Crossing Borders

I jumped to the next branch, feeling like a flying squirrel rather than an actual werewolf. When my fingers clasped onto the rough texture of bark, my heart calmed down once again. Adrenaline always forced itself into my body even if I've been doing this for as long as I can remember. I really needed to start getting control on that.

Add that to the long list of things to do. On the top of that list was to actually get my powers to work. I knew I had them, being born when my mom was in wolf form but as of late, I was dormant. It was definitely not normal to still be dormant at the age of twenty but what can you do? Underneath me, my pack was running through the woods, their pelts beautifully shining in the moonlight.

Was I jealous? Of course I was jealous.

I was a flying squirrel while my friends, family and... well, people I didn't like – were able to be vicious, beautiful wolves. I jumped to the next branch, trying to keep my balance. I was a lot better with trees than actually on ground. That was another thing on my bucket list- becoming less clumsy. Which would actually happen if my stupid hands could turn into claws and I could sprout fur.

A howl erupted in my ear. I looked down, seeing the pack stopping, my dad was the one who had howled. He and my mom looked up at me, standing so close to each other you'd instantly know they were mates. Third thing on list by the way – getting a mate.

Like all myths and rules for lycanthrope, we have mates. You are supposed to meet your mate (supposed to because it's not actually law) by sixteen up until the age of twenty one. I still had time but was still fearful because of the whole not-turning thing. You couldn't mate with someone if they weren't a shifter. That's just how it worked.

I jumped down from the branch, trying to position my fall so I wouldn't see naked bodies. My pack liked to shift back to human when they took breaks. If I was a wolf, I'd never shift back. Being a wolf would just be so much better... or so I've heard. People liked to make you feel even worse about not being a lycanthrope when they could be.

"Hey sweetie" I heard my mom say, enveloping me in a hug. I turned towards her, seeing that she was clothed in the white dress from earlier. Except now it was more like beige, seeing that she had dragged it through the dirt while it was strapped to her leg. Some things never seemed to change. My dad came to stand next to her, putting an arm around her.

"You okay my flower?" he smiled at me, eyeing the scrape I had gotten from one of the stupid branches.

"Dad, I've gotten a million of scraps, I'm fine" I smiled, roiling my eyes. He laughed, grabbing me in a fierce dad hug. You know those people who are twice the size of you? My whole pack is that size. The woman are all about a foot taller than me, the men were like skyscrapers.

"Let go!" I laughed, actually enjoying the hug. It made me forget for a moment about my problem. When my parents were wolves, they cuddled me but it wasn't the same, definitely not the same as a human hug.

When my dad let go, it was by the time the alpha had decided to start moving once again.

"See you soon sweetie, stay save" my mom smiled, kissing my on the head. I nodded, skittering up the tree again.

"Hey! Squirrel girl!" I heard someone yell. I looked down, shooting a glare at Felix. Felix was the biggest asshole that existed. He was one of those that had shifted since he was a baby, he was even born as a wolf. A lot of my pack was like that, but because he was also the future alpha, he got even more applause for that not-at-all-dependent-on-what-type-of-person-he-is skill.

"What!?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"You turn yet?" he asked, knowing that I hadn't.

"Have you gotten smarter yet? The answers are the same" I smirked, going to go sit down on one of the branches.

Felix rolled his eyes but held his smirk, "I'm going to get you back for that squirrel girl"

"In your dreams"

"We're splitting squirrel, adults are going on their own"

My heart dropped to my stomach, my eyes widening. I hated when we split. It gave the wolves the opportunity to torture me. And after basically calling their leader an idiot, I know I was screwed. His friends chuckled behind him, making my prediction even more prominent. Maybe I could go home? Or follow the adults. I glanced down at my parents but they weren't there.

Ah damn...

I started leaping through the trees, following the idiots to wherever they wanted to torture me. As the woods became denser and more unfamiliar, I started to glance up at the sky.

"Felix!" I yelled, stopping dead on one of the branches.

The wolf in front of me just kept running, probably not having heard me over his ego. I glanced over at the space in front of me. It wouldn't be that dangerous would it? I wasn't a shifter and can easily be confused for just a normal human... that jumps around on trees.

It was me or the pack... me or the pack. I took a deep breath, jumping to the next branch. I kept going, the wind starting to be the only thing I can hear. The branches and trees in front of me became my only vision, as if my goal was clear. Get in front of Felix and stop them from making a huge mistake.

