Fated to the Blood Moon Pack

Chapter seven

I had been training for weeks, working hard to prove that I was no longer a weak human girl, I still endured harsh remarks from other pack members, a few of them, however, would occasionally nod at me, especially after the battle with the rogues; silent forms of acknowledgement. It made me feel a trickle proud, perhaps, just maybe, I will eventually be accepted into the blood moon pack. The thought of it made me giddy, the possibility that one day all the members of this pack would accept me and welcome me fully as one of their own, regardless of my human origins. The possibility that Gabriel, would one day see me as anything more than a slave.

Gabriel, however, was still indifferent towards me, he treated me like he always had. Like a piece of dirt or gum stuck underneath his boot but still refusing to get scrapped off.

Ethan was patient with me during most of our training sessions, on some days when it seemed like I was unable to get anything right, he would sit me down and give me words of encouragement, assuring me with promises of freedom and of his undying love.

“We may have to move soon” he whispers into my ear as he adjusts my stance during one of our training sessions. I hesitated for a heartbeat, revelling in his touch and the heady feeling of being near him, but easily relax as I slipped into the correct stance. We had to be cautious whenever we spoke, many wolves still did not trust me and would readily drag me by the hair to Gabriel if they suspected foul play.

“That was sooner than I expected” I mumble, throwing my leg out at him in a powerful side kick. He easily evades it and pins me to the ground before I can register what is happening. I had expected our escape to take numerous months of planning before we eventually found an opportunity to leave the pack.

“I know, I just want to get you out of here as quickly as possible”

I frown as I feel my heart clench, I had just begun to adjust to some of the wolves in this pack showing me a bit of acknowledgement. For a moment, I had thought living here would not be so bad. He noticed the hesitation in my eyes as he helped me to my feet. I could feel her daydreams and fantasies shatter in the palm of her hand before they found the chance to grow.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern lacing his voice as his arm snaked around my waist. “Alice, is someone bothering you? Is that it?”

“No” I replied, “quite the contrary, actually.” I hesitated for a moment, I was worried he would be upset if after he had gone through the trouble of forming a plan to get me out of this situation, I told him I was having second thoughts. I went ahead anyway,“ it's just that some of the pack members have begun to acknowledge me. Some even nodded at me this morning” I said, failing to mask the desperation in my voice.

“Maybe if I can prove myself some more, like I did during the rogue attack, perhaps then they’ll all accept me” I continued. For a few moments, Ethan was silent, he seemed to be brooding. Eventually, he sighed, his large hands came up to cup my small cheeks. When he spoke, he said,

“ I understand exactly how you feel my love, but you must remember, my father is stubborn and stuck on his old traditional ways,” I frowned, I knew exactly where he was going with this,” that means he will never accept his son being mated with a former human and there are other pack members who are just as old-fashioned as he is.” I could feel my heart constrict further. I knew he was right, it was a fact that tugged at the back of my mind incessantly – Alpha Gabriel would never accept me.

“Remember, Alice, I just want you to be happy, nothing would make me happier.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump that had formed at the back of my throat, Ethan wiped a stray tear from my cheeks. At that moment I felt immense gratitude, I wasn’t sure what would have become of me without Ethan. I knew how loyal he was to his father, this must have been difficult for him as well. He loved me to the point of being willing to risk everything for me; his life, even his position as future alpha of the pack. I loved him even more at that moment.

“I know, Ethan, and I love you for that” his features lit up as he grinned. At that moment I thought his expression and the brightness of his smile could rival the sun.

“ Are you interested in hearing my plan now?” he said, taking my hand and leading me towards a more secluded area, away from earshot of any eavesdroppers. “ We’re going to leave on the night of the next full moon” he whispered.

My eyes widened in shock, and perhaps a little bit of fear. The night of the full moon, from what I had been taught, was one night where every wolf’s senses and agility were greatly enhanced. If we left on a full moon, we would be found in a few minutes- a few hours at best. “ The full moon?” I repeated dumbly, he nodded.

“I know it sounds absurd, but we’ll be fine,” he assured me, “my good friend, Declan, is a night guard. That night, he’s going to help us sneak out of the pack, and he’ll make sure we are not followed.” I felt unsure about this plan, I had no idea who this Declan was and whether or not he was a good person, however, Ethan seemed to place a lot of trust in him, so I placed my doubts aside and decided to trust him too.

Perhaps Ethan could see the look of worry on my face, or maybe it had something to do with the mate bond that pulled us closer together; he held my chin in between his fore finger and thumb as he gently caressed my chin. His voice came out in a soft whisper when he spoke, “I will never let anything bad happen to you.” I sighed as I let his musky scent consume me, allowing the heady feeling he made me feel to calm my nerves. His free hand found its way into my hair, causing me to sigh again in satisfaction.

For several minutes, we remained in that position, basking in each other’s warmth and inhaling each other’s scent. I felt at peace at that moment, nothing seemed to matter when he was with me; not the worry of what Ethan’s father thought about me, not what other form of maltreatment he had in store for me, not the threat of rogues attacking the pack. Not even the danger surrounding them if their impending escape plan failed. Nothing else mattered, and that was all that mattered.