Being the daughter of the coldest, most ruthless alpha to be in power was not always pleasant. The surname 'Flowers' brought fear and terror wherever it was uttered. Her father took destruction with him wherever he went. With a father who despised t...
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FEELING THE FRIGID AIR SLAP MY skin felt surprisingly wonderful. My lungs burned, and I welcomed the pain. Running as fast I could was the only real taste I could get of being a wolf. My body automatically ducked under incoming tree branches reaching out, automatically jumped over rocks threatening to trip me up. The wind wiped away the sweat beads that threatened to fall into my eyes.
My heart hammered hard in my chest for two reasons. The first was because of the run itself. The second was for how far I'd gotten; I was almost nearing the territory's edge. I could just about see the river that was at the end of our territory, separating us from the small slither of neutral territory. I wanted to reach it – this time of day was the only time I had a real chance.
And then the chorus of howls began.
Internally cursing, I slowed to a stop. My legs screeched out in pain, but I kept myself upright. Hands on my hips as I breathed deeply in and out, catching what was left of my breath. Anyone else might have just walked to the edge of the territory, after all, there were no guards patrolling here yet. But I couldn't. It wasn't safe – the howls signified curfew: all mateless she-wolves and children were to be inside before the sun finished setting. My father had enforced it, in case the condemned lurked on the territory but we had never had a problem with them before.
Staring at the small wooden bridge, I promised herself that one day I would reach it. I wanted a glimpse of life outside the pack at least once – especially since I was likely to never leave the territory. And if I did, it would just to be another one where I would be confined just as tightly, if not more. Letting out a small sigh, I turned and walked straight back to the pack house.
It didn't take long, but in the eyes of the guards circling the pack house, I'd taken too long to get back. I hadn't stopped; my lungs were burning more since I'd forced myself to get back in time. The sky was only just turning into a deep orange; I knew if I was anyone else, I'd have been allowed a couple more minutes to get in.
"Thanks, Jesse," I nodded at the darker furred wolf as I slowly walked in. It's a habit I've formed, to thank them when I enter. It always seemed to make them happier being praised by a member who ranked higher than them.
Avoiding the maids, and the bustling of pack members leaving, I headed straight for the east wing of the house. I was the only one who was living there – apparently, when more members of the pack had lived in the house, mateless she-wolves were forced to live in the east wing. Fortunately, I was the only one who was mateless in the family, and so I had the wing to myself.
