Meadow

Death; I had seen it with my own eyes, yet I somehow survived. No one cared if I breathed or not, not after mom's death.

No, Meadow. Not there… Not again…

I leaned over a tree to calm my breathing. 

In and out

In and out

Running through the forest in the middle of the night might not have been the wisest idea, but anything was wiser than staying back at that place.

I had a chance at freedom, even if it felt like I snatched it from someone.

My heart tightened at that thought as my throat and eyes started to burn. 

In and out

In and out

This was not the time to cry over spilled milk. Maybe this is what destiny wanted. I sighed as I ran a hand through my greasy hair. 

Any other day, and this forest should have been pitch black, but not today. The full moon lit the path. Even if the surroundings are eerie.

I looked up and smiled.

Fuck!

I smiled. Not one of those fake ones, but a true smile. This time, I could not stop a lone tear from slipping down my cheek.

So this is what freedom does to one. It makes them smile…

No, Meadow, this is no time for a break. I reminded myself. Though I was far away, the need to move constantly was there. 

I wanted to shift. It should have eased my body a lot and should have made the travel easier. But the Moon Goddess didn't seem to be that grateful to me. I have never shifted. My wolf is never strong enough for me to shift.

I can feel my wolf's presence at times in my head, but only when my emotions have skyrocketed. Other times, my strength is on par with a human.

I moved away from the tree I was leaning upon as I breezed through the forest grounds. It was a no-man's land. Thus, the chances of rogues being here were extremely high.

I couldn't stay in one place for too long.

“Shit!”

I hissed as I felt the hospital gown I was in get stuck in a bush. I turned around as I tried to remove the already torn fabric from the bush.

“Ahhh!”

A sudden prick pulsed through my body as I brought my finger to my lips to suck on the blood on my finger.

Luckily, the gown was untangled from the bush as I turned around.

A shriek left my mouth as I quickly covered my ears. A thunderous howl resonated through the forest, making me shiver.

I looked around for any rogue in sight, but found none as I quickened my pace. Staying in one place for too long could be even more risky.

I started walking faster…

“Ahhh…”

I whimpered as my foot ended over a sharp stone.

Suddenly, another thunderous howl resonated through the forest, but this time it sounded as if it was a call of pain…?

A shiver ran through my spine as I could feel my wolf lift her head in curiosity. The voice sounded familiar. Somehow it did!

I shook my head. I am going crazy. I examined the base of my foot, and luckily, it wasn't bleeding.

But as soon as I kept my foot on the soil, a sharp pain took over my body as I hissed.

“Mate…”

I froze as I heard a voice in my ear.

No, no, no… 

He can't be here.

I let go of a shaky breath as tears burned my vision. 

“Love…”

This time, I listened to the voice closely. The sound was commanding, but unlike his tone, it didn't sound mocking to my ears.

It seemed soft and filled with…longing? I shook my head at my delusion.

I quickly looked around but found no one as I started limping through the forest to not risk it all. 

This was my chance, my only chance at happiness, and I won't let it go at any cost.

As I continued limping, I couldn't help but feel as if I was being watched. And at that moment, I hated the fact that the moon was shining so brightly.

The same moon I smiled at for the first time in years; I was shooting daggers at it.

Why Moon Goddess? Why me?

I needed a place to hide. But where would I find such a place in this forest?

“Left…”

The same voice whispered as I turned around…again to find no one.

What is happening?

“Trust me, love…”

I shook my head as all rational thoughts flew out of my mind. Something in that voice was so calm and warming my core.

I...I wanted to trust that voice.

For the past few years, I have been trusting my mind, as my heart was the one that got me betrayed in the first place. But today I again wanted to trust my heart just once.

Something in me was nagging to do so.

Left it is!

I turned left as I continued limping. But this time, I could hear slight footsteps behind me.

No-no. Please not again.

I didn't dare turn around as I continued. Faster, Meadow, faster.

“Trust me…”

Suddenly, a harsh wind blew past me, and it carried a lot of sand with it. Where did it come from?

I could hear someone hiss from the back.

Sweat broke down my spine as I quickened my pace. The adrenaline in my system made me forget about pain as I started to run.

Suddenly, a broken warehouse came into view.

“In it…”

The same voice repeated, and I didn't think twice before entering the warehouse through the open main door as I locked the door behind me.

I looked around to find a rotting table. 

It wouldn't do much. But it can provide me with some time.

I sighed.

All I wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry.

My head whipped towards the dark corner of the room as I could hear the chime of chains.

“Who's there?”

I asked softly, not wanting to alert the predators outside.

“Come down. Climb down the stairs…”

The same voice whispered as I gulped. The voice has helped me so far. 

As I took a step forward towards the dark corner, a whimper left my mouth. The adrenaline has left my system, making the pain in my foot even more prominent.

Why couldn't I heal like a normal wolf?

“Careful!”

The voice reprimanded me. As I limped through the dark corner only found a door there.

“Where can she go?”

A voice hissed from the outside as I could feel my head spin. I know this voice.

