His Luna, Their Alpha

10. Away

The run was relatively easy in theory. However, despite my fit build, the trek to my hiding place was no easy task due to the fresh wound at my side.

I'm pretty sure only two people knew about this spot apart from myself and they were my betas. When we were little, we used to think it was cool to come up here and camp by ourselves. This place held some good memories.

I was in a place between Timber and Broken Hill. The mountains provided a picturesque escape with an array of resources to choose from. I could easily stay up here for weeks with no problem.

After arriving on the mountain top, my side and ribs were positively killing me. Rather than setting camp, I found a good tree and climbed. The branches were wide enough and curved at the perfect angle as to be a good resting place, hidden from anyone who didn't know the spot was already here.

I dozed easily into a restless sleep. Images of Erik's pack fighters strewn carelessly across the ground and of Kurt's almost lifeless body on the grounds filled my dreams. Nightmares, rather, terrorized my attempt at rest.

I woke fitfully to a new light. I had slept through the night. Bits of rising sun smiled through the green leaves. The tree was just beginning to turn colors as fall began to steal away summer's days. A few yawns latter, I was on the ground and sniffing the air. I knew the elixir must have worn off by now so I would have to be careful.

My growling stomach was urging me to search for food, but I wasn't really in the mood for food. Eventually instinct won over emotion and I was forced to find food. I easily found a plump squirrel meandering around the base of my sleeping tree. Not my favorite but it would do.

I quickly gathered kindling and fire wood to cook my breakfast. My mind wandered away from me as I robotically made the fire and began my roast. I knew I couldn't stay on the mountain forever. Olly and Josh would eventually find me and go tell Erik where I was. Or even worse, they would tell my dad which would be even worse.

Maybe I could go visit some of my alpha friends. No. I can't put their packs in danger as well. I could go rouge, but it seems as if I am not on the best terms with a good portion of them. Or Kurt is paying them to do his dirty work. Either way they would kill me. Maybe the mountain would be a good hideout for a while.

After eating the tough squirrel, I snuffed out the fire and found myself at the stream where Josh, Olly and I used to play when we came up here. We used to tell our parents that we were running away and never coming back, but whenever the sun began to set, our trio would run back to Timber, scared of the monsters hiding in the dark.

It's funny. Now I'm running back here to hide from monsters in the light. Did that make me a coward? I mean, I wasn't afraid to fight him or his army of rouges. Even if I had to do it myself. I was here because I was trying to protect the people that were important to myself.

I rinsed my body in the stream, avoiding the stiches at my side. I would have to remove those eventually and I wasn't really looking forward to that chore. The water felt good on my clammy skin and seemed to help me clear my thoughts. The crisp mountain air and careless atmosphere that enveloped me up here was calming.

I was easily able to go back to my tree and sleep for another few hours. This time, I dreamt a little more peacefully. I was home in Timber, playing the piano. My life seemed normal and the ivory under my fingers seemed almost real. Then I opened my eyes and I was still in a tree staring at the sky through the branches and leaves of a maple tree.

I let out a sigh as I remembered the reality that was around me. The rough bark against my back, the light breeze. The sounds of the woods. Wait.

Where are the sounds of the forest? It's too quiet. I jumped down from my branch, quickly observing the area.