Triad Mates: Of Wolves & Dragons

Chapter Five

-Harley's POV--

"I... I don't think this is the right way." I mumble but I am really talking to Archion. "I don't remember a river running through on the way to uncle Archer's pack.

I can barely feel my feet and legs as I make my way through the river. The water reaches my thighs. It is the beginning of March and so the weather is still cold and the water still feels like it's freezing.

("You just have to keep going.") Archion says.

"I know but it's been almost two days! I'm hungry and tired."

("I know but you heard the howls last night. They are still looking for you and now you are in no condition to fight in your weak state. All you can do is keep going.")

I know he is right but it is still annoying and tiering. It is hard to keep my eyes open and my stomach feels like it is eating itself. At nights when I finally stop to rest, I can barely get any shut-eye because all I do is cry as I think of my family. I don't know who the enemy is or if my family is even alive. But I know that If they are alive, I am the only chance they have right now. If I can get to my uncle's pack, I can rest and then come back with a vengeance. I'll let Archion rain fire on them.

Is... is uncle Archer even alive? He was in our pack when they attacked...and who are they? Who attacked us?

"Will they hurt Eliam? Is he even okay? How could I leave him?"

("Harley, leave all that for later. You need to focus right now.")

I know he is right... I don't like that he is telling me what to do but I know he is right so I stay quiet and do as he says but he better not get used to it.

I make it to the other side of the river. As I get out, my legs tremble. I take a rest under a tree and catch my breath.

I look up at the gray sky, no sun in sight. It has been a cloudy day all day. It will be dark soon and it seems that it will be even colder tonight than the previous nights.

("We need to find shelter... it seems that it might rain tonight.") Archion says.

I can tell he sounds different. He sounds much more tired than the first time I heard him and even then he was tired.

"Are you okay?" I ask him as I get on my feet.

("I... I am tired.")

"Oh... I thought you couldn't physically feel what I feel."

("I can't. I am tired because I have never been awake this long. Not even with your mother.")

Oh, I do remember mom telling me that. That Archion was asleep most of the time when he was in her body. He has been awake with me all this time since I called for him so he must be exhausted.

"Why don't you rest? All I need to do is keep walking."

("No, I can't leave you alone.")

And here I thought he was an insufferable lizard but I am sure he actually does care about me.

("You might get yourself killed and me with you.") He says.

"Hey!... Wait... I thought you couldn't die. I mean-"

("Let me stop you there.") He interrupts. ("I am dead. You called my soul and so I am able to experience a bit of life through you but my body died centuries ago.")

"Okay... so... you are a ghost!?" I say exaggerating my surprise.

("Don't start that-)

"You have possessed me?!" I overreact but I am just playing.

("Harley-")

"Away demon! Away! The power of christ compels you!" I hit my head with the palm of my hand as I say this and try to hold my laugh. I am tired but I can't pass up the opportunity to tease him like this.

He stays quiet for a few minutes but then sighs. ("I liked Victoria more than you.") He mumbles.

I laugh. "Well, you are stuck with me now."

He sighs again. ("I think I'll sleep for a bit after all.")

Teasing him was fun and I really needed it.

I never thought that the day would come when I would have to share my body with Archion. I have no idea how my mother did it. She's had him since she was eighteen. She told me all about it and everything that happened back when she was in that special school. That is also where she met both my dads. I loved it when she would tell me about it. Thinking of that story makes my spirits lift up just a bit.

After another hour or two, I am aware of the trees in front of me. They are different from the trees in my pack's territory and even my uncles so I know I am definitely not going the right way.

"Where am I?" I whisper. I decide to stop and think.

I really should have paid more attention to papa when he was explaining to me about neighboring packs and territories. Or when he was trying to teach me about survival in the wilderness... I threw the ball on that.

I know there are two other packs that are the closest to us. One to the east and another to the north. All the other packs are pretty far.

I stop and look at my surroundings. I look up and I can't even see the sun because it is very cloudy.

"This damn forest goes for miles and miles!" I angrily say.

This is just my luck! I am sure that when I ran, I went deep into the forest in the wrong direction because I have not seen a road at all. Not once. And if that is the case then I just might be going south.

How the hell did I get turned around like that?! I was supposed to be heading northeast!

"Uuuggg!"

I decide to climb one of the highest trees I can find. Luckily this is something I did all the time growing up so I am good at it and in no time I am almost at the top as I grunt and mumble.

"Papa tried to teach me all this stuff about survival but noooo, I just wanted to learn how to fight! Stupid one-track mindset! How is fighting going to get me out of this one now!"

I stare from the top of the tree and all I can see for miles are more trees in every direction. It is starting to get dark and I can't even see a light in the distance.

I try to push it away but all I feel is dread. I am lost in the forest. It would be okay if I was a werewolf. With werewolf sent, I would be able to find my way out, I am sure. But I am not. I do have one hope. That Archion can rest enough and get enough strength to shift and fly us out of here. That is the only hope I have at the moment.

I start to make my way down again but my mind races again. Thinking of how screwed I am right now, I start to panic and hyperventilate.

If I could fly... if Archion could shift and fly, then maybe we could get out of this. But he can't now. He is too weak.

