Darkness was quickly descending on the forest when we reached the disused bridge that Alpha Rivers had mentioned. It stretched across a gulley with steep rocky sides and when I squinted through the darkness, I could just about see a road at the bottom."This is the perfect vantage point," Alpha Rivers said, peering down, "We'll make camp here. Maybe for a few days."I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't sure how much longer I could have kept up with this patrol and was worried I was going to have to admit my weakness to Alpha Rivers. Now I had an opportunity to rest."But it's dangerous here," he continued, "Sleep with one eye open and Esme you are not to go anywhere alone.""Surely none of us should go anywhere alone?" I asked."Quit the act, Es," he said in a bored tone, "You know you are weak. We all do.""I am not weak," I hissed, "But I am hungry so if you don't mind I'm going to hunt."I then gave him a sarcastic smile before gl

I wasn't woken again until well into the morning."Get up," a deep voice said.I groaned as I felt a foot rest on my shoulder and shake me."Fuck off," I grumbled."We have a war to win remember?"I opened my eyes to see the leaf-littered floor of the forest. Then I felt the stiffness of my neck and the bright sunlight as my vision adjusted. And reality came hurtling through.I let out one more groan before I sat up and squinted as I looked up at Alpha Rivers, who stood staring down at me."Where is everyone?" I asked noticing the emptiness of the camp."I assigned them all posts around the bridge and surrounding forest," he said. "They all have a clear sight of the road well in advance."I grimaced and looked around, noticing his men scattered around all with their eyes on the road."Why didn't you wake me earlier?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows."You looked like you needed rest," he replied. "You missed

We sprinted through the trees as fast as I could. Lou gripped my hand, pulling me behind him and helping me go faster. But I could hear footsteps behind us and they weren't getting further away.My legs burnt and my lungs screamed. My head pounding with intense adrenaline that wouldn't let meIt wasn't long before I felt somebody seize my waist and throw me to the floor. But before I could even begin to start fighting, the man was dragged off me and his neck snapped.Alpha Rivers then pulled me back to my feet and pulled me close to his chest."I couldn't hold them back," he said to Lou, "Dozens more showed up and-"But before he could finish speaking, soldiers had leapt out of the trees towards us and we were both pushed to the floor.I had two on top of me, pinning me down and when I looked to the side I could see Alpha Rivers was fighting against five of them. Although he had managed to get up, he was thoroughly occupied."Lou," he

We woke the next morning to glistening sunlight peeking through the cracks of the curtains. The candle had burnt down creating a solidified pool of wax on the dresser and Theodore was still beside me, gently running his finger along the bare skin of my arm.I turned over to face him. His eyes had returned to their usual hazelly brown and he seemed more peaceful and relaxed than I'd ever seen him."It's dawn," I said with a sigh."If you close your eyes it's still dark out," he replied, kissing my neck before resting his head back on the pillow and closing his eyes.I smiled, "We've got to find the patrol and Lou and Rose and Tobias before something finds us."He shrugged, "I like it better with just the two of us. Can't exactly fuck if your brother is beside us, can we?"I rolled my eyes as he gave me a cheeky grin."Come on, Theodore," I said.I then reached for my shirt and slipped it over my head as he slowly sat up and shuf

We took turns to keep watch all night until Tobias woke Theodore and me up at the very first light of dawn."We need to go," he said filling his water up from the stream. "Now."Theodore groaned before standing up and stretching."Do I at least have time to piss first?" he asked.Tobias shot him a stare before Theodore sauntered off into the forest."Did you sleep?" I asked Tobias."Barely," he replied, "You?""Restlessly," I said."I just can't stop thinking about Rose," he replied, "The thought of anyone hurting her fills me with so much dread.""Tell me about it," he said, "It makes me sick.""But she's a tough woman. A survivor," I pointed out, "If what Theodore says it right and she's still alive, she'll be staying strong."Tobias sighed, "I know. That's what I have to keep reminding myself of. But everybody has a breaking point.""Then we better make sure we get there before she reaches it," I