I knew it wasn't far until I would cross the border, so I quickened my pace too. I ran as fast as I could. I was glad that the adrenaline served as extra energy, because I didn't have much of my own left. The next moment I thought I saw a shadow out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned my head to take a closer look, there was nothing there. I looked behind me and saw two wolves running through the forest to catch me. I didn't recognise either of them, and that was because I didn't know many members of Daniels' pack. Besides, they're too late, I just crossed the border, and they shouldn't be following me because I'm neither a criminal nor a rogue. Well, I might be wrong about the second statement, as I no longer have a pack after I was sold. Still, I wasn't sure if they'd try to follow me to the cliff, so I didn't slow down. Rule breakers are to be expected from this pack. I ran until I reached the first hill and looked up. WOW, this is going to be tough... I quickly shifted back into human and put on my clothes as I looked around to see if they were following me. I was faster and they couldn't cross the borders without the alphas' permission, which would buy me extra time. I wouldn't be able to climb in my wolf form, and if I climbed naked, I might get more injuries that would slow my pace, and I'm not suicidal enough to jump off the cliff, so that was my only good option. Suddenly I heard a loud growl further back and the skin on my arms quivered. When I turned round, I saw a huge brown wolf looking me straight in the eye. A shiver ran down my spine as I realised from the growl and the waves of energy that it wasn't a friendly hello to a friend. It's Alpha Daniel. Damn! That's my bad luck... He couldn't communicate with me through the mind link because I wasn't a member of his pack, but I didn't need words to understand the meaning behind his gaze and growl. I knew I couldn't waste any more time. And since he had crossed the border to follow me, he probably wouldn't stop now either. The threat I could hear from the growl didn't sound very tempting to find out what' would happen if he caught me.
I immediately jumped as high as I could and managed to grab onto one of the rocks. My hand almost slipped off, but I held on with the other hand and started climbing. I chose climbing not as one of the better options, but because I liked climbing and spent most of my training sessions doing it. Well, not in these conditions, but still... I was supposed to be strong because I had alpha blood, but somehow, I didn't feel that way even at a young age. I was weak. No matter how hard I trained, I was still weak. I'm fast, I have a gift and I'm pretty flexible, but you'd have to compare me to an Omega rather than an Alpha female. I haven't found the answers to why I am the way I am, but I have promised myself that I will get stronger, no matter how hard it will be. I need to be able to protect myself better.
I kept climbing a few metres up and then a few metres to the side to get to the edge of the abyss. I wanted to make it harder for the alpha to follow me, because if he caught me and I had to choose, I would rather take the option of that abyss under the cliff. So, if someone had to fall, not only would they fall off the mountain to the ground, but they would triple the height with the same cliff connected to the side of the mountain. This means that one of us would probably die, or even both of us. But that's only if he catches me. That's the main reason I decided to climb to the side and then to the top. Plus, I know these mountains are connected to smaller mountains in between, so I don't have to climb all the way up and back down and repeat the whole thing. Now I just need to concentrate and climb faster.
When I thought I wouldn't make it, I finally reached the crossroads with the smaller mountain. My hands were bleeding and shaking, but the chill in the air helped to ease the pain a little. Alpha Daniel shouted and swore a lot at the beginning of the climb. Sometimes his voice came closer, sometimes it sounded from far away, but he stopped using his energy when he got no answers or reactions from me, and since then I just kept climbing not knowing if he was still behind me and how far. I looked down at the path, trying to see or hear any movement, but I didn't sense his presence or that of his guards. Could it be that he had stopped following me? Or maybe he slipped and fell off the cliff...? Either way, I can't risk it and stop now. I took a short break to catch my breath and started moving again.
Judging by the position of the sun, I escaped in the early evening and the night was now getting deeper. Even with my wolf vision, it was hard to see as it was foggy here. I couldn't see one of the sharper rocks through the glistening snow and almost stabbed myself in the hand, which would have made things even more difficult. I carefully climbed a little further until I stepped into one of the little caves. There are many of them, hidden in various places in these mountains.
