Two

Seventy-two hours later 

Sara and I ran past a bamboo brown forest. The tall stalks loomed over us, making creaking sounds that terrified Sara. 

 Three days of running, hiding, and trying to stay alive in this forest with no place to go. I never thought I'd get to this point. My evil pack mates didn't let me bury Marco and Ivan and this gave me constant nightmares.

Our stomachs growled with hunger. We'd been surviving on nuts and berries, but it wasn't enough to sustain us in our human form. Sara was exhausted, and I had to find a way to feed us soon.

My so-called Alpha friends rejected me. Like wildfire, the news of my misfortune spread. Nobody wanted to associate with an outcast on the run.

I thought that the bond between tribe members was unbreakable and that maybe one of the packs would understand my hardship, but I was wrong. 

"Do you believe in Karma?" Sara asked me when we sat under a tree to catch our breaths. 

I scoffed and looked down at the ground. "Not anymore. Karma is a stupid spiritual belief. In real life, good people end up victims."

Sara put a hand on my shoulder and looked at me with concern in her eyes. "These people hurt you, they're hurting the universe, and it will backfire. Sloane will suffer for her sins."

I gazed up at the tall bamboo trees."Do you think I'm suffering from karma? Do you think I deserve what's happening to me? Maybe I hurt someone and I can't remember."

Sara shook her head. "I've lived with you since I was eleven, Dakota. I'm eighteen now. You're the kindest person in this world," she said. "You don't deserve to suffer."

I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head. "Well, my generosity and kindness just really paid off, didn't it?"

"The moon goddess… "

"I don't believe in the moon goddess," I snapped. "If she exists, why did she watch them kill an innocent one-year-old?"

Sara flinched at my tone but didn't stop talking. "I know this is a difficult time for you, and I can see the pain in your eyes. But you can't give up."

"There's nothing to hope for, Sara. I'm tired. I'm done fighting."

Her eyes narrowed with fierce determination. "Marco and Ivan would want you to fight."

I ignored her. Words were easier said than done after all.

We continued our journey. My eyes felt heavy and I let out a loud yawn, the sound echoing in the stillness. 

I stopped at the sight of brilliant, fiery red leaves of a strange, unfamiliar plant. It seemed to grow rapidly, its vines creeping across the forest floor, dousing everything in its path.

 I knew what it was, of course - the Alien Kudzu, a plant that had been discovered on a distant land. It was said to be deadly if consumed, but Sara seemed fascinated by it, her curious eyes taking in every detail.

 "Don't touch. It's deadly," I pulled Sara away from the deadly plant. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back from the plant, but she was intrigued.

We kept going and Sara began feeling the effects of her omega blood. It weakened her easily, and I worried we wouldn't make it to the next mile before she became too tired to go on. But I had alpha blood, stronger and more resilient, and I was determined to get us there.

"Shift," I said to her. And then we both shifted, our bodies elongating and fur sprouting from our skin. As wolves, we felt stronger and faster. 

We took off on a run, our powerful legs carrying us through the forest, the wind in our fur, and the moon overhead. We ran all night, heading to the Northern deserts. 

*****

At dawn, I burst from the forest and into the open vastness of a sea of sand. 

The never-ending desert stretched out before me, and the sun bathed the land in a warm, golden light.

A huge, gray wall made of stones with intricate brass carvings stood in the distance, giving me hope. Maybe I would finally find safety and peace.

Sara walked alongside me, her eyes wide with wonder. Together, we approached the border. Most packs hardly accepted rogues, but the possibility of them knowing us was slim.

The border guards were chatting noisily, their voices echoing off the walls. They were a rough-looking bunch, but there was a lightheartedness to their conversation.

One of the guards was telling a joke, and the others were laughing so hard that they were doubled over.

 I mind-linked Sara.

" No one is paying attention. We can slip past them unnoticed."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded and we approached the border noiselessly. The name of the pack, the Desert Canines, was emblazoned on the top of the brass gate. 

When we made our way past the guards who were completely unaware of our presence, a rush of relief washed over me. 

We were in!

We wandered deeper into the desert and came across empty streets and houses made of adobe, their walls baked a deep red by the merciless sun. 

"Why is it so quiet? It looks like an abandoned pack" Sara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head, fear creeping over me. "Something's not right. I can feel it."

Just as I finished speaking, a horde of cultists spilled out from one of the houses, their bodies twisting like cockroaches with wild eyes and moving in a frenzy. 

Their leader wore a skull mask made of ancient metal, and his presence was so terrifying.

In fear, I grabbed Sara and we ducked behind a nearby rock. My heart pounded in my chest as we peered out from our hiding place, watching as the cultists marched past us. 

The leader's voice was a rasping yell, and as he chanted, the crowd hung on his every word, their eyes reflecting the madness that seemed to grip them.

No wonder the pack was so silent. Ice shivers ran down my spine. We had to leave this place as quickly as possible.

My heart almost burst out of my body when we heard movement behind us. I turned, my hand still gripped tightly by Sara's, and saw a middle-aged female and a chubby male standing there, looking at us with curiosity.

"What are you doing here?" she asked her voice firm but her eyes widened in surprise, she gave me a once over, smacking her lips. 

"I...um… am a rogue. I need a place to rest my head," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.

Her fascination grew. I wondered why and hoped she didn't recognize me. Her face, overly made up with contrasting colors of red, yellow, and pink was so loud.

"Who are you and where are you from?" she asked, her voice inquisitive.

" I'm Lucia and she's Mary," I lied, my heart pounding in my chest. "We're from the Lifelong pack."

The woman looked confused and whispered to the man beside her. 

"Never heard of that," he murmured. "Are you trying to get yourselves killed? Don't you know you shouldn't be out here?"

I wondered why she was out here herself, but she didn't look like a cultist. Looks could be deceiving, however.

"We're sorry," I said, my voice shaking.

"I'm Madame. You said you needed a place to sleep," she said. "I can help you with that and in return, you'll do me a small favor. How about that?"

Suspicion gripped me. What 'small favor did she want in return? Sara mind-linked me, telling me she didn't trust the woman,but we didn't have much of a choice. 

"Let's go, " I said to her, allowing her to lead us to safety. 

Or not.