***Kelly's POV***
I made it to the border, having to hide in some bushes as a group of wolves ran perimeter. I waited until they passed by before I took off like a bat out of hell.
The second I crossed the border, my wolf seemed to pace restlessly causing me to look back feeling paranoid. The closer I got to the Pack house, the more my mark burned and itched and I was constantly scratching and rubbing it. The last time it felt like this, Daniel was beating the hell out of me for challenging him after his first little “accident” involving another wolf’s skirt riding up.
I felt my chest heave as I gasped for breath and only then did I realize that I was crying.
I was right around the corner from the house when I heard footsteps and hid behind some bushes.
“…he had so I don’t know why this bitch is so important to him. His father obviously told him about this.’ I had to suppress a growl as Jenna, the last femme I caught Daniel with –the very last straw and reason why I ran away- chattered away. Even her voice made me want to rip her throat out.
‘I agree Jen; you’re way hotter than her anyway so why doesn’t he just give her to that asshole and take you instead?’ Another femme sighed and shook her head. I watched as they walked past me without realizing I was there.
‘I know right!’ She laughed a scratchy sound like nails to a chalk board and their voices faded away. Being away from Dweight brought back all of these memories and I could almost feel them again like I’d just covered the pain with a fresh coat of paint that was still showing the colour underneath.
‘Dweight…’ I tried my link hoping he could hear me.
‘Dweight I’m sorry for doing this but I have no choice.’ I tried his open Pack link but even my wolf shook her head. Nothing.
Well dammit. There goes my backup plan.
Waiting a few more minutes to see if anyone else was near, I darted through the yard and onto the back porch.
I spotted a young wolf I didn’t recognise standing near a tree to the side of the house. He kept darting looks around and he seemed nervous, clutching the sides of his tattered, filthy shirt.
An older man marched over to him and grabbed him on the scruff of the shirt and shook him around before throwing him to the ground.
‘What are you still doing here boy? I told you to stand guard at the back of the house.’ The man snapped and the boy cringed as if expecting a blow to the face that didn’t come. I knew that feeling all too well and I instantly wanted to help the boy. He couldn’t have been older than 15 and he looked way too pale under all of that filth.
‘I’m sorry sir!’ He cowered covering his face with his arms.
‘Get to it boy!’ The older man snarled and shoved the boy in my direction and I realized I was in the open and if this boy rounded the corner, he’d see me for sure.
I plastered myself into the corner of the banister and held my breath wishing that I could just be invisible. A wave of familiar nausea flooded my system and I gagged. The boy walked right past me, took a few steps to the right and turned to look back at the man retreating back into the house, slamming the door.
As he turned his head he spotted me and at first he looked confused but then recognition lit up his brown eyes. He opened his mouth to call out but I grabbed his wrist and tugged him hard enough to catch him off guard and he fell into me. I twisted him around and covered his mouth with my one hand as I held onto him with my other arm. He wriggled and tried to pull my arm away from him but he wasn’t strong enough to manage it. A wolf his age should have been able to get out of this grip no problem but he was weak and malnourished.
‘Please…’ I whispered furiously into his ear as he jerked at my arm again.
‘Please calm down...’ He grunted and jerked again
‘I promise I won’t hurt you but I need you to please keep quiet.’ The boy’s thrashes became less urgent and he calmed enough to loosen his bony fingers from my arm.
‘I need your help.’ He shook his head violently and I knew from the way his body was shaking that he was terrified.
‘Ok, ok calm down. I’m going to let you go now but I need you to please keep quiet.’ I hesitated and he nodded. I didn’t know why I trusted him to do as I said but I let go of him and took a step back. He whirled and faced me, his eyes full of shame and I could clearly see a thought printed on his face. I’m weaker than a woman.
‘What’s your name?’ His shocked expression almost had me laugh
‘Sean.’ He mumbled and then flushed as if remembering his manners. ‘Sean Hill, miss.’
‘Sean, why are you here?’ He looked ashamed.
‘I’m supposed to wait for you and then take you to Alpha Daniel.’ He mumbled and his eyes filled with tears.
‘Daniel knows I’m coming?’ I frowned at this news
‘Alpha Daniel felt your connection a little while ago. He is upstairs waiting for you.’ I scowled and he looked away
‘Is a young girl named bonny up there?’ He nodded
‘Why don’t you leave this place Sean?’
‘That man you saw earlier?’ I nodded.
‘He is my Uncle and I’ve stayed with him since I was little. He said this is my Pack now and that if I didn’t obey, he’d kill my sister.’ A growl bubbled up in my chest.
‘Where is your sister?’
‘She’s up there with Alpha Daniel.’ His voice took on a hard edge and the unshed tears made his eyes look hard and dangerous. I felt my whole body fill with anger and I had to take a few breaths to attempt to calm it. I need to help Bonny and Sean’s sister.
‘Do me a favour Sean.’ He hesitated biting his lip, obviously seeing my anger.
‘I need you to go in that direction.’ I pointed in the direction I came from
‘Find Alpha Dweight and tell him that Kelly sent you. Tell him that Bonny is here and that I’m trying to get her and your sister out.’ He shook his head and took a step away from me.
‘Alpha Dweight will kill me. He doesn’t spare rogues and a wolf against his Pack is a rogue.’ I reached up and tore a piece of my sleeve and handed it to him.
‘He won’t hurt you Sean, I promise. Please take this to him.’ He took the piece of sleeve and looked back at the house and then at the field.
‘Please Sean. I need you to do this or they might just kill Bonny and your sister.’ His face etched with pain and then he nodded, shoved the piece of cloth into his pocket and took off running in the direction I pointed at. He might not be very strong but he was very fast.
Hold on Bonny. I’m coming.
