Chapter 23: An Unlikely Savior

[Dove]
Rain gushed down my face as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Blood trickled from the slits and scratches on my skin as they slowly closed up. I had managed to scrape out of their grasp and headed in the first direction my eyes could detect.

The hysterical howling and laughing followed closely behind me. Each time I widened the gap between us, they would swiftly close it. I had to keep going.

Hopping over rocks, skipping over stones, avoiding tree trunks and ducking under branches, I had new wounds forming after an old one closed up.

“Come here, dearie.” One of the rogue wolves sang in a twisted tune.

The cold winds were spearing my skin like ice needles. My jaw clenched tightly until it ached and my teeth chattered furiously in futile efforts to remove the strong shiver spreading inside my body. I continued to run for my life.

Goddess knows what would happen to me if I was caught. I have heard stories of torture beyond death for abandoned and rejected wolves in the wilderness.

I blinked away the shuddering thoughts. No time for them now.

My vision was blurred. I could only see vague strips of dark brown and blots and mashes of dull green and grey. I had to rely on my senses and reflexes. Just run, Dove, I screamed in my head. Just run!

Then, something knocked me out of my path.

I skidded across the hard and rough ground and then rolled and tumbled uncontrollably down a slope, getting bruises and cuts along the way. Finally, I stopped and lay facing the sky. Energy was seeping out of my body. I couldn't fight the cold and hard rain attacking me.

I wondered about the moon behind the dark moving clouds as my view started to fade into black.


******

[Claire]
Her special power is her curse.

It drove her Alpha mad with a lust for control - he wanted to control everyone and only she could help him. He was going to kill her mate and marry her to use her powers.

So Claire left her pack.

Once her daughter was born, she quickly disappeared, never to be heard from again.

Though she had but one fleeting glance of her baby, she instantly recognized her little girl when she stood before her, a full grown woman. Her precious darling - a gem created from the love she shared with her destined soulmate.

From the day they reunited, Claire had been watching over her, protecting her in silence. She was there when her baby girl cried, asking for the Moon Goddess and longing for her husband. She held and rubbed her baby girl’s almost lifeless hands till they returned to normal. She was always around when her little girl tried her best.

Claire saw her dash out of the mansion. Shortly afterwards, the others came asking for her with worried expressions. She knew what her baby girl had done and went after her in silence.

Searching all the different paths, Claire finally found her - she had fainted on the ground and was about to be taken.

Panicked with worry and anger, she raised a palm at the three ugly rogue wolves and watched with a smirk as they started dancing merrily to an imaginary tune.

Then, in three strikes, she knocked out all three of them.

Crouching over her baby girl, her eyes reddened. Raw tears mixed with the cold rain and washed down her fair cheeks.

“My baby.”


******


[Dove]
My eyelids felt as heavy as boulders.

I heard familiar voices and tried to call out to them but I couldn’t feel my throat. Am I dead? I thought and panicked. The last thing I remembered was running from a group of wild Omegas.

Was I caught? Anxious, I struggled to move my body and escape but I couldn’t feel my limbs. Everything was light and then heavy, and then heavier. I heard something beating in my chest. It grew stronger and clearer.

Then, a low whisper surrounded me. It was gentle and filled with need and urgency.

“Dove. You’re alright. You’re safe. Dove.”

It gave me strength and I tried to move my eyelids again. They finally opened. As the mist cleared, a familiar face filled my entire view. Its shapely lips, proud nose, clear blue eyes and thick wolfish brows.

“Cole?” My voice croaked.

Something caressed my brows and it felt nice and comfortable as his voice said, “Yes.”

I blinked again and my view finally sharpened. He was glaring at me.

“What the hell were you thinking, Dove?” Megan’s voice rang from behind him. She sounded frustrated with relief.

“Oh my, Megan, please don’t shout. Dove just woke up, dear. You will scare her,” Connie’s voice followed suit.

“Don’t scare me like that again!” And Megan left the room. She was clearly upset with my unanimous decision. I made a mental note to talk to her later when she had calmed down.

Connie’s voice sang again, “How are you feeling, Dove dear? Better?”

Cole’s eyes turned intense blue as they continued boring into mine. I swallowed, cleared my throat and said, “Y-yes, Connie.”

“Thank goodness. Well, I found you unconscious at my doorstep and was shocked.”

Without moving away from Cole’s face, I asked, “At your doorstep?”

Connie’s sweet voice continued to ring in the air. “Yes, dear. It was a while ago. You were shivering and pale all over so I quickly warmed you up. I also changed your clothes. They were torn all over.”

Finally, Cole asked with a vexed expression, “What happened?”

I swallowed hard, winced at a sudden large lump in my throat and replied, “I met three Omegas and they were chasing me. I ran as fast as I could but they knocked me out. And then, I woke up here.”

Cole studied me silently as his Adam’s apple bobbed anxiously. Then, he closed his eyes and asked in an annoyed tone, “Why did you leave the village?”

I stared back at him. The words got stuck at my lips. I recalled the reason I left and then a hint of shame crawled into my consciousness - my plan had failed.

But I will try again. I cannot stay.

“Because I’m sick and tired of this place,” I said.

His gaze widened in short lived surprise and then it narrowed again as he repeated the question. “Why did you leave the village?”

I sighed and glared at him, “Because I don’t want to be near you. You stink.”

His eyes darkened as he slowly said in a gentle low voice, “Why did you leave the village, Dove?”

My useless tears fell instantly. Two large hands slid under me and lifted me off the bed. I crashed against the familiar warm muscled chest and caught my favourite scent.

Fearing the worst, I pushed away from his embrace when he tightened his arms around me, preventing my escape.

“We need to talk.”

Before I could utter another word, Cole carried me out of the room.