The Alpha's Runaway Mate

Chapter 10 - GOING AT IT ALONE

THALIA

I have been on my own for the last three weeks. I have been keeping to the shadows, only moving at night, staying in cheap motels.

The town I'm in at the moment is full of werewolves. They haven’t bothered me; they think I'm a human walking through. I have been in the motel for three nights as there has been a storm outside. The motel owner has been checking in on me, but something tells me his alpha has been asking questions. I know I have to leave soon.

I'm packing my bag up, ready to leave tonight. I need to move before the werewolves start to suspect something.

I need to move further north for now.

I haven’t been feeling too good for the last few days, and I haven’t kept my food down. It must be due to traveling and living rough for the past few days. I know I haven’t eaten much as money is low, and I'm only using it when I need to take shelter. I have been mainly sticking to the forest as Fae’s are known for tree magic, but as I learn more elements, it does come in handy, especially if I know werewolves are around.

I know there is a nest of Fae’s a few miles north. I'm hoping they will help me when I get there.

My bag's packed, and I sit on the bed. I looked towards the little clock on the side.

It’s eleven pm.

I had to wait for another hour or two. I worked out the werewolf patrols around here. I nearly got my ass handed to me by a werewolf when the owner came out and told me that no one was to leave the motel after dark as wolves were roaming around.

I, of course, had to play dumb. I never asked any questions. I walked to my room and closed the door.

I only left the next day to get some essentials and returned to the room.

Everyone here hates newcomers, and I know everyone has been watching me. I can feel eyes on me all the time.

I need to leave soon.

It was weird without Freya being here. I never took a phone with me as I knew they would try to track me down. I never liked mobiles as they are the new technology, and I need to be careful about using them.

I sighed loudly and walked over to the table where I bought some dried biscuits. They seem to be the only thing helping with my sickness and stomach.

I grabbed a biscuit and looked through the blind slant.

I spotted the werewolf looking over the motel for the last few days. I need to leave as I don’t feel safe here anymore.

The werewolf moves, and someone else shifts into their wolf. The one watching looks over and nods to the other before he runs off in the direction that I only assume is their packhouse.

“Damn wolves,” I said quietly to myself.

The wolf that takes the place of the other stands by, but I know this one very well; he seems to like a woman here at the motel as he has been going to her place. The moaning from that room is no one's business, but it sounds like someone is being slaughtered by something.

My stomach turns slightly; I place my hand over my mouth and close my eyes.

After a few seconds, nausea leaves.

I opened my eyes and noticed the man shift into his human form. I can’t help but smile.

I suddenly realize that the woman in question is out. The she-wolf isn’t wearing much to the imagination as she walks over to him. His eyes were tracing over every inch of her body.

I can’t help but roll my eyes. Wolves are horny most of the time, but sometimes it’s just s*x they need.

An image of Jace pops into my head. I try to shake it away, but it stays.

I can feel my heartbreak at the thought of him; I miss him even though we only spent one night together. The mate bond has ignited within me. And all I want to do is go back to him, but I know it's not safe to do so.

I walked over to the bed and grabbed my bag. I place the biscuits and bottled water into the bag before placing the bag over my shoulder.

I glance back out the window and notice the two wolves are in a snogging match. They are both tripping at each other’s clothes while trying to get to her room.

Once the door closes, I open mine. I locked the door to the motel room and headed to the office as quietly as I could.

I know the man isn’t in as he leaves around eight pm every night.

I posted the key as quietly as possible through the office letterbox and looked over my shoulder, and no one was around.

Before I take a step north, moaning comes from the room where the two wolves are.

Seriously, a woman doesn’t need to let everyone know what she is up to; it is so disturbing. Judging by the noise she was making, she sounded like a monkey in heat.

I shuddered and walked away.

I headed north and started through the forest.

I know it will take me at least four hours to get to the Fae campsite. I just hope they are willing to let me stay for a while and help me. I need more money and need somewhere to stay, even for a few nights, till I get back on my feet.

I walked through the forest, and it was so quiet. I love the scent the forest gives off.

I move my hand to the pendant, but I know I'm still in the werewolves' territory. I don’t want them to figure out what I am.

As I walk, I can see the territory's border coming up.

“Goodbye, wolves,” I said in a mutter as I stepped over the territory borderline and headed through the open field.

I walked through the field, but I heard a crack coming behind me. I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

I stare at two bright yellow eyes; growling erupts from the wolf behind me.

Damn it, a rogue.

The growling gets loud, and he stokes towards me as I turn around to face him.

I c**k my head to one side; I know he is the only one that has followed me.

I can take him.

I close my eyes and hold my hands to the side of me; my hand slowly lights up, making the wolf stop growling and look around. I bend down gradually as the bark of the tree I am standing near to comes up slowly, moving towards where the wolf is standing.

The wolf looks at me, scared, and grunts as he gives up on me.

He turns around and runs off.

I couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on my face.

I walked around and walked but stopped by the tree, placing my hand on it.

Trees have some life in them, and as a Fae, we can sense the energy within them. Our magic connects with them, and we know what they need.

I walk away and carry on with my journey north.

************************

After stopping a few times to sit or just throw up, I made it to the Fae borderline, where I came to a guard. He looks at me with caution.

