Chapter 4 HOW DARE YOU

I ran like I'd never run before. It didn't matter that I had a small bag of things with me. I was running for my life. Rouges did unspeakable things to other wolves. I didn't want to be a victim.

I felt them hot on my tail and I knew they enjoyed hunting me down.

"We just want to play... don't run, birdie", I heard them yell from behind me. I didn't look back; I just kept going, and soon, I made it out of the forest and reached the roads. But it was early in the morning and the roads were deserted.

"Nowhere to run", I heard the dreaded voices of the rogues behind me.

I couldn't even shift to escape them because I didn't have a wolf, a reality that hit me harder now when I most needed it.

They shifted into their wolf forms, and it was scary to watch their big forms approaching me with blood-red eyes and gnarly teeth.

I started to run along the road again, hoping, praying for something to happen as they stalked slowly behind me.

Just then, I saw the headlights of a car and it stopped in front of me as I shook in fear. A man got out of the back seat of the car. He was wearing a long black cloak which covered his face.

I stared at him, amazed as he stood between me and the rouge wolves. There was something so brilliantly intoxicating about him. His aura was so strong, so powerful. Yet it felt dark... scary.

"Leave now while you still can" His voice was deep and intimidating. I saw the rouges backing away slowly at first as they looked at each other. But suddenly, one of them lunged at the man. With one motion, he waved his hands out with such force that he hit the wolf, sending him flying into a tree. He let out a loud whimper.

"I won't say it again. Leave now or die"

The rouges quickly ran away with their tails between their legs. The man turned to me and stretched out his hand to help me up. I took it, noting how cold his touch felt.

"What are you doing alone out here?" His face was still covered as he spoke to me.

"I'm running away from something... well someone"

"It's not safe for you to be alone at this time. Come with me, I can drop you off somewhere along the way"

"Oh, thank you"

I followed the man into his car and his driver started driving. At first, there was an awkward silence before I spoke up.

"You don't seem to be from around here"

"No, I'm not"

I nodded and he turned towards me. "Why are you running away?"

"Because my father is an ass, and he arranged my marriage to the Lycan king, who has a terrible reputation. I couldn't just sit back and wait to be married off to a beast who would eventually kill me once he got bored of me"

"This beast you speak of, have you met him before?"

"No, I haven't. No one has, really; he doesn't partake in social events a lot, and he often just sends people to do his bidding. But I've heard the stories..." I shivered at the thought of being strangled to death in my sleep or being poisoned at his hands.

"My pack doesn't want me either, I'm just a weak girl without a wolf. I couldn't stay anymore" I finished, looking outside the window.

"I can only imagine. But what if this beast Lycan goes looking for you? If he's anything as you've described, I'm sure he wouldn't rest till he found you"

"He can't find me. I doubt he even knows what I look like" I looked at him, still covered in his cloak and I grew curious.

"And you, what do you look like under that cloak?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with me. You should rest, you've been through a lot"

I was very tired so I indulged him. In reality, it felt like I'd only closed my eyes for a few minutes, but when I woke up, it was bright and the sun was shining down on us.

I took out my phone and checked the time. It was just after noon. I had several missed calls from my mother. I ignored it and put my phone down.

I turned to the man, but he was busy on his phone, too. I was about to thank him and ask that he drop me off here when I looked up at where we were.

My heart began to beat faster.

"W-why are we here?" I turned to the man.

"I have a business to attend to here," He said nonchalantly as he continued staring at his phone.

"No... no. This is my pack I can't be here"

I tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Please let me out. Thank you for helping me but I have to go now"

He turned to me. I got a small glimpse of him, but that was all. I felt a strange feeling of dread as stared at me. His hand rose to my face, as his thumb brushed over it.

"Who did this to you?" I knew he was referring to the bruise marks

"That's not important. I'm fine please just let me get out"

"Tell me, who hit you"

Before I could answer him, we pulled up right in front of my house and my eyes widened in shock and fear.

"No... no... why are we here? Did my father pay you to do this?! Let me out now!" I banged against the door, and finally, it opened. I got out but before I could even make a move, my father came out.

"Alpha Lucian," He said as he stared at the man next to me. "You're early..."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no not at all"

My belly churned as it began to dawn on me... It was him, the man my father wanted me to marry.

Then my father turned to me.

"You, foolish girl, you thought you could run away" he raised his hand, and I flinched, but his assault never came. I opened my eyes to see Alpha Lucian standing in front of me, holding my father's hand.

My father looked like he was staring at the devil himself. I'd never seen him so scared. He stumbled back as Lucian turned to me.

"Has he hit you before?"

I turned away, not giving him a response. But my silence and the bruises on my face were enough of an answer for him.

"How dare you. This will be the last time you raise a hand to my future wife. I'll show you why they call me the beast Lycan"