Chapter 2 - Discovery

Trinity POV

My body aches, and my muscles burns, but I can’t give up yet. 

The sound of paws pounding against the forest floor and chasing behind me propels me to keep pushing forward. 

My mind is in a total chaos, trying to figure out what is going on and how things have gotten to this point, but I can’t think about it right now.  The only thing I need to think about right now is how to get out of this mess, and fast. 

My heart hammers against my chest, while the adrenaline pulses through my veins and keeps me moving forward. 

With the sound of my attackers behind me and echoing in my ears, I dart over the top of a hill.  A small sense of relief washes over me when a city comes into view.  The distant lights twinkle as if they are signaling to me I’ll be safe there. 

For the last countless hours, I’ve been so focused on trying to get away from these crazy people that I don’t even know which town this is, but that isn’t important.  The city means there is more of a chance to hide and get away, hopefully still alive. 

With the end finally in sight, my legs move faster, and I bolt forward.  Once I reach the edge of the city, I zigzag through the streets, trying to stay in the shadows but moving fast enough to stay ahead of the angry mob behind me. 

My only bright point in all of this is that I have managed to seriously injure several of the werewolves.  I think they underestimated me.  With alpha blood flowing through me, I’m naturally stronger and faster than a normal werewolf, even if I’m a girl.  Being firstborn also helps. 

If everything between Trent and I are the same, I would still be stronger and faster than my brother, simply because I’m firstborn.    

The heavy steps behind slightly fade, but I don’t slow down.  I have to find safety. 

I cut around a corner, and my legs almost give out from under me, but I gather what remaining energy I have and push forward. 

My vision blurs. 

I shake my head and spot an alley up ahead. 

I dash around the corner and dart into the alley.  My legs again nearly give way, but I push myself forward, not wanting to collapse out in the open.  I need a place to hide. 

Several large dumpsters line up along the building. 

My vision blurs again, and I stumble forward.  Shaking my head, I try to clear my view, but it doesn’t change much.  I can only make out the basic shapes of things, but none of the details. 

With the last bit of energy I have, I jump behind the last dumpster and tuck myself back in the corner.  My legs give way, and I fall to the dirty pavement.  A foul smell hangs in the air and wraps around me. 

My entire body aches and every muscle burns.  Even my veins feel like they are on fire.  Several sharp pains shoot through multiple spots on my body, while something warm runs down my side and along my face. 

I hope I’m hidden well enough, so they won’t find me. 

My head throbs, and I slowly lower it to the pavement. 

For the first time in my life, fear engulfs me, and I silently pray to the moon goddess she will protect me.  I’ve never left my fate in the hands of someone else, but there is nothing I can do now.  I don’t think I can lift my head if I want to. 

My thoughts go back to the attack. 

There were so many, and it is like they knew where I would be, but how?  That can’t be right.

Also, I’ve fought 10 werewolves before and hardly got injured, but this time, I could barely fight back against 6 or 7. 

My head throbs harder as if my thinking is causing it. 

My eye drifts around what I can see, but there is very little.  Boxes, wrappers, and empty bottles are scattered around.  None of it can help me if the people find me. 

I let out a long sigh. 

How did I get myself into this situation? 

My eyelids grow heavy and almost shut before darkness engulfs me. 

***

Lance POV

“Guys, I need to step out for a moment.”  I gulp down the last of my beer and stand up from the table.  “Order me another one.  I’ll be right back.”

I give the table full of friends a slight nod before turning and heading for the back door.  My phone has been buzzing non-stop in my pocket for some time. 

With each step I take away from my friends, my frustrations build. 

Why can’t I be left alone? 

My father has promised to leave me out of all the politics and let me live my life away from everything for a while.  After a few years of me enjoying my youth, he can then call me back, and I’ll fulfill my role, but not before then. 

I burst through the back door of the bar and yank the phone out of my pocket.  “What do you want?”

My father’s coarse voice replies, “Is that the way you greet your father?”

I roll my eyes and kick an empty bottle down the alley.  “It is how I greet you when you don’t follow your end of the deal.  Now, what do you want?”

He clears his throat.  “Things aren’t going so smoothly.  A few werewolf packs are becoming unruly, and I…”

I shake my head as I snort.  “No.  You always have a werewolf pack or two causing problems.  This isn’t anything new.  I’m not stopping my life right now for that.  Now, if we are going into some huge war between all the lycans and werewolves, I would listen, but not for this.”

I quickly end the call and kick another empty plastic bottle down the alley.  It hits the back wall and ricochets back behind the dumpster, but there is no noise of it hitting the metal dumpster. 

I stare at the dumpster. 

Odd.

A faint scent, which I can’t place, tickles my nose. 

I glance over my shoulder at the bar’s back door.  Music spills out of it, along with the faint smell of alcohol. 

My friends are inside, waiting for me. 

The strange scent tickles my nose again and pulls my attention in the other direction. 

What is it?

I turn my focus back towards the dumpsters and slowly make my way towards it. 

The closer I get, the stronger the scent is.  When I’m halfway there, my feet stop, and my eyes widen as I realize what I’m smelling.  Blood. 

I rush forward and around the side of the dumpster. 

My feet come to a grinding halt when I spot a blonde wolf with brown tips covered from head to toe in blood. 

What the heck? 

A commotion behind me has me looking over my shoulder.  When I spot a small group of wolves at the end of the alley, something inside of me wants to protect the injured wolf.  I turn around and stand, making sure to hide the wolf.

I adjust my zipper and shake my leg.  “Do you mind?  Can I pee in peace?”  I raise an eyebrow, and a smirk slides across my face.  “Or are you one of those werewolves who gets a kick out of watching others take a piss?”

I fiddle with my zipper and act like I’m going to unzip it.