Betrayed the Alpha

I don't stop running no matter how much my feet burn or how my lungs plea for me to stop. If I stop running now, it means the Alpha and his pack will find me. It means I might feel bad for leaving the Alpha to bleed out. I can't go back after all I've been through.

I push past the woods that grow darker as the trees get fuller and taller by the second. No matter how much this strange new frost scares me, the dreams of seeing my sister ignites a light within me. My legs get caught on something causing me to fall. It's just a rock matching the ground. Much like the forest predators roaming around.

I hold the bow close to me with a fresh pair of arrows in place. I let out a small groan. My chest stings like I had drunk a whole bottle of ginger wine. I breathe deeply. I need to pace myself if I want to make it back to the human realm before the night comes. I venture deeper into the woods with so many twists and turns and things hidden being the shadows. My throat bulges with saliva lodged in the middle of my throat as I walk deeper into the forest.

I fear for the other type of things that are lurking in these woods. There are different creatures here than there are in the woods. Like giant spiders that shoot acids instead of webs. Goosebumps form over my arm as I try not to think about the creatures. I'm not sure if the book of Wolvendom is making up all of that but I can't let my guard down.

Heart pounding, I quickly push myself up from the forest floor, brushing dirt off my clothes. The sudden fall had caught me off guard, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it. I needed to keep moving, to find my way back home to Rosewood.

Breathing heavily, I scan the surroundings, unsure of which direction to go. The woods stretch out before me, their dense foliage obscuring any familiar landmarks. I'm disoriented, lost in a vast expanse of nature's labyrinth.

As I gather my bearings, a rustle in the nearby bushes startles me. My pulse quickens, and I instinctively call out, my voice laced with a mixture of caution and hope. "Hello?"

Silence greets my call, and for a moment, the only sound is the gentle whisper of the wind through the trees. My senses heighten, every rustle and distant bird song magnified. I hold my breath, waiting before I speak again.

"W–who is there?" I point my arrow at something that isn't there. Relax, Melanie. It's just your imagination running wild. I tell myself. "It's probably just a rabbit."

"Are you sure about that?"

I scream, shooting my arrow blindly. I panic as I don't have any spare arrows to shoot at the figure coming out of the shadows. My heart skips a beat as I freeze in place, my eyes locked on the figure that materialized out of nowhere. A man, with brown hair adorned with striking white streaks, stands before me. His piercing purple eyes seem to hold an otherworldly glow, captivating and unnerving all at once. His slim build exudes an aura of mystery and power.

"You almost killed me," he says, his gaze steady and intense. There's an air of calm confidence surrounding him that both intrigues and unsettles me. "But no worries, I should have seen that coming when I tripped you."

I show him my arrow. "Stay back!"

"Or what shoot invisible arrows at me? His face is painted with a grin.

I look at my empty arrow and curse, but I still hold on to the bow.

"Relax, human I won't hurt you." He shows his sharp canines.

"You're a werewolf."

"In the flesh."

"Who are you even?"

"My name is Edward. You can call me Ed, Edd, or Eddy."

"You said Ed twice."

"Ed with an extra D."

I side-eye the man that wears a wide smile. He reminds me of Ophelia but weirder, and sort of menacing by the way his slender eyes skim over me. Just play along Melanie, I tell myself. "My name is Melanie."

"Melanie? Ah yes, the Alpha's human mate. How can I miss a name like that?"

"You must be part of the Alpha's pack."

"Not quite. I am something different."

"Like what?"

"Your worst nightmare."

My feet stay planted on the muddy ground. I could feel my entire heartbeat vibrating throughout my body. I don't know who this man is. He doest seem to be part of the alphas main pack. He doesn't look like a servant either or someone who I've seen in Wolvendom.

"So what is a pretty girl like you doing in the woods by yourself?"

"I'm going somewhere."

"If you're looking for the Huntsville village, it's the other way around."

"I came from the human realm."

The man cranes his neck. "Looks like the Alpha' mate is escaping his grasp. How unfortunate that your journey might have to end here." He shakes his head in pity.

I put my arrow down. "Please don't take me back. I'll pay you–I'll give you whatever you want."

Edward raises his hand in dismissal. I see he has dark tattoo lines around his hands that seem to stretch to the rest of his arms and chest. "No need to. Having you here is all the payment I can get."

"What are you talking about?"

His dark eyes glimmer like the stars under the evening sky. I whimper when he comes near. He sniffs my arm and my neck. He draws away and this time I am met with a sharp glare, but he is with disgust or hate. "Sorry for intruding, but I just wanted to say you smell nice."

"Is that my payment to you? Smelling me?"

Edward chuckles. "I like you. Usually, people run away from me when they see me. Perhaps it's because you are a naive human."

"I used to run away from werewolves but some of them aren't as bad as they seem."

Edward shows his canine again like they are something worth showing off. "You know, I can help you return home to the human word.."

"Really?"

"Yes, I know the way and I can help you."

"Please. My sister needs me. I need to go home."

"Shh," he places a hand on my lips. "I haven't told you what you have to do for me."

"OKay what do I have to do for you?"

"Following me will be enough."

"To where?"

"Somewhere."

I cross my arms. "I'm not following you to a place when I know nothing off. You could be a human-eating werewolf for all I know."

Edward opens his mouth but then he closes then, his purple eyes widens with fear.

"Find her!"

My heart hammered at the sounds of other men yelling for my name. Dammit, dammit, dammit! I look at Edward who seems as shocked as I am. The Alpha and the others found me.

"That is my cue to leave," Edward smirks at me. "I hope we will meet in the future, M'lady."

"Wait! I'll follow you. Please." The corner of Edwards lips rise.

"My I thought you wouldn't ask, but perhaps another time. I cannot allow a mere human to slow me down."

"What– but you said–"

Edward races into the wood with such speed that it took me a while to register what just happened. I don't waste time and grab my bag and make a run for it. A blur whizzes by men and I stop when I see the Alpha in front of me. He is in wolf form. His stature is large and leering from the day we first met. His canine threatened to sink his teeth into my neck, and his nails wanted to rip my flesh. Then he transforms back into his humanoid form.

"You broke my trust!"

"There was no trust between us, to begin with." I suck in my breath when he leans into my face, teeth-baring at me, and a low growl emits from him.

The alpha hisses out in pain where blood has drenched his shirt.

"Alpha Rhy's, you need to seek a proper healer. The bandage isn't going to hold up with you moving around like that." Oscar comes to his aid but Alpha Rhys swats his hand away.

"You!" He nears me, and I step back. "I am taking you back home where you will never see the sunlight ever again."

He grabs my arms and hauls me over his shoulder even if he is hurt. I trashed around his strong grip, screaming at him to let me go but he continued down the path. I look at the woods with my teary eyes.