Broken Loyalty

Eleven

Fear consumed her. With every step she took she could feel the rapid beating of her heart increase. Her feet pounded against the ground and she was sure that Lucas would catch up to her at any moment. The sound of an angry howl in the far distance made her blood run cold and her forward momentum faltered. She knew she couldn't let him catch her.

Run Grace! She mentally scolded herself.

Pumping her legs faster she cursed the fates. Females could no longer transform without first completing the mating bond. Human speed against that of a male wolf? She knew she was on the losing end.

Grace could feel the burning in her side and her body was screaming at her to stop running, but she refused to submit to it. Escape was her only option and she was taking it.

Bursting through the tree she found herself standing on a road. A smile lit her face a she realized it was the same road she traveled to reach Lucas' pack lands. Turning left she bolted, finding renewed stanima.

She kept up a steady chant of 'I'll be home soon', but that soon faltered. Her brother's pack would be the first place he looked. Tears slowly leaked from her eyes when she realized the amount of danger she would be putting her family in, she couldn't do that.

Hands on her knees she bent over trying to catch her breath. Her muscles were screaming at her to just lay down and rest. Sweat beaded on her forehead and rolled down her back. Another howl in the distance caused her breath to catch in her throat.

Day slowly turned to night and Grace felt as if she we going to be sick. Her stomach growled and her mouth was completely dry, reminding her exactly how long she had been runing.

Grace had to change her course multiple times. Lucas had set up road blocks and she knew she stood no chance up against multiple wolves, especially if they knew exactly which direction she was going.

Terror began to fill her. What would Lucas do to her if he were to catch her? She knew running was a stupid idea, but what else could she do? Being stuck with Lucas for the rest of her life wasn't something she was happy with. Sharing her mate with others wasn't her idea of a happily ever after.

A pain in her foot caused her to cry out as she dropped to the ground. Gripping her ankle she watched as it began to swell before her eyes. Groaning she flopped backwards. What was she going to do now? Her body ached all over, she muscles were refusing to want to work anymore and now she had a messed up ankle.

Staring up into the sky she tried to figure out exactly who she angered so much to cause this to be her future.

What would her life actually be like if she were to be with a man that actually loved her? A man that cared about the way she felt, one that wouldn't cause her pain? She sighed, what would it be like to have a mate the was faithful to her?

She would never have that though. Her happy future was ripped away before it had even began. Maybe it was a good thing she had never experienced love. She laughed, maybe she should have just slept with some random male. A union between Lucas and herself never would have happened then. Although, he brother would have strung her up.

Snapping twigs in the distance had her bolting up from her position. She glanced around the darkness that was slowly creeping in and only just realized the lack of noise. There were no crickets chirping, no animals scurrying, and it even seemed as if the wind was holding its breath.

Looking around the darkness she felt her body go rigid when she spotted a pair of glowing eyes in the distance. Taking two steps back she turned and ran, gritting her teeth against the pain in her foot.

She had to get away, but she also just wanted to get away. She could hear the sounds of paws beating against the ground, catching up to her. She knew she should just give up, what was the point? Lucas had finally caught up to her. Her life was over.

Not three steps later and she was tackled down onto the ground, a startled cry leaving her lips. Pulling herself into the fetal position, she made to protect her body from any harm he may cause.

The low growl coming from the wolf before her made her body shake in fear. What was Lucas going to do? With her being his mate, it was well within his rights to punish her as he saw fit. Lucas could even go as far as ending her life for running and no one would bat an eye.

The growling got louder and she could tell the wolf was approaching her. What the hell was he doing? Why was he stalling? A quick easy death is what she was wishing for right now but she knew he wouldn't give it to her. He wanted his heir, and the fact of the matter was the he claimed her. His wolf wouldn't want to procreate with any other she-wolf. Grace was it.

Maybe she should give in? He did say that he would allow her to return home after she gave him son. Could she do it though? Could she leave her son with him and never see him again?

Pressing her face against the ground she let out a low breath. It was one child, and if she got lucky she would conceive after the first time. Lady luck was on her side for this, the first born of an Alpha was always a male. A son born first was nature's way of making sure a strong bloodline prevailed.

The wolf stopped feet infront of her and she mustard up the courage to finally look Lucas' wolf in the eye. What she saw cause panic to rise and a loud scream to leave her lips.

Scrambling backwards she watched as the snarling wolf crouched down as if it were about to attack it's prey. Whatever her future was, she definitely didn't think it would be ending up torn apart. The wolf was much smaller than an Alpha but could still rip her to shreds none the less.

Swallowing hard she did something she never thought she would ever do. She screamed for her mate.