A SAVIOR

CHAPTER TWO —  A SAVIOR.

MIRA HALE

 I ran just as fast as my legs could take me, breath torn in and out, ragged and sharped and sometimes hitched. I looked behind me still not stopping as the guards shouted while chasing me even into the forest.

“You cannot outrun me, Mira!“ I envisioned Alpha Darius's growl in my head, I shuddered to the cold.

I hissed. “Wasn't yours to begin with and that doesn't change even if I get caught.“ I muttered and the breeze patted me just lightly but satisfactory. Even my baby had nudged in agreement with a small kick.

The air brushed softly against my skin, my nose twitching as if I stepped on a butt of cigarette.

I hissed. That drunk bastard! The air grew sharper and bit hard against my skin, the presence of the waving trees brought the memories of that night.

The stink of wet floors. The sound of my mother's voice sending me out late at night and him staggering towards me, his words nothing more than grumble but his grip so strong.

“You're mine tonight.“ He had growled, his hot breath mixed with alcohol and cigarettes fanning against my ear.

I screamed as if my throat would tear apart but no one came. His claws pinned me against the wall and tore against my wrists until crimson laid on them.

I kicked, scratched, begged and cried but his weight crushed every effort from me.

“Please.. stop!“ I pleaded. My voice had cracked, no use for defence as the building was swallowed by silence.

He didn't stop. He forced himself into me, every thrust made me gasp for air from my lungs. The smell of his sweat and drunken breath still clung until me even now, as I ran.

I had stared into the ceiling that night, nails digging against the floor, my body screamed in pain while my mind drifted away from that night. Because it was the only way to survive.

When it was all over, he stood up from me and kicked me.

A cry escaped through me. My thighs trembled, blood mixed with tears.

I had crawled home in the rain, shame wrapping me like some trauma that I would never forget.

My loud screams reechoed in my head as I kept running through the forest even as the fallen leaves crunched under me.

That night had been a resurfacing nightmare that I never told anyone and even now as I ran, the ground felt swollen.

Rain had begun to fall with no pause. I stopped and pulled off my heels.

“Stop!“ The guards roared, they were already too near but I ran further, my wedding dress tearing off to jagged roots from fallen trees.

I ignored them until I felt my foot caught on a sharp root. I fell hard to the cold floor, pain shot through my leg as the skin cut open. A sharp cry escaped my lips.

Blood smeared over the wound covered in dirt, I tried to stand but the wound burned badly that my breath hitched.

For a moment, the forest went silent. I could have sighed one breath of relief until I heard rustling of dry leaves. I jumped to my feet, alert.

They were still here. Their yellow eyes, hungry to hunt.

My wolf snapped and pushed me behind a tree.

I sucked in my breath for god knows how long..I watched the guards halt, breath ragged, confusion registered on their sweaty faces before their leader commanded.

“Let's go. We lost her.“ Frustration arched at his brow.

Once they were out of sight and it was only me in the garden, I leaped to the bark of a wet tree, breath ceasing as the rain fell heavier while I tended to my wound, my hair wet and hovering over my face, disheveled.

But the forest didn't seem safe, a sound ripped through the night. Until a growl echoed deep and violent, my chest heaved, sweat laced all over my face as I stood slowly.

Until glowing yellow eyes encircled me, rough furs, bared teeth. They sniffed, lusting for blood.

“She smells good for a feast“ One growled.

“We should just have her right now.“ another hissed, tongue stuck out.

My pulse hammered hard against my chest. If they knew what… if they knew I had a baby with me, they could…

My breath hitched, one of them lunged towards me unexpectedly. I barely had the time to scream before his claws cut across my arm, a sharp pain ripping through me And it was the same tearing from that night. My scream ripped out just like before when no one came.

He dug his claws into my arm again, more piercing.

My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground almost immediately.

I wriggled free but I only deceived myself with the thought of making it out of here.

Another clutched the sleeve of my dress and tore it off, the ripping sound echoing through the silence. Just like that night. The same sound. My skin exposed, body trembling that I couldn't tell if this was now or then.

I shut my eyes, just like that night as if surrendering and ready to let it all happen because fighting and screaming did nothing when..

A loud roar sliced through the air, threatening enough to make even the rogues flinch. The growl echoed deeper into the forest that I stilled. It differed from the others. More darker, heavier and even dangerous.

I snapped my eyes open, his roar shattering through the present as it dragged me out of that nightmare, pushing me back to the moment.

The rogues froze instantly, their ears falling flat. Some of them whined as they backed away and even the first that had pushed me to the ground was already trembling. None of them dared to move.

A stamp to the floor sent the leaves spreading apart from the force and ground shaking.

The rest had run except from their leader who dared to challenge the other rogue. But he hadn't given him a chance and pounced on him instead, and slashed his claws against the rogue's throat and sent him crashing to the tree in an instant.

He lunged towards him again and slashed his throat more brutally than he had before. Howls echoed, blood sprayed.

I stiffened.

Was this rogue saving me or keeping me to himself for a nice feast.

He walked towards me and crouched in front of me and wrapped his hands around my wrist. I stiffened. His dark aura filled my senses as I stared into his eyes. They glowed with light and there was a scary scar that drew up from his cheek to his jaw; the rain slid over it.

He stood over me. A rogue warrior himself, broad shoulders. His face dropped and I realized my trembling hands were clutching my stomach, protectively.

“Pregnant.“ He remarked. His voice was strong enough, tone sharp.

I froze, bloodied and weak but met his gaze still as I snapped.

“None of your business!“

I had expected him to say something, instead, the softness that arched on his brow hardened as he rasped.

“You shouldn't be out here. Anyone after you, rogues, would even tear you apart and have a nice feast.“

His gaze lingered over my chest.

I shifted backwards. He had noticed and clenched his jaw, expression unreadable.

Silence reigned a while until..

I gasped.

“What are you doing?” I screamed, already scooped into his arms as he walked deeper into the woods.

“Keeping you alive,” he muttered.

My wolf shivered inside of me. My chest tightened as though some invisible chain pulled me towards him.  My heartbeat grew heavier not from fear but something stronger. Something I couldn't fight.

This wolf was a stranger but still I leaned in against his chest, taking in his scent.