Life Straight Up (reposted - feedback wanted)

Chapter Sixteen

Cole's POV

I pushed myself harder as the pull inside me grew stronger. I could feel her. I could feel Cwen and Carwyn was going wild. I don't think we had ever ran so fast in our lives. I knew she wasn't that far now, I could feel it in my bones. But with being able to feel her, came her pain, every inch of my body burned and ached. It was not enough to slow me down as it was only a projection. What worried me the most was the pain around my middle, I prayed with all my heart that my vision was wrong. I prayed that all our babies are fine and well. I know this may seem crazy but I knew deep down that we were definitely having more than one pup. My vision had told me that much and that part I was willing to believe, but the loss of my unborn daughter that was a little different. I will never accept, I will make sure that beautiful angel is brought into this world.

I knew Trent and the guys were somewhere behind me, with this new found speed they had no real chance of catching up anytime soon. After a few moments the area around me became somewhat familiar, it was like I knew where I was yet didn't at the same time. Soon I started to notice circles with x's in the middle carved in the trees and everything clicked together. I was now on the old Horn blown pack territory, it was a pack run by Jude's great five times great Uncle. I remember being told stories about him and his pack when I was a small boy. When his mate passed away during childbirth he went insane. He killed the baby in front of his pack and forbid anyone to leave. He started abusing all the young females, making their families watch. He tried to claim them all as his new mates, hoping to have so many heirs that he could take control of every pack. When no females produced any offspring, the final thread of his sanity snapped. He gathered all of his pack into the woods, he ordered no one to move no matter what and torched them all. Himself included.

As I looked around I could see scars on the trees from the fire, still to this day. The air was thick and uncomfortable, it stank of death and despair. But there was something else that was slowly beginning to fill the air. Ray's scent. I pushed myself harder still knowing she was so close. The faint sound of leaves rustling in the distance made my ears perk up, hoping my search was over I headed towards it. The closer I got the stronger her scent became, but she wasn't alone. She was being chased, scents of several other wolves were now starting to fill the air around me. Knowing how much pain she was in, I doubted she had been able to shift and would be running on foot. It would only be a matter of time before the wolves caught up with her, something I would make sure wouldn't happen. I ran for a couple more miles and then I saw her.

Ray's POV

I could feel Cwen trying her hardest to try and heal some of my wounds, but every step I took made it somewhat pointless. My ankle was now burning like crazy, whatever damage the jump had caused was quickly getting worse. That didn't matter, I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop no matter what. I could hear them coming, I could smell them. I knew with every second that passed they were quickly gaining on me. It was only a matter of time until they reached me but I just had to keep on going. I couldn't give up without a fight, not now that I've saved this precious little boy. I couldn't and wouldn't let them get him. He was now under my protection. I blocked out the sounds coming from behind me and focused on the strong pull that guided me to where I belong. With every passing second the pull grew stronger and stronger, he was close I just knew it. Soon I would be back with my mate and we could put this terrifying nightmare behind us. I knew I was angry with him the last time I saw him, that was all forgotten I just wanted to be safe again. Safe and in his strong arms. The more I ran I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread and despair, I stupidly glanced around at my surroundings. Everything around me seemed burnt and dead, I wondered for a moment if I had died and this was in fact hell. Catching my foot on a fallen branch I stumbled slightly, causing pain to shoot up my leg once more. Somehow managing to steady myself I continued. I knew a lapse in concentration would cost me, it may have only been a second, but that was enough for them to gain on me. I started to panic, scared of what they may do if they get hold of me, but in an instant all my fears washed away.