Run!

Suddenly, I felt so very aware of how light we were clothed. Feet bare, a loose white dress in thin fabric fell down to our knees. The dress had small straps over our shoulders, making us look even more naked. My heart beat so fast and hard that I could taste the thud between my lips. Eyes burned on my skin from behind, staring at us from all directions. Hungry, focused. Greedy lusting look that took in our every curve. Every inch of exposed skin.

I felt naked and exposed. Clenching my jaws, I did my best to forget, to close out everyone but myself.

The Man from last night, whom I had to call Alpha, stepped out on the open field between us and the dense forest.

«Ladies! »

His voice demanded power and attention; it felt like I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. It was like I could feel the other girl’s nerves on my skin and taste the anticipation in the air.

“Today, we honor the goddess, the magical, and the female. Today, brothers, w bond between mae hunt!"

I jerked as people cheered, howled, shouted, and whistled behind me. I worked against my own instincts to turn around; I glued my eyes to the Alpha and the old lady beside him. The old lady who helped me take a bath the night before. She just stood there, accepting this insanity as usual, not even looking at any of us. He lifted his arms, and the crowd turned quiet again, but the air was filled with that excited energy.

“Our lucky girls are ready, cleansed to give their mate a fresh start, cleaned to honor the moon goddess, and clothed in the simple maiden’s dress to honor our ancestor's traditions. The rules are simple and the same as every year. The unmated males that are attending, you wait here until the clock turns eight and the sun is on its way down when the darkness takes over, the beast’s hunt!  There is no killing our blessed girls; there is no unnecessary violence; remember, the girls are allowed to defend themselves; it makes the goddess see that you are worthy of her gifts! The fight is welcomed!”

Howl and cheering filled the open field again, and the hair on my neck stood straight up. This made it seem like we were willing victims, and this was just what we wanted. A blessing, an honor. I clenched my fists to shut up, my eyes still glued to the old woman now staring back at me. Her expression is blank as she holds my stare. She wore an old thick gown with a wide leather belt around her waist.  The skirt seemed to have several layers, and, in her belt, there was a curved dagger and a little letter pouch.

“I will now talk to each and every one of you before I see you off! Nobody moves a muscle before I say you can. Know your place, and stay there!"

The crown now busted out in chatter, low mumbling, some laughing.

My eyes teared from the old lady first when I heard the blond I met earlier cry out. The alpha cut her arm! It was not deep, but it started bleeding. Fuck! They are using our blood to track us down. I quickly looked back; the old lady was now grinning at me. One by one, they cried or whimpered before they started running. The people behind us turned more and more restless and louder.

I followed the girls back, and they all ran in panic, straight for the wood, straight ahead. Everyone reacted the same, like a hore scared by a gunshot, the sudden jolt of the body before panic and adrenaline mashed together inside of them. The only thing they knew or could do was follow the need to create as much space between themselves and the beasts as fast as possible. My heart pounded against my chest as the alpha came closer.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist and twisted my hand,

“The goddess blesses you; your blood will lead your mate to you. The one meant for you.”

I could no longer hold back, and a scruff left my lips. My blood boiled under my skin, and it felt like it was itching. He arched a brow at me but lowered his silver dagger; I’ve never felt this helpless and infuriating at the same time. These people were sick! My jaws clenched, and I bore my eyes to him as he pressed the sharp blade down on my cold skin. I hissed a little as it pierced my skin. Thin blood drops dripped, and he slid the blade down. It created a thick bleeding line on my arm. I tried jerking my hand back as he was finished, but his grip held it in place. With a frown, he leaned closer and smelled me, then shook his head and let me go with a simple command. “RUN”

I didn’t hesitate a second, but I ran straight for the old lady. First, my back was facing cheers and howls; then, right before I collided with the old lady, I could hear the alpha shout my name. I didn’t stop; there was no time to waste. The old lady just stared at me, and not before I slammed straight into her did it seem to occur to her that I was attempting to run her down.

We both fell, the air was knocked out of her, and I could hear someone call my name—the alpha. My name roared and vibrated on my skin; I quickly got up and headed straight for the dense forest. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw several helping her up. Just as I disappeared between two threes, she realized her dagger was gone. And I barged into the woods with a smile on my face.

I’m not going down without a fight!

I’m not going down at all!

Luckily, nobody came after me. It was good; I stopped right inside the forest line and pulled my dress over my head. Gaps and howls reached me, and I locked eyes with the alpha as I bent down, folded my pants legs down, and pulled the sweater over my head. Cocky and childish as I felt, I flipped him off and winked, well aware he could still see me before I turned around and ran.

Thank the gods, I managed to hide my clothes under this thin excuse of a dress. In one hand, I had the little dagger; in the other, I had a pair of those leather boots they all were wearing.