Werewolf Charming

Chapter 20

Kalia's P.O.V

     Did I really just turn him away like that? I’m screaming in my head. I mean seriously, Max has done so much for me. Even after the incident with River. He reassured me that nothing’s changed between us.
     But I can feel something physically changing inside me. I’ve heard it said that when werewolves conceive they can feel changes happening to their bodies just mere seconds after being intimate. And this is why I practically panicked shortly after being re-marked. Would Max even understand? This turned into something bigger than just us being mates. This whole issue and situation with River just took the darkest turn and all I want to do now is run away.
     I begin packing up the bear essentials, falling deeper and deeper into the idea that Max would never forgive me for conceiving another wolf’s pup, whether it was against my will or not.
     “Kalia!” I hear Courtney gasp and I freeze in place.
     “What do you want?” I ask, trying not to be too harsh with my friend.
     “We came to check on you, only to find that your… packing? Are you going somewhere?” Courtney asks and I turn to see Collin with her. River is there too except he’s in handcuffs. I glance in his direction and he gives me the most devious smirk that makes me want to slap him across his face. I refrain from doing so, seen as how I have other guests.
     “I have to go” I say and grab the stuff I had packed into a bag and immediately head downstairs. I don’t know where I’m gonna go but I need to get out of here and quick. I pack some of the day-old bread before leaving the bakery for good. When I’m not in view of my friend and her mate I run to the woods. I make sure I’m headed in the opposite direction of the castle so I don’t wind up running into Max or anyone on the royal guard.
     I run until I’m a good ways away from the village and positive that I wasn’t followed. I slow my pace to a walk instead of a run, wanting to conserve as much energy as I can. I travel day and night only stopping to eat and freshen up. I travel for about a week and a half before finally passing out on the side of a dirt road. I’m beyond exhausted and I refuse to move any further. When I wake up I find myself in the back of a horse drawn cart.
     “Finally awake miss,” a voice says from the front of the cart. “Friends call me Brantly.” 
     “I’m… Aspen” I don’t use my real name in case Max has people looking for me. “Where are we going?”
     “We’re heading to Riverspeak,” Brantly says, naming a small town on the border of Naspa and Birchstone.
     “I never realized how big the kingdom of Ellington really was before now.” I comment and Brantly laughs.