The Unwanted Mate: The Bond

Chapter 16:

Hannah POV:
I turn off the water and step out of the shower. Ever since I decided to run yesterday I have been trying to come up with a plan. But right now it doesn't seem to be an easy task. I'm far away, I don't know how to get home, I have no powers, I have no way of contacting my coven because I don't have a phone, I don't know any phone numbers and then there is the fact that the woods are full of wolfs with extraordinary hearing and speed. So I need a good plan.

Tonight is the Lunas birthday celebration and everyone is going to be gathering at the pack house. It could be my chance to escape. Run while they are all at the party having fun. I could run through the forest until I find a village or something but what if I end up in another wolf pack? At least at this one I'm safe as long as i play along and pretend to believe their kindness. But I could end up in a human village, and from there I could maybe find someone that would help me. But then, why would they spend time on someone like me. But what if I could fine some way to get back on that plane? Someone must know where it is!

For the party I have decided to wear one of the dresses Nelly has bought me, so hopefully she thinks that I'm believing that she is my friend.

I wrap the towel around my hair and put on the bathrobe I've been using the past few days since I arrived at the house. It's been little over a week since we left my village and I have to admit that the showers and the food I will miss. Marc got me another big plate of food yesterday for dinner and Nelly brought sandwiches to the training field for lunch. So yesterday I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can't recall ever eating so much food in one day. My stomach actually hurt a bit when I went to sleep.

I slept on the bathroom floor again. I'm starting to get used to the hard and cold floor. The bed looks amazing but I simply can't risk anything.

There's three dresses. A long black one with dark see through fabric at the sleeves and above the breast area. It covers me completely without being boring. It has a slim fit and suits we well. There is a red knee length dress with short sleeves. The skirt is a bit puffy and hides my skinny hips pretty well. But it has a v-neck and is showing a bit too much cleavage for my liking. The last dress is an olive silk dress. It has spaghetti straps but is floor length and has a loose fit that I really like. It hides my body well, but the small straps and low cut show too much of my skin. So I decided on the black one.

The party is 5 hours away. Nelly came by with breakfast this morning, and she talked about the party non stop. Clearly she is very excited about it. I haven't heard Marc talking about it at all. Maybe he doesn't enjoy parties either. Nelly said she bought his clothes so I know he's attending.

Nelly left an hour ago and Marc has barely been at the house since we left for the training fields yesterday morning. I saw him shortly at dinner yesterday, but after he dropped me off at the house, I haven't seen him. I'm not even sure he slept here. Maybe he slept at Kendal's house. Nelly said that he is helping Joanna go through something today. I don't really know what his job is, so I guess I can't tell if it is out of the ordinary for him to spend so much time away from home.

With 5 hours to kill alone I decided to take a walk in the woods. I could use some fresh air to clear my head and hopefully I can come up with a plan for my escape. I put on my white dress not wanting to ruin the new black dress from Nelly. I braid my hair and put on my new shoes from Marc. It is a pair of boots in a dusty rose. They are absolutely beautiful and so comfortable. I never owned a pair of shoes like these. A brand new pair of shoes. I tie the shoelaces and put on the hoodie Marc gave me a few days ago, zipping it up as I walk out the door. It still smells like him and a warm feeling burst out in my stomach as I burry my face in the hoodie.

There is a mild breeze whistling through the treetops making the leaves dance in the sky. I close my eyes and feel the wind brush carefully against my face. I feel my body relax as the element surround my body, making me one with nature for a brief moment. I kneel down into the moss and run my fingers through it. It feels soft against my fingertips. I inhale the fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun coming through the small clearing in between the treetops. Nature always has a way of calming me down. I can hear the birds chirps and when I listen carefully I can hear the sound of my own heart beating.

After a while I still haven't come up with anything. I know three things for sure; (1) I have to leave, (2) I know there are wolfs in the woods but that most of them will probably be at the Lunas birthday party and (3) I know I will die if I stay. So I rather die trying to escape than sitting around waiting for my death.

I open my eyes and to my surprise the black wolf is sitting 20 feet away from me. I must have been so focused that I didn't even hear him approach. His eyes sparkle and he looks like he is deep in thought.

I stay seated on the ground and for a moment we just stare into each other's eyes. The same calmness I experience when I'm contact with nature, I feel when I look into his eyes. I wonder what he's thinking. Does he know that I want to see him? Can he feel that I actually enjoy his company?

"Hello" I break the silence. "Did you come out for a breath of fresh air as well?"

He nods. His eyes seem a little darker now. As if I awakened him by speaking. Before I can say anything else the sky rips open and a loud thunderclap rumble through the forest and water starts pouring down from the sky. The wolf runs to me and nudges me with his nose. I get up on my feet and look around for a place to seek cover. He starts running in a slow pace allowing me to keep up with him.

He leads us to a small cave not far away. The cave is located inside a small hill. It's not very big but it's enough to keep us out of the rain and safe from the thunder. I can't see any lightning, and hopefully it will stay that way.

The thunder doesn't scare me. Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with, but she is also a beauty without an equal. The amazing things she can do! Witches has always had a special bond with nature. It's where we get our powers, it's where we get what we need for potions and spells and it is where our spirits go when we die. We get bound to the place we die, renewing the energy in the ground we are buried in. It is the circle of life. We draw energy from the nature and when we die we give it back.

The hoodie and my dress is soaked. The wolf shakes his fur and then he nudges me further inside before he lies down. He makes a sound and moves his head as if telling me to lie down as well. "You want me to lie down?" I ask not sure what is going on. The cold clothing is making me shiver and I feel my teeth staring to chatter. He nods and leans a little backwards so that his fluffy stomach is showing. It looks so warm and cozy. I lie down a few feet away from him, but he close the distance between us and his soft fur surrounds me. I almost expect the panic attack to consume me. But it doesn't. My ear is pressed against his chest and I can hear the calming sound of his heartbeat.

But suddenly it hits me. What if he shifts back to his human form? Lying so close to him could give him the wrong idea. But something inside me is telling me that I am safe. But how can I be? I don't know this wolf? And even if I did, he is an wolf! He can't be trusted! So why do I? Why do I trust him when every logical thing would be to fear him?

A soft whimper sounds from him and he lift his big head and look at me. "Why am I not afraid of you?" I whisper, not completely sure if the question is for him or myself. He stare into my eyes and then put his head down again, this time he place his head as close to mine as he can.

We lie in the cave for a while until the rain starts to become a small dripping. I know I have to go back to the house but I don't want to leave. Because when I do, reality will set in, and I'm back to planing my escape.