Chapter 6

Jenna's POV

“There she is. Get her!”

I pick up pace, fear propelling my legs faster and faster as I continue to run, ignoring the pounding of feet behind me. 

For a moment, I regret this decision. I regret leaving the pack, leaving my friend behind, and thinking it was a wise idea to leave the safety that Jack had afforded. 

I should have stayed. I should have sucked up the rejection and tried to court one of the eligible bachelors in the pack who were looking to find their mate. 

I should have remained there. I should have learnt to disengage. But I had allowed emotions to overrule logic, and now I was nearly at the mercy of strange neanderthals.

Cold, callous hands clamp on my shoulders and reel me backwards, flinging me against a tree stump. My ribs connect with the hardness of wood, and I let out a scream as I land on solid ground. 

There's sudden silence as I lay on the ground, my head reeling from the acute pain that shoots from my side. 

I put my hands on my burning ribs, making a failed attempt to massage the pain away.

“No one escapes from us, little girl.” One of the men snarls. “Nobody outruns us. It was a foolish attempt to try.”

The strange cam advances towards me, the stale smell of bodily sweat and sour meat hits my nostrils, and I struggle with sudden nausea. 

The man moves closer to me, each step pushing a sense of dread through me and causing my heart to beat faster and faster. 

“She is a lovely one.” The man mutters, his horrible breath washing over my face. 

Close enough, I am able to make out the strange man's features. His reddened face looks like something I have only ever seen in my nightmares. 

Large claw marks mar his right cheek, his left eye appears to have been so badly punched it left a permanent bruise, or was it just a messy tattoo? 

His only good eye gleams with a certain darkness that sends shivers down my spine. I am completely helpless and hopelessly outnumbered. I don't stand a chance against these burly men. 

“Get away from me.” I growl, my eyes flashing. 

“Ah... She's a feisty one.” The marked man mutters, looking more impressed than scared. He turns to his partner and grins manically. 

“Lucas would love this one.”

The other man, this one with more scars than I can count, grins back and nods enthusiastically.

“We've scored big. Now let's get away from here before we get ambushed.”

As both men start towards me, I push backwards, panick seizing my throat at what is really about to happen. 

“If you don't stay away from me, I will cause permanent damage to what's left of your sight.”

Both men pause, turn to each other, and bark out laughter. A second later, dirt-caked hands gripped my arms and hurl me up. 

I begin to kick and scream, trying my hardest to wriggle out of their strong grip. I cannot believe this is how it's all going to end. However, I refuse to surrender without a fight.

“Stay calm, lady, or I'll punch your face in.” One of the men grunt. 

I do not heed their instruction but rather turn wildly to sink my teeth into the closest flesh. There's a loud howl, and I'm suddenly dropped to the ground. 

“Why the hell did you drop her?”

“The son of a dog bit me!” The second man screams. 

With satisfaction, I spit out the tangy taste of blood that has clung to my teeth and meet the eyes of my now furious abductors. 

“It will appear, Little Wench, that we underestimated you.” The unbitten one says, hands balled in a fist as he advances again towards me. 

I frantically scan my surroundings, and upon spotting a small opening for escape, decide to seize it. I hurriedly crawl between the legs of Scarred face, breaking into a sudden run. 

“The bitch!”

I hear one of them scream behind me, running after me to try to catch up. 

My heart beats fast, and my breath comes out in short spurts as I continue to run, praying to the gods for protection. 

But my prayers go unanswered because hands hurl me back once more, and this time, a punch is delivered to my upper jaw that knocks the wind right out of me. 

I land on the forest ground with a thud, groaning from the pain that burns my face. 

“We can't let her escape again. Let's bind her hands this time, little bitch is a fighter.”

I struggle to get up once more. But something heavy lands on my chest, and it takes a few seconds to realise that it's the tattered boots of Scarred face. 

“Not so fast, little wolf.” He grins.

“You're fucking going to kill me,” I growl, when it becomes impossible to breathe. But Scarred face pays me no mind, and I realise with growing panic that I am getting out of breath and could literally pass out any second from his heavy boots restricting breathing. 

“Of what use would I be to you if I died?” I ground out. “You and your stupid friend would get nothing for trying to sell a dead girl. Get your stupid boots off my chest so I can stay alive for your devilish plans.”

I can't believe that I am this brave. I can't believe that I am speaking up for myself right now. But this is what facing life and death would do to you, isn't it? 

Scarred face moves his legs from my chest, and I greedily take in lungfuls of air.

Scarred face drops to the ground so that he's eye level with me. His only good eye shines with loathing as he speaks.

“Try to escape again, and I will keep my legs on your chest and watch you take your last breath.”

I shiver at the look in his eyes that tells me that he wouldn't hesitate to carry out his threat this time. 

“Now,” he continues, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Get up slowly and keep your hands out.”

I swallow and begin to get up, deciding to do what Scarred face says in order to stay alive, but a voice in the dark stops me in tracks.

“Let the girl go, and maybe I'll spare your lives.”