Rise of The Abused Wolf

Five(Aurora)

Later in the evening, once I was fully treated and shown to a room, I stood in front of a large bay window staring out into the night. The grounds below were deserted, and I didn't think I'd have any trouble escaping without being discovered.

Even though I was appreciative of Lux and healer Hayes’ help, I couldn’t stick around. I had no place here and I would be nothing but an eye sore.

Looking down, I took in the distance between my window and the ground, debating whether or not the impact from jumping would hurt me. I was still weak and recovering since my recovery abilities had never been good since I was young, but I needed to leave.

Sucking in a breath and closing my eyes, I leapt forward, feeling the empty space beneath me before plummeting to the ground.

Gasping, I curled to lessen the impact as I slammed into the ground and rolled. Even though I managed to lessen most of the blow, I could easily feel a broken rib that made breathing difficult. Ignoring it, I began to move, making as much distance between myself and the castle as possible.

Only when I reached the edge of the dark woods did I stop and take one last look, feeling like I had somehow left something behind. Shaking off the ridiculous thought, I made my way towards... I didn’t know where, but I only hoped that wherever it was I would be welcomed.

Scurrying along the ground and in the bushes kept me on high alert. I wasn’t sure if Ratize resided this close to the alpha king's domain, but I couldn’t let one sneak up on me. They were vicious little things that ran in large packs. Even though one or two alone wouldn’t do much to someone, a whole herd could easily eat away an adult’s flesh within minutes.

Shivering at the thought of that happening to me, I quickened my pace, ignoring the screaming of pain in my chest as my breathing picked up.

Just as I managed to find myself in a clearing, the sound of a stick snapping and hushed whispers stopped me dead in my tracks.

Whirling I tried to determine where it was coming from, but couldn’t manage to spot anything until the stench of BO and booze hit my nostrils.

Heart pounding I attempted to retreat just as two very large wolves appeared in front of me, their silver eyes glowing in excitement as they took me in.

Cursing I realized that they were two of my stepfather’s men and that they were definitely here looking for me. Turning I began to dart into the woods while attempting to change.

"f**k!" I hissed, realizing that I was too injured to shift into my wolf form.

Breaking into an all-out run, I could only pray to the goddess that I managed to outrun these two wolves that were power houses.

‘Don’t try to escape.’ A low, rumbling voice sounded in my mind, sending waves of shock rolling through me.

‘Like hell, I won’t.’ I growled back, trying to push him out of my head.

What could only be described as cackles rumbled much too close behind me as claws sank into my calf causing me to fall forward slamming hard into the ground.

‘Got you.’ The man howled in excitement.

Yanking my calf free, I turned around to watch as the two wolves began to shift back into their human forms.

Eyes growing wide, I realized that the two were my stepfather’s most elite trackers and that I was in bigger trouble than I thought.

"Surprised to see me, princess?" Alec asked with a broad smile beginning to form on his scarred face. "You sure haven’t made this easy on us."

Confused, I realized that a few of the scars on Alec’s face and arms were new. Beside him, Preston wasn’t any better off, with three fresh claw marks marring his cheek. The only thing I could come up with for their words and the new wounds was my stepfather taking his anger at my escape and lack of being found quickly enough out on them.

"For every f*****g wound I’ve received, I’m going to return times three to you." Preston growled and began to move towards me.

"Remember she has to be brought back alive." Alec said as Preston wrapped a hand around my wrist, yanking me to my feet.

"Alive, but not in one piece." Preston laughed, his eyes beginning to glow red.

Feeling my heart beginning to beat wildly in my chest, I attempted to try to break free as Alec moved forward, a hungry look forming in his eyes.

"Oh look," Alec cackled, grabbing hold of my neck. "She knows to be scared, how cute. You see these f*****g scars, b***h?" He growled, tightening his grip. "This is your fault!"

He lifted a hand and placed it on my cheek while extending his claws. Pressing hard, I felt them begin to cut into my skin as he pulled his hand down, slowly, finding joy in the pain he was inflicting on me.

Feeling tears prick my eyes I bit my lip hard, tasting blood as I did so to keep from screaming out. I wouldn’t give these two the satisfaction of seeing me beg for mercy.

"She’s trying to be strong." Preston laughed, punching me in the stomach.

Coughing, I curled in on myself as he began to hit me again and again, easily breaking another one of my ribs in the process.

Enjoying the pain they were inflicting, the men continued to attack, scratching and hitting until I collapsed on the ground in a pool of my own blood. Closing my eyes, I prayed to the goddess for it to be over soon. By this point, all I wanted was to disappear from this world entirely anyway. I had nowhere to call home, no one who cared for me, and I was basically just a waste of space. No one would care if I was gone anyway.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

Eyes flying open, I looked towards where the voice suddenly came from as joy and shock ran through me. Standing just at the edge of the clearing with a black and red aura of rage swirling around him was Lux, and if I was seeing it correctly, he was pissed.