Chapter 21

Growing up around humans I had never needed my wolf to protect me. I hardly ever shifted because it would have been too easy to be exposed. In all honesty I wasn't sure what would happen when fear and adrenaline was pumping through my veins and I called out to her for help. Sitting next to the man who murdered my parents not only filled me with fear but anger as well. Hot burning rage that I needed to tap into and get out of this car! I could feel the hair on my arms standing up as I let Leah take over and controlling my actions. I wasn't shifting into my wolf form, but her power was spreading through me, giving me strength to fight for my freedom.

With a shaky breath I turned to the man who ruined my life and punch him as hard as I could. The surprise in his face was thrilling but there was no time to enjoy this moment, I had to get out of the car. So, I grabbed for the steering wheel and aimed it at one of the many trees along the dirt road we had been traveling on. I knew there was a small chance I would kill myself running this speeding car into a tree, but I needed to cause I big enough distraction to be able to get away.

Dazed by my punch, James tries to grab for the wheel, but he couldn't seem to focus well enough to stop the car before the impact hit us. The pain was instant and then there was nothing. I blinked my eyes open and my vision was blurry, and my ears were ringing loudly.

'Maya? We need to run now!' Came Leah's voice in my head.

'We're alive?' I think to myself.

'Yes but we need to run before someone comes here and finds us!' She begs me.

My mind is sting in a fog and when I reach up to touch it I feel something wet. I lower my hands in front of me and see blood coating my fingertips. I must have hit my head when the car crashed, and that's when I felt the pain. My head was pounding, and my wrist was throbbing. I looked down at my left wrist and it was already swelling and turning deep red.

'Your writer is broken but it will heal. You need to focus and break that window and climb out before whoever James was taking us to see finds us.' Leah keeps repeating.

She is right, so I turn to the passenger window and try to break it with my elbow. It has already began cracking thanks to our little accident, and I hope with a few more hits it will shatter and free me. Over and over I bang on the window with as much strength that I could muster. After the third strike it shatters sending glass all over and one or two pieces come toward my face leaving marks as they fall. I try to unbuckle my seat belt but it's stuck and the amount of time I tug at it does not release it. I groan in frustration trying to break free, but it only hurts me more. For a moment I drop my head back and let out a few breaths trying to clear my thoughts and calm myself. I needed to try any think straight so I could find a way out of here.

For the first time since crashing I look over to James and a muffled cry leaves my mouth when my eyes meet his. I am horrified at the sight of him looking back at me but completely lifeless. Had I just killed him?! I didn't mean to! I only meant to knock him out so I could escape, but there he was. I couldn't help the tears and hyperventilating that came suddenly and I screamed in frustration. I can't stay in here! I need to get out!

'Look around Maya, there has to be something sharp enough to cut the seat belt!' Leah advises me.

I let out a shaky breath and search the area around me until my eyes fall on the floor near my feet where several pieces of glass from the windshield had fallen. I spot a large enough piece and I struggle to reach it. The seatbelt tightens the more it tries to lean forward. I slip my foot across the floor moving the glass piece closer to my reach, and after struggling for several minutes I am able to wrap my hand around it. My hands are shaking now, the adrenaline beginning to wear off. I saw the best I can through the fabric of my seatbelt letting out cries of frustration and pain as I slowly cut through.

It takes several minutes to cut to the lay bit of fabric and with one last quick saw the seatbelt snaps away and I feel the pressure of it released. I cry from relief and stumble to climb out of the window and get as far away from the car as I can. My legs make me stumble but I run as fast as I can.

'Maya let me take over, I can get us away faster.' Leah tells me.

'I haven't shifted in so long though I don't know if I have the strength.' I tell her.

'If you don't fight back once the shift begins, I will do it quickly and you feel hardly anything!' She promises.

I am not sure if she can draw the energy she will need to make me shift but I feel completely exhausted. I agree and drop to my hands and knees ready to relent all my control over to Leah. I close my eyes and let out a deep breath and before I even inhale again I feel myself changing. I try not to panic as my body quickly shifts into the body of a wolf.

'Rest Maya, I will get us to safety.' Leah says and before I can protest everything goes dark.

I had given all control to her and I slipped into the darkest part of my mind and drifted to sleep. Part of me wishes to stay in this part of my mind forever, letting Leah control my actions and me being simple a part of her mind. Maybe things would be easier if I was inside my mind and she on the outside. She was a fighter, full of confidence and strength and I was not.

I don't want to leave this place; the darkness feels warm and safe. Yet before I can finish enjoying it I feel myself being pulled away into the light again. I feel cold air blowing across my skin, and I shiver as it dances along my unclothed body.

"Maya!" I hear someone tell and the sound of footsteps coming toward me.

My eyes felt too heavy to open but I manage a quick glance and a blurry face comes into view. Tommy?

"Maya what happened? Who did this to you?" He is asking me.

"James...the Alpha..." Are the only words I am able to get out before my body relaxes and darkness takes over again.


Tommy....Help me...