Running Away

I had to find him. I couldn’t stay here.

I stormed through the halls until I arrived in front of Tesson’s bedroom door. I reached for the knob, wrapping my fingers around it. I lowered my head, shut my eyes and took in a breath, hoping to muster up the courage to pull it open. If I didn’t do this now, I don’t think I would be able to do it anytime soon. Everywhere I went, I could hear the loud whispers, muffled laughter and glances all directed at me. Their words unfiltered and their gaze unwavering. It was as if they knew something I didn’t. I knew they were planning something big, maybe searching for a way to get rid of me.

I exhaled, snapping my eyes open.

I was going to leave today and I hoped he would go with me. He told me he would do anything for me and that I didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. Everyone hated me for being the child of a rogue. Someone had dropped me in front of an orphanage and since then multiple rumours about my upbringing spread. Some claimed my parents never loved me, that’s why they dumped me. Some claimed I was dangerous and some claimed my parents were on the run. They probably massacred many wolves like the others. Either way, no matter how the rumours were made to be, I received the hate.

“Tesson,”I whispered but my voice was overshadowed by a familiar harsh, gravelly growl, deep enough to rattle the air. “This isn’t a request, it’s an order,” the voice said. I recognised it to be Tesson’s  father’s voice-The Alpha.

“You are to leave that girl,” he says.

Are they talking about me?

“I never loved her father,” Tesson blurted. His words came out uneven, teetering between forced confidence and fear, like he was trying to impress his father. He was such a coward. “I was just using her. I could never take her seriously. She is a rogue”.

WHAT!?

“So you support my decision?” His father questioned.

“She is better off with that old man called Henry anyway, at least she will stop being a nuisance and be useful for once,” Tesson replied.

His words stung. Was that what he thought of me?

WAIT.

What old man called Henry? Is it the Henry Tesson had told me about that would be arriving in a few days for a business meeting. He is known for being a pervert despite his old age. He keeps wives and beats them mercilessly for completely no reason and if there is a reason, it would probably outrageous. That Henry?

What do they mean by I’m better off with Henry?

“From now on, I do not want to see you with her,” his father instructed. “I can’t have people pairing you two together when she’s getting married off tomorrow”.

My eyes grew wide and air left my lungs.

I gasped.

My hands flung to my lips, pressing against it.

“He’s arriving tomorrow, right? Is that when she’s leaving with him?” Tesson questioned.

“Did you hear that?” Tesson’s  father asked.

Silence filled the air.

Tesson attempted to speak but was shut down by his father. I heard footsteps approach the door and I stepped back, retracing my steps as quickly as possible.

The pace of the footsteps quickened and I took a sharp turn, stepping further into the darkness. I didn’t turn back, even when I heard the doors fling open. I didn’t stop, I only quickened my pace until I arrived outside the building. I made my way towards the gate of the camp, walking past buildings and people.

I was just a few inches away from the door when Tesson called for me. Hearing his voice made my stomach twist into knots.

He called again and I flinched but didn’t stop. If anything, I moved faster.  “I don’t have time for this, Tesson,” I muttered, my voice shaky, barely above a breath-Pathetic, really. I meant for it to sound dismissive, but the slight tremor betrayed me.

Fear overwhelmed me and so did anger. Multiple emotions brewed in me. Is that what he thought of me? Is that what they were going to do to me? They were going to sell me off to some old man. Tesson didn’t even attempt to defend me, not even a little bit. He was always a coward, I knew that but this-this was different.

My heart pounded. My throat felt tight. I could hear Tesson’s footsteps get closer. Maybe if I keep walking. Maybe if i-

A strong hand clamped around my wrist.

I gasped as I was jerked backward with enough force to make me stumble. My breath caught in my throat, panic flashing in my wide eyes as I found myself face-to-face with Tesson. Sweat trickled down his face, his eyebrows creasing, his eyes scanning, studying to find out where I was speeding towards me.

I twisted my wrist, trying to yank it away but his grip was strong and firm. My eyebrows slowly furrowed, my eyes darting from his eyes down to my hand that clenched and unclenched. He finally let go and I immediately pulled my hand to myself.

“Where are you going?” He questioned.

Normally, I would fold. I would tremble under his voice, telling him all he needed to know and letting him do whatsoever he wanted to do with me but I refused to cave. I thought of him as that embarrassing coward that he turned top in front of his father and he no longer looked so fierce. “Nowhere,” I answered.

“Don’t lie,” he narrowed his eyes, taking a few steps forward, till we were only inches away.

“Nowhere,” I insisted.

