Chapter 5 Runaway

Rylee

I used to wonder what "fated" meant. How can you fall in love without knowing each other and stay together forever? Now I get it. It's a soul-deep pain, like a part of you is being ripped away.

I have to stuff straw in my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Syd looks in worse pain. He can't stay human, shifts into a wolf, and collapses. The brown wolf convulses, his mouth opens wide, looks about to cry, but he only whimpers silently. After ten minutes, he stumbles up, giving me a deep look. Then, he turns and disappears into the darkness.

I breathe a sigh of relief, wipe my tears, and collapse onto the haystack.

It's over.

Great, one step closer to leaving this pack.

Syd is tall, handsome, capable with a pretty-boy face. We grew up together. He's the only one who cares about me. If I wasn't Rylee Green, I might fall in love with him so easily and deeply. But our bond is doomed. He has a bright future, and I'm the pack's sinner.

18 years ago, my birth took away my high-blooded mother, the pack's Luna and healer. Since then, the pack went downhill. Alpha condemned me, cutting me off from the family. The council thinks I'm a curse. I've been a slave ever since. My bond with Syd was destined to be frowned upon by the pack. When the time comes, how could Syd, the future Beta, protect me against his pack and family?

I can't put my hopes on anyone. It's a gamble, which I can't afford to risk losing. Not to mention Syd doesn't like to challenge authority. He doesn't get what I need. My wolf hasn't come yet, and staying here means danger and death. I often looked at the night sky, not the moon, but the stars. I was recognizing where I was going, to prepare for my escape.

I lied to Syd. As a healer's descendant, I won't die from injuries. I said crazy shit because I needed him to give up on me fast. Time is running out. And, I said the Oath of Refusal quickly before him because I needed to avoid more hurt to my already badly wounded body. Though I'm Alpha's daughter, I'm an omega, and he's a beta. I can't bet.

It's time to move on. I've planned this since I was a kid. I used to hold back, fearing my mate was here. Now I have no worries.

I touch the moon necklace Syd gave me and hide it in my shirt. Syd left so vexed that he forgot his clothes. I wrap food scraps in his clothes and sneak out.

It's six o'clock, and the omegas are getting up. Their senses aren't sharp, so they're easy to avoid. I carefully make my way to my cabin in the woods.

I grab a shovel from my cabin, go to the back, and start digging. Five minutes later, I unearth a package with clothes, shoes, and compressed crackers.

I bury Syd's clothes in the hole. As I done refilling the hole, I feel excited. Another job done. But then, turning around, I see Marta.

My heart sinks. Marta is standing by my door, a new set of clothes in her hand. She stares blankly at the package and shovel in my hand. This is bad. She must know what I'm up to.

We lock eyes. If she yells or alerts anyone by link, I'll knock her out. But Marta just nods, leaves the clothes on the ground, and walks away.

Without a word.

I breathe a sigh of relief with mixed emotions. Taking the new clothes, I know this is her concern and apology. Whether she set me up before, I forgive her.

The south side of the pack is sparsely populated and less guarded. It's a good escape route. I head south and luckily avoid everyone. But as I approach the border, I come across a patrol led by none other than Anto.

I quickly hide behind a bush and creep into the thorns. I hear Anto command, "You two go over there, and you, check the bush."

My heart pounds against my ribs. He's talking about my hiding spot. The footsteps come closer. Through the thorns, I see four brown claws. The owner gets closer. Too close. I suspect he smells me.

Holding my breath, I arch my back. If I am discovered, I would only die. There's no way I could outrun a patrol that trains every day. But I can at least fight back. I can poke someone's eyes out.

After a long time, the owner of the brown paws says, "Clear, nothing out of the ordinary."

My eyes widen at the voice. It's Syd!

Syd turns and walks away. A short while later, I hear Anto leave with the patrol.

My eyes moisten, and I collapse. I raise my hand, touching the necklace.

Syd, goodbye. I whisper silently.