I'll Show You (rewritten)

13: Life running

I held the little bundle in my arms tightly as I sprinted towards my destination.

Nothing could possibly stop me, my mind set. Leaving the boy to a death unbefitting to any was not an option I would consider. Besides, my nurturing instinct was kicking in, desperate for the child to survive. My dulled sense of humanity shining through the blackened cracks. I would do my best to save his life, my blackened soul not going to condemn an innocent child.

Worry consumed me as the boy remained cold. His heartbeat was there but it was so faint that I wasn't sure it was really there. My imagination deliriously on a high. Hoping I could give him some of my body heat to warm his fragile body, I cradled him impossibly close, the blood from his forehead smearing over my bare chest.

I could feel my wolf's unrest at the situation. Nearing unknown pack territory was dangerous, especially as our eyes gave away the lunacy that delved within. There was no hiding for me, while trying to save this child's life we were potentially putting ours at risk. With the speck of morals that remained it was a no brainer, this child would damn well survive.

"Adam stay with me," I say, continually throwing my body through the woods. I could smell the stream the Alpha had mentioned and knew that I was extremely close.

I don't think he's going to make it.

I could sense the reluctance of her words and I realised if I didn't speed up my wolf could potentially be right. With that, I used all my energy and hurtled through the foliage, oblivious to the fact my skin was catching on branches and brambles. Like a mad woman I catapulted over rocks and fallen logs, a new feel of importance surging through my bones.

Splashing wildly through the arctic water, I crossed the stream. My feet now numb from the strain and force as I compelled them through the rough terrain.

Harsh snarls soon sounded and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, I could feel my wolf's temper flare desperate to show her dominance but I suppressed her. I would not shift when I had a life to protect.

I continued running ignoring the howls.

I edged closer and closer, the boundary line looming just ahead of me.

Blocking my path, eight wolves stood as a barricade in front of me, intercepting the way I desperately needed to go. Logically, it made sense for the pack to protect the territory line but in my panicked state, the logic was gone and I was in no state to see reason. My wolf was pacing uneasily inside my head. The male's presence was suffocating her and I could tell she wanted to break free to unleash the power we held.

Slowing down completely I felt Adam fall limp, his small chest no longer rising and alarm consumed me. Adrenaline fueling me as I rushed to inspect his body. Dread seeped into me as Adam paled, his caramel skin lacking the glow a child would usually possess. The realisation hit my wolf like a tonne of bricks, but I point blank refused to believe. He was not lost. He would not die on my watch. The wolves made their way towards us and my resolve solidified as I focused my full attention on the boy, quickly laying his ice cold body on the ground.

"Step away now, you're surrounded, rogue." I didn't notice the venom he threw at me, all the voices just background noise to me.

Refusing his request, I quickly peeled the blood-soaked top off of Adam. I rested my head against his chest, listening intently for a heartbeat, anything to indicate he was alive.

The men swiftly stepped closer, closing in on us both.

"I said back down. Give him to us." The air was saturated with authority but I refused to acknowledge it, Adam's life was more important than throwing dominance around- as much as I wanted to show the men what I could do.