Twice Rejected, So What?

Episode 4

Tracy's POV

“You heard him, little wolf,” the other added. “Run along. We didn't see you.”

Scrambling to my feet, I took to my heels, not sparing even a single glance at the Lycan's behind me. I could feel their eyes on me as I ran deeper and deeper into the woods till my lungs burned, and my human legs screamed in protest.

“Amaris, now would be a good time for us to shift, don't you think?” I said through the mindlink as I collapsed onto the ground gasping for air.

“You know that's dangerous, Tracy.”

“Oh, give me a break!” I snapped, wiping a sweat from my forehead. “What's the point of being special if I die from exhaustion, huh? What do we call that? Special stupidity?”

Amaris huffed. “You’re the one who chooses to exhaust yourself . No one's chasing us.”

“Sure. And pigs fly,” I replied and shut the link because I need to think straight.

Lycan's were unpredictable beings, for all we know those guards could be lurking around somewhere in the woods and waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce on me and rip me to shreds.

The thought of getting torn to shreds fueled whatever little strength I had left, as I staggered to my feet and began running again, trying my best to ignore my legs protest.

I ran for about three to four minutes before hearing the low rumbles of moving vehicles.

Good. I'm close to the highway.

Following the sounds of vehicles, I broke through the treeline until I found myself on the road.

“Oh, thank the goddess,” I whizzed, tears welling up in my eyes.“I made it. I actually made it!”

“Why won't you? Told you no one was chasing us,” Amaris mocked.

Too tired to start another round of arguments, I ignored Amaris and flagged down a cab, nearly throwing myself into the road in the process.

“Where to miss?” The driver asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Erm..where is this?”

He shot his brows. “Goldencrest Pack,” he answered. “You lost, or something?”

“Something like that,” I replied. “Can you take me to my car? It's parked a bit further out.”

“Hop in,” he said, and without a second thought I slid into the backseat, and he drove off.

Less than seven minutes after we drove off, I spotted my car right where I parked it, and signalled for the driver to stop.

“Give me a minute. Let me get cash from my car,” I told him with a smile that clearly didn't reach my eyes.

The driver raised a brow, as I got out of the cab, but he didn't say anything. but said nothing.

“s**t!” I facepalmed as I got in front of my car and realized I wasn't with my keys, and all this is thanks to that arrogant jerk!

“You sure this is your car, Miss?” The driver stepped out of his car, and made his way towards me with his arms folded.

“Yes!” I said irritatedly. “There was an…incident, okay? I lost my keys,” I crouched down to search the ground for anything that might help me pick the locks. “I just need something to pick the locks, and I'll give you your money.”

“Pick the locks?” He scoffed. “Look, lady, if you needed a free ride, you could've just said so. No need for this circus.”

“I'm not lying!” I yelled in frustration. “I really just need a minute–”

“Yeah sure,” he cut me off as he made his way to his cab, and drove off.

“Great, just great!” I hissed, and got back on my feet. Now I'm stranded again. Could today get any worse?

I took in a deep breath and decided to carefully scan my surroundings for something that could help with my locks, when I caught a glimpse of something glinting on the side of the road the cab just left. My keys!

Dirt covered most of it but it was my keys regardless. Relief washed through me as I walked over and grabbed them.

Just as I turned around to walk back to my car, I froze, something was wrong, as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

I looked to my left into the woods but saw nothing. Looked over to my right and still nothing. I looked ahead and there was no one.

I took a deep long breath and looked behind me still nothing, but I could feel something was wrong.

“Amaris..” I called out to my wolf, as I made my way back to my car.

“We need to leave,” she stated urgently.

That was all the conviction I needed, I unlocked my door, got into my car and slid the key into the ignition.

The engine sputtered but didn't start.

“This isn't good,” I muttered, my heart racing as the feeling of being watched washed over me. “Come on, you stupid junk!” I yelled in frustration, and hit the steering wheel.

