Chapter Nine

"You will be mine," Brandon says, pulling me to my feet. "We're going back into the chamber and now that you see you can't escape me, maybe you'll finally accept your fate."

I won't, of course. I won't ever.

"Help!" I scream, shocking myself with the sound. I hope someone in the woods will hear me, though I know the only people near us are those from his pack. They would delight in my torture.

"Help!" I scream again.

Brandon laughs, but then I notice something he doesn't see. There's someone watching us from the shadows.

He's looking at Brandon like he's trying to gauge something. Is he trying to figure out if he can take him down?

Then, the stranger looks at me. Like he's trying to figure out if he can help me. If I'm worth helping.

"Help me!" I scream, and his eyes meet mine. There’s hope there. Like maybe he could be my hero.

"Help!" I scream. "Help!"

"Quiet!" Brandon yells, and then I feel the knife at the back of my neck. "I told you I'm not going to kill you right now, but I'd gladly do so if you don't shut up. Do you understand?"

I nod.

The man in the shadows keeps looking at me and I know he wants to help. He glances at Brandon and then, he shifts into a wolf. He's running towards us.

Before Brandon notices, the wolf knocks into him and suddenly Brandon is on the ground and I'm free.

I run away from the wolf and away from Brandon.

“Katia!” Brandon howls, as he fights the wolf. “Get back here or it’ll just be worse for you!”

The sound of breaking branches and howls follow me.

He's close.

“Katia!” he calls out. “Your little boyfriend is gone. It’s just you and me now.”

He's found me again, but I keep moving.

I try to hide. I try to find a place to put Brandon off my trail, ducking among some rocks. I hole up in them, hoping the darkness will cloak me. I pray to the spirits of my pack members to protect me.

I know I can’t outrun him. I can’t fight him. But I’m smaller than him. Maybe I can hide from him.

“Katia!” his voice echoes around me. I wonder what happened to the stranger. It seems like I’m on my own now though.

Brandon stops right in front of my hiding spot.

He's faster than I thought he could be. Stronger too. And as he picks me up and throws me against a tree, I know I'm out of time.

He's going to kill me.

"You're going to be mine," he says, as my back is pressed up against the rough bark so hard it’s difficult to breathe. "Unless you keep playing these games. There’s only so much I can take.

“I’m willing to break you, but eventually you need to give, Katia. I feel like I’m the only one who’s even trying in this marriage.”

He laughs and I'm ready for this to be over. I’m ready to die.

There's that stranger again though. His silver eyes are illuminated by the moonlight. His dark hair keeps him hidden. He's tall. Strong.

He looks wounded though. Like maybe Brandon attacked him and thought he had killed him. The rouge isn’t dead, but he’s seriously injured.

I don't know why he’s helping me, or what he has against Brandon but he's a better match for him than I am. So though I feel bad for getting him tangled up in this, I watch him, hoping he’ll do more to help. He’s my only chance.

He pulls out a dagger.

"Seems like you got yourself a boyfriend," Brandon says. "But I'll take care of him later. He's run off now. I guess he decided you’re not worth it. It's just you and me here now."

As Brandon moves closer to me, the stranger rushes towards him.

He leaps at Brandon, dagger in hand.

But Brandon moves back as if he's seen him coming.

Brandon grabs the stranger's arm, causing him to scream.

The dagger falls as their eyes are locked on each other.

Before I can think on it further, I grab the dagger and lunge at Brandon, distracting him as he tries to stop my attack. We face off and hatred burns in his eyes.

He wants to kill me. If I can't get away now, he will kill me.

The stranger uses this moment to knock Brandon off his feet. They tumble again. The fighting is viscous.

"Run!" the stranger screams, pushing me away as Brandon comes after him.

I run as the two fight.

I look back as a horrible sound fills the night.

Brandon hits the stranger hard with his fist. He hits him over and over again.

I stop running. I can't stop watching. I feel sick thinking about what's happening to this man who tried to save me.

Brandon is stronger.

Brandon is winning.

The stranger can't stop him. He tries to fight through the pain. He tries to ignore the moans escaping his lips. The groans.

He throws Brandon off him, then struggles up. But before he can gather his bearings, Brandon pounces.

He grasps the stranger by his neck. His grip is tight. Too tight.

The stranger brings out another knife hidden behind him and plunges it into Brandon's chest.

Before Brandon can falter, he snaps my hero's neck.

They both fall in a heap together.

I don't know if the wound to Brandon is fatal. I don't stick around long enough to find out. There’s nothing I can do for him or the stranger that saved me.

So, I just keep running into the night.

I have nowhere to run to, but I have to find a place to hide.

Brandon's pack is still out there. And whether or not he's dead or alive, they will come after me.

They will want to tear me apart until they steal my life.