My Cursed Love

Note: This series is a darker werewolf series. Also be aware of darker elements such a described violence, abuse and death. -Elena- “You can’t hide from us!” “We WILL find you!” “She went this way!” “Where do you think you can run to?” The words echoed through the forest, each shout intensifying my terror. My fear was nearly paralyzing, but I forced myself to keep running. I couldn’t afford to stop. My lungs burned, my legs felt numb from exhaustion, and my eyes were blurred with tears. I knew that if I stopped, I would end up back in that place. No, I was never going back there. I refused. For months, I had been tormented, beaten, and humiliated by them. No more! I had escaped, but now they were hunting me. They were faster than me, but giving up was not an option. If I did, I was as good as dead. If they caught me, he would kill me! He would beat me until I felt nothing but pain, and then he would snap my neck. I would no longer be alive... but perhaps death would be better than returning to that place. “Aaah!” I screamed as my foot got caught in a hole. I fell flat on my stomach, scraping my face. My foot was stuck. I tried to pull it out, but the pain shooting from my ankle was blinding, nearly knocking me out. I bit my lip to stifle a scream as I made another desperate attempt to free my foot. I could hear the crunching of dirt and leaves under my pursuers’ feet, their shouts growing louder. I glanced at my trapped foot, realizing I had no choice but to dig it out, which would give them ample time to catch up. I didn’t understand why they were still hunting me in their human forms. They often started their hunts like this, but by now, they usually would have transformed. Perhaps they hadn’t expected me to get this far, or maybe they had been ordered not to hurt me because HE wanted the pleasure of doing that himself. To be honest, I didn’t really care why. I just dug my nails into the dirt and kept digging. At one point, I cut my finger—perhaps on a rock or a shard of glass—but the pain was barely noticeable compared to the panic and desperation gripping my heart. Finally, I was free. I smiled with relief, but the joy was short-lived as I heard movement nearby. They were so close now that I could see their dark silhouettes. They paused briefly to sniff the air before continuing their pursuit. I quickly got back up and started moving forward, but as I took my first step, the blinding pain returned. I nearly lost my balance but managed to grab onto a tree trunk. My ankle was badly injured. I tried to put weight on it, but the pain was unbearable. What was I going to do? They were so close, and now I was even slower. I attempted to use my foot again, but I could barely touch the ground with it. I had no choice but to keep going or risk getting caught. I started moving, barely leaning on my injured foot. I limped forward, almost hopping, unable to fully use my damaged ankle. Panic had taken hold, but it pushed me forward. I had to escape this forest. I needed to find help. I hoped to see a road soon and maybe a passing car. Perhaps the drivers would help me. Yes, they had to help me because I was never going back to that place! But these people—they weren’t ordinary. No, they were far from ordinary. I wasn’t even sure if bullets could stop them—maybe silver ones would, but I couldn’t be certain. All I knew was that I had to get out of the forest. Once I was out, everything would be alright. I had already come farther than anyone else had, and I wasn’t about to give up, no matter how much pain or exhaustion I felt. I pressed on. Ahead, a small clearing came into view. A bolt of hope shot through me. Freedom! I could feel it. I was so close, the darkness of the forest ending. I just hoped whatever I found beyond the forest would help me. I didn’t care what it was—a couple in a car enjoying a night drive, a reclusive man living alone in the forest with enough weapons for an army, or even an actual army. As long as it kept me safe from them, I didn’t care. Fueled by hope, I felt myself moving faster. Yes, I was going to be saved. Everything would be alright again. As I reached the clearing, leaving the forest behind, I smiled, tears of happiness streaming down my cheeks. But the happiness was short-lived. I stopped so abruptly that I almost lost my balance, nearly falling over the edge of a cliff. A strong wind blew from the edge, whipping my hair back. I stared down at the churning waves crashing against the rocks below. No, this can’t be happening! I was so close. I was almost free. This was my only chance, and I had blown it! What was I going to do now? “Well, well, well…” a dark voice said from behind me. I spun around to see a tall man with dark hair and gray eyes, staring at me with a small, sinister smile. He stood with his arms crossed just a few meters away, looking at me like I was his next meal. I felt a wave of disgust and an urgent need to vomit. “Don’t tell me you’re going to jump?” he taunted, smirking. Soft laughs emerged from the forest as more people joined the man. They stood a little behind him, their evil smiles and hateful glares making it clear they knew they had won. I could see the anticipation in their eyes. They were eager for the reward they’d receive from their alpha for bringing me back. It was evident they could hardly wait. “It’s over, Elena. Step away from the edge!” the man with the dark hair ordered. It was the first time any of them had used my name, and I hated how it sounded on his lips. It filled me with revulsion. He had no right to call me by my name! I glanced behind me, assessing my options. Another strong gust of wind blew from the cliff’s edge, whipping my hair into my face. I brushed it aside, but tears replaced the obstruction. I couldn’t believe I was here, that today, Elena Wilson was going to die. “Step away from the edge!” he yelled, his tone growing more impatient. I looked back at the men who had hunted me. Was this really the end? Had I truly lost? I didn’t want to go back. Oh God, anything but going back with them. Once their alpha got his hands on me, he would inflict pain like never before. He would kill me so slowly that I would end up begging for death, but not even my own demise would be decided by me. He controlled everything. Anger and hatred toward him surged through me. I clenched my fists. No! I would decide how I die! I would choose where, when, and how. Not him. Me! I moved an inch back, but it was enough to provoke a reaction from them. Their expressions shifted. They almost looked scared. “You wouldn’t dare…” he growled. His anger was clear, but I noticed a flicker of fear in his eyes. He didn’t truly believe I had the guts, but he was still wary that I might not be joking. “Step away from the edge!” he demanded, his voice even louder. My breathing was rapid, my vision blurred by tears, and sweat coated my body from the pain, but my mind was as sharp as ever. I was no longer willing to be controlled. “No…” I said quietly. “What?” he snarled through gritted teeth. “I said NO!” If looks could kill, I’d be dead right now. The man with the dark hair glared at me with such intensity that I could almost feel the daggers shooting through me. I could tell he wanted to rush at me, grab me, and drag me back to their alpha by force, but the fear of me jumping before he could reach me kept him in place. “I’d rather die than go back,” I said. “Anything is better than returning to him.” Their fear grew more evident. If they lost me, they would be severely punished. As I considered leaving this world knowing that would be their fate, I realized it could be my final act of revenge. Yes, this was the best way. “NOOOOOO!” I heard him scream as I leaned back and fell with a speed I never imagined. As I descended, the only regret that crossed my mind was that I never had the chance to say goodbye to the people I loved. That was my only regret. But hopefully, I was heading to a better place—a place without pain, where I could finally be free. I barely felt the pain when my back hit the water. The coldness numbed all sensation, leaving me completely void of feeling. My body twisted slightly as water filled my lungs, but I had no strength left to fight. I surrendered to the water, allowing it to pull me deeper and deeper as the darkness slowly enveloped me.