My heart skipped a beat, as I caught a glimpse of something in the dark, just outside the reach of my car's light.

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes briefly. My mind was just making things up because I'm exhausted.

Opening my eyes slowly, it moved. My blood instantly ran cold, as I saw it more clearly.

It was large, it stood nothing less than seven feet tall, with unnervingly long clawed arms that looked like they could dig through steel.

“Werebear,” I muttered.

The thing moved again, and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, not daring to even blink, as we made eye contact.

I've been told tales about it, I've seen pictures and heard of encounters, but I never came face-to-face with one until now.

I started twisting the key frantically and the engine sputtered again and died. I turned the key again, nothing.

It was coming closer.

“Tracy, get out of the car and run!” Amaris growled, but I ignored her, the last thing I wanted was to be out in the open with that thing.

I slammed my foot against the gas pedal and tried to turn the car on again. “Come on, come on, come on,” I muttered, twisting the key desperately before the engine sputtered to life. I dragged the gear shift into reverse, not even thinking twice.

The tired screeched as the car lurched backwards moving away from that creature with my eyes still fixed on it. The werebear didn't move again it just watched me like a predator letting its prey go–for now.

As soon as he got swallowed by the darkness, I dragged the gear shift into drive and sped off on a different route, not minding the fact that it was a much longer route to Mystic-hollow. I just needed to be as far away from that werebear as possible.

Every few seconds I keep checking the rearview mirror, half expecting the werebear chasing down the road after me.

“What the hell was a werebear doing in werewolf territory?” I muttered, as I spotted the ‘welcome to Mystic-hollow sign’, relief washing over me, and my heart beat finally slowed down.

“You need to report this to the Alpha,” Amaris said.

“Tomorrow,” I told her. “I've had enough excitement for a day.”

After what felt like hours, I finally got home. The moment I opened my car door , the front door swung open, and my mother stepped out with her arms crossed.

“Tracy! Where in the goddesses name have you been all day?!” She demanded, as I stepped out of the car. “I've been trying to call you for hours, and it keeps going straight to voicemail!”

Before I could open my mouth to explain, Edward, my stepfather, stepped out behind her. “Quit hovering over her, she's a grown woman,”He said condescendingly.

This might sound extreme but sometimes I have fantasies about pushing this man off a cliff. I have no idea what my mother saw in him, she went from dating somebody as amazing as my father, to him.

I bit down on my tongue so I didn't say something that would make mother upset, because she was head over heels for this jerk and wouldn't listen to reason.

“Edward, she's still our daughter,” she said softly, but he scoffed in response.

“Can I please go to my room,” I said, as they were blocking the entrance. “It's been a long day,” I told them, totally losing interest in telling them anything. Maybe I'll just report it to the council members tomorrow morning instead.

They didn't respond and moved to the side about while I walked in. Killian, my younger brother, is already fast asleep by the time I walk past his room, so I just made my way to mine and got some rest.

I woke up the next morning feeling a bit under the weather, so I decided to go for a little jog to clear my head before starting the day.

Jogging by the council building, I spotted Gamma Giovanni's car parked outside, so I decided to go tell him about my findings.

Heading inside, I walked straight to Gamma Giovanni's office. I barely knocked before I pushed the door open, he was close friends with my father so I am a bit familiar with him.

Unfortunately it seemed like he was having a serious meeting. “Tracy,” he called out.

“Oh I'm sorry, it seems like I came at the wrong time.” I was about to slip out when he gestured for me to come in.

“No, no, it's fine we're discussing Pack matters after all.”

The two other men in the room continue the discussion. “Giovanni I know what I saw, that dead body and the huge claw mark on it… that wasn't a Lycan's kill. It's a werebear.”

Giovanni frowned. “This is like the fourth report of an alleged werebear attack, what is going on?” He asked himself. “And you're certain you know what you saw?”

“Yes, I am.”

“That's what I came to talk to you about,” I stepped forward. “I saw a werebear last night, at Goldencrest Pack.”