Who the hell doesn't notice they're about to go into another pack's territory? And the Hellwood pack to make matters worse!? The Hellwood pack were like a gang. You go into their territory and you're dead. They were fierce and brutal. Completely nuts.

I suddenly stopped, looking down at the pack. Felix was still a few trees away. I let out a whistle, him actually noticing me. He slowed down but still continued to run.

"Hey! Idiot! You're heading into Hellwood territory!" I yelled, using my hands as a bullhorn.

Felix finally stopped, barking for the pack to stop as well. Felix's wolf nodded, letting out a howl for who knows what reason.

"Do you want them to hear you so close to you, you idiot!?" I yelled, glaring at him. Felix barked, an evil glint in his eyes. Wow, so scary...

With another howl, he started turning around... slowly. I rolled my eyes, getting ready to follow them.

But then... then I heard another howl. An unfamiliar one that sent shivers down my spine. I saw Felix's wolf speeding up, the pack following. Gulping, I got ready once again to jump but as I changed the position of my feet, I felt the branch give way below me.

Shit, shit, shit!

I tried grabbing hold of another but my hands only took hold of air. My scream could probably have been heard by the man in the moon as I plunged to the ground. I was going to die. I didn't know how far the height had to be for someone to die from impact, but I'm guessing four/five stories would be enough.

I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

But it never comes...

Instead of landing on the ground in a pool of blood and cracked bones, I land on something soft. I can register enough to know that it's fur but haven't collected my thoughts enough yet to register whose. For a moment, I think Felix had actually come to save me but when I dazedly look up I see the majesty standing in front of me, looking like a scared puppy. I slowly turn my head, seeing an unfamiliar wolf's head looking at my pack.

O shit...

I slowly slip off of the wolf's back, my bottom ribs and stomach hurting from where I had made impact on the body. The drop is far, the wolf about the size of a mountain lion. I scramble away from him, hitting the back of my head on a tree. In front of me is a black wolf, the fur so dark it almost appears blue. He is from the Hellwood pack, he has to be. I slowly get up, my limbs shaking. I have to get to my own pack.

But before I could even move an inch, the Hellwood-wolf's head snaps to me. He lets out a growl, making me fall back onto the ground. The wolf continues to glare at me, sucking my soul with his storm-like eyes. I'm so going to die. I'll be a nice little snack for him before he kills the rest of my pack.

"She's... she's... she's part of our pack" I hear a squeaky voice. The wolf's head turns towards human-Felix. He is wearing his shorts, knowing that showing his privates would be a sign of even more disrespect. The wolf in front of me lets out another growl, this one aimed at my fearless leader. The wolf jogs into the woods and I slowly get up again.

"Lily, come on!" Felix says, the nicknames and jokes over. I nod, quickly moving my way towards him. But just before I reach him, a hand clasps around my wrist. I can smell peppermint, the warmth of a body enclosing me in a cocoon. A cocoon of fear.

"Where do you think you're going?" I hear a voice beside me. It sounds harsh yet makes my heart skip a beat. I can't deny that this murdered has a beautiful voice.

"To... to my pack" I say, the words barely audible.

"I don't think so" I hear him say, "You crossed the territory"

"She didn't mean to" Felix says, stepping forward to try and get me.

"One more step and you'll belong here too boy" the man says. Felix retracts his step.

"I'm hardly in your territory" I try but know it's no use. The grip on my wrist tightens and I know I'll bruise.

"Too bad, you're mine now"

"Please" I try to beg, still not having looked at my captures face.

I hear him chuckle and then I'm pushed onto a rock-hard body. His warmth seeps into my skin, making me feel a lot calmer than I should me.

"You'll have to try a lot harder than that" he says, wrapping his arm around my neck and placing his hand on my hip. I want to shake it off but scared he'll become even more unstable.

"Please dude, she's not even a wolf" I hear Felix say. I glance over at him, glaring.

Yeah thanks moron... let them know I'm even more fragile.

"She sure smells like one" the man says and his fingers twirls a strand of hair around them, the sensation making my legs feel like jelly. Thought that also might just be out of fear.

"She's part of our pack, she's not a shifter, please – just... she made a mistake" Felix said. For a moment it actually sounded like he wanted me in the pack.

"Tell your pack to be more careful with their kind" the man said, tightening his grip on my hip.

"Please" I said, feeling a tear slip out of my eyelids.

