Flight and Containment

Seraphina.

"What is your name?" He asked again for the third time, "I would make sure you're greatly rewarded for this."

I ignored him like I did before. I wanted to finish this off and be on my way to a place where I wouldn't be found. It wasn't up to an hour when I finished cleaning the cuts and wounds. I had to fight the urge to ask him what really happened that he had so many stab wounds, it wasn't in my place as an Omega to strike a conversation with an Alpha.

"I'm done, sir." I breathed out and he assessed his body before looking at me. A ghost of a smile formed on the face of his wolf.

"You have done well—" he tilted his head to the side, a way of trying to ask me for my name, and I hesitated.

"You can address me as an Omega, sir." I bowed my head low, "My name is not useful and has never been useful."

Besides, there was really no point. Soon, my name would be on the tip of the tongue of all werewolves in the world— Seraphina, the Alpha's murderer.

He chuckled under his breath when I said that, and I couldn't help the frown that formed on my face. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Fear gripped my heart when he mentioned that and I slowly backed away from him. How could he tell? My pulse began to race and my anxiety pressed a crushing weight against my brain.

"I..."

"It's alright," his voice was calm and filled with understanding, "Many Omegas flee their pack because of cruel treatment, but here in my pack, everyone is accorded equal rights. We make it our duty to know every Omega by name. I understand if you're hesitant to share yours."

The Alpha of this pack...? I had run into another pack? I crossed the borders of another pack? Why hadn't I been stopped or arrested? Why wasn't there a warrior patrol around? My guts told me I had to leave immediately or I would be caught and killed.

I looked at the Alpha again and I saw he was slowly healing, and if I ran, it would only be a matter of time before he caught me. This was the difference in strengths between an Alpha and an Omega. I had to do something so he wouldn't follow me.

"Oh, I forgot something," I quickly dipped my hand in my pocket again and brought and let out a sigh of relief when I found the other coarse root. "Here, herbs that would make you regain your strength and make your wolf heal you faster."

I held my breath after I let those words out. Would he buy it? Would he believe it? Would he put these in his mouth? He stared at me for what seemed like forever, his gaze slowly unnerving me that I felt I could break any time soon and apologize for trying to give him something that would put him in a really deep sleep.

"Of course..." He finally breathed out and my shoulders sagged in relief, "You've gone this far in healing me, I trust you."

At the last three words, my hands shook slightly. Trust me? He shouldn't trust me at all.

"I'm still interested in knowing your name, little Omega," he eyed me cautiously, "And if it's because you're scared, I can start by introducing myself first. We could be allies. I could reach out to your pack to let you stay here..."

"I don't think that will be necessary, sir." I bowed my head again and proceeded to crush the leaves really fast against my palm with a smooth stone I found on the floor.

"Call me Kael. Alpha Kael."

My entire body froze. Kael? 

"A—are you...by any chance," I tried so hard to steady my breath but it wasn't helping at all. "Are you... Alpha Zen's brother?"

His eyes lit up for the first time that night. "You know my little brother? Yes, I'm his brother. He's the only family I have left really."

I felt like I was being suffocated with this revelation. He did not know. He did not know that Alpha Zen was dead. Oh my goddess! And if he knew I was the one who stood accused of his brother's murder... 

I shook my head vigorously and crushed the leaves painfully until I could feel the liquid it was slowly producing. I wasn't going to think about what he would do. I couldn't. 

"Please, open up." I stood on my toes to pour the liquid into his mouth, and while staring at me, he opened his mouth obediently and I whispered my last words to him as soon as the liquid touched his tongue. "I'm sorry, Alpha Kael. I'm sorry about your brother."

His eyes widened in panic, but his eyes were already half-closed. He fought hard to resist the effects of the herbs, but it wasn't working. Even the strongest person couldn't withstand its effects.

I stared at him one last time before turning to leave. Still in his wolf form, he looked really peaceful. This was going to be the last time he had that look on his face.

"Who are you? Intruder by the borders!!!" I hadn't taken up to six steps when I heard a deep voice and three heavy footsteps marching towards my way. Where did they come from? I looked over my shoulders in panic and under the dim torches they carried, I could see the emblem of the Shadowpine pack on their uniform. The guards and warrior patrol were here. How did they get here?

I tried taking another step forward when I tripped and fell over the leg of Alpha Kael's wolf. It was then it stuck. He was their Alpha. He would have communicated with them before he passed out.

"Alpha!!" One of the guards who had spotted the wolf lying beside where I had fallen rushed towards us with fear in his voice and eyes. "Where is the Pack's doctor?" He yelled at the top of his lungs, and more warriors seemed to materialize out of thin air.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO OUR ALPHA?!"

It wasn't until heavy hands gripped my shoulders that I knew my life was finally over. It wouldn't be long

before they knew who I was. Alpha Kael wouldn't let me go easily, neither would any pack in the world.