Chapter 13

A/N: hi all just a quick reminder there has been a slight reshuffle of chapters so you may have missed the new versions of chapters 11 and 12.

*The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.*
*- Carl Sagan*

Dante surveyed the scene as he stepped out of the car, watching as his men tended to the wounded and the destruction. Of all the nights a piece of shit teenager decided to get high, steal his dad’s beema and go for a joyride through the country roads, he chose this night. If the kid hadn’t died on impact of driving head on into the side of the people carrier, Dante probably would have killed him himself.

It was bad enough that his plans had to be brought forward. It had all been going so well until Lucien showed up. He knew his brother was up to something, probably spying on Dante under strict instructions of the council. He had to throw his brother off by moving the girls early. Now when Lucien and his cohorts raised the mansion, they would find nothing but an empty shell.

That’s provided this whole shit storm draw the attention of the council sooner...

The vehicle that had been carrying his precious cargo now lay on its side like a dying beast, its metal shell buckled and torn and shards of glass spewed across the road. The pieces looked like glitter under the pale spotlights set up around the crash site, shimmering maliciously against the wet asphalt. Debris trailed up the road to the crumbled black bmw which was amazingly still on all four wheels and in the right lane but hardly resembled a car anymore.

"Sir," A guard approached, donned in tactical gear and a baseball cap. His calm face belied the nervousness reeking from his pores. "The passengers and driver are being seen by the medics now but for the most part they seem okay. The babies don’t seem to be in any distress but we will continue to monitor them."

"I sense a 'but' coming." Dante replied calmly as his blue eyes landed on Ms Thorton who sat in the open boot of one of the vehicles that had swarmed the scene the moment the alarm had been raised. Their eyes met for a moment before the blonde looked away but it was enough for Dante to see her fear. “So what is it?”

"One of the mothers' is missing." The man replied quietly.

Dante stilled, his eyes slowly turning back to the guard who flinched under his boss's gaze. How could one of his girls be missing? They had made sure that there was no room for error or mistake and yet now he was being told someone was missing?

"Who is missing?" He asked in a low voice.

"Uh, Th-Thalia Georgiou?" The man stuttered, taking a step back when an inhuman growl erupted from Dante. "She wasn't in the vehicle. Ms Thorton confirmed she was in one of the passenger seats when they left…"

Dante let out an unearthly roar, his eyes turning red as his true form threatened to tear through the polished façade. As quick as a cobra pouncing on its prey, his arm snapped out, fisting the guard's shirt and lifting him off his feet. Everyone had stopped what they were doing, frozen to the spot as they felt the rage radiate off of their boss. No one dared move to try and help the poor man now suffering the consequences of being the bearer of bad news.

How had his prized possession managed to go missing? Everyone knew that the little she-wolf was precious. She was the most important vessel and they had managed to lose her! Not to mention she was carrying Dante's child!

"Find her!" The words were spoken by what sounded like dozens of voices as if angry souls were trapped within the shell now threatening to crush the man’s throat. The inhuman sound echoed out into the night, attacking every person who could hear it like a blow from a war hammer. "Or I will make you pay!"

Without even waiting for a response, Dante released his grip and let the man fall to the ground unceremoniously before stalking back to his car.

---

Thalia wasn't sure how long she had been running for but her lungs were burning and her legs were beginning to cramp. She knew that if she had been in a much healthier state and not pregnant she would be able to endure more but as it was, she was struggling and she felt like she had barely covered any ground.

She was well aware that the current situation was against her. Despite the fact it was spring, the air was cold still and hurt her lungs more with each breath she took. Also, she had no idea where she was or where she was going. Hell, she didn't even know what country she was in!

She had stumbled and tripped over enough dips in the earth or tree roots to leave her with sore ankles and bruises all over her shins and knees but she kept going. Despite the cold air, Thalia was sweating, her brown hair plastered to the back of her neck and forehead and her tee clinging to her back. She had discarded the cardigan early when it proved a hindrance but that was as far as she was willing to go with shedding clothing. Sure, she could shift. Maeve would be able to cover more ground quickly but she didn’t want to stop to undress and she didn’t want to lose the only clothing she now owned.

Stopping to catch her breath, Thalia looked around, trying to determine if there was any sign of the forest coming to an end. Despite the moonlight, she could only see more trees and foliage. Even the air carried no hint of civilisation. She knew she had to keep going but in which direction?

The faint sound of yelling coming from the direction she had just come had Thalia, freezing in panic. How could they have figured out she had run away so soon? She only had to listen to know it was her that the owners of those yells were looking for. She could hear them calling her name followed by the sounds of footsteps moving over the earth, twigs and head leaves snapping or crunching under heavy boots. That was enough to get Thalia moving again.

She darted through the forest refusing to look back even as the voices seemed to grow in number and volume. It was as if those hunting her were coming from all sides, trying to surround her. She couldn’t let them trap her, she didn’t know why but every fiber in her body was telling her if she was caught it wouldn’t bode well for her. Dante might have treated her like a queen all of these weeks but he scared her. There was something truly dangerous that simmered under the surface that left her uncomfortable and wanting to hide. Wolves were considered apex-predators but whatever Dante was made them look like puppies.

“That way!” A yell echoed through the night before beams of pale light pointed towards Thalia making her heart skip a beat.

How had they gotten to her so quickly? She pushed herself to run faster, her breathing coming out in a staccato as she blindly sprinted through the forest. She ignored the stray twigs and brambles that caught her clothes and scratched her skin. She ignored the stitch in her side and she ignored the throbbing in her head after she hit it in the accident. She needed to find a way out of this forest and then to find help.

The edge of the forest came up on her out of nowhere. She broke through the treeline without slowing down, her legs carrying her through the field. She thought she could see the orange glow of light pollution in the distance, hinting at civilisation. It didn’t have to be a city, hell it could just be a hamlet so long as she could find help.

Those chasing her were gaining ground. She glanced behind her to see three men following her. There was no way she could defend herself from them even if she let Maeve out. They were huge and judging how they moved as well as the fact they were all muscled to high heaven, they were skilled in fighting. A little she-wolf would be no match for them.

“Thalia! Stop!” One of them yelled. “There is nowhere to run!”

Thalia shook her head, forcing the last of her energy into her legs. She wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t go back.

*Just keep going!* She thought. *We can make it!*

However, if she had been paying attention to where she was going she would have seen the sudden drop as the land gave way to a cliff. But it was dark and she was panicking. She just needed to get away.

“Thalia! No! Don’t go that way!”

It was too late.

Seeing the cliff edge too late, Thalia screamed, skidding to a halt but not soon enough. The ground gave out and Thalia plummeted, pain exploding through her body as she hit the cliff face. The impact sent her into a tailspin, gravel and sharp rocks assaulting her with every bounce. She tried to slow herself down, desperately trying to grab anything.

In seconds, The base of the cliff rushed up to meet her broken body before everything went black.