Chapter 0005

LAIKA

I began to run through the woods. If I would die, I would not die without a fight. As I ran, the rustling of leaves turned to pounding footsteps behind me. Tears streamed down my cheeks now, and I panted as I ran. I looked back occasionally to see if I would catch sight of whatever it was, but it was dark, and I could not. My wolf vision was not as clear because of all the torture I undergo. Joy, my wolf, was exhausted and locked herself away from me most of the time.

I clutched the letter tightly in my palm as I ran. Even if I were to die, I should not lose this letter. As I turned back again to see my chaser, my left foot caught a twig and got entangled, throwing me off balance. I toppled, unable to catch myself, I banged my head on a tree trunk. The impact was so hard that I saw stars. I fell back into my death. This is the part where I died because it seemed my head was ripped apart and once I crashed to the floor, I will be torn by the rogue chasing after me.

But before I lost track of reality and crashed to my death, I felt strong boulders engulfing me— only that they were not boulders, but strong arms. I could perceive nothing, and my eyes were covered with darkness, my lips were parched with fear. It was like all my senses went numb except for my brain, which detected those arms. I fell into powerful arms, ones with a stronger embodiment. I felt myself being lifted off the ground and I finally fell unconscious.

~~~

Wake up

Someone whispered in my ear and my eyes flared open and I only realized it was Joy. My vision was blurred for a while, but I saw faint yellow glows all around me and I blinked severally to get a clearer vision.

Joy, where are we? I asked my wolf, but she did not reply. It was as if she woke me up and locked herself away again.

My head hurt like hell, and it was pounding like someone was driving a nail into it. I winced in pain and tried to sit up, but the pain that shot through me had me crashing back on whatever comfortable fur I lay on. Maybe I was dead. I had to be because how was I lying on soft, silky fur like this? I blinked severally and the haze in my eyes began to clear gradually.

Once it was cleared, I came face to face with a very decorative tent roof. It was still dark and the lights in the room glowed yellow, giving the tent a beautiful look. This was certainly the afterlife. I turned my head and almost had a heart attack when I saw The Alpha seated on a chair beside me, the letter in his hand, his eyes fixed on it and his jaw clenched tightly. I jerked up from the fur and his eyes left the piece of paper and rested on me.

I trembled with fear as his green orbs stayed on me. I opened my mouth, but it remained open because not a sound left my throat.

"You are awake," he finally said.

Only then did it occur to me that I was in his tent and on his FUR! I tried to jump down as quickly as possible, but he stopped me by stretching his hand toward me.

"Do not come down from that fur." His words were so firm that I straightened my spine. He looked at the letter and me again and nodded. "You have a lover."

I do not even know the content of that letter. I was not snoopy, so I did not read Madam Lena's son's letter. Now I was accused based on this letter. Was he the one in the woods? Did he save me a second time or was he the one coming after me?

"I—"

"I do not care," he interjected. There was a stiffness in his voice that vibrated through the room. "Do you have a death wish?" he asked, this time there was an edge to his tone. I shook my head frantically. "Would you care to explain what you were doing in those woods alone at that time of the night? To meet your lover?!" he barked.

It hit me. If he was the one that carried me in the woods, he probably carried me to his tent through the pack and people must have seen him. I was dead if it got to Madam Theresa and her daughter and that was my only concern right now.

"Did anyone see you carrying me here?" I blurted, surprised at myself.

His brows furrowed and he stared at me in a mixture of confusion and anger, but he surprised me when he answered. "A few people. Why?"

"Madam Theresa and Erika... Did they... did they see you?"

"I did not take note—"

I jumped down from the fur, not minding the pain that shot through me and the dizziness I felt. I bowed quickly.

"Thank you for saving me, Alpha Karim, I am sorry, but I have to go now."

"Stay," he commanded.

I stood still, but my head shook frantically. I was at risk of disobeying him again, but I feared the torture my body would go through if I spent another time here.

"I will die if I stay here a little longer. I am sorry, Alpha Karim." With those words, I shot out of the tent, not waiting for him to issue another command.

I was ready to face his punishment later, but I needed to visit my hell and know if I would survive to face his. I had defiled him twice and I know what that does to his ego. I know I will surely get punishment for them. If not so, for this second time because I clearly disobeyed him. I hurried toward my Mistress' tent and saw her and her daughter standing there in front of it, waiting for me. Whenever they waited outside like this for me, it was not good.