The Assassin's Alpha Mate

18. The Little Old Lady in the Woods

Rae's POV

As I was being encouraged to walk, ok scrap that, dragged forcefully while kicking and screaming back the way I came, I noticed that Adrian's eyes were pure black. Cliched I know but I'm not kidding, I thought they were never ends pits of darkness (which sounds just as spooky at it really is).
I kept trying to bite Adrian as he carried me with my hands pinned behind my back. Soon we got close enough to the ceremony that I could here everyone talking very loudly, wondering what was going on.

An idea suddenly came to me: I could shift. Isn't that what wolves do best? And now seemed like a perfectly adequate time to do so. I could run, as I seemed to be going very fast earlier in my opinion, and then ran back to the academy, regroup and complete my mission.

So I started to sift and Adrian immediately out me down, not wanting to injure me or himself in the process. As soon as I was finished I bolted.

^Mate?^ asked Luna sounding heartbroken despite him being the one who's trying to force us into something ^Mate wouldn't force us to do anything silly human^
^Then what do you call being dragged unwillingly through a forest?!^ shouted Deca and for one I agreed.
^Mate didn't do that, he was helping us when Rae froze^
^Well how'd you know that? For all we know, he was so angry that he would have dragged us back to some creepy dungeon to punish us!!^
^Deca has a fair point. Where are we going anyway Rae?^ asked Fallow
^Somewhere, anywhere-^ I started
^The angel judge of balance has spoken - I'm right!^ celebrated Deca while dancing around with Luna mumbling lost words which sounded like 'mate?'. Poor her, she's the one who will be effected most by my decision.

As I was talking I didn't realise where I was. It looked like I was outside some little old cottage. I went up to the door and knocked. Now I may seem very stupid to go and knock on the door, especially with the whole Red Riding Hood knocking on a door and then getting eaten, but I think I'll take my chances. After all, it was either this or sleeping outside on a hard branch which I might fall of and die or getting caught by Adrian and his wolf which didn't seem like an appealing idea at all.

I waited for a while but no one answered. So I called out a knocked again.

Then, from inside, I heard a grumbly old voice say "Just coming, no need to blow your socks off."
Just as the door opened, the grumpy old voice said "If you're one of those delivery people who come along and tried to sell me stuff them so help me!" There stood an old lady who didn't look nearly as scary as she sounded from inside her house. She had long brown hair and matching brown eyes just like Adrian...wait stop. I ran away from him.
For some ridiculous reason, all of my creatures were silent. I got a calm feeling and so decided to trust her.

"You're not one of those young charity people are you?" She asked

"No, I don't think I am" I answered, slightly put off and starting to get the feeling that I wasn't very welcome as first had seemed.

"Well in that case, hello dear. My name is Lara, how can I help you?" Talk about a change in character. She must have a serious grudge against unwanted people knocking on her door.

"Hello Mrs Lara. I'm very sorry to disturb you but my name is Rae Moon and I'm a bit lost. I was wondering if you knew where we are?" I asked her.

"Just call me Lara dear. Do think I'd live in a place where I don't know where it is? Of course I know where we are but why don't you come in and we'll talk over a cup of tea?" Lara offered.