Falling for your Fate

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

The first sign I knew that we were close were the sounds of footfalls. Breadon must have increased the border patrols. I counted three wolves every ten minutes. It wouldn't be long now, and they would smell my scent. It would take mere minutes for Breadon to find me and then probably minutes after that I would find myself locked beneath the ground; trapped behind the same bars he used to hold me all those months ago. My heart began to race, and my hands became damp at just the thought of returning, but I couldn't turn back now. It was already too late. The footfalls had changed direction.

Before I could take another step, I was surrounded. Teeth bared and fur standing on end, the three male wolves circled me. Danny tensed on my back, and I gripped her hands that were wound around my neck, trying to give her some sense of comfort. They wouldn't hurt her; she was innocent. My guilt was well known, and the pack believed the worst of me no matter my intentions.

The Alpha is coming.

One of the wolves spoke, and to my surprise, the wolves seemed to relax. Their teeth were covered, and their pacing was less ferocious, but their eyes remained trained on me. Somehow, I didn't feel like a prisoner.

My confusion was short as four sets of heavy footfalls crashed through the surrounding woods until four familiar wolves stampeded through the thick trees. Instantly, my eyes fell on the brown wolf with the green eyes. Ignoring the menacing snarl emanating from the red furred wolf with the same green eyes. The twin wolves joined the other wolves in their protective circle, and I couldn't decide if they were there to stop me from running or to protect me. Was there a difference anymore?

Leora.

I felt his voice caress my consciousness, flooding my body with desperation and relief until my knees felt weak and my body was numb. Danny slipped in my hold until her feet were on the ground and her arms were wrapped tightly around my waist.

Breadon approached slowly, cautiously. The other wolves remained stoic, their eyes downcast as their Alpha moved closer causing Danny's body to tremble.

"Don't hurt her," I blurted, anxious with the shrinking space between us. After all that I had done to escape with Danny, I wasn't about to allow her to be hurt by Breadon and his pack. No matter how much I needed them, I wasn't going to let them hurt the very children I wanted them to protect.

The wolf jerked at my hoarse and broken voice, his paws stopping dead against the forest debris. The snarl I had been expecting never came, but I clung tighter to Danny and glanced at the other wolves to ensure none of them were trying to sneak up on me while I was distracted by the pull of my mate. I wouldn't succumb to the nature of our bond.

No one will be hurt today, Leora.

At his words, I felt my brow furrow. His words were lacking the anger and betrayal I had been expecting, but I was afraid it was just a ruse. A ploy to lull me into a sense of safety. One that had died the day I had seen the doubt in his eyes. The day he had found out the truth.

"I know you want to lock me away, Breadon," I began, my eyes darting across the faces of the wolves before they found his familiar green ones again. "I am resigned to go willingly if you agree to hear me out."

Leora-

"No Breadon, I know," I implored, stepping forward and jostling Danny at my side. "I know where they are. I know who has them."

We can talk about this later.

"No, I want you to promise to help them. You...you have to help them." I pleaded, desperation pricking at the backs of my eyes as I took another step closer. His green eyes, even in his wolf form, were almost level with mine. I knew how intimidating he could be, but faced with him now I found new resolve. I needed him to work with me to defeat the man who called himself my father.