Perhaps I had overestimated how much I had been 'fixed'.
My chest was getting tighter with every step and my head was starting to spin as I continued into the forest. In my rush I had completely forgotten the tiny little fact that humans can't see in the dark, and being a human, it meant I couldn't see where the hell I was heading.
I leant against a tree, gasping for air. Leaning forward I struggled to breathe but I clutched tightly a compass, trying to figure out which way North was.
I could hear the whooshing of water nearby and guessed that somewhere close by there was a lake.
Deciding I had spent enough time resting, I started to run again. It had been about half an hour since I started this journey and I could already imagine that the guards had finished their training. If they caught my scent or if someone had realised I was no longer in my room, then it would be game over for me.
Trying to push aside the thoughts of how Alpha Stone could punish me I continued to head forwards with determination. I needed to get home and see my parents and to make sure my mother was fine, that was all I wanted to do.
My parents were my world. They meant everything to me and if what Kiera had said was true, about Alpha Stone murdering my mother, then I was going to kill him myself, no matter what.
If I were a werewolf I could have been home by now, I thought dejectedly.
I slowed down when I came across a large fallen tree. It was twice the size of me so I couldn't just simply jump over it.
I rolled up my sleeves and was about to pull myself on top of the tree when I heard a twig snap.
I knew it was him before I even turned in the direction.
"I would think very carefully if I was you," he stated, emerging from the shadows, looking majestic under the moonlight.
Alpha Stone was shirtless, his rock hard abs obvious as he stepped closer to me. I had to physically pull my eyes away from his body and up to his face.
He was watching me with his dark eyes. His black hair was messed, strands falling across his face.
"What?" I whispered, my voice unwittingly husky. Good god, how could this man be so gorgeous?
Wait- stop. This man could possibly have killed your mother and you are admiring his good looks? My conscience quickly shook those thoughts out of my head.
"That tree," Alpha Stone gestured with his head, "is on the border of my pack. You cross it and you have officially escaped."
I was confused at his fact-stating voice. Was he telling me to leave?
He continued, "And that means, once you have crossed, I'll give you two seconds before I kill you."
Oh I see, he wasn't giving me facts he was just threatening me.
I stared back at him, dead in the eyes.
"Just like you did to my mother?"
There was silence and I watched his perfectly shaped eyebrows rise.
"What are you talking about?" he finally asked, his voice gruff.
I wanted to roll my eyes at him for feigning ignorance.
"I know what you did to my mother!" I yelled, tears glazing my eyes. "The whole deal was I would stay and be your prisoner if you let my parents go."
He took a step forward as tears rolled down my face.
"But you didn't and now I'm breaking my end of the deal." I pulled myself onto the tree, straddling it awkwardly.
"Eve," Alpha Stone whispered; it's a warning.
But I didn't listen and just as I was about to jump off to the other side I was grabbed roughly and pulled back into a hard chest.
"Eve," he warned again as I tried to struggle, screaming at him to let me go.
"Eve!" he shouted, finally turning me around so I was looking at him. His hands held me in place and his eyes burned into mine.
"Your parents are fine. They are unharmed and were escorted safely back to their pack."
I stopped moving, my eyes roaming his face trying to figure out whether he was lying or telling the truth.
"But I heard that my mother was on the floor, and yo-you ripped her throat out," I stuttered; tears continued to roll down my cheek.
Alpha Stone rolled his eyes.
"Your mother fainted. I didn't rip her throat out," he muttered matter-of-factly.
What he said circled in my head. "So she is still alive?" I asked.
He sighed, seemingly bored with this line of conversation. "Yes, your mother is alive and breathing."
I shivered in relief, but part of me was still dubious about whether he was telling the truth or not.
"Can I-" Before I could even finish my sentence, Alpha Stone wrapped his hands tightly around mine and started walking, pulling me along behind him.
"Ouch," I whispered, trying to pry his fingers away. His hold was so tight I thought he might snap my wrist.
Hearing me wince, his hold loosened slightly, but he kept his eyes ahead.
I trailed behind him, struggling to keep up with his wide steps. He seemed so gracious, almost like he was floating with every step and then there was me, looking like some deranged rabbit hopping behind him.
We walked in silence for a while before I asked, "Can I see my parents?"
"No."
"Can I call my parents?"
"No."
I sighed, "Then how do I know if you're telling the truth, about them being alive?"
He turned around abruptly, making me walk straight into him. He lowered himself so he was looking me straight in the eyes.
"You don't," he stated, his eyes pools of black. "You're just gonna have to believe me," he answered. He was so close to me now, that as he spoke his warm breath fanned over me.
I was speechless as I gazed into his eyes, my heart beating incredibly fast at our close proximity.
"Well, my parents are going to be really worried. Can I just let them know I'm fine?" I asked, leaning away trying to make some space between us.
"Believe me," he said, "your parents know that you are fine." He turned away and started to walk, pulling me along again.
What does that mean?
★☾★
All I could think the whole way back was how much of a fail this attempt to run away was. And as we got close to the pack house I felt just down right embarrassed.
My thoughts drifted to Carla and I closed my eyes. Oh god, that poor girl was going to be in so much trouble.
Just for her sake and because of everything she had risked, I wondered if I should try and make another attempt to run for it.
Maybe if I just sprint as fast as I can in a zigzag motion, I might be able to outrun Alp-
I quickly ended that ridiculous trail of thought. There was no way I could outrun Alpha Stone and even if I was to attempt it, I would not be able to break out of his tight hold in the first place.
Almost reading my mind Alpha Stone spoke up.
"If you even think of trying to do what you just did again, I promise you Eve, I won't be so kind." His voice was so cold and sharp it felt like a knife had stabbed me.
Before I even knew what I was doing I nodded in reply.
He glanced down at me, his eyes roaming my body. He then reached over and wiped something off my face.
It was that mixture Carla had put on me. I had completely forgotten that I was still wearing it.
"Who made this for you?" he asked.
I held my mouth shut. There was no way I was going to tell on the only person that had helped me.
He wiped the mixture from his hands onto my top.
"I'll punish Carla Helton once we get back."
My eyes went wide and I quickly dug my heels into the ground making Alpha Stone stop. He already knew, of course he did.
"Please don't," I whispered. "I threatened her with a knife."
Alpha Stone raised an eyebrow.
"A speciality of yours I see," he retorted, "-threatening people."
I felt my face heat up.
"It doesn't matter though," the Alpha continued, "she still helped you escape and she needs to be punished for that."
I clutched at his arm when he turned to walk towards the pack house.
"What are you going to do to her?" I ask, fear clear in my voice.
He smirked as he turned to face me, but there was no humour on his face, just darkness and anger.
"I guess I'll have to rip her throat out."