"You'll be a lot more convincing if you'd look at me sweetheart"

I slowly turned, his hand moving to my other hip but his arm that was around my neck, fell to his side. My mouth dries when my eyes actually land on his face. Damn, my murderer is hot. With a head of black hair and a jaw line so sharp it would probably cut glass, I was in awe. Those stormy eyes starred into mine, a smirk portrayed on his perfect lips. His skin was tanned, as if he spent most of his time outside – killing territory passers – and he had a light stubble lining that perfect jaw.

"Name's Chase, never come into my territory again" he says and I'm suddenly pushed backwards.

I land on my bum again, knowing that it will join the parts of me that will become blue. I scramble up, rushing towards Felix. For the first time in our lives, he wraps an arm around my waist, comforting me.

"If I see any of you close to the border again – I will end you!" Chase warns. He glances at me for a second, giving me a wink before disappearing into the woods. When he's gone I nestle my head into Felix's shoulder, tears leaking out of my eyes.

"It's okay, it's okay Lily" I hear him say, brushing my hair with my fingers. He slowly lets go of me, "Come on, we have to get back to the pack"

I turned my gaze away as Felix undressed and shifted. The pack started to move again, leaving me to walk home. Thanks Felix... asshole.

I sighed once again, getting ready to trudge the whole night. I wouldn't be able to use the trees, too shaken up from what had just happened.

"You know they're really stupid to just leave you behind like that"

I whipped around, seeing Chase standing there, the same smirk on his face. He moved towards me, me reacting by taking slow step backwards. Again, my head hits a tree. I swear I was going to get a concussion if this tree knocking didn't stop.

"Guess... guess so" I said, my voice too pitchy for my liking.

"I mean, you're a human who kind of belongs to my pack now. Since you know, you crossed" he said, still advancing towards me.

"But... but by crossing the boundary wouldn't you belong... belong to ours then?" I said as he reached. His heavy body rested on mine, letting me feel his heartbeat. His was slow and steady. Mine was probably going on like a bee who had gotten his honey stolen.

"You're observant. But it only counts if I was caught"

"But you were caught" I said as his hand twirled a strand of my hair once again.

"By who?" he said, putting the strand behind my ear.

"M-me" I said, trying to sound brave. I never sounded brave. Not even when I was.

"Yet, you're not going to be able to tell anyone" he smiled.

"Why... why not?"

"Because you're mine now" he smiled, the words coming out as nonchalant as the others. My eyes widened, me trying to get him off of me. I should scream again, it would work. It just has to.

I opened my mouth, ready to let out something that would make every horror-movie-actress proud but before I could my mouth was assaulted by his.

I tried pushing him off but o damn, this man knew how to kiss someone. His lips left sparks to erupt on my mouth, my heart raising. I slowly closed my eyes, kissing him back. It felt glorious, every part of me tingling. Before I was ready, he leaned back.

"Sleep tight human" he said before I felt pressure in my neck. Before I could respond or do anything, everything faded into darkness. The last thing I saw were those grey orbs sucking away my life.

I wake up feeling my head throbbing. Well my head and everything else. Stupid Felix, stupid Hellwood pack and stupid, STUPID Chase. I sit up right, looking around. I'm in a small room, resting on a bed with white covers. The room has scarce furniture: just a side table, a cupboard that looked like it would struggle to fit a pair of socks in and the bed. There were two doors. One of them had to be an escape route. I climbed out of the bed, ignoring the throbbing pain that filled my body and rushed to one of the doors. It opened to a bathroom.

Groaning I headed to the other door but it was locked.

"Come on!" I groaned, trying to pull and push like my life depended on it. Which it actually did. The door finally gave way, making me overly excited.

"What exactly are you doing?" Chase chuckled. I reversed, stumbling over my feet. Seriously, my butt is probably black by now.

"I was... I was... I was trying to..." I said, trying to think of something that wouldn't make me end up dead.

"Trying to escape?" he laughed, walking towards me.

"N... no" I said as he came to stand in front of me. He grasped my arm, pulling me up.

"Sure you weren't" he laughed, stretching out the first word.

"What do you want from me?"

"Haven't decided yet" he grinned. He placed his other hand around my arm, lifting me up as if I weighed nothing. Which to him, I probably felt like a feather.

"Let me go" I said, glaring at him.

He placed me onto the bed, petting my head to my complete annoyance.

"Stay" he said, putting so much force into that word, it made me actually think of complying with his demand.

I nodded slowly, making him smile once more.

