Chapter 8

• Silver Moon pack has a secret pathway that I only just discovered today with the help of Ailana. It was an emergency exit that was made for only the leaders of the pack and their families in case there was an invasion. Alpha Thane had thought it necessary after my father tried to usurp his brother of Silent Moon pack. If there were ever to be an invasion in Silver Moon, the future leaders were to be taken to a safe place while the alpha and his warriors battled with those who try to take their seats. If they lost, their heirs are to regroup and fight back. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the knowledge. It sounded like a good enough plan, something most pack leaders will not think of, but knowing my parents had been the reason behind the idea, it left me feeling some kind of way.
• I turned back and waved Ailana goodbye one last time before sprinting eastward. To the south is Dawson pack. They were not particularly friendly with the Silver Moon pack and their alpha was highly territorial. He guarded his pack against intruders and it will take about two days for me to get there. To the West was human territory. If I take that route, it will take three days in my wolf form to get there, or weeks by leg, but that route was clogged with rogues.
• Going eastward seemed like the lesser evil. There are several packs this way, so the rogue population will be lessened. If I ran in my wolf form, it will take less than two days to get to the next available pack. Ailana already provided me with a list of the packs I’d come across and the ones I should avoid. I didn’t have any concrete plans, but I was glad to finally be away from Silver Moon.
• If I don’t join a pack in a matter of weeks, I’d turn rogue. The thought terrified me. Wolves are social animals, we need one another to survive which is why we live and travel in packs. I don’t see the possibility of any pack taking me in without a discharge letter from my former pack alpha, but I’d worry about that later. Right now, I needed to get as far away from Silver Moon as possible and not get caught.
• I prayed to moon goddess that Ailana doesn’t get caught. Her father will not punish her, but he’d not trust her again, and maybe she’d not be able to fight for the alpha seat. I hope that is not the case. Aila has plans for Silver Moon pack if she becomes alpha. The bag she packed for me contained clothes, food, water, some cash, a torchlight, and two little pocket knives for defense. What would I have done
• without her? I ran until I was tired and stopped to eat something. I’d not eaten in four days and I was starving. To continue the journey, I had to shift to my wolf form and shifting takes a lot of energy. I pulled out some of the food she’d packed and attacked it like an animal. My stomach grumbled as I ate, and my hands shook as I rushed to satisfy my hunger. I’d been starved by Zella before, but it never exceeded two days. Now, my hands appeared too lean, and my neck longer. I’d lost noticeable weight in four days. My skin itched too. I needed a bath.
• I’d barely eaten to my satisfaction when I heard a branch snap to my right. I froze, stuffing the remaining food into my backpack and jumping to my feet. I listened for the sound again, but then I heard whispering, and footsteps approaching. Alarmed, I took to my heels.
• I wasn’t so far from Silver Moon yet, but I’d not expected that anyone will notice my disappearance immediately because no one ever visited the dungeons apart from Aila in the four days that I was there. If they noticed my disappearance so soon, then chances were Aila had been caught.
• “There she is,” I heard a brawny voice screech, and then heavy footsteps hitting the ground followed.
• Why the fuck did I stop to eat? My heart hammered in my chest? I’d known nothing ever worked in my favor, but I’d hoped the moon goddess will grant me this one thing. My heart skipped a beat when I thought of the things they’d do to me if I got caught. I never crossed the pack borders since I was sold to Alpha Thane ten years ago. The one time I’d tried, I was caught and embarrassed. If I get caught this time, hell knows the manner of punishment I’d receive. I couldn’t afford it.
• I ran in no particular direction, just desperate to get away from my chasers. Alpha Thane had threatened to amputate me one time, maybe he’d cut off my limbs if he caught me this time, and what about the warrior that had threatened to gouge my eyes out? I’d go back to a life of torture and suffering. I could never let that happen, so I ran. Luckily, the men had not shifted. If they were to pursue me in their wolf form and I shift too, their wolf will undoubtedly outrun mine considering I wasn’t trained like them.
• “Come back here,” The man brawled again. By the sound of the footsteps, there were two of them, and their footsteps were drawing closer. Oh moon goddess, don’t let me go back there, I prayed. I moved into the woods, still not looking back, dodging several trees as I tried to find a place to hide. After many minutes of running, the footsteps started to drown out. I was losing them, but I was tired myself. I just needed somewhere to hide.
• I crouched behind a large tree, panting heavily and pulling the can of water out of the side of my backpack to take a large gulp. My heart was hammering heavily in my chest, and my hands started to shake from fear. I knew for a fact that I was lost, and the night was gradually descending on me.
• I pulled out the two knives from my bag and held one in each hand. I wasn’t a very good fighter, but I was good with knives and Ailana knows this because she’d thought me some knife-throwing lessons. I stayed still for many minutes, listening for sounds and trying to pick out scents, and I sighed in relief when I realized I’d lost them. They could still be anywhere close, so I needed to be careful, and I need to continue moving.
• Strapping the bag on my shoulders, I rose gently to my feet. It was dangerous to be in the woods at night, rogues could be a major threat. But I had to survive this night. I had to find my way out of the woods and hope my chasers had given up their chase.
• I moved with caution. I’d somehow managed to loose the map during the chase, so I had to find a way out of here on my own. I cursed silently but continued to move aimlessly, with the knives still in my hands. I cried, prayed again, and cried some more. I know I was far away from Silver Moon now. I could no longer feel that connection to my pack. If I could just survive through this night, then I wouldn’t have
• to worry about Silver Moon or Alpha Thane, or Zayden. I’d not felt any pain in my guts since I left, it means he hasn’t been with any woman today. Son of a bitch.A chill crept up my skin in that instant and I froze, fear gripping my heart. Then I heard voices and the panic returned. I couldn’t make out any words, but I was sure I’d heard voices. I crouched again, gripping the knife in my hands with more force. I peeked between the branches, and sighted a figure very far off, and then another came into view. I couldn’t see their faces but the men were very bulky.
• I promised Ailana I wasn’t going to get caught, and I wasn’t going to let her down now. I’d die before I go back to Silver moon. I’d kill anyone who tried to take me back. They’d never been good to me, none of them deserved to live. I moved closer, but stayed far away from their view.
• These men didn’t seem like they were looking for me or anyone, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I’d kill them if I had to. This is a do-or-die affair, they either kill me, or I kill them. I pushed myself up and moved even closer. The men stopped whatever it is they were discussing, turning simultaneously in my direction and I knew they’d perceived my scent.
• I swung my knife forward, raising it above my head and shifting my weight to my right side, then I sent it flying at the man in front. It hit him on his right thigh. He growled loudly and started to advance towards me, his counterpart following behind. I released the second knife with shaky hands, but he caught it in his left hands, still moving in my direction and growling even louder.