Betrayed By Family, Chosen By Four

Chapter 9: Run Finley Run just take a deep breath

Finley Pov:

‘You got this girl. Just stay focused.’ My wolf kept repeating as I dodged behind houses and waited for warriors to go a different direction or go inside one of the buildings. I couldn’t let anyone see me or I would be screwed.

I made it to the last cabin and peaked around. There were three guards on patrol on the side I was facing and several pack members just walking by on their way to who knows where. I didn't see an opening as fresh panic rose up making my want to puke and cower.

‘Just take a deep breath and focus on the guards. The other pack members won't think a thing except maybe you’re running from someone or a beating. We know they just think you're a weakling that runs from confrontation or some kind of other bullshit.’ My

wolf said reminding me I just needed to focus on the ones who would actually stop me.

The guards took turns in the area and would stare into the forest for a few minutes of their time. I was going to have to time it just right and run on the side they will turn away from. I didn’t have much steam left in me and still had to go through the pain of rejecting everything I have ever known before running for my life.

Double-checking my backpack for my money, food, my map, and a phone I bought awhile ago still in the package. I couldn’t chance of being tracked. I sent a smiley face and heart to my friends before breaking the phone in half and dumping it beside the cabin I was hiding behind.

No going back now. I gave myself a few more minutes of their rotation before taking my chance. I went at a fast walk so that none of the pack members would think anything. I got a few looks of disgust and I heard a few taunts and teases from others but it wasn't anything new so I actually found comfort in that.

The guard had just turned toward the forest, so I barely made it to the side of him before he turned to the other way and I used my last burst of speed to run past him doing my best to make any noise. One wrong snap of a twig or the crunch of a big pile of leaves was all it would take before he noticed me in the forest, and I was done for. I knew I couldn't outrun any of them especially after the beating that I took and the last few nights have barely any sleep. I was running on fumes and anxiety and rage and my whole situation but even that was dying down to embers.

Just about a 5 minute run in the forest until I made it to the edge of the pack lands. I gulped thinking about the pain that was to come and the fact that I'd have to fight through it. My wolf did her best to comfort me but she wasn't in the best shape and neither was I. At this point it was either us getting caught and fighting until death or us making it out of here and hopefully living a life somewhere where we weren't tormented or at least we had three meals a day. I could do this. We could do this. My mother would want us to do this and she would be behind us 100% of the way.

‘If your mom was still here she not only would have beat the s**t out of your dad and brothers and anyone who touched you but she'd be with us right now. She would be doing the same thing choosing you over the pack because that's just the type of mom she was. That's exactly the type of person you are and I couldn't be prouder to be your wolf. Let's get through this and in the next town we're going to order the biggest steak, eat half of it because our stomach can't take all of it, and then enjoy the rest when we get hungry again later on. When we get hungry we will eat!’ I was beginning to think my wolf was more excited about the freedom of eating than actually being free but I couldn't argue with that thought process. I hadn't had a steak since my mom died and just thinking about it made my mouth water.

Making it to the edge of the pack lands I put one foot onto the unknown territory and left one on the packs. Knowing I had to have some kind of connection to the pack this was going to be the only way I could do it and have a chance of running.

“Ok here we go.” I took a deep breath and tried to calm my heart. “I, Finley Mclane, reject soon to be Alpha Tanner as my fated mate. I break all bonds now and in the future.”

My heart broke sending enough pain through my body to send me to my knees. I whined holding my chest hoping it would help relieve the pain. Nothing worked especially after I heard Tanner’s howl of pain.

‘Reject the pack, Finley. Hurry. We don’t have time to deal with this now.’ My wolf yelled trying to take all my pain but unable to.

I nodded pushed the pain to the back of my mind. “I, Finley Mclane, reject The Red Crescent Howlers as my pack and Kane as my Alpha. I cut all ties now and in the future.”

I pushed myself up and ran using the pain to funnel my last bit of energy. I ran and ran until I saw a cave. I did my best to hide my tracks with my brain slowly shutting down. I had to hope once I fell into The Cave and curled up in the corner that I did just enough before I passed out.