Thursday, April 4th
I sit myself up and lean myself against the wall, closing my eyes, forcing myself to relax. I haven’t had access to anything I need in several days and the last thing that needs to start is my asthma. I peak out of the slats on the door verifying that everyone is asleep. I can hear Kristoph’s snore giving me a little confidence to at least get out of this cabin and into another.
I open the closet door slowly, praying that it doesn’t squeak. I crawl out with great care once it’s opened enough to let me, before I gently close it again. While I’m not foolish enough to believe that he’s completely missed the fact that I’m there, I don’t want to give him a reason to come looking for me if his sex crazed orgy gave me such luck. I crawl to the door and I’m surprised to see my boots still sitting at the door. I stand with as little sound as possible, slip my feet into the boots, and slowly ease myself out into the cold. I look around, quickly gathering my bearings and head straight into the western woods towards the river.
I find a worn trail easily and start walking west toward the Red Moon territory. As much as interacting with this new alpha, Alpha Julian, terrifies me it’s got to be easier than dealing with Kristoph. That man is a sexual deviant and all I can think about is getting away.
Snapping limbs and brushes alert me to someone walking behind me. I slow to a stop, trying to use my ears to determine the rate that they’re walking and how far away from me they are. Unfortunately, whoever’s behind me stops at the same time I do and stays completely silent while I listen. I start walking again but at a much slower rate, my own sounds drowning out those behind me. I jump into the brush beside me and take off in a run. My heart is in my throat as I know that the one second of wind that hit me contained Kristoph’s scent and I know I’ve got to get out of here. My adrenaline and smaller size aids in my agility, something Kris doesn’t have much of in human form and without the sounds of tearing clothes I doubt that he’s shifted.
I continue my treacherous run, using the low hanging branches to swing myself over fallen trees, bushes and holes just to come to a stop at the edge of the river. I stare down the embankment at the water raging beneath me. The jump I made after the twins fell in was farther down but the bottom of this location appears dense with jagged rocks.
I look around, trying to quickly assess my surroundings and come up with a new plan. Just as I start to move again I’m swept off my feet, landing face first in the dirt, hitting my head on a rock the size of a small cantaloupe. The pain to my temple stuns me as I take several hits to my ribs. I finally manage to pull myself together and roll out of the way, jumping to my feet before I careen over the edge of the embankment. I’ve fought my brother before but I was younger with no experience outside of the father’s beatings. Being trapped in dad’s office gave Kris the advantage, here I can use my surroundings.
Despite my quickly swelling left eye, I jump his next attack on my legs and start back into the woods. Once again, I use what’s above me in an effort to propel myself faster over what’s below me. I hit the trail again but I don’t stop. My lungs are now joining the party, impeding my ability to get away but I’ve been here before. Too many times I’ve been sent into an asthma attack during my father’s relentless beatings, forced to function, to fight not only my declining ability to move oxygen in and out of my lungs but the increasing assault upon my body.
I push myself further and faster. I am an alpha and I have been taught to ignore everything until one of us is dead. I start slowing down as I stumble upon a bridge, something no one in Red Fang has ever mentioned. I’ve lost my sense of direction and I can't be certain if this bridge crosses into Crescent Moon’s territory or if it leads to Red Moon’s buffer zone. I’m at the point of not caring as I force myself to run. My legs are like jello and my lungs burn like a fire has been lit inside them. Nothing matters as I continue my course. My blind panic is the only thing that powers me forward.
I reach the other side of the worn wooden footbridge, my wheezing is so loud that it’s impossible to hear anything else. My left eye is now mostly swollen shut. I curse as I didn’t realize I hit the rock that close to my eye. My depth perception is now severely skewed, reducing the agility and speed I need to continue. I jog lightly into the next wood line that I see in front of me, stopping just a few feet inside the dense foliage. I’ve nearly fallen several times trying to pick my way just those few feet. I close my eyes as I lean myself up against a tree. I’m wheezing hard enough that I’m unable to move.
It’s the snapping of twigs and dried leaves in front of me that forces me to open my eyes. My vision is blurred as I attempt to look at the large wolf standing a respectable five feet in front of me.
“My name is Alpha Julian Redding. I was contacted some time ago by Alpha Andre Redmen about assisting him in getting his brother out of harm’s way, out of Red Fang. Based on the way you entered my buffer zone, I’d like to think you’re looking for help.”
His voice is patient and kind, reminding me of Alpha Black, the alpha I’m longing to be held and comforted by.
Before I can answer, the smell of Kristoph assaults my nose and I’m compelled to run again. I jump off the tree, tripping and tangling up in the vines as I fight to get farther into the wooded land of this new alpha. Now that I know who he is and where I’m at I have more confidence in moving farther into the recesses of this area. I’m certain he will find me no matter where I end up.
I stumble my way into the opening of a cave. I’m at my limit. All I can do is pray that Alpha Julian finds me before Kristoph as ending up in the clutches of Kris is a certain death sentence in my current state.
I force myself to stumble as far into the cave as I can feel. The lack of oxygen has rendered me nearly blind as I conveniently fall into a pile of leaves blown in during the fall, clearing everything I feel in front of my face before my consciousness fades.
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