I remove my pendant; he looks at me and smiles, “You are one of us,” he says.

I nod.

Some men only exist and stay with people of our kind until they are old enough to leave or have the same mate. But most of them tend to go to find their mates elsewhere, but it is scarce to find Fae men.

“I will take you to see our leader,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nod once again; he turns around and starts to walk away. I followed him into the campsite.

Most campsites of Fae’s are treehouses, but some make houses in the forests; humans call them cabins.

I walk past some cabins which have lights on; the smell of food reaches my nose, which sends my mouth watering, but nausea comes back with a vengeance.

I swallow what comes up, which is not my finest hour. The man looks over his shoulder at me and frowns. “Are you okay?” He asks.

“I’m fine; I just haven’t eaten tidy in a few days,” I said quietly.

We walked through the campsite, and we came to a tent.

What an odd thing to have for a leader?

I look at the man; he nods and pulls the cover back as I walk inside.

Inside was huge, and the outside was made to cover the magic used for the tent.

“Come in,” says an elderly voice.

I looked over to the side to see an older woman standing by a table, but she was not alone. There were five other women with her. They all looked at me.

I never give them my name, well, until I know more about them.

I smiled at them, “Hi,” I said as pleasantly as I could.

The older woman walked to me, and she was holding a bowl of something. “Here, come and eat with us,” she says as she holds the bowl out to me. I grab it, but the smell instantly hits my nausea again.

I placed it down and put my hand over my mouth; I couldn’t help but turn and throw up to the side of me.

The old woman was in front of me, and when I moved away slightly, she placed her hand on my head. “You have a fever, dear,” she said in a worried voice.

“I feel....” I say, but I suddenly feel faint.

I can’t help but fall. My eyes closed. I have no clue what happened.

I woke up for what seemed like a few minutes, but judging from the older lady sitting on the bed that I was lying in. I was trying to figure out how I got there, but then I noticed the man from earlier looking at me with a worried expression.

I move slowly, but my head makes me flinch. It hurts like I was hit by a bus or something.

“What happened?” I asked whoever would answer me.

“You fainted, my dear,” says the woman, she looks at me but c***s her head to the side, and a smile forms on her face, “You seem to have a fever; why have you come here?” She asks.

“I came to seek shelter for a little while. I have been on the run for a few years,” I say, but I realize that the old woman knows more.

My magic within me is reacting to her; she knows about me. How the hell does she know? The only people who would know about me would be...

I looked at her and moved away quickly, which wasn’t a good idea as it made me want to throw up again.

“It’s okay, dear,” she says. The old lady looks at the man, “You can leave; she knows.”

The man nods and walks away.

The old lady looks back at me, “I think I will talk while you get your bearings,” she says.

I nodded and moved up the bed, leaning back on the headboard.

“My name is Rosalie; I'm the Elder of the campsite here,” she says with a smile, “I knew who you were when Drake described you to me. The king has been looking for you.”

I gulp, but she shakes her head, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them you are here, we all escaped the Fae world for a better life, and I haven’t been back there in over 50 years.”

I looked back at her but frowned. “How do you know about me?” I asked.

She smiles, “I have friends still there; they tell me everything as many people fear the mad king, and we need to know when he will come here. He has been sending hunters and warriors into the human world to hunt for you. You can trust me,” she says, but her face changes, “There were two of you; where's your friend?” She asks.

I look at her, “Freya found her mate. I left her with him as he could protect her more than I could, and we argued,” I said quietly.

Rosalie looks at me and nods, but she looks at me as if she is studying me, but she opens her mouth, “You found yours too, but you didn’t want to stay.”

I looked at her with wide eyes, “How did you know?” I asked her, feeling quite confused.

She looks at me and shakes her head, “You smell of a werewolf; you're carrying his child.”

I looked at her, puzzled.

“I can’t be.....we only...” I say in a strutting mess.

“There is a werewolf who lives here, and he followed you all the way. He also told us that you used your magic on him, which is very impressive,” she says with a smirk.

“He keeps an eye on the field you walk through as the werewolf pack tends to wander around here, and they like to discover what we are. I have placed a barrier spell so nothing will come in here, but the wolf could tell you are pregnant; you must have mated with your mate as we only have babies when we are with our mates,” she says.

I keep quiet; I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m pregnant.

Rosalie clears her throat, which makes me look at her and brings me back from my thoughts. She smiles, “You can stay here; it is safe, and I won’t tell anyone who you are,” she says.

I gave her a small smile, “Thank you,” I said.

She nods.

She was about to leave when I realized that I had never given her my name. “My name is Thalia,” I said, which made her stop.

She looks over her shoulder at me, but her face looks like she knows me somehow.

“It is nice to meet you,” she says quietly and walks away.

That was weird.

But my thoughts come back.

I’m pregnant; I’m pregnant with Jace’s baby.

I need to think about what I need to do next.

I looked around the room; I didn’t think I could stay here. The way Rosalie looked at me, something was on her face when I told her my name. She knows me or of me. I want to know more, but I need to tread carefully about that. There were many reasons she knows me, but what has my mind going into a complete meltdown is the thought that there might be something else.

I suddenly felt my eyes droop once again, felt I move down the bed, and as my head fell on the pillow, I instantly fell into a deep slumber.