Pack Ties, Blood Lies

Chapter 8 - Visitors

I grimaced and looked away. "Okay, mom. That's enough, I'm going for a walk. And you wonder why I didn't want to tell you."

She rolled her eyes, firing one last parting shot after me as I headed out the door. "You better not be going to see him, no matter how ridiculously hot he is!"

I laughed as I started down the gravel pathway, with nowhere to be it was my first full, free day in years.

I grinned as I skipped off the path into the woodland, sniffing the air to delight in the earthy scent of the undergrowth.

I often thought of how fun it must be to shift and race through the trees, hunting rabbits and playing catch with unsuspecting birds.

Something I'd never get to experience, sadly.

I'd been walking for around thirty minutes when I became aware of an unfamiliar scent. There was no mistaking it was a wolf, but not one I had come across before.

Slowly I lowered myself to the ground, rolling in the dirt as quietly as I could to mask my own scent.

It was probably just one of the neighbouring Pack members, on their way home after joining us yesterday. But I couldn't shake off the bad feeling I had.

The forest seemed eerily quiet all of a sudden.

I lay still for a while. I was just starting to think I had imagined it when a deep chuckle sounded over to my right. "Haha, too slow. Smelled you already. Whatcha doing down there girlie?"

Shit.

I quickly sprung into a crouching position. Eyeing the man in front of me.

He was tall, with large muscular arms and light stubble coating his square jaw. The grin on his face was not the welcoming kind and I darted my eyes to his right, checking my path back to the Pack was clear.

The chuckle rumbled again as four wolves slinked out of the trees to flank him. I could see even more behind him, moving through the undergrowth.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you girlie." He smirked, taking a step towards me, causing my heart to begin to pound. He scented the air, seeming satisfied, as if the smell of my fear pleased him.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I can find a Mr. Vincent would you? I have business to discuss with him." He questioned, a sickly smile on his face.

Nerves twisted in my stomach as I realised what he was asking. He was looking for Jack.

There must have been a moment of recognition on my face and the stranger noticed.

"Ah! You do know him... How perfect." His smile widened impossibly further, making him look a little mad. "Now, why don't you be a good little pup and tell me where to find him?"

I shook my head, shock robbing my words.

Anger glinted in his ice blue eyes and he shot out a hand, catching me by the throat as I stood frozen. "When Drake Darran asks for something. He get's it." He growled.

Choking though I was, I blame hysteria on the fact the I couldn't hold in my snort. Who addresses themselves like that?

His anger flared even more, and his fingers tightened, shaking me hard. "Do you have a death wish girlie?"

I gasped for air and desperately ran my training through my head. My lungs burned with lack of oxygen and if I didn't get lose soon, I'd pass out, or maybe even be killed.

I clawed at his large hand, desperation kicking in as I watched his eyes light with the glee of his violence.

With no other option, I forced my adrenaline fuelled body to still and go limp. My lungs screaming for air in my chest.

Chuckling, Drake tossed me aside as if I was no more than trash.

I landed against a tree with a hard thump. The piercing stab and loud crack told me I had broken some ribs at the very least.

I managed to pull air in silently through my nose as I flew through the air. As soon as I landed, I hopped to my feet, ignoring the slicing pain in my side.

Instantly I was moving, pushing my legs faster than I had ever ran before. My lungs felt as though I had drunk acid as I forced them to overwork in their fragile state. My bruised throat and body ached with every breath.

Thirty minutes walking would take me about ten to return at this speed. If I wasn't caught first.

Luckily, Jack had trained me well. I was fast.

I could hear angry growls and paws thumping the earth behind me but didn't dare to turn to check their progress.

Just as I was running out of energy, I burst through the trees into familiar territory.

As I skidded into the pack house, The Alpha was talking with the mentors in the foyer.

All eyes landed on me. Annoyed frowns quickly became worry as they took in the sight of me.

Ignoring all procedure, I grabbed the Alpha's arm. "Raiders." Was all I could croak before I passed out.