"Humans are so easy" he chuckled, making me scowl.

"Go get yourself cleaned up" he said, heading over to the cupboard.

"Why?" I said, slowly getting off of the bed.

"You have to go meet the alpha"

My blood turned cold when he uttered those words.

"Wha – what?"

"You have to go meet the alpha" he repeated, turning around. He held up a t-shirt that looked like I'd drown at it and threw it at me, "Wear this" he said, throwing it at me.

"Why do I... do I have to meet the alpha?" I stuttered, clasping onto the shirt as if it would somehow protect me.

"Because you're a prisoner?"

I took a deep breath, trying not to start crying. So it was official, I was a prisoner. A captive. Soon to be dead.

"Come on, get dressed" he sighed.

"Why can't I just stay in what I'm wearing?" I asked, knowing that the shirt would feel like I was wearing a tent. The same smirks appear as before and he folds his arms, "You sure you want to?"

"Yes of course, it's my..." as I glance down I realise I'm in my underwear. My freaking underwear!

"What the hell!?" I yell, trying to cover my body with my arms, "Where's, where's my dress!?"

He shrugged, making my blood boil, "Where's my clothes!?" I snapped.

"Left it at the boundary" he answered, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Why!?"

"It was dirty and carried your pack's scent" he said, "Now get dressed or do you want to meet the pack in your underwear?"

I shook my head, quickly getting clothed. It slipped off my shoulders and came mid-thigh but was better than nothing. I look up, seeing Chase staring at me.

"What?" I frown, not liking the way he looked at me. He walked towards me, making me go sit on the bed to move further away from me. Clasping me around the waist, I'm thrown over his shoulder.

"Let me go!" I screamed, kicking nothing but air.

"Calm down human" he chuckled, the nickname getting on my nerve. I could deal with squirrel girl, Kiddo and various other names, none of which ever linked to the idea of me not being able to shift. I stopped kicking, folding my arms in anger.

I was placed on the basin of the bathroom. Still with my arms folded, I turn my face away from him. I swear I look like a toddler throwing a silent tantrum but at the moment I don't care.

"Hey, what's going on?" Chase asks, trying to catch my gaze. I close my eyes, emphasising the toddler-tantrum.

"Human?" he tries, probably not knowing my name.

I jump off of the basin, moving past him to the open door.

"Hey! Come on, what's going on?" he tries, going to go stand in front of the door.

This is silly, all so silly...

I try to get past him but he clasps both hands on my shoulders, leaning down so he looks me in the eyes, he inspect me as if I'm a piece of art.

"What did I do? I mean, I understand I undressed you and took you away from your pack but you still talked to me then. Why are you like this now?"

I try to let him go of me but he doesn't budge.

"Only way you're getting out of this is if you talk to me" he says. When I don't respond, he does the same thing he had done in the woods. His lips touch mine, making my eyes go wide. Slowly I close them, embracing the kiss as if it was a drug. His lips are soft, beautifully sculpted to match mine. Before I realise that I'm actually supposed to push him away, he leans back once more, a smirk on his face.

I probably look like a deer in headlights.

"Are you going to talk now?" he asks, grinning. I only stare at him, making his smile widen. Quickly changing my facial expression to a scowl I shake my head. Chase groans, irritation portrayed in his eyes, "Fine, if you're not going to talk" he said, lifting me up like he did before – by the arms. He places me back on the sink, staying as close to me like he always does. This guy clearly doesn't know anything about personal space, "Clean yourself up. Try and look presentable" he says, "There's a brush in the cupboard along with a dental things and whatever else you'll need" he says.

He moves away from me, heading to the door. It is closed, me starring at it as I hear the familiar click of a lock.

O no... rushing towards it, I try and push and pull but nope, I'm locked in a bathroom.

From all the things, I'm locked in a bathroom. I look at the surrounding. The bathroom is almost as big as my room and contains all the essentials: toilet, shower, actually a bathtub, basin and a window.

A window!

I rush towards it, excitement coursing through my veins. The thing easily opens, it probably too small for anyone else to get through.

And too high...

I was on the third floor of what looked like an actual mansion next to a bunch of trees. Trees, my safe haven. My way too escape.

I open the window higher, my eyes focused on the branch a foot away from me. I've jumped further than that. I wasn't called squirrel for nothing.

Once my feet reached the outside, I sucked in my freedom, clasping onto the branch.

Time to get back to where I belong.