2. Run

Athena

“Go!” my mother's tensed whisper rang in my ears as the noise drew closer. This was the end of my life eventually. There was no escaping again. I was finally joining the rest of my kind or maybe get killed for ever trying to decieve the Alpha. It was as though the tears dropping from my swollen eyes were drying immediately as they fell as I lifted my tiny body out of my room window while my mother dashed out of the room in panic.

“Don’t you dare lie to me, Rowan. Her scent is all over here,” the murderous voice echoed as I heard my father stand in my defense. This was the first time the Alpha visited our home. This was the first time he ever stepped into our house. Somebody must have seen me while I was running. I scolded myself as I sat in fright, shivering and suppressing the cry ready to burst out of my mouth. It was a hard rock to bite that night. 

“I would never lie to you, Alpha Gonzalo. I and my mate have been the only inhabitant of this house after my son joined your warriors the last 6 months. There must have been a mistake somewhere, Alpha,” my father explained with a courageous tone. I sat still in the dark hole, dug by my father after the first visit of the Alpha to the Gamma’s quarters some years back, waiting for the next slap of woe. Everyone in the pack knew how dangerous and unpredictable the Alpha was. There was tension in the house. I could hear more feet trooping in as the alpha commanded, “Search everywhere!”

I heard the heavy pants of monsters. I knew they were among the Alpha's ferocious wolves. My imaginations of them were so frightful.

My face was oozing out sweat rapidly as the growls grew louder. If I stayed any longer, they were sure to find me, I said to myself as I swallowed a large chunk of fear in my throat ready to attempt a flight before I was caught because I had over grown the hole. My legs were already sore from squatting. I peeped out of the tiny hole over the wooden plank above me. The coast was clear but the thunderings and shatterings from the house made me question my sudden decision. Rather than sit there and await capture on a platter of gold, i decided to prepare an escape—Run.

I took off the slides I was wearing and dropped it in the hole while I slowly climbed out. There was a thick forest ground close by—one of the places I sneaked out to witness the fight of roaming rogues. This was the only feasible option for me. It didn't matter if I get killed by a wild beast at that point. I didn't want to be a slave. I ran. I didn't stop. I kept running. The thought of the new born baby crossed my mind and it gave me more energy to escape. I was too scared to look back. I was scared to find a pack of wolves chasing after me as my tears rolled backwards into my ears while I licked the dripping mucor from my nostrils. I was approaching the forest grounds. I was far away from the clearing where my house was but I kept on running. The light from the moon strangely made me stronger than I would have thought. 

Then, there was a cry from within the forest. I froze in fright and looked around me. Whatever thing that made me leave my father's trusted abode must have left me stranded at the spot. What was I thinking?

I clutched the bark of a nearby tree, looking out for the source of the impending danger.

“I didn't do it! I didn't do it” a cry broke out in front of me. I would have stolen a peek to satisfy my curiosity but I was too scared. My stubborness had left me. I was like a lost rabbit amidst wild beasts.

Then I heard a loud scream. I closed my eyes so tightly with my hands on my ears as I sat on decaying leaves with my back on the tree. I wanted everything to stop at the snap of my fingers. 

As I sat there, trying to block out the sound of the scream, I realized that it wasn't going away. In fact, it seemed to be getting louder. My heart started to race as I wondered what could be causing such a terrifying noise. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, trying to locate the source of the scream.

As I scanned the forest, I saw a figure running towards me. She was covered in blood and her clothes were torn. I froze in fear as she got closer and closer. Just as I thought she was going to reach me, she collapsed at my feet.

I quickly realized that it was a young girl, pretty much older than me . She was gasping for air and her eyes were filled with terror. I knelt down beside her as a dead stump buried in snow- petrified and speechless. 

“He's coming for me! Save me!“ she urged, pointing earnestly at the space behind us. I was in need of help myself, but whatever was after the girl would definitely not spare me either. I gathered dry litters of leaves to heal her bleeding sides, just as I caught my father do sometimes back. Somehow I knew I had to act fast. I picked her up with so much efforts after reducing the bleeding to the best of my understanding at the time and we started running through the forest, trying to put as much distance between us and the attackers as possible. “Don't even dare take one more step” a murderous voice commanded. I immediately let out a reflex scream as I dropped her partly suspended body back to the floor. 

I couldn't make out the face as the burning moon was right behind his large body, clouding my sight. But, it looked nothing like the usual werewolves I was accustomed to.

He leaned forward to get a good sniff of me and threw me a look of suspicion.

“Impossible,” it whispered, while leaning towards me. I couldn't hold my gaze on him. It was scary.

“Run back home and never look back or I wouldn't spare you,” it commanded as he backed away from me, dragging the body of the girl along with him while retaining his gaze on me.

I took to my heels immediately, running like my life depended on it. At that point, it did. I didn't dare steal a second glance at the creature. 

“Athena!“ I heard my name from miles away.