Chapter 4

Bianca’s Point of View

I don’t remember when I stopped counting the kilometers, I only know that I have been running for days.

Every time my legs threaten to give out, my wolf pushes me forward. Every time my thoughts begin to wander, fear snaps them back to the present again. Sleep comes in fragments, a few minutes at a time, hidden deep in the trees, always listening for any sigh of danger, always waiting for something to happen.

Two days ago, I almost didn’t make it.

I still feel it when I think about it. The sudden scent shift. The way my wolf had frozen mid-step, her hackles rising. Voices in the distance. Boots on dirt. Damon’s men.

Trackers.

We ran until my chest burned and my vision blurred. I crossed a shallow ravine, doubled back through the water, and circled until my paws ached. I didn’t stop until the scents faded and my wolf finally eased.

I lost them.

But now I know better than to believe that I am safe.

The blood moon is tomorrow night and even now, my wolf is restless, pacing beneath my skin. Every sound feels too loud. Every shadow too close. She wants to shift, to run faster, to fight if she has to, but I can’t afford that.

By the time the trees begin to thin out, my body feels heavy, like it is made of stone instead of muscle. I slow to a walk, and then I stop completely.

I see lights flickering ahead and I smell.

A human town.

I stare at it from the tree line, weighing my options. Keep running and risk collapsing in the woods, or stop, hide in plain sight, and get some real rest.

My legs shake beneath me and that decides it.

I shift back, my hands trembling as I pull on my clothes. My movements are clumsy, exhaustion dulling everything. I sling my bag over my shoulder and force myself to walk like I belong here, like I am just another human passing through the town.

I quickly make my eay out of the woods and begin making my way down the road. A motel comes into view a minute later. It isnothing special, just a low building with flickering lights and a sign that looks like it has seen better days.

It’s perfect.

I push through the door and stop short when a woman behind the desk looks up and smiles at me.

“Hey, are you looking for a room?”

She asks warmly and I nod my head, forcing a small smile onto my face.

“Yes, please.”

“Any preference?”

She asks and I quickly shake my head.

“No. Just as long as it has a bed and a shower, it will be good enough for me.”

I say and she chuckles, nodding her head.

“Fair enough. How long are you staying?”

She asks, glancing at me again.

“Just for the night.”

I say quietly and she nods her head again before she types something into the computer, glancing back up at me.

“That will be three hundred rand.”

She says and I nod my head before I pull the money from my bag and hand it over to her without hesitation.

She passes me a key card.

“Room 207. Down the hall, up the left stairs, second door. We don’t provide meals, but there are menus in the room for delivery.”

She says and at the mention of food, my stomach growls loudly.

She smiles and I feel my face heat up immediately.

“Thank you. I’ll do that.”

I say quickly. I don’t linger agter that, I quickly follow her directions, my heart pounding in my chest with every step until I reach the room.

The door locks behind me with a solid click and only then do I breathe.

I check the windows first, pulling the curtain aside just enough to look out. No one watching. No movement that feels wrong.

It looks safe.

I scan the room quickly. Bed. Bathroom. Small table. Menus stacked neatly. It

This will do for one night.

I think to myself. My stomach growl again and I quickly make my way over to the stack of menu's.

I grab one of them immediately, my hands shaking as I begin to flip through it.

Everything looks good and it take me a while to choose.

I finally decide, and place the order before I can overthink it, then I head for the shower.

The hot water almost makes me cry.

I lean my forehead against the tile, breathing slowly, letting the tension ease from my body just a little, but I don’t linger longer than necessary. I quickly wash myself and rinse before I get out of the shower.

When I finally step out of the bathroom, I turn on the TV for noise. I need to do something normal. Something human.

The food arrives quickly. I pay the delivery man and lock the door again, before I make my way over to the bed. I sit down and I immediately dig into my food.

Halfway through, I realize that I am shaking, but not from hunger.

From fear.

I try to slow my breathing, and force myself to focus on the screen. On the sound of voices that don’t belong to my world. On the simple fact that no one is yelling my name.

No one is dragging me anywhere.

I am alone.

The thought should comfort me, but instead, panic creeps in.

I am alright for tonight, but what happens after tomorrow?

I swallow hard and set the food aside.

My wolf stirs uneasily, sensing my distress. She presses against me.

We’re safe for now.

She tries to comfort me and I swallow hard.

For now...

I agree before pulling my food closer again. I try to focus on the tv again, but my mind begins to wander.

Tomorrow is the blood moon.

I don’t know what that means for me, alone and unclaimed, so far from any pack.

I don’t know if I will be able to stay hidden. I don’t know if Damon will try harder once the moon rises.

I swallow hard and shake my head.

“Calm down... Just breathe.”

I whisper. I slowly begin to count until the tightness in my chest eases slightly.

Tomorrow, I tell myself. Tomorrow I will make a plan.

Bus schedules. Trains. Anything that takes me farther away from here. I will l use every bit of money I have if I have to.

I glance at the clock.

It's late.

I force myself to lie back on the bed, keeping my clothes on, and my bag within reach.

I close my eyes, and try to force myself to sleep. Sleep comes slowly, but eventually the exhaustion catches up to me and the darkness swallows me.