The Overpowered Series

Book 1:Chapter 5 - Escaping Zephyrus

Lena's POV

“Hide,” I urged Xara, crouching behind a boulder. Sounds of snow crunching under heavy footsteps made my heart pound with apprehension. Was it Zephyrus and his wolves? Did they follow my trail? Had they found us? With my breath stuck in my throat, I waited for the footsteps to draw nearer.

To my utter astonishment, it was a human figure that appeared from the other side. With his silhouette against the rising sun, I couldn’t see his features clearly, but he looked somewhat familiar. In his arms was a beautiful woman with long, dark hair, swaying with every step of his!

I blinked in disbelief, realizing who the man was. It was Felixe in his human form! So was that Hera in his arms? Was she the one he had abducted? Why did she resemble Zephyrus?

Before I could emerge from my hiding place, a helicopter appeared from nowhere and hovered over the duo. A rope was lowered and Felixe clung to it while holding Hera with one arm. I watched the movie with my jaws dropped to the snowy ground. Before I could understand what was happening, the copter picked up Felixe and the woman and started moving away. Realization struck me and I sprang up from my crouching position to run after it, but it zoomed away without noticing me.

Where did Felixe take her away? I trudged on, but the fatigue was getting to me now. I reached the foothills, the pale rays of the sun filtering through the gap in the trees as we ascended further on the other side of Mount Astral. There was a road that led to the settlements beyond. All I needed to do was reach there and hitch a ride.

‘We need food, Lena. I can’t run anymore,’ said Xara, totally exhausted. It had been almost twenty hours since our last meal. The injury on my neck had reduced to a dull ache. I could feel the exhaustion taking a toll on me. If I didn’t find food and a place to rest, we would perish.

“I don’t have money to buy food. Let’s hitch a ride to the next village.” I sighed, knowing how difficult it would be to do so in a human settlement. Humans were a bunch of selfish people who wouldn’t help at all. I had no experience with them but at the academy, I’ve heard tales about their selfishness.

‘Human settlement? No, thanks. I’d rather hunt for food,’ said Xara.

“But you’ve never hunted before.” I wasn’t so sure this would work. The trickling sound of water nearby made us hopeful. I realized how thirsty I was! With a fresh bout of energy, Xara led me to a little snow-fed mountain stream. It was enough to quench our thirst. The chilled water rejuvenated us and we stopped to regain our breath under the shade of a maple tree.

The sun’s rays warming my injury seemed therapeutic, and I closed my eyes from the exhaustion. Xara too whimpered for the last time before closing her eyes. She didn’t have a single drop of energy left in her to run.

A familiar scent hit my nose and I stirred. Where was I? Realization struck me hard and I opened my eyes instantly. A startled cry escaped my lips to find none other than Zephyrus standing in front of me. I blinked with disbelief, rubbing the sleep off my eyes. When I opened them again, he was still there, his eyes glowing red like specks of fire. I scrambled backward, my back meeting the smooth trunk of a snow-covered fallen birch tree.

At that moment, I was trapped!

“So, they’ve left you behind! Right?” he snarled at me.

“Who?” I couldn’t think straight. Why was he talking in riddles?

“Your partner in crime! Felixe Andreadis! Who else?” he growled menacingly.

“Tie her up, Leandros. Let’s head back!” he barked. Everything happened so fast that Xara was as confused as I was. Two of his pack members approached me as I staggered backward, instantly on high alert. Was he accusing me of abducting Hera? Did he really think I had a hand in it?

Xara growled fiercely as we stood up, ready to defend ourselves. We wouldn’t allow them to tie us up for no fault of ours.

“I have no connection with Felixe. Let me go.” He didn’t listen to a word I spoke, his bones cracking as he shifted into his wolf form. The enormous brownish copper-shaded creature loomed over me, and I knew we didn’t stand a chance against him.

The pitch-black wolf, called Leandros, snarled back, approaching closer. “Stay away from me!” I growled menacingly, full-on attacking mode. He stopped and turned to look at Zephyrus in confusion.

“Come with me or I’ll use force.” Zephyrus’ threat echoed around the snow -covered terrain.

“Why would I go back with you?” I barked, baring my teeth in a snarl.

“Because I’m not done with you,” growled Zephyrus. In an instant, he plowed my body into the hard ground with his massive frame. My snout was rammed shut to quieten me completely. He stared back at me with angry, searing eyes.

“Follow me without a fight if you wish to live. Don’t bloody play with my patience!” His wolf was a sight to cower at, and I did too. I was terrorized by the subtle flash of light within his irises, and so was Xara. She had been exceptionally quiet ever since Zephyrus’ wolf took over. There was a low rumble in his chest and he gestured for me to follow him.

“Fine. I’ll follow you.” I wasn’t one to submit easily, but now I had been cornered by three ferocious monsters. My body didn’t have the power to fight them at the moment.

He eased off me, yet his anger didn’t dissipate even a bit. I wondered what he wanted to do with me. Would he punish me? But for what? Maybe for escaping him! In a split second, he was behind me, his nose prodding me forward like a prisoner. I hated to be dominated. I was a warrior who wanted to fight for freedom! I hated my fate. It would have been better if I died in the battle than be subjected to this!

The entire way back to the village, he prodded me on, his hot breath fanning my neck. The dull ache I felt on my neck increased. I could feel the gauze soak with blood at the strenuous task of going back all the way. The sun was beating down upon me and an anguished cry left Xara’s lips. All I wanted to do was crawl into a safe place and sleep.

I remembered my little room in Alpha Atticus’s mansion where I had slept ever since I returned from the academy. That was my solace, my haven. It was the only place I could call home. At the academy, I just had a bunk bed to myself, the upper part of which I used to share with another warrior. It never felt like home, although I spent twenty years there.

At last I staggered towards a three-storied house with gray walls. I knew it housed the prison cells in the basement. So I was indeed his prisoner! A war prisoner in my village, amongst my pack! It was the worst humiliation possible! I had never thought they would reduce me to this from being the future Luna!

“Lock her up, Leandros! I will deal with her when she’s in her senses.” He barked at his pack member, leaping forward and vanishing from sight in a split second.

“Don’t escape. It’ll enrage Alpha Zephyrus even more!” said the black wolf. “By the way, I’m Leandros, the new Gamma of Lucania. This is my wolf, Eros.” I gaped at him for a split second.

“Thank you, Gamma. Can I get some water, please?” I croaked.

He nodded and led me to a room on the first floor instead of the prison in the basement. The room was small but clean and the bed looked quite comfortable.

“There’s a washroom attached. I’ll get you some food, water and clothes.”

He left, locking the door after him. I looked around the neat room, which had a small desk, a wall mounted dresser with drawers and two chairs apart from the bed. Would I have to live here forever? Would this be my new home? Disappointment filled me as I walked over to the small washroom attached. I desperately needed a shower, but first I needed clothes to shift into my human form.

The door opened and a pack member brought me some clothes, towels, water and a plate of hot, steaming food. After she left, locking the door after her, I shifted into my human form at last.

‘What will he do with us, Lena?’ asked Xara in a tired voice.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’ll punish us or torture us.” I picked up the clothes and went into the washroom to freshen up.

A refreshing shower and food made me so drowsy that I fell asleep in no time. A door creaked open in my dreams and I felt an intoxicating, yet familiar scent hover over me!