Run towards the moon

Chapter 1

It must have been around 8 p.m. when Alia was spotted. She had spent the last two days running like a mad wolf in this never ending forest. She only stopped to drink a bit before bolting again towards the horizon. Towards anywhere as long as she wouldn't meet any male on the way. 

A few days before, she had been drafted to take part in her first annual mating ceremony. She had just turned 18 and, as such, was considered 'ready to be mated'. Ready to find her forever partner and to leave everything behind to go live with him and create a family. Most of the werewolf community considered this tradition to be romantic and acceped it. But even if they didn't, it didn't matter. Because it was the law. 

All those who tried to avoid the ceremony were labelled criminals and paid a heavy price for not submitting to their king's will. The werewolf's world was beautiful, but in no way was it tender.

Alia had no choice but to participate. The ceremony lasted three days and started as soon as the night sky covered the forest on the first day. All Alia had to do was to stay unmarked until the third sunset. Once the fourth moon rise, she would be free to go home. This nightmare would be over. She had worked very hard to achieve that goal. In fact, she was almost there. The sky had already turned dark yellow and she knew that in 30 minutes or so, she would bathe in the moonlight. 

Nonetheless, she couldn't let her guard down. Somoene was chasing her. She knew it. She couldn't see him but she sensed the danger coming from behind her. He was a very skilled and persistent wolf, that much she knew. Somehow, he always managed to track her down. Alia had spent the last two days trying to make him lose her trail. She had covered herself in mud and in poop in order to mask her scent. She had created false tracks to make him lose time. She had climbed up oaks, sycamores and pines and moved around like a squirrel for two hours so that she wouldn't leave any footprints on the ground. And the guy still didn't take the hint ?! 

"He is so annoying !", she thought as she ran east. 

After a few minutes, she noticed she was running right towards an enormous dandelions field. She wondered if she should skirt it. Leaving the forest seemed like an unwise decision, an open field like that was the perfect spot for an ambush. It wasn't the time to make reckless choices. Alia was about to leave when she caught a very unfamiliar and pleasant scent. It vaguely smelled like oakwood and came from her left side. She turned around and for the first time since the end of the first day, she froze in her tracks. There, up the hill, was an enormous, magnificent grey wolf. He must have been at least 700 meters away from her, but she could still see him clearly. He was twice her size. 

He seemed to be lost in thoughts, his muzzle up in the air and his eyes closed. He wasn't moving much. 

"Did he ... not notice me yet ?"

A new rush of adrenaline ran through her veins. 

"He has the wind at his back ! He can't smell me. I need to go before_". 

Suddenly, the grey wolf's eyes flashed open, revealing a pair of shining yellow irises. He turned his head in Alia's direction, making the girl flinch. Her blood ran cold as the two stared at each other. The male had the most surprised look Alia had ever seen, on his face. He couldn't believe it. His tail started wagging against its will, his ears perked up, and his mouth formed an unnatural crooked smile. From where she stood, all Alia could focus on was his big, sharp teeth. They looked made for tearing flesh apart. 

"No . My neck ... My goal ...". Panic and despair were taking the best of her. There was no way she could win if she were to confront him face to face. 

"Leave ! Alia Maxwell, why do you keep standing there ?"

"There you are !"

A joyfull voice interrupted her train of thoughts. The male was talking to her, transmitting his words directly to her mind, and he sounded incredibly happy. 

"I really thought I had lost you this time. But I'm so glad I didn't ! I have so much things to say to yo_ Aaaand you're gone".

Alia didn't wait for him to finish. She bolted through the dandelions field, not caring about a possible ambush anymore. This wolf was a far greater threat. She could hear him descend down the slope, his paws beating the ground as he started sprinting towards her. She forced herself to keep looking forward. 

"He mindlinked with me ? But how ? Only the most powerful alphas are able to create a mindlink with a wolf of another clan. Who the hell is he ?"

"Wait ! Where are you going ?"

Alia didn't have the time or the energy to respond. She needed to get as far away from him and the remaning daylight as possible. She was running towards the East. If she could reach the moonlit sky, she would win and he would have to give up.

"Stop please, I just want to talk". He mindlinked with a pleading voice.

"Liar !", Alia screamed internally without realising the male was now close enough to hear her. 

"Aww, you caught me. My name is Sion by the way. What's yours?"

"..."

"... Oh well. We will have all the time in the world to know each other once we are mated. Could you stop running now ? It's useless, you know ?"

Sion's voice had become much more serious. It resonnated inside Alia's head. 

"You have done enough. It's ok now, you can stop. Don't you want to rest ? Aren't you tired from all this ? I promise I don't want to do anything bad to you. I want to protect you. I can give you everything you desire. You can end all this if you just stop running away..."

Alia could feel her resolve slightly falter. She could almost feel his hot breath on her tail. Tears began to form around her eyes. 

As she jumped over a fallen tree, she quickly looked behind her. Sion was very close, his yellow irises were diluted and shining even brighter than before. His mouth was open and his claws out. His appearance didn't match with his speech at all. He looked like a rabid beast and Alia was certain that if she were to stop now, he would pounce and mark her on the spot. 

"You know, I have never felt like this about a female before. My father's beta once told me that some wolfs were fated. That it was as if that person was made for the_ Oh no".

All of a sudden, Sion's voice became alarmed.

"I know where we are, we heading right towards a ravine ! Miss, please stop ! If you keep going this fast you won't be able to slow down in time".

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"And then ? And then ? What happened?". Alia was seating on the bed with her niece, desperatly trying to put her to sleep. The little devil had more energy than her or her brother at the same age. Putting her to sleep was a real challenge.

"One day she might even make her mother cry", Alia thought.

"And then ? Hum ? Did the grey wolf catch you ?"

Alia sighed internally. "No, he didn't. I jumped the ravine and barely made it. That's how I escaped him". 

Her niece looked at her in awe, little stars twinkling in her eyes. 

"I have to tell you though, you should never jump to the other side of a ravine. Even if you somehow reach the other side, the fall will hurt like he_ a lot. Go to sleep now. Sweet dreams."

The little monster nodded her head fervently and pulled the covers. Alia stood up and walked towards the door when a little voice called for her. 

"Aunt, what happened to the male ? Did you meet him again after this ?"

Alia walked through the door and murmured as she was about to close it. 

"Yes I did. And unfortunately he didn't come back alone."