"What do I do?... what do I do?" I ask myself.

"I am so screwed!"

I sit on the floor tucking my knees in and closing my eyes while I try to get through this moment of panic. I feel helpless, I am shaking and I feel like I can't breathe. My stomach growls, I am nauseous and I do have a headache as well.

Archion is not here to help me now so I know I have to get through this myself.

After a few minutes, I finally start to breathe normally. I can feel that light drizzle of the beginning of rain hit my cheeks.

"I think I'll rest here for the night." I whisper feeling tired and weak.

I was supposed to find shelter but I don't think I will be able to.

As the rain starts to come down on me. It is cold but the sensation of the droplets feels nice on my skin.

I shiver and soon it starts to pour down raining cats and dogs. I close my eyes and somehow feel myself fall asleep. Suddenly, I am transported into a meadow with flowers. I look up at the clear blue sky, the sun shines giving me spring vibes. I close my eyes feeling relaxed and taking in the tranquility of it all. I open them and look down at the bed of flowers in front of me. Kneeling down, I pluck an odd flower. It looks like a daisy but it has only three petals. I look down and see the rest of them the same way. Three petals on all of them as if they were born like this, not plucked.

"How... odd." I whisper.

My eyes snap open when I start to hear voices in the distance. I am completely back to this rainy horrible place.

I immediately sit up.

They've caught up with me!

I get up and take a peak from behind the tree. In the distance, I can see a few men dressed just like the men that attacked my pack. They have those special rifles in their hands and I can see there are two werewolves in their wolf forms sniffing the ground.

Something that is bothering me is that this is not normal werewolf behavior. If they were tracking me, they should have all been shifted following my scent, not just two of them. They would have caught me a long time ago if they had done that but going on foot as these men have done has given me that chance to run.

But why?

My only guess is that they want me alive... or... these men might not all be werewolves confirming my suspicion.

I turn around and look back to where I am about to run. I know that no matter what move I make now—whether it is carefully making my way or just rushing it and running—those werewolves are going to hear me because they are too close now. Not even the rain will muffle the sounds while they are this close.

I take a deep breath and start running. Immediately I can hear them behind me but still at a distance.

As I run, I lift my hand and focus on a tree in front of me. The tree bends to the side in my direction and as I pass it, it crashes into the floor behind me. I do this over and over as I run, tree by tree. This puts distance between me and them which was my goal. And as exhausted as I am, I do not slow down.

The rain has turned now into a light storm with the wind a bit wilder. Minutes have passed. I am on autopilot now. I can't feel anything behind me but I cannot stop for a second because if I do, I know my legs would give out and I wouldn't be able to walk anymore. I can only hope that this rain has washed my scent away. But I know even then, they would just follow my tracks.

I pray that the rain has thrown them away from my scent. I can't hear them anymore but something tells me that they are still after me. I continue to run and run and run. By now I am sure I have been running for an hour or more and the rain has now stopped completely. I suddenly run down a slope. It is muddy so I glide down and when I reach the bottom, I fall on my knees. I try to get up. My legs shake and with all the will that I have, I get up and try to run. Though I fall a couple of times, I manage to get up and take running again. I go as fast as my legs will allow me. I look back because I can swear I hear something behind me but I see nothing and I know it is my panicked mind. I am so distracted that I don’t see when I hit a wall. Or what I think is a wall. I fall to the ground holding my now hurting cheek.

I look up and see this giant man peering down at me. He looks older than me by about maybe two to three years. I can’t quite see his face but his eyes... are darkened, with no white in them to be seen which means he is running on his wolf's instincts. He has neck long blond wavy hair. It is wet and messy. He has a white t-shirt that is dripping wet and because of this, it is completely see-through. The guy is ripped and has had muscles for days.

He lifts his nose trying to take my scent.

As I lay on the ground I stare at the man with black eyes. I know he’s a werewolf, growing up with his kind made me aware of their features even in their human form but I can tell he is not one of the ones that have been chasing me. He is wet but does not look winded. He actually looks a bit confused to see me here.

He circles me slowly watching me. His muscles and sharp features let me know that he is a seasoned werewolf, maybe even one with title.

“How old are you?” That is the first thing he says to me. His voice is deep, manly, and gives me chills... the good kind. I look at him thinking of my options. Run and I’m ninety percent sure that I’ll be caught by him because my legs will completely give out in no time—that is if I am even able to get up now since I can't feel my legs anymore. Another option is to fight him, using my powers, and completely reveal who I am. Or... answer him and bide my time.

“Seventeen.” I answer him. He gives a satisfied growl.

“What is your name.” He asks next.

...

“... Harley.”

His face is stern, with not one expression to be seen. He stares at me for a few more seconds and finally, he looks behind me.

"Who is chasing you?" He asks.

"I... I don't know who they are." I say softly, showing just a bit of submission.

He starts to walk but looks back at me. "Stay right where you are, little fairy. I'll take care of them."

I shake my head. "Wait! There are too many and they have weapons."

He smiles back at me and I am shaken by the feeling I get. My stomach does summersaults. He has a beautiful smile and I don't understand why the hell am I thinking of this now at this perilous moment.