Run! Run! Run."
The words kept repeating in her mind like a chant as the young girl ran blindly into the night.. The night air cut through her lungs, and even with the strength of an omega wolf, she could hardly breathe as she focused on one goal. Escape.
She didn’t look back even as she heard people following in pursuit. The forest floor was rough, roots caught at her feet while branches scratched her arms and face. But she didn’t stop or turn back. Because... this was her one chance. If she failed now—
No. She shook her head. She couldn’t afford that thought. Failure meant death. Or rather, something worse than death. She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued to push herself harder, even as her legs ached and her feet continued to slip.
Soon, she would be able to escape. She had to reach the river. That was the plan. If she could cross it, maybe she could throw off the scent trail, at least long enough to reach the old ruins. A place where she might finally be safe, from her pack and the ones chasing her. The old ruins would save her. She knew that. The one place that was forbidden to every wolf...
A howl cut through the trees behind her and her heart slammed in her chest as she felt dread hold her. They were already coming towards her. She knew it, could feel it.
How had they noticed she was gone so soon? They were supposed to be distracted with the celebration tonight. Why did they have the time to notice that a slave like her was missing? And why did they even think to abandon the celebration to follow her?
A cold chill spread through her. Something was definitely wrong. And then it hit her.
They had let her go. It was not that they had noticed her missing. No... they had somehow known her plan and had set this up... A Hunt. And she... was the prey.
The prey on a hunt where the participants were Alphas...
Her stomach twisted. Still, she forced herself to move faster. She didn’t care about the cuts on her arms or how her dress caught on a branch. She tore it free, ignoring the rip, ignoring the blood trailing down her leg. She had to escape....
Just then, she saw the river and felt a burst of energy. It was not even over flowing tonight. She would be able to cross it....Just a few more steps.
Another howl echoed then, louder and closer than the previous one, and she realized... they were already catching up with her.
She clenched her jaw, swallowing down a scream. She wouldn’t let them hear her scream.
Even if they followed her here, she’d throw herself into the water. She’d let the current drag her away. Whether it brought her to safety or death didn’t matter anymore. Anything was better than the life they wanted to force on her. Freedom was right there.
But then, she felt it. A growl too close... as if it were vibrating right behind her. Unable to help herself, she turned back to look... And then her breath caught.
It was too late.
Something slammed into her from behind, hard and fast. She cried out as she hit the ground, her knees scraping against rock and root. The fall knocked the breath out of her lungs and left her reeling. Her shoulder screamed with pain, and her hands scraped helplessly at the dirt as she tried to get up. But before she could move, strong arms grabbed her and yanked her back.
She struggled hard, kicking and scratching and trying to twist away, but it didn’t matter. The hold stayed unbreakable. One arm pinned her tight to the ground while the other locked her wrists to her back.
"No..." she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. The river had been so close.
"Easy," a rough voice said against her ear as she felt the man behind her straddle her. She could hear the amusement in his voice as he whispered, "You’ll wear yourself out before we even begin."
His breath hit her skin and she froze for a second. She felt him lean close, his nose nudging against her ear, and she felt him tremble. She shivered. She knew he could smell her pheromones. So close to the surface. In a few days, she would be eighteen...
"You smell like fire and fear," he murmured. "So tempting..."
She turned her face away, disgust rising in her chest at his closeness but also at her own instinctual reaction to being pinned.. Her body, traitorous and confused, reacted to his alpha scent and his voice. Her pulse pounded, and from the low chuckle in his chest, he had felt it too.
"Let me go," she said, but her voice sounded weak and breathless.
His grip tightened on her "I gave you a chance," he said. "You ran. No one has done that in years, you know? Try to escape me.. Do you know how much I liked that?"
He shifted behind her, his body pressing closer. She felt the muscle, the heat, the way his scent wrapped around her. Woodsy. Strong. Dominant.
He growled, and she could feel him, hard and throbbing against her.... as the sound of his hunger rumbled through his chest, into her back.
Her legs shook and she hated it.
He leaned in, brushed his nose along her neck like he had every right to do it. "I wonder if your defiance tastes as sweet as it smells. Mmm"
She twisted again, more violently this time, trying to escape his hold, but it only made him laugh. His hand caught her chin, forcing her head back to meet his glowing eyes.
"I’m the enforcer of my pack," he said, his thumb brushing her bottom lip. "The hunter. And you... are the most exciting prey I’ve caught in a long time."
She clenched her jaw. She wouldn’t give in. No matter how her body responded, no matter how badly her instincts screamed at her to submit.
He seemed to notice the war in her eyes. And it amused him.
"You want freedom so badly?" he asked, his lips close to her ear. "Then I’ll give you another chance."
Her eyes snapped to his.
"I’ll give you ten seconds," he said, voice full of cruel delight. "Run again, little fire."
She froze and his grip loosened just enough for her to try and move. She was about to. She would take any chance she got, but then, he continued in a small whisper, "And this time, I won’t be so gentle when I catch you. And make no mistake... I will catch you."