Chained

Prologue

Winter's POV

My chest began to burn as my heart pumped faster, pushing me further. The throbbing which radiated though my legs called for me to stop and rest. But the fear of my life pushed me further.
The howling of wolves sent shock waves through my bones and a shiver pulsed down my spine. I cursed myself for the stupid mistake I made to get myself into this situation.

I thought I was in rogue territory. I was when he hunt started. But the damned deer ran into wolves' territory and I was so distracted I didn't even notice until I heard the howls.

The anger and viciousness behind the howls was enough to make me freeze for a few precious moments allowing the dogs to start the chase in their favour. Fear of myself running further into the territory entered my mind, but I wasn't sprinting in the direction I wanted.

I was sprinting in the direction my legs took me.

My legs which now cursed me for making them do this. They escorted me through to maze of trees and bush in which there seemed to be no end. The light of the Waning Gibbous moon was swallowed by my Midnight fur but did allow me to see where I was running.

My heart shattered at the sound of silence. They had found me.

Not even the crickets had the courage to chirp in this silence. Where the only noise was the sound of my ragged breathing and the thumping of my heart in my throat. They have caught me. They will probably kill me, but I'll be damned if they take me down without a fight.

I allowed my poor legs to stop despite my instincts screaming at me to continue running.
I knew they had surrounded me. I May not have been able to see or hear them, but the smell of wolves was unmistakable.

The smell of dead flora and mould invaded my nose making me cringe with disgust.
I turned to see a cluster of shrubs and trees which looked quite scenic under the light of the moon. The blue and red flowers swayed gently in the breeze giving me a moment of tranquillity. What lurked behind the bushes snapped me out of it soon enough.

I let out a loud, powerful hiss which showed off my deadly fangs.

I couldn't allow them to think I would  submit to them.

My hiss was returned with a bloodcurdling growl which chained my legs to the soft earth underneath my paws. The wolf behind the vicious growl presented itself from the shadows of his land.

My widened eyes scanned the massive grey wolf whose black eyes pierced through my soul like a rusted knife. I looked for a weakness, a soft spot, anything which could give me an advantage in my doomed fight but found nothing.

This wolf was pure muscle topped off with steroids.

The creature stalked from its hiding spot and gave another deadly growl leaving me to force myself not to sprint in the opposite direction. I arched my back and raised my head. Deadly claws extracted from my paws, stabling me to the earth.

I will never submit to a dog.

As the mutt continued to stalk over to me I let out a loud and dominant snarl and prepared for a fight. The wolf paused for a second as if questioning my lack of fear before continuing to approach me. It was only then that I saw the full size of the beast. He towered over me with ease and his shadow stole away any light I once had.

I knew how to fight. I knew how to win. I knew I had no chance.

If I was prepared and healthy I could take him, but I had just gone for a hunt which soon tuned into me becoming the prey. I had been living as a scavenger for my entire stay in America, living off the remainders of rogue wolves' previous hunts and road kill for food.

My mind was foggy with exhaustion and my lungs burned away my chest. He wasn't the only mutt here either. I could smell at least ten other wolves surrounding me.

The wolf stopped a few feet in front of me and took a fighting stance. My stomach lurched as I looked into his sinister black eyes that held nothing but cruelty.

Let the show begin.

I extended my claws which dug into the cool earth not once taking my green eyes of the opponent and coiled my legs behind me preparing myself to doge an attack. Before I could attack something sharp pricked my neck. Immediately, I lurched myself around, ready to fight whatever was attacking me. The smell of wolves continued to invade my senses, but none of them showed they hideous face.

Before I could realise what was happening my claws retracted from the ground and the world around began to sway and twirl.

That cheating mutt!

I stared into the eyes of the bastard and he gave me a slight smirk as the world went black.