“Maybe she is inside this warehouse.”

Another voice whispered from outside.

“Breathe, just come down…”

The voice my heart was blindly following cooed. And I knew nothing could be worse than the demons standing outside.

Thus, I opened the heavy metal door. Luckily, it didn't make any noise as I walked down the metal staircase. But not before shutting the door behind.

I got down the metal staircase, only to be surrounded by darkness.

I jumped and put my hand over my heart as suddenly the pitch darkness was replaced by light bulbs that lit the corridor.

I looked around to realize I was in a cellar.

Was this another trap? My past started to resurface as anxiety bubbled in my chest.

No, I couldn't go back there.

In and out

In and out Meadow…

I repeated it in my head as I could hear the same chime of chains coming from the far end of the corridor. 

I followed the sound as my heart started to this in my chest. It could have been a murder plot or a horror scene. But the same voice in the back of my head was nagging that it would be safe.

I limped through the corridor. As I continued to look around, I only found that the cells were completely clean. As I walked through the end of the corridor, the chime grew louder.

I gasped as I looked in front of me. While my wolf purred, making me frown.

A man…

A man was hanging through the roof with his hands chained to the roof while his feet were dangling in the air.

I knew he was here recently due to his build. He was extremely muscular with red colored tattoos all over his body. I could see the burn marks on his wrist along with the dried blood down his arm.

A head full of black hair hid his face as I couldn't make out how he looked, but something in me was itching to make out his features.

I took a step forward only to find his body was still, as if he wasn't breathing! 

I didn't know, but the thought brought me immense pain, though I have never even seen him in my life.

It was like I was somehow connected to him.

“You okay?”

I questioned as I looked around for keys. This could have been the most foolish decision I have made. He could have been a rogue hanged here…

But it seemed like my body was moving on its own accord, looking for keys.

I was so engrossed looking around the room that I didn't even notice the door to the cellar opening.

Only when the steps of those predators near me, did I realize…I had nowhere to escape.

“Found you!”

I turned around to see three men standing near the opening of a room that was occupied by the maybe dead man and me.

My heart felt as if it would jump out of my throat as I recognised two men out of the three.

“Please…”

I whimpered, backing off until my back touched the wall.

“You thought you could run bitch?”

Aioto questioned as I shrank back.

Not again, please. It's just a dream.

In and out 

In and out 

In and…

“You are going to pay for running away.”

The unknown man snarled, and I couldn't help but whimper.

“I am sorry. Please let me go…”

I begged as the predators laughed in their usual sadistic tone.

Aioto advanced through me, and I couldn't help but believe I was going back to that hell. 

My eyes again fell on the hanging man.

Anything good, anything.

Suddenly, a rich chuckle filled the air as I looked towards the hanging man who was supposedly dead or playing dead, looking directly at me with his amethyst eyes. 

Suddenly, everything hushed around me as warmth cocooned me like a blanket. 

My wolf started to pace in my head. I was surprised by her sudden actions.

The man passed me a soft smile as another clicking sound was heard, as the metal cuffs magically opened up, as the man with amethyst eyes landed on the ground with a thud.

The man stood directly between me and Aioto, shielding me from him.

“Now, who wants to hurt my mate?”

All colors drained from the three men's faces.

“Alpha Avern-nus, we didn't know you were here.”

My heart thudded loudly in my chest. Did he just say Alpha Avernus?

“No!”

The words left my mouth rather loudly. But Alpha Avernus didn't seem to mind that as he continued looking forward.

“Who wants to hurt her now?”

Alpha Avernus questioned again as the three men took their steps back.

“Alpha, you might have mistaken it. This Omega already has a mate. Beta Kyle, she is his female.” 

As soon as the name left his mouth, my body coiled in disgust.

Alpha Avernus turned back as he looked at me with so much warmth that I could feel the air leaving my lungs. 

I wanted to fall on my knees and sob. No one has looked at me this way after my mom's death. 

I was mere dirt to them. 

“Is that true?”

He questioned softly as I could feel my jaw lock.

I nodded my head as my eyes begged him not to give me back to them. I couldn't go back to the pack, I had dared to run away from...

They would skin me alive, literally.

Tears prick my eyes as I see Alpha Avernus' eyes darken. I could hope he was angered at my pain, not angered by my pain.

Alpha Avernus passed me another smile, and as much as I wanted to deny it, somehow it comforted me. 

“See Alpha, she agrees.”

Aioto quipped. 

I wrapped my arms around my body as Aioto passed me a smirk.

Another chuckle left Alpha Avernus' mouth. But this time it seems harsh and forced. I gaped at how much I could understand him in this short time.

“Have you rejected that Beta?”

Alpha Avernus asked as he completely turned in my direction and stood just a few inches away from me.

His scent of dew and cinnamon was making my wolf go crazy as she was wagging her tail and purring.

Ignoring her, I again nodded my head. As a sigh left Alpha Avernus' mouth.

“Guess I am your second chance, mate…”