Chapter 5 Episode 5 – Running in Rain (Elena's POV)

Episode 5 – Running in Rain

(Elena's POV)

The sky opened up as I ran.

It rained really hard, and my wedding dress's silk got so wet that it stuck to my skin like cold glue. It hurt a lot when my bare feet hit the wet ground. Every step was a blur of fear and pain. The forest in front of us was dark and scary. Wolves knew not to go there at night.

I didn't care, though.

I just had to leave.

The guards' yells, Adrian's eyes that wouldn't let me look away, and my mother's broken words were too much for me to handle. It was painful to feel every drop of rain and every beat of my heart like a sound of betrayal.

Damian is lying.

The fake pregnancy of Selene.

My sister was taken.

It hurt more to think about her and hear her small, bright laugh, which I hadn't heard since yesterday.

I fell and had to take a deep breath. Tears and rain made it hard for me to see clearly. The thunder was loud, but I could still hear Adrian calling my name in a deep, strong voice.

I kept going, though. I had to keep going.

I had already been used as a pawn by other people. Not again.

I was sucked up by the trees, and their shadows wrapped around me like claws. It was very loud in the bush because of the storm. I could feel the ground shaking under my feet as the wind howled. Lightning flashed and showed me roots, puddles, and broken trees that were in my way.

After that, there was movement.

There was a flash of silver eyes in the dark.

I held my breath and stopped moving. When my wolf moved under my skin, it was alert and antsy. "Who's there?" I tried to whisper, but it wasn't very clear.

There was only a low growl that I could feel in my bones. there was no answer.

The next smell was blood, wet fur, and something I didn't recognize. Not a pack. Not a ally.

Hunters.

My heart beat fast. It hurt a lot when my ankle turned in the mud when I tried to run. I screamed and hit the ground hard.

The trees cast a shadow. It was big and tall, and it moved quickly.

Without me being able to move or defend myself, a strong hand grabbed my arm. I scratched at the stranger to fight back, but he caught my wrist in the air.

"Easy," a low voice rumbled. "I'm not here to hurt you."

I looked up after blinking the rain out of my eyes.

A man stood in front of me. He was wet, but the storm didn't bother him. Even in the dark, his amber eyes were too steady and bright. Even though his clothes were simple, he wasn't. He was old and quiet, and his power didn't need to be shown off.

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to pull away.

He turned his head a little. "You're not on safe ground, little wolf."

I got mad. "Please answer me."

After giving me a long look, he said, "You can call me Lucien."

The name hit me like a lightning strike.

He was known to everyone in the pack. He was a bad rogue named Ghost Alpha who had betrayed the Council and the Lycan throne. He should have been dead.

"Lucien..." I said it in a whisper. "You're-"

He gave a small smile. "Apparently alive." You should be grateful. The hunters were about to find you in a minute.

When I looked in the same direction as him, I saw three fingers coming through the rain. Even though there were lightning strikes, their forms were easy to see.

I knew what to do in my gut. "We need to leave."

It wasn't painful, but Lucien's hold on my wrist got tighter, stopping me. "You hurt yourself."

"I'll make it."

He gave me a look that said you won't.

He quickly grabbed me by the back and put one arm under my knees. I didn't even have a chance to say anything. He moved so quickly, and his skin felt so warm against my cold body that it made my heart skip a beat.

I muttered, "I don't need help."

He glanced down and smiled a little. "You say that while you're bleeding on me."

"I'm not-" I took a look down. My ankle was dark with blood because it was in the mud.

He was right.

He led me deeper into the woods, walking with ease even though the ground was wet. It was too late for me to say anything because I was too tired. That night was the first time I let myself breathe.

No longer did it smell like rain after a short time. Instead, smoke and pine took its place. A cave lay ahead, but it was hard to see because of the rocks and roots that hung over it. I was carefully put down inside by Lucien. There was already a small, steady fire going.

I said in a soft voice, "You planned this."

Getting down next to the fire, he said, "Storms are predictable." "And so are wolves in need."

I closed my eyes. "You followed me?"

"I follow trouble," he said, and then he looked at me. "And you put it on like perfume."

I laughed meanly even though everything was going on. "You don't know."

He really looked at me then, and there was a change in his eyes. It wasn't feeling sorry for me. Not because they were interested. It was recognition.

He told her, "You're a Rivers," without asking.

My throat got sore. "How do you-"

"I knew your father," he said. "Before he died."

The words hurt a lot. "You knew him?"

Lucien gave a slow nod. "He wasn't the man the Council said he was."

I was having trouble breathing. "You mean the story about the traitor-"

He said, "Lies." "He died to keep something from the world that they didn't want to see."

"What?" I spoke quietly.

Lucien's eyes flashed, wild and bright. "You."

It was as quiet as stone inside the cave. It was clear to me that he could hear my heart beating so fast.

He took out of his coat pocket a small moonstone charm in the shape of a tear. "He gave this to me before he fell." Said I'd know when to return it.

When he put it in my hand, it hurt like hell.

The stone gave off a little glow when I touched it.

I looked and shook. "Why now?"

Lucien said in a low voice, "Because your family bloodline isn't just royal." "It's the last piece of the puzzle that your father died for: the Moonfire Bond." It's already being looked for by someone.

"The hunters?"

He turned his head away. "Worse. Someone is sitting on the throne.

The words hit home. What did I think about Adrian? He was very quiet, very calm, and he made a deal with my mom. Could he-

Before I could say anything, Lucien stopped moving. His eyes became more alert, and his nose grew bigger.

I asked, "What is it?"

He didn't answer at first. Then it said in a low growl, "We're not alone."

We heard a weak sound that we knew was someone getting closer: the soft crunch of boots on wet ground.

Lucien got up, moved his weight, and tightened up his muscles. "Stay behind me."

My heart was beating fast as I held on tight to the pendant.

As the rain outside got worse, it blocked out the sound of footsteps until there was only darkness at the cave's entrance.

Bright and quick lightning flashed.

I saw him right then.

Adrian.

In the rain, he stood there with angry waves coming off of his silver eyes.

"Elena," he said in a low, scary voice. "Get away from him."

Lucien did not move. "Lycan, you can't tell her what to do."

Adrian looked at him with icy eyes. "You should have stayed dead."

When power met power, the air cracked, and old grudges lit like fire.

My heart beat fast. I took a step back because I wasn't sure which one to pick. "Please, stop-"

They didn't listen to each other.

When Lucien moved, his aura turned a dark gold color that was raw and fierce. Adrian's was the next. It was brighter and sharper, and it had all of the Lycan King's power behind it.

The ground moved under their feet.

Adrian lunged before I could say anything else.