. Her hands shot out infront of her and suddenly there was a blinding flash of purple light. Esme was blinded and in a split second her feet were lifted from the ground and she felt herself hurled backward through the air.

Esme hit the solid earth behind her and all the air rushed from her lungs. She slid from where she landed pushed across the forest floor with great force. From her initial landing she had continued to be propelled for nearly twenty feet. Esme watched in horror. It was as if time had been slowed. She could feel the ground ripping her skin apart as she slid and as she finally skidded to a halt her world went black.