I went deeper into the cave. Normally, at least some of the small freshwater springs should be flowing somewhere in these caves. I walked a few more steps and heard a steady trickle somewhere nearby and followed the sound until I found the spot. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. Slowly, I washed my bleeding hands and filled them with water to drink. Then I tore off the sleeves of my blouse and bandaged my hands. I'm not surprised they haven't healed yet: a wound on top of a wound and then another – that doesn't help with the healing. And my wolf hasn't yet healed the damage caused by the silver chains. Even if I manage to leave this forsaken place, it will take at least a day or two for my wounds to heal, because I know there will be more of them soon.
'Thank you...' I sent my wolf a thought that sounded more like a sigh of relief. I wouldn't know if she heard me if I hadn't felt a genuine sense of happiness from her, expressed in a feeling of warmth.
I rested for a while and then decided it was better to slow down in the dark than to stop and give them the opportunity to close the distance between us. Just in case I was still being followed. I'm not sure if they're still following me, but I still have an uneasy feeling. I can sense that my wolf feels the same. I trust my instincts, so I get up, leave the cave and start climbing again.
I climbed until the morning, took a short break and then continued climbing until the afternoon, when I finally saw the tops of the trees of the forest in this unknown area. Now I just had to climb down the last half of the mountain. I felt so happy, tired and hurt at the same time, I wanted to cry, eat and sleep, but I had no plans from here….... Still… It was a feeling of relief. I began to descend slowly, step by step, knowing full well that I had no strength left and could fall at the slightest mistake. What I hadn't really factored in was the lack of energy and nutrients in my body.
Step by step, I finally made it down.
I looked up at the sky and silently thanked the goddess for protecting me. Slowly I took a few steps forwards and stopped. If I remember correctly, the Black shadow pack's territory starts about a mile from here, so it should be safe to walk beside the mountain until I reach the neutral territory. I need to reach it before I can rest, and these black dots clouding my vision aren't helping. I looked directly under my feet as I walked because I lacked energy and concentration. I walked and walked until I realised, I was already in the forest. I looked around and saw that this part of the forest was towards the mountain. I stopped abruptly. Then I felt it – I was crossing the border and didn't even realise it. Crap! I have to get out of here as quickly as possible! I had no energy to run or shift into my wolf, so I just walked as fast as I could until I was stopped by a deep, menacing voice. Although it was menacing, there was something attractive about it.
'And where are you going? Don't you realise you're trespassing someone else's territory?' Asked a man who radiated a very strong energy. He asked it in a bored tone with a hint of curiosity.
I turned around slowly, knowing that I would not be able to escape. He came a few steps closer and stopped. It's strange, it looks like he's really waiting for my answer….... Normally, rogues are executed on the spot or thrown into the dungeon and then interrogated. And here we are, standing casually facing each other. His aura feels like that of an alpha... I raised my head to look him in the eye. He is very tall and muscular, with a strong chin and medium-short hair, but his eyes… They are like the depth of a forest at night. Dark, dark green. He's gorgeous, but at the same time I felt something in him. Something that scared me.
'What? Are you deaf? I give you one chance to explain yourself and you completely waste it' he said coldly.
I was drowning in his eyes when he spoke again, and when I came out of my trance, I wanted to answer him, but he kept interrupting my thoughts while the black dots kept my vision blurred.
'Or maybe you're his spy… That would surprise me though… No one has ever tried to infiltrate our territory through this side...' It looked like he was talking to himself now, but I didn't know what he meant by 'his spy' and I didn't like the way his posture changed. His eyes kept shifting from the bright, even darker green eyes of his wolf's to his and he was now watching me like his prey.
'I ask you again, little one, quite simply… Who are you and what are you doing in my land? He asked angrily.
'I…' I felt the words disappear along with my thoughts as the darkness enveloped me. It felt like my legs were giving out and I waited to hit the ground, but instead I felt someone catch me with their arms. I wanted to thank that person, but before I could open my mouth, I lost consciousness.