CHAPTER TWO

"Seize her!" The alpha bellowed, and then I heard the galloping of horses behind me.

My heart pounded in my chest as I raced through the dense forest, my footsteps rustling the dead leaves on the forest ground. Birds took flight from the branches above as I raced as though the devil himself was after me. The adrenaline coursing through my veins gave my legs an extra burst of speed. My legs were nimble and strong from running in the forest for most of my childhood, and I knew the place like the back of my hand.

I knew I couldn't afford to let my guard down. The alpha and his relentless guards were closing in, their thunderous hooves and yell growing louder with each passing moment. If I faltered, they would catch me and drag me into the dungeons.

That thought alone made me gasp with fear. Branches whipped against my arms and face, leaving behind scratches and nicks. Sweat trickled down my brow, mingling with the dirt and grime that had clung to my skin from the garden. Fear fueled my every step as I held on to the hope of reaching my home, my sanctuary, and delivering the precious herbs to my ailing mother.

I couldn't afford to let her down.

Soon my lungs began to burn with each gasping breath; even adrenaline had failed me. I bent forward and clutched my knees, taking several gulps of breath. A breath caught in my chest as I realized that I couldn't hear the sound of hooves behind me. I quickly darted behind a tree, then peeked behind it, looking for Alpha Noah and his guards.

Something flashed in my vision, and an arrow whistled in the air, lodging into the tree right beside me. A gasp forced its way out of my lips, giving me away.

There was a tense silence. Then someone shouted. "She's over there!"

I squeezed my eyes shut in dismay. Goddess, they'd found me.

I sprang out from behind the tree and took a sharp left, racing in the direction of my house. My body was on the brink of exhaustion, but I couldn't afford to stop. The forest seemed to stretch out endlessly before me as if taunting my efforts to escape, but I pushed myself to the limits, refusing to yield to the fatigue.

My mother needed this, I kept reminding myself. My mother would die without these herbs.

Finally, the sight of our humble dwelling emerged from the endless stretch of trees. Relief washed over me like a wave, and I surged forward, eager to meet my mother.

My steps faltered as I reached the steps leading to the front door. As I neared the cottage, I saw something glint in front of the door. It was new and shiny, a stark contrast to our old and rickety house.

It was a letter.

Curiosity overcame fear as I stumbled towards the front door. My trembling hands reached for the piece of paper lying on the doorstep. Ignoring the sound of hooves behind me, I picked it up. Its shiny surface gleamed with the reflection of the sun above. I opened it. I'd never gone to school in my life, but my mother had taught me enough to be able to decipher the words in black ink:

I'm waiting for you.

A mixture of anger, confusion, and curiosity surged through my veins, momentarily overshadowing my fear of capture. My eyes darted around, trying to find the source of the letter, but I couldn't see anybody.

I folded the letter and placed it in the pocket of my dress, then I reached forward to open the door. As my hands closed around the doorknob, I heard the hooves of horses behind me. 

I turned in alarm to find my captors in front of the cottage, Alpha Noah taking their lead. Their horses skidded to a stop directly in front of me, and my heart sank as their triumphant gazes locked onto me.

There was no escape this time.

Fear bloomed within me and I jiggled the doorknob frantically. It was locked. In my alarm, I remembered that the keys were in the pocket of my dress. I dug my hands into my pockets but came up short. My eyes darted around wildly as I tried to cast my mind back, then I stopped short.

I'd dropped the keys back in the garden.

The guards were moving closer to me now, ascending the short steps that led to our front door. "I'll go with you!" I announced. "But first, let me give this to my sick mother, please."

I saw Alpha Noah frown in consternation. "What's that?"

I raised a bunch of healing herbs. "These herbs, please!"

"You stole those herbs!" The alpha growled. "You have no right to use them!"

I sank to my knees in a plea. I refused to let my mother become a pawn in this deadly game. I refused to go without the knowledge that she had the herbs and that she would be fine.

"Please, just....just let me administer these herbs to her, and I'll go with you wherever you take me."

"Shut up, you wretched girl!" The guard whom I'd hit yelled at me, then thundered up the steps, pushing past his comrades. He grabbed me by my broken wrist and yanked me forward, and a yelp of pain slipped from my lips.

"That's for hitting me, you vermin!" He snarled in my ears.

Strong arms seized me, pulling me away from my mother and our home. I fought against their grip, pleading with them with tears falling from my eyes, but my efforts were in vain. The guards held me firmly, their hands like iron vices, and dragged me to their alpha.

Despair burned in my eyes as I locked gazes with Alpha Noah. Why was he this callous? All I asked was to give my mother the herbs. Weren't alphas supposed to be kind people?

"Please...my mother is dying in there....just let me—"

"Silence!" Alpha Noah cut me off, his face contorting in rage. "You lost every right to mercy the moment you tried to run. You lost every right to mercy the moment you stole from another."

How could I explain to him that It wasn't my honest intention to steal? How could I make him understand that his pack members had refused to give me the herbs and I'd had no choice but to do what I did? How could I make him see that we couldn't afford to buy the herbs, that we were poorer than the rats that lived in his pantry?

Deep in my heart, I prayed to the Moon Goddess to keep my mother safe for me. My pocket felt heavy with the letter and the ominous words on it, and my hands itched to pull it out. But with tears in my eyes, I succumbed to the alpha's guards and let them drag me away.