Chapter 5 THE BLACK WOLF

Breathing was difficult.

Every drag of air I took into my lungs made the pain; a lone tear slid down my temple as a weak sob left my bruised lips.

The cold air blew over me and I shivered. I laid in my own pool of blood in front of my own home.

The fire was starting to die out, taking with it the lasts of what was left behind by the only people who ever loved me.

The space my wolf used to occupy is painfully silent. A precious part of my soul that had been carved out. Another silent tear run down.

Without my wolf I was worthless, the world would never accept me as a werewolf, I would never be able to feel my mate.

I was already nothing but having a wolf strengthened me, and being able to look forward to a mate comforted me...but now I had nothing.

The door to our house opened widely and Vivian stepped out, I flinched at the spot, bracing myself for what would happen next. She didn't say anything, she just stood over me with a straight face. "Get out," Vivian ordered coldly, her voice cutting through the night.

"Get out of here. If I see you here in the morning, I'll finish what I started." I tried to speak, to say something, anything, but no words came.

Just a choked whimper. The sound made her deliver a kick to my stomach, right where the Moonblade had stabbed me.

Right where the wound was still bleeding. Pain exploded through me. White-hot and blinding. I screamed, but the sound was weak, barely more than a broken sob.

"Did you hear me?"

Vivian demanded, "Leave. Now. Or I'll kill you right here and tell everyone you ran away. No one will question it.

No one will care." She crouched down beside me, her face close to mine. I could smell her expensive perfume mixed with the smoke from the fire that had burned all my belongings.

"It's over for you mutt. You are not wanted" she said before standing up to leave me there. She didn't look back.

"Please..."

I manage to croak but nothing, she left me there. Left me bleeding and broken in the dirt like my life was nothing.

And maybe I was truly nothing. Without my wolf, what was I? Just a broken girl with nowhere to go and no one to help her.

I don't know how long I lay there. Time felt strange. My body kept trying to heal itself the way werewolves naturally do. But without my wolf, the healing was slow. So painfully slow.

The bleeding wouldn't stop. The pain wouldn't fade. I was dying. I knew it. I could feel it. But something inside me refused to give up.

Some stubborn part of my soul that wouldn't let me die here, in the dirt, where Vivian wanted me to. I had to move. I couldn't stay here. With every ounce of strength I had left, I rolled onto my side. The world spun. My vision went black for several seconds. When it cleared, I was gasping for air, my whole body shaking. I pressed my hand against the wound in my stomach.

Blood seeped through my fingers, but I don't give up. I dragged myself forward, moving inch by inch.

My arms shook with the effort.

My stomach screamed in protest. Every movement felt like dying all over again. But I kept going.

I began to head to the woods. Maybe I could hide there. Maybe I could find someone to help me. I didn't know. I just knew I couldn't stay here where Vivian could find me in the morning.

The edge of the yard felt like it was miles away. My arms kept giving out. My vision kept going dark. But each time, I forced myself to keep moving. To drag myself forward just a little bit more. I left a trail of blood on the grass, a path leading from the house to the woods.

Evidence of my escape. But I couldn't do anything about it. I could barely move as it was. Finally, after what felt like hours, I reached the tree line. Darkness swallowed me as I pulled myself into the woods.

The temperature dropped immediately. It was colder here, away from the house. I dropped to my knees when my legs couldn't hold me any longer. The ground was rough. Roots and loose rocks dug into my body as I crawled. I heard water somewhere ahead.

The stream, my safe spot, the water called out to me soft and peaceful. Pushing as hard as I could, I crawled toward it.

My arms gave out twice. Each time, I had to lie there for several minutes, gathering strength, before I could move again.

When I finally reached the stream, I collapsed on the bank. I wanted to scoop water but I couldn't go any further. My body was done. I had nothing left to give. The moon shone down on me, a full moon, strong yet soft.

This is it, I thought as I looked up at it. This is where I die, alone in the woods. Just like Vivian wanted. The thought should have scared me, but I was so tired.

Too tired to care.

The pain was starting to fade now, replaced by a strange numbness that spread through my body. It feels oddly good...like everything I have always wanted. Maybe death wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it would be kinder to me. Maybe I'd see my parents again.

Maybe they were waiting for me somewhere beyond this pain. My eyes started to close. Then I heard something.

It sounded like footsteps. Heavy footsteps coming through the woods behind me.My eyes snapped open. Fear cut through the numbness I felt.

Had Vivian changed her mind?

Had she come to make sure I was really dead? I tried to move, tried to drag myself away, but my body wouldn't respond.

MI was too weak. I could barely turn my head. The footsteps got closer. Louder. Crunching through dead leaves and broken branches.

Then I saw it. A wolf emerged from the shadows between the trees. But not just any wolf. This was something else entirely. It was massive. Larger than any wolf I'd ever seen in my life.

Its fur was pure black, so dark it seemed to absorb the moonlight around it.

Fear shot through me, cold and sharp, cutting through everything else. The wolf stood at the edge of the trees, perfectly still, watching me where I lay broken and bleeding on the ground.

This was my cue to run but I couldn't. I have no ounce of strength left in me. I could barely keep my eyes open. The wolf took a step forward. If I hadn't lost my wolf it would have been easier for me to fight back.

I lied to myself. "Please," I whispered, though I didn't even know what I was begging for anymore.

The wolf moved closer.

MI could see its massive muscles rippling beneath its dark fur. Its paws were huge, easily bigger than my hands.

This was a predator.

A killer.

And I was a wounded prey lying helpless in its path.Fear gripped me completely now.

The wolf towered over me staring down at me intently. This was how I would die. After everything I'd survived tonight, this was how i would die.

The wolf let out a menacing growl and opened its powerful mouth, showing me its teeth. I draw in a breath and closed my eyes bracing myself for what would happen next.