The Alpha's Mate

Chapter 17

Manon's POV

Five days.  

Five days of terrible, burning pain.  

I gathered myself by the river.  The water was still cold from winter and I tried to use it to cool myself down.  The first couple of days it worked, weakening the pain, but by the third day it did nothing, if anything making the pain worse.  

I haven't eaten in the past five days either, and I was starving.  

I gripped the sand of the river bed, crawling out of the river feeling drained.  Pulling myself out of the water, I walked to my clothes, brushing off the sand sticking to my knees.  It only made the skin a pinkish red color, the dampness of my skin clinging to the sand. 

I squinted at the sun. It was directly above me, signaling it was about noon.  I shifted into my wolf, picking up the clothes with my mouth.  If I were to sprint all the way home I could make it after sundown.  I ran about half the distance in a few hours before my heat started.  Now I was tired and hungry, and I wouldn't be that fast.

Running in the direction of my pack I weighed my options.  I figured Ronan was no longer a variable,  I was thirteen miles away for five days, if he was looking for me it wouldn't of been hard to find me.  I didn't want to wait another night out here, hiding from rogues in the water was hard enough and how I'm feeling now I wouldn't stand a chance fighting a pup.

I decided that if I were to come across an animal while running I would take it down, but otherwise my only option is to go home.  

*****

My legs felt like jello and my lungs were on the brink of collapsing, but I knew stopping wasn't an option, I could see the pack border and I could feel my mindlink starting to form again with my family and pack.  I ran through the trees, swerving and jumping over fallen logs.  

A sudden burst of energy filled me, excitement.  I passed the border and I felt a wave go through me.  My mindlink was fully back and my wolf was feeling the energy of being in a pack.  As I ran closer to the pack house and my house I passed a border patrol guard, who recognized me, laughing as I ran by.  

In what felt like an eternity later I reached the front steps, running through the open door into the bathroom.  Shouts were heard throughout the house and while I pulled on my clothes I could hear voices in the living room.  

I opened the door, tackled into a hug by Tera.  "You came for a visit!" She exclaimed and my smile faded.  My excitement and happiness were gone, soon replaced by sorrow.  

"No."  

Tera pulled herself off of me, her hands gripping mine.  "What do you mean?" She looked confused.  "Things didn't work out." I could feel myself tearing up again.

Tera wiped my face.  "What happened?" Her voice was soft and gentle.  "I don't want to talk about it." I gave her a soft smile.  "Okay?"