Kitten In A Pack

Chapter 18 ✔️

Raylina

Standing on the tips of my toes I look over the heads of those who stayed behind to offer their help. The crowd had migrated outside to the front of the estate where the forest stayed eerily silent. "You are trespassing on my territory. What is your business here!" Josh shouts in the direction of the trees asserting his dominance of the territory. Something about his tone fills me with unease. 

"We're looking for someone." A tall figure emerges from the trees flanked by a Snow-leopard on his left and the Cheetah from earlier. "They are part of my pride, and they've been a miss for... Sometime now." I can't see the leaders face behind all the heads, but as I look around I spot several more of them lurking behind in the trees.

The Alpha says nothing for a moment, and I start moving closer toward the front wanting to get a better look. "We're a wolf pack, not a bunch cats. Why do you think they'd be here?"

As I make my way a few more rows towards the front someone puts their hand on my should. Looking back I glare at whom ever has their hand on my shoulder only to see a confused Zach. I hiss lowly at him and he raises his hands in surrender and starts walking away.

"One of my own spotted her. We know she's here. We won't leave without her." Slinking a few rows from the front I'm finally able to see the leader of the pride.

"Why is that? Is she a traitor? Don't the laws for-bey all from taking a member of another's pack or pride against their will without a subpoena?" As the Alpha speaks I don't hear much as my stomach starts boiling with fright.

"What makes you think I don't have one?" Looking back, a plan forming in my head I spot Zach. "Zach!" I call him as loudly as I dare to. Luckily he turns back hearing me. I quickly make my way to him, as he Throws his hands back in surrender again.

"What did I do this time?" Despite the situation we're in I can't help but give a short laugh at his response.

"I need your help." I look back up to where the Alpha is and send a silent apologize to him. "I know them, and they're after me. I have no idea why, but can't trust him."

As Zach listens to my rezoning his face mocks confusion. "Why do you need my help?"

"Because I need a distraction, and I know you can create one."

"What's in it for me?" Zach folds his arms and I have to fight the temptation to Slap him.

"Just..! Help me." With a reluctant sigh he agrees and trudge off towards the front of the crowd.

I start to follow him until I realize he's creating the distraction. Smiling softly, I turn around and glide through the crowd towards the back. He doesn't know who I am, and yet he's still going out of his way to help me and for that, I owe him one. Reaching the back-ends of the crowd I walk slowly over to the left end of the crowd hoping to get a better view of the consolation happening just up ahead.

"Just let us have the girl and we'll be on our way" Listening more to the bickering again I grow annoyed hearing me being called 'girl' rather than my name. He knows my name.

"Who is this 'girl' you speak of. Does she have a name?" My focus snaps off of Zach's form heading towards the front, and over to the sound of someone chuckling. Chase.

"The girls name is Raylinally (Ray-lee-nall-lee), but I'm not sure if she uses it much now." The man grimaces as he says my name, and my eyes snap to him once again. I take a few steps toward the front, anger gripping at me, but why? He's my father, and yet the sight of him sends me into panic, and when he speak my name I'm enraged.

Lost in my own thoughts, my gaze slowly shifts over to where Chase... was. My mind suddenly clears from it's haze, all my focus bouncing around in my head looking for where he went. I lift onto the tips of my toes looking over the crowd of heads, wrong move. I duck down dropping to my knees.

"RAY!" I hear her voice over my own panic. Bolting upright I see her looking straight at me, tears in her eyes. Smiling softly, a strange feeling of relief washes over me for a moment. Then my eyes snap back to see Chase nearing me. Veering to the left I sprint through the throng of people until I out. From the open I can be seen, so I quicken my speed as I race through the clearing and continue rushing. My pace slows once I'm submerged in the forest, however I never stop my scampering. It's called fleeing for a reason.

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