“You know I love you right?” He began. If I hadn’t heard what I just did, I would be beaming at his words, wrapping my arms around him and declaring my love for him as well. After all, I was ready to take him with me not knowing he had other plans. “And you know I do not appreciate being lied to, right?”

“And I do?” I scoffed.

He jerked his head back, his eyebrows creasing. “What did you say?” He questioned.

“Nothing,” I replied.

He parted his lips to speak but I beat him to it. “And I am not going anywhere, where would I even go?”

Where would I even go? I wondered.

Seeing he wouldn’t be able to get any more information from me, he stepped back. He turned on his heel and began jogging to the opposite direction.

I let out a sigh, turning to face the gate. A car was parked few feet away and no one stood by it. I turned back, trying to decide which move to make.  If I go back I would be sold but if I do, I may have another chance at life, meet new people who might not hate me for being an outsider.

I looked back at the car, my only hope and I knew my decision had being made. No one was inside. No sounds, no movement –just sitting there.

I didn’t ponder on my choices. Instead, I sprinted towards it, my sandals slapping against the wet pavement. I reached the passenger seat, grabbing the handle and pulling on it. It didn’t budge. I cursed as my heart hammered in my ears, growing louder and louder with every hastily movement I made. I turned to the driver’s seat, grabbing the handle and pulling it frantically.

I turned back, my eyes scanning the area, hoping no one was coming my way.

Suddenly, a wave of thunder rumbled in the distance.

I jerked back, loosening my grip, pulling my hand away from the handle and stepping away from the car. I looked up. The first drop of rain landed on my cheek. It was as if the universe wanted to make my escape even harder.

I blinked, looking down at the car. The cold rain grew heaver within seconds, soaking my thin clothes.

Shouts erupt from the distance and my head spun to its direction. I couldn’t see anyone nor could I make out words or meaning from the voices. I looked back at the car and turned around the car to the trunk. It was my last option. I grabbed the trunk handle and yanked it my hardest.

Locked.

I cursed. My heart quickened and my eyes grew wide. I refused to believe I would be caught. I refused to believe there was no way out of her. I had to leave. I just had to.

I yanked again.

It was locked yet again.

My eyebrows creased, my eyes darting from side to side looking for my nearest escape. I shook my head, directing my attention back at the boot. This just had to work. I couldn’t go back. I couldn’t go back to Tesson and his father. They wanted to sell me. I had no true home. The only person who I thought loved and cared for me was either using me like he said or was too much of a coward to stand up to his father. Or were his words actually true? Was he saying what his father wanted to hear or revealed his true intentions? Once a man’s given a chance to reveal their true intentions, they go all out and Tesson was that man. I couldn’t go back.

I tightened my grip on the trunk, the fear that built up in me, growing as the voices grew closer built up the momentum in me and I yanked once more.

Then-

A faint click.

The truck popped open.

I gasped, taking in as much air as possible, not realising I was holding my breath.

Had someone opened it? I suddenly thought.

I immediately shook off the thought as fast as it came. No time to think. I climbed in, curling into the tight space, my drenched clothes clung to my skin and my hair sticking to my face and neck as well. I reached up to pull the lid down just as-

Footsteps.

Close. Too close.

My entire body stiffened.

Boots came into view, followed by jeans as they got closer, until they stopped directly in front of me.

My breath got caught in my throat and my hand flung to my lips, pressing against it.

Please don’t look down, my mind begged. My eyes shut, not wanting to watch what happens next.

“You fool,” a voice barked. “You opened the trunk and not the driver’s seat, I can’t imagine I let you drive”.

“Just close it Steven, we have to leave quickly before the rain gets any worse,” Another voice instructed.

“Don’t command me, Gerald,” Steven challenged. “You don’t tell me what to do”.

“There’s no time to fight right now,” Gerald said, his voice calm. “The Alpha is waiting on us and you know how he gets when we keep him waiting’.

“Whatever,” Steven responded.

The trunk slammed shut, sealing me in.

I flinched but thankfully I didn’t make any noise before my hand was still pressed against my lips.

Within minutes the footsteps stopped and thud was heard, followed by the revving of the car engine.

I sighed.

This was it.

I was finally leaving.

It felt unreal but the stifling air and the darkness told me otherwise.

The car began moving and I dreamed about the life I might have. The quarrels between the two people in the car made the journey unbearable. They kept talking about this alpha they needed to report to as soon as they arrived. I had concluded him to be quite an insufferable person.

At least I won’t get to see him. I hope they don’t go straight towards the trunk as they arrived where they were headed, everything would go smoothly and if they did, I was ready to take my chances. Anything would be better than getting married to an old man. I just hope he wasn’t as bad as they said.

Now all I had to do was count down the number till the car stopped.