Forsaken By The Alpha, Bound By Fate

The Night of the Blood Moon I ran The trees closed in, black and sharp under the red moon and my feet cut on roots, my breath ripped through my chest. Behind me, howls rose, closer, and louder. “Don’t stop,” I whispered, but my legs stumbled. Something grabbed my shoulder, and my claws, and my teeth flashed and then I screamed…. And I woke up. I sat straight in my bed, and sweat cold on my neck and my chest heaved like I really ran. The moonlight fell across my small room, it was pale and cruel and my hands still shook. Another nightmare. It was always the same. The pack was chasing me. The blood moon burning the sky. I pressed my palms into my eyes. “It’s not real. Not tonight.” But the truth was, tonight was a blood moon and my wolf, Zyra, was restless. ___ The dinner smelled like coffee and eggs and the yellow light hummed above me, it was too sharp for night and I pulled my apron close around me. I kept my head low and I carried the food to the couple in the small corner seat. “Anything else?” I asked, my voice was flat. A woman shook her head and a man muttered thanks and I quickly walked away. I didn't like people staring and I didn’t like the chance of someone seeing my eyes glow if the moon pulled too hard. “Val!” My boss, Mrs. Clara, shouted from the kitchen. “Table six wants pie.” “On it,” I responded so fast. I cut the pie and I put it on a tray. I carried it out and then I felt it. My neck tickled and the air changed and it turned cold and also felt heavy. I looked out the window. A man was there. He stood across the street, the lamp blinked, he wore a dark coat and face hid in shadow, but I felt him looking at me. My wolf stirred inside, and it pressed against my skin and screamed “Danger” I swallowed hard and set the pie down in front of the couple. My hand shook so much that the fork rattled. “Are you okay?” the woman asked. “Yes,” I forced out. No…Not okay. I peeked again and he was still there. He was still looking at me. I held the coffee pot tightly. I walked around and I pretended to fill cups, but my eyes kept running back to the window. The bell rang, my hands shook and the pot almost fell. My heart immediately jumped, but it was not him. There were only two teenagers, they laughed and pushed each other, as they walked in. I looked outside again, it was empty and he was gone. I exhaled, I was shaky, and I tried to calm the wolf inside. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe it was just the blood moon messing with me. “Val, you’re jumpy tonight,” Mrs. Clara said, squinting at me. “Didn’t sleep well,” I mumbled. She waved her hand. “Just finish your shift. It's almost morning.” — By the time I left the diner, the streets were quiet and the blood moon hung low, red and heavy. I pulled my coat tight and walked fast toward my apartment. The city felt too still. Then I heard footsteps behind me. I quickened, and the steps quickened too. “Don’t panic,” I whispered, but my heart rang loud. I turned into a side street and the shadows swallowed me. And then…he was there. The man from before, he blocked the path, his hands were in his coat pockets and his face was half in shadow, but I saw the sharp jaw, the cold eyes that didn’t blink. “Excuse me,” I said and I tried to sound normal, though my voice shook. He didn’t move, he just watched me and I quickly stepped back. “What do you want?” The air was thick, it was pressing and my wolf clawed inside, and warned me. Then his lips curved in the faintest smile. And he whispered…in a low soft, low, deadly clear…. “Valeria.” My name fell from his mouth like a curse. “Valeria.” I instantly froze and my breath caught in my throat. Nobody here knew that name. Not my boss, not my neighbors, not even my best friend, Jammie. “How…?” My voice cracked. “Who are you?” The man took one step closer and the streetlight flickered above him, and I saw the edge of his eyes. It was cold, sharp. It was like he could see right through me. “You should not be here,” he said. His voice was low, smooth, but it cut like a knife. I stepped back almost immediately. “You have got the wrong person.” He shook his head slowly. “No mistake. Alpha Draven knows. He sent me here.” My chest tightened, and the word Alpha Draven burnt in my ears. My wolf stirred, and clawed inside me, hot and wild. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered. His lips curled. “You should return before the hunt begins. You know the rules. You know what happens when someone runs.” “I’m not….” My throat closed and I forced the words out. “I’m not part of your world anymore.” He tilted his head. “You can lie to yourself, but not to me. Your wolf is awake tonight. I can smell it.” I bit down hard, and held my breath. My nails dug into my palms. He couldn’t be right. He couldn't see what I was holding back. “Stay away from me,” I said. And then I ran. My feet slapped the pavement and my heart hammered in my ears. I didn’t look back, but I heard him. His heavy footsteps and he was following. “Valeria!” His voice echoed down the empty street. “You cannot hide forever!” I pushed harder and the moon pulled at me, my muscles screamed, but I kept running. I turned a corner, my lungs were burning, and almost crashed into a trash bin. I shoved past it. Then…hands grabbed me from behind. I slammed into the wall and his arm pinned me, it was strong as iron and my wolf snarled, and fought to rise, but I clenched my teeth. Not here. Not now. His breath was warm against my ear. “You think you escaped, but the Alpha marked you. That bond never breaks.” “Let me go!” I struggled, but he didn’t move. He leaned closer. “If you don’t return, they will drag you back. And if they can’t… they will burn everything around you until you have no choice.” His words cut deeper than his grip and I tried not to shake, but fear coiled in my stomach. “You’re lying,” I whispered. He almost laughed. “Am I?” Then ... .sirens. Blue and red lights flashed across the street. The man stiffened and for a split second, his grip loosened and I shoved him away and stumbled forward, and gasped. I spinned back, ready to fight, but…he was gone. He vanished, like smoke. The street was empty. The police drove past us. It did not stop and the loud sound went away slowly. I stood still and my chest went up and down and I stared at the place where he was. My name was still loud in my ears. I did not wait, I ran, and I ran fast. It was faster than ever before. __ When I reached my house, my hands shook and I put my hand inside my bag. I looked for my keys and my heart made a hard sound, and then water came down my back. I shoved the key into the lock. But then…I stopped. Something was on my door. It was dark, burnt deep into the wood. I leaned closer, and my stomach dropped. It was not random. It was a shape. A mark. The pack symbol. The mark of the Alpha.