Chapter 9

Clara’s POV

As the two guards approach me, I become a being of pure instinct.

Before I can even process what’s happening to me, I’ve managed to shake the chains off my arms and legs. My sharp claws extend. I swing my arm forward without mercy, feeling the blood well up beneath my nails as I cut into the face of the guard in front of me.

“Bitch!” He screams out, blood pouring down his face as his lip curls in disgust and he sinks to the ground.

I breathe shallowly, heart racing, claws still raised.

And then I start to run.

My feet thud heavily on the thick mat of fallen leaves beneath my feet. Thorny branches and brambles claw at the thin fabric of my dress. I can hear shouts behind me, the guards’ words, lewd and taunting.

“Get back here, you whore!”

“Come show us exactly how you managed to seduce Alpha Damien!”

“Doesn’t a slut like you want to get caught?”

A ragged sob tears from my throat as I continue to run. I actually think I’d rather die than let those men anywhere near me–

And unfortunately, right now that seems like an awfully real possibility.

I don’t know where I’m running. I’m well past the Moonstone pack borders right now–I have no idea where I even am, and even if I did have any sense of direction, I don’t know where I’d go. I’m in exile now, after all. There’s nowhere left for me. My lungs are beginning to burn from overexertion, and my wounds from the torture in the dungeon certainly aren’t doing me any favours. My chest hurts. My limbs ache. The distance between myself and the borders continues to grow, but I can hear them closing in behind me, and I know my body is going to give out soon.

And then…

I grit my teeth and force myself onwards. Not acceptable. Not an option. I can’t–I won’t–

I scream as I trip over a fallen log, agony rushing through me as all my wounds seem to reawaken at once. My head pounds. Adrenaline sings in my veins. I do my best to stumble back to my feet, swaying unsteadily, when I feel a calloused hand clamp around my wrist.

“No!” I shriek.

I try to pull away from the guard, but his grip holds firm.

Panic starts to well in the pit of my stomach.

“Well, well, well…” the guard holding me murmurs, blood dripping from his face from where I cut him open. “Aren’t you a vicious little thing?”

“Get your filthy hands off of me!” I hiss, thrashing desperately.

But the other guard comes up behind me. His hands clamp around my waist, holding me firm, and a wave of revulsion unlike anything else hits me all at once.

“She’s got some fight in her,” the guard behind me growls.

“Only makes her more fun,” grins the one who’s bleeding.

I spit at the guard in front of me, a fat glob of saliva landing on his cheek. That smile doesn’t drop for a second. Instead, he draws his hand back and slaps me across the face.

Hard.

I shriek and try to raise my palm to soothe the wound, but I’m held fast. The bleeding guard leans in close as I continue to struggle.

“Might me more trouble than you’re worth,” he snarls.

His fingers wander around the neckline of my dress, tearing at the fabric, and my heart drops to my stomach.

“Let’s see if you’re worth all the fuss.”

I draw in a tense breath, bracing myself for the worst.

Then, a thunderous howl rips through the woods, a sound so raw and dangerous the very air vibrates.

Both guards freeze in shock. In that split-second, I hear Marigold’s voice in my mind.

‘Run!’ She screams urgently.

I don’t need to be told twice.

Taking advantage of the moment of confusion, I manage to push one guard into the other. They tumble to the ground in a heap. I continue my running, lungs aching, limbs in agony, but this time I have a focus.

This time I’m running towards wherever the howl came from.

With a sigh of relief I finally manage to break out of the woods and into a small clearing. My head whips back and forth as I look around desperately for some source of cover, somewhere to hide–

But that’s when I spot the group of soldiers watching me coldly.

Fear roots me in place at the sight of them. They look like a tight-knit group, likely a patrol, all dressed in uniforms. I wonder if I’ve wandered into another pack’s territory.

I wonder if they’re a friendly pack.

My breathing is shallow and ragged as the leader of the soldiers walks towards me, gaze cold and inquisitive.

“Who are you?” He asks sharply.

My mouth falls open. My head is swimming. “I–I’m–”

“Hold it right there!”

The two guards who’ve been following me run into the clearing, faces twisted into masks of fury. The bleeding one raises his hand and points at me.

“She’s our plaything!” He seethes. “Release her to us at once!”

The leader raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, then gestures towards the two guards with a single flick of his wrist.

In an instant, his soldiers are upon them. I squeeze my eyes shut against the snapping jaws and tearing flesh, my stomach twisting as I smell blood.

“Who are you?” The leader asks again, pressing closer to me. Despite being responsible for the death of two men, his stare is remorseless and unflinching. “If you don’t answer me soon, you’ll meet the same fate as those bastards,” he warns.

I try to speak, but it’s like my throat has been hollowed out. My heart races. My vision swims and lurches. I want to speak, I don’t want to die–

“I…” I begin to say.

Suddenly, a wave of sudden exhaustion washes over me. I whimper as my legs begin to buckle, vision going black.

The last thing I see is the leader of the soldiers stalking towards me, uncomfortably close.

Then, I slip into unconsciousness.