Run Away With Me

Chapter 23: Elizabeth Mahogan.

I snap my eyes open and look into the distance, swearing up and down that I've heard something. I turn and look over the boulder I am leaning against; both Nao and Orla are sound asleep.

I look back in front of me, eyes sharpening as consequence to my approaching Heat.

I don't see anything.

I let my nose take over.

There is someone there. A syrupy scent lingers from behind one of the many boulders strewn along and my guard is up, but I don't move.

Are they the people that the Cenderbees hired? If so, why haven't they launched one of their attacks? If I move from here, would that trigger an attack, if I call for my comrades, would that trigger an attack?

It doesn't feel as if it's one of them though. It has a pleasant smell with a hint of ancestry. An old person, what is an old person doing here? There's also a trace of mint and cat, with a pinch of wood.

That person shuffles and I stand, pulling my little friend with me. We should leave, I don't know this person's angle and I don't care. If there's a chance of danger, I want to avoid it.

"Wait..." the person whispers and I look at the direction the voice came from, a wrinkled face peeks from around the trunk of a tree. I place her with a glare, trying to identify if it's a threat or not. "I'm not here to hurt you." She comes out fully from behind the tree and raises her hand up, taking one small step towards me.

There's a good twenty meters between us and I try to look as threatening as possible.

"Your companion." She shifts her gaze to Jamaica. "He's hurt, let me help."

I snort, questioning the sanity of this old lady. Is there something wrong with her head? I know by instinct that she's also a werewolf and she doesn't give off the same feeling as we do, she belongs to a pack.

"Am I stupid?" I ask her. "Go away."

She takes a step towards me and I one back, ready to bolt. Why would a pack member handle with rogues? A trap of course. And I've had too much shit to be played around like this.

"I just want to help you-" The lady is interrupted by a deep, guttural growl which sends tremors through the both of us. I look back, Nao stands over me, looking downright murderous. "You don't understand-"

Distant howls go off and I slap my hand on my forehead.

"You've trespassed on territory."

How is it possible that we've trespassed on territory without knowing it, that's what I call horrible territory claiming. And how is it possible that they've noticed we are in their territory... let me check my watch... three hours after we've trespassed, that's what I call bad guarding system.

And who is this old lady?

"What do you want?" Nao asks, pulling me back and pointing towards the sleeping Orla. I pick up a rock and throw it, my shooting skills so good that I've struck her forehead, dead and center.

She spurs awake, looks around, and then meets my eyes.

"I want to help," the lady says, but my eyes aren't on her.

Some more howling.

Orla snaps out of it, stands up and grab her and Nao's bag.

"Why?" Nao asks and I turn to him, questioning in what universe he would continue this conversation when we should be running, unless he wants to fight the approaching werewolves.

"They'll kill you." She shakes her head, grey little things fluttering in the wind. "If they find you, they'll kill you, enough innocent blood has been spilled, come on. I won't hurt you, I promise."