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No matter how many times she came to me. There would be no way that I would do what she asked. Heading back to the factory, people stared at me as I pressed past them. Their skin coming in contact with the holes that the fire had made in my shirt. Some congratulated me. That wasn’t why I did it. For the life of me, I didn’t know why I did. Other than that, the little girl didn’t have to die like that. Her mother didn’t need to live the rest of her life, knowing she couldn’t save her daughter. She didn’t have to be like me.
No one had to live with the pain that I had to live with on a daily basis. Ever since that day, I could feel myself sliding into a darkness that I couldn’t quite climb out of at the moment. My whole life since her death has been in darkness. There wasn’t a person here that I could call my friend; it was the way I wanted it. I had to get out of this place. Start over just like I did a year ago, but this time it would have to be different. Aloysius whimpered in my head at my thoughts of leaving another town.
It wasn’t hard to pack up what little I had and move to another city. The hardest part was finding another job. But where I was going, I didn’t need one. Living off the land would be a little hard, but being a wolf would make it easier. With my rucksack over my shoulder, I took one more glance around the simple studio apartment and then shut the door.
Why do you always leave when the Moon Goddess shows up?Aloysius questioned me as I began my descent from my floor. He was still one hundred percent loyal to that bitch. He didn’t mind that I had taken a chosen mate, but he wasn’t completely on board with it, either. The loss of his pup, though, made him different. But didn’t blame the moon goddess.
Because, if she is in this town, I don’t want to be in this town with her.I growled at him as I made my way through the door. Readjusting the rucksack on my shoulder, I headed down the sidewalk to the forest. This time there would be no cushion beds or a heating and air unit. It would be the elements from here forward.
You do realize that you will never be able to keep away from her, right?Aloysius snapped at me as I moved to the tree line. He was right, but I would try my hardest to keep from interacting with that she-devil. Aloysius snorted before shaking his massive white head.
Getting further into the woods, I dropped my rucksack and shed my clothes, shoving them in the bag. My shift was quick, and I grabbed the bag from the ground with my mouth as I took off away from the town. I felt free in my wolf form even when Aloysius was being a prick. The pounding of my paws on the soft forest floor drummed with my heartbeat.
I traveled along the raging river for a few hours before I stopped to rest. Leaving my rucksack by a tree and making my way down to drink from the river. A sound caught my attention on the other bank and I stilled as the brush rustled. The bunny’s scent came to me and my stomach rolled with hunger. It had been awhile since I had eaten anything.
Crouching in the tall reeds, I watched as the brown and grey rabbit made its way to the edge of the water. Just as I was about to pounce, a hawk swooped down and grabbed my prey with his ugly clawed feet. Damn bird! I growled as the bird flew away with the rabbit.
I lay in the reeds as my stomach rumbled. This whole foraging for food made me second guess my decision to live off grid. But I needed to, because I had to stay two steps in front of Selene.That will be difficult, Fin. You know she is everywhere. Or did going rogue go to your head?
Listen Aloysius, she could’ve saved Kalila and our pup. But she allowed Wade to kill them and take over my pack. It’s not something I’m going to let her get away with.I growled back at him. I shook my massive head before getting up and grabbing my rucksack from the base of the tree.
Tramping through the tall grass, I caught the scent of a beaver. I slowed my steps to a crawl as I watched the reeds move with the mammal’s body. It poked its head through the tall grass and came face to face with me. The animal stilled and I could hear its heart rate speed up. I pounced, grabbing it with my jaws and cutting off its airway. Putting the beaver to rest quickly.
I devoured the animal in my wolf form, knowing I wouldn’t be able to take it and my rucksack with me. Finishing the last of the beaver, I licked my jowls and stood to my feet. Blood still stained my muzzle as I grabbed my bag and took off further down the river.
The sun felt amazing as I sat on the boulder I had found a few days ago. After I figured out a way to hunt for food. I found a cave to keep out of the weather. The view from this rock let me see as far as I could. It reminded me of the waterfall at home and then of Kalila. Why couldn’t I have just been left to be happy with the family that I chose?
Aloysius lay in my mind, curled up. He didn’t talk to me much about Kalila and the pup. That’s what I missed the most. Being able to talk to Harlen. He was my biggest confidant. Someone that would be able to help me through this darkness that continued to darken. I often wondered how he and his family were doing under the rule of my uncle. It still pissed me off that my uncle had taken my pack from me. But what was I going to do?
The wind picked up, bringing with it the scent of another wolf, a scent of peony and cedar. Aloysius swiveled an ear but didn’t move another muscle. It was another shifter, female to be exact. Granted, she had yet to shift. But I knew she was a wolf. I didn’t move, since the scent was far away from my position. A hawk flew overhead, skimming the taller trees as it circled. Damn bird. It had taken more of my prey than I care to admit. Aloysius snorted.What was that for? Huh?
If you would stop taking your time, that bird wouldn’t get what you are hunting. Every time you let me take over, I get the food.Aloysius raised his head and looked at me over his shoulder. I rolled my eyes as I stood from my spot and stretched.
I jumped from the boulder and made my way back to the cave. Even though I had been out here for a few days, the clothes I had brought with me were torn. So, most of the time, I stayed in my wolf form or just stayed naked. The wind changed position once more, taking the other wolf’s scent with it. As I entered the cave, I glanced up and saw her again. “You just can’t leave a wolf alone. Can you?”
“Fin. You have a destiny that Kalila and the pup didn’t play a part in. Other wolves are searching for the prophesied alpha. I need you to find the ones that search for him.” Selene cocked her head, a smile playing on her face as she gazed behind me. There was nothing normal about this she-devil.
“And you know I want nothing to do with this. Find someone else to do your bidding. I’m through with you.” I growled at her as I stalked past her to my bag, pulling out the handmade water sack.
“I know you’re mad at me. But if you do this, then you are back on track with your destiny. I don’t enjoy splitting up loved ones.” I threw the water bag down and stalked up to her through the water that spilled from the sack. She didn’t flinch as she glanced up at me.
“I told you no. So, stop asking me this.”
“You don’t scare me, Fin. This is your destiny. Four other wolves are on the same path as you. The first one will find you within the next year. They are going to be there for you as much as you are going to be there for them. And you all will be there for the prophesied alpha.” She smiled once more and patted me on the face before she vanished with a pop.
Chapter Six
One more year later
It had been a long day and right now I sat by my fire cooking the rabbit I had caught a few minutes ago. The sun was setting in the east, throwing oranges, pinks, and soft yellows in the sky. Today had an unusual feeling about it. Like something was going to happen, but I didn’t know what at the moment.
I had been moving constantly since my encounter with Selene again. There was no way I was searching for some other alpha. Fuck that. Why the hell did I have to find him? And why did there have to be four others with me? No, she could go fuck herself. She did me dirty and so I would never trust her again.
My head snapped up as a bush rustled in front of me. I was so deep in thought; I didn’t realize another wolf had come so close. A male one at that. Extending my claws longer, I waited for him to exit the brush. I had no intention of letting someone get the best of me.
“Hello, mind if I sit and warm myself by your fire?” The stranger asked as he approached me. He was like me, wearing only shorts. He was darker than me, like he had been in the sun for years. I guess I probably looked the same since I had been out here for the past two years in nothing or just shorts.
“Sure,” I told him, and he plopped down. His dark green eyes held curiosity in them, and he messed with his blond hair before he brought them to the flame. Something about this male put me on edge. Not a single rogue wolf had come up to me since I lived in town. His eyes darted to my right hand before a smile lifted his lips.
