Stolen Innocence

Chapter One

I was tired of running.
 
    For the last couple of days all I knew was running, the green blur of trees and the wind blowing through my fur. I was passed tired and my feet were swollen from pounding fast through the rough dirt and rocks, tripping over fallen trees and roots.
   
Panting, I had to slow down. I needed to stop, to eat and rest for even the short period of time I gave myself until I was on the run again.
  
I lift my head up and sniff the air, I caught scent West and crouch down. I slowly start being stalking towards the scent. I lower myself to the ground as much as my stomach allowed; I took a deep breath and the pounced. My claws dug into the rabbit, trapping it as I latched my teeth into its neck.
  
Without hesitation I ripped out its throat and began to eat. Gone too quick, I bury myself into bushes as best as I could. I sigh and cradle my stomach to the best of my ability.
  
This is not how I wanted to spend my first pregnancy nor how I wanted to be pregnant. It's was supposed to be a wonderful experience with the one I loved, my mate, and it was ripped away from me. I gazed over my stomach feeling a strong connection with this baby already. I shouldn't be, I shouldn't want something created by pain and greed. My wolf growled at me. I sighed, she's right.

This is my child.
No one else's.

It didn't matter how I came to be with this child, this beautiful innocence. It wasn't the baby's fault, it had no choice in the matter.

The snap of a twig took me out of my thoughts. I straighten up and quickly heading farther West. As I was running, I cursed myself. I let myself rest too long and now they're close again. Sniffing the air, I smelt asphalt. Asphalt meant road, which meant people! My scent could easily get lost in a city. Quickening my pace, I raced towards the road.
I stopped long enough to scan my surroundings. It was a small back road, I couldn't hear or see cars for miles so I wasn't sure which way would lead me to the city faster. I looked both ways, puzzled. I had to make a decision and quick. Growling in frustration, I ran down the right of the road, silently praying of sweet freedom I longed for.

Running for what seemed like hours, I could faintly smell it, the city or town it seemed like. It didn't smell as disgusting as a city would with all of its pollution and gas, the smell of garbage; It smelt rustic. It wasn't very busy from what I could hear, I didn't hear many cars or people for that matter. Maybe I wasn't so lucky in finding a big city full of smells I could get lost in. I sighed, this was my only hope.

I reached the outskirts of the town and stopped. I needed to be too careful. If anyone saw me as I am, I'd have hunters on my tail, literally. I was barely hidden in the tree line as I accessed my surroundings. There were a few big buildings, looks like a school, library, some houses. From the houses down I saw a small restaurant with a outside seating area sparkling with string lights it smelt amazing. My wolf dying to walk over there, I needed to stay in control. I didn't come this far to be killed by hunters and it wasn't just me anymore that I had to look after. I sighed and kept looking. My ears perked up, a long building read "Shadowhood Motels". Sketchy name but it's going to work. I hid in the shadows as I made my way to the back of the motel. It stunk something fierce but it was perfect. I couldn't smell anything for a mile with this scent clogging up my nostrils. Looking around the trash bin for anything I could change into. Until I came across a little building that read "donations".

I whispered thanks to the Moon Goodness and shifted. I reached into the bin the best I could and grabbed whatever felt like clothing. I quickly slid on some worn out sweatpants and an old Metallica band t shirt. My wolf cowered in disgust, my keen of smell was a curse at the moment. I couldn't smell anything but my surrounding area, and it was no secret I longed for fresh air. I walk around the building towards the main office, the bell on the top of the door rings into the silence and a huge cloud of cigarette smoke hits me in the face. I instantly regret opening the door. I go into a coughing fit.

"Can I help you?" A raspy masculine female voice calls out to me in a bored manner.
"Yes," I begin in between coughing, "I was hoping to find asylum here for the night?"
"Well, that's a new one." The voice speaks out. I'm waving away the smoke as my eyes try to find the owner of the voice. She was ugly, I don't judge anyone by their looks but she looked exactly how she sounded. She was a tall, and heavy set. She had on a blue faded button down Blouse and black dress pants. She had a mean scowl on her face and a thick cigar hanging out the side of her mouth. She had thick black glasses and a bored stare.

