Death

Reya’s POV 

I had been running for hours. It felt like days. I was begging to run low on adrenaline and exhaustion was pulling me back by the minute, but I knew I couldn’t give up. Once I did, they going to be all over me like hounds that smelled blood.

Their grunts and shouts echoed behind me. “That bitch killed Freda!” one of them shouted, “We can’t let her live.”

I pushed forward, pumping dwindling energy into my legs. I stumbled many times, my chest aching with all the spent energy. Every part of my body ached. I couldn’t count how many times I had fallen.

The scratched Freda’s fingers left on my stomach stung as sweat seeped into them.

Freda…

That name was going to remain with me forever. 

She was the first person I ever killed and hopefully, the only person I will ever kill. As much as I hated taking her life, I knew I needed to. I was defending myself and my baby. I reminded myself of that fact over and over again as guilt began to shake me. 

I fell again, and this time, I made the mistake of glancing behind me. Swearing under my breath, I rose to my feet and began running again. My assailants were catching up to me and my exhaustion was beginning to slow me down. 

One of the men halted, growling behind me like a feral beast. “Lycan King’s territory!” he announced. “It’s just a mile ahead. We can’t let her reach there!”

My heart stuttered to a stop as hope and anxiety warred inside me. 

Was I really close to the Lycan King’s territory?

My life waned like a dying candle light. There was no guarantee that I was going to make it to the Lycan King’s pack. Although I was determined to live, these men chasing me were even more determined to end my life.

And with good reason.

I killed their friend, maybe sister or mate. Whatever she was to them, she was more than a heartless monster and killer. And I had ended her life. Albeit justifiable. 

Even if I did make it to the Lycan King’s territory, there was no guarantee that I was going to live past a second before I was shot down like the trespasser I was. 

The Lycan King territory was known not to tolerate trespassers and worse, they detested rogues with passion. Even though it was obvious that I was running from frying pan to fire, I couldn’t stop running.

I couldn’t just give up.

“Give up!” someone shouted behind me. “Surrender and I promise to make your death quick, but take another step and you will be in the Lycan King’s territory. You don’t want to know what they do to rogues and trespassers.”

He was right. 

Whatever option I chose, I wasn’t still going to make it. I was going to die. 

My eyes clouded with tears and my heart ached as I thought about the fact that I had failed my child even before I became a mother. 

I was surrounded by death on all sides and it looked as though there was no escape for me. I stumbled, whimpering as my feet gave away under me. All I wanted was a better life for my child and myself. 

“What’s your decision?” the voice questioned. “Quick death at our hands or a slow and painful one by the Lycan King’s army?” I could tell that they had stopped running. 

Their feet no longer pounded the earth and the voice of the man that spoke was steady.

It only meant one thing – I was dangerously close to the Lycan King’s territory.

I thought about halting and taking a minute to catch my breath but fate took the decision out of my hands when I inevitably slipped and fell down a slope. I didn’t have the time to cry out as pain seared through me. 

I rolled over again and again and again, my body hitting several rocks and trees along the way. All I could think as I fell was ‘my baby…’

After several minutes of falling, I finally stopped. My body was on fire. It ached everywhere even deep in my bones. I wanted to cry out but even my tongue seemed to be in pain as well. 

“I don’t think she survived that fall,” I heard one of my assailants say above me. “It’s a shame we can’t return with her head,”

It’s a shame I can’t meet my baby and tell him or her how much I love them. I thought to myself. 

My eyes began to close and no matter how much I tried to stay awake, I just couldn’t find the strength…

“Trespasser!” I jerked as I heard the thunderous voice screech. It sounded as though he was in my head. Too loud, I wanted to say. 

In another minute, I heard the stomping of feet and they all came to a stop close to my body. 

“Kill her,” a voice said gruffly. 

There was no mercy in his voice, only disgust. I wanted to wince but even my face hurt. Did I hit my head? I couldn’t remember. What was my name? I knew a lot of my memories were now missing. There was a gaping hole where they used to be –

I screamed as pain surge through my abdomen, reminding me that I was still pregnant, Oh goddess, I thought. My baby. 

Liquid sipped out of between my legs. Blood? Pee? Another pang of pain hit me and I writhed, crying out in agony. 

“Is like she is in labor right now?” a voice asked, annoyance dripping from him. “I think she is,” he answered his own question. “What do we do?”

Labor? I was in labor?

That wasn’t supposed to be for another month but then with all the falling and hitting, it was only logical. I gritted my teeth, arching my back as more pain shot through me. Sweat and blood trickled down my face and body.

“Kill her!” someone answered. “Whether she’s in labor or not, it makes no difference. She a rogue and she trespassed.”

My heart sank and dread filled my heart. Did I end a life for nothing? Did I run away from Lycan Tristan only for my life to end so pathetically?

“P-Please,” I cried out. “For the sake of the moon goddess and my innocent child, I beg you…” the rest of my plea died in my throat as darkness finally overwhelmed me. I fell fast into it. Exhaustion drew me under no matter how much I struggled to stay awake.

It was no use. No use at all.

After all the running, the escaping, the scavenging and hiding for months. It was all for nothing. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to Helen and ran away. Maybe my child would still be alive, maybe…

I shouldn’t blame Helen. She meant well for me. This was all Lycan Tristan’s fault. If he hadn’t sent his men after me. If he hadn’t put a price on my head, I wouldn’t be here and my child would still be safe in my womb.

I wished I could repay him for this.

But sadly, this was going to be my end.