   "I, um," I didn't know what to say. She was clearly human and probably knew nothing of werewolves. Beginning to panic, I instinctively grab my stomach.
Her gaze follows my hands and without changing that boredish expression her scowl seemed to soften. She nods, "follow me." She turns and walks through the curtain she came out of when I first got here. My step falters as I become, hesitant, but follow her, nonetheless. I am engulfed with cigar smoke as I pull the ragged curtain back.

  "I'm sorry about the smoke," she says suddenly. "It's become my only reason for living." She laughs at her play on words. "Come this way out of the smoke." She motions me to a small kitchen/dinning area, it smelt a lot nicer than the other room. I sit down at the small table, feeling small.

"Why are you helping me? Not that I appreciate it." I ask quickly.
"What's your name, doll?" She asked, ignoring my question.
Cautious, I lied, "Mallory." I didn't want to her to get caught up in the crossfires more than what she's already in by helping me.
"Mallory, huh?" She eyed me, I gulped and nodded. She thought for a moment and then shrugged. "I was like you once. Pregnant, with nowhere to go. No one to turn to. Everyone turned a blind eye."

"Why?"

"I was unwed and labeled the 'town whore' seeing as the only time I had sex was when I was raped." She shrugged, tossing her words aside as if they're were merely a story she's told many times before this. 

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be, doll, I have learned from my mistakes. Though I am not well off." She looks around and glares. "At all." She rolled her eyes. Becoming serious again she looks me in the eye. "I see you and I see me, someone who was alone, defenseless and helpless. Someone seeking help, asylum. No one helped me. I may be some grumpy old lady but I help someone in need." She gets up and walks to the cabinet, "I only Campbell's soup, dear."

"Thank you so much." I smile softly as she heats up the soup.
She hands me the soup and my wolf sighs happily at the warm heavenly smell. It took all my willpower not to swallow everything in the bowl in one gulp. I could see the steam coming off of it, I needed patience.

"I can't thank you enough, I promise to be out of your hair by mornings light."
"Absolutely not! You look as if you've been to war! You'll stay here until you're well rested. You'll take the bedroom."
I jumped up, "I couldn't possibly take your room from you! I can take the couch!"

"With all that cigar smell and smoke! You're with child. Oh dear you're just human, it'll be dangerous for you and your baby." If only she knew but I couldn't argue. My wolf wouldn't let me argue. She needed rest. She begged for rest. I simply nod in agreement. I finished my soup and let her lead me to her room.

"The bathroom is just through that door. I'll be just around the corner if you need me." She points back the way we came.
I turn to her, "how can I repay you?"
"By helping me clean, of course!" She belts out a laugh, making me laugh as well. She wasn't all what she seemed.
"Of course, ms.-"
"Pery Wedden." She answers with a smile.
"Ms. Pery. Thank you."

"Goodnight, Malory." She turns away from me and I walk farther into the room. It was a small room with almost nothing in it. A bed, dresser and a small vanity with a few stuff piled on it. There was a small tv on the dresser. I walk into the bathroom, it was much smaller than the bedroom. I turn the sink on and splash warm water on my face and sigh.

"I brought you a change of clothes in case you wanted to shower." I hear Ms. Pery calls from the other side of the door.
"Thank you!" I have never met someone so kind. I turn the shower on to scalding hot. Sticking my hands in the stream to try and get used to the heat I hop in. Gasping at the heat turned into a relaxed sigh from my wolf. She was enjoying so much. I know I used up all the hot water just letting it pour down on me. I clean up and get out of the shower reaching for a towel sitting on a shelf above the toilet.

I pull on the big plain black shirt and some sweatpants, luckily the sweatpants weren't too big. I crawled into the bed, instantly melting I into the mattress. It's been too long since I was so relaxed, since I was in a bed! I was going to get to sleep! I sighed and pulled the cover over my shoulders and I close my eyes. Sleep succumbed me.