~Brielle
My heartrate never slowed.
Rushing outside, I slide into Chase’s car, looking over my shoulder at every opportunity. As I shove the key into the ignition, I pray Chase won’t wake up and come out here to drag me back inside to punish me. Who knows what he would do if he woke up to see that I was gone.
Turning the key, the car hisses and roars, however, fails to turn on. I try again, harder this time, but nothing seems to be working.
“Shit,” I curse under my breath, looking back toward the cabin. No movement comes from inside, although that doesn’t stop me from assuming Chase might have woken at the sound of the car attempting to start.
Suddenly, the car sputters a few times before starting up, the engine purring. Relief consumes me, but I don’t dwell on it too long. Putting the car into reverse, I back down the driveway quickly before I reach the road. Then, I put my foot down, wanting to put as much distance between that house and Chase and me.
I can’t let him catch me.
Creeping down the mountain, I try gain control over myself and my nerves. I’m not sure where I’m going, or even where I am. If I wanted to go back to the Loyalty Pack, I wouldn’t know where to go. I’m not planning on going home anyway. I need fix this first.
Fate turned against me as snow began to fall in a flurry of thick flakes, hitting the windshield as I drove.
As if a blessing was answered, a small village appeared at the foot of the hill, buttery yellow lights glinting and glowing as I approached. I don’t remember Chase driving through here, meaning I must have taken a wrong turn. Regardless, I’m grateful, hoping someone will have directions for me in one of these stores.
Pulling up outside a small storefront, I shiver. I’m still wearing Chase’s leather coat, which I peel off. It looks odd on me, and I don’t want the people of this village to think I’m about to harm them. Plus, I don’t want to be touching anything of his, no matter how cold it might be.
Well, no point waiting around.
Pushing the door open of the car, I emerge into the snowstorm, cold wind whipping against my bare arms and face. I rush through the bitter chill toward the store.
Bursting it open, I hear the tingle of the bell above my head. Everyone in the store startles at my entrance. Here I am, shivering, dusting snowflakes off my arms. Even my teeth chatter, especially seeing the lavish coats hung up in the storefront I can’t afford.
I catch a glance of myself in a mirror behind the store counter. I look crazed, my hair dusted with snow, blood strands sticking up everywhere from being tied to a bedpost and transported across the country. Even my eyes look sallow from disrupted sleep, my skin flushed pink from the cold.
“Can I help you, love?” an aged voice sounds from behind the counter. It’s an elderly woman stepping toward me cautiously, looking concerned.
Blinking a few times, I almost forget why I’m here.
“I need directions. I’m lost,” I croak, looking at the other ladies in the shop who stare. Once they notice me looking, they cast their attention pack to store racks, pretending they weren’t scrutinizing me.
“And cold. Look at you!” the older lady says, plucking a beautiful scarlet red coat lined with thick animal pelt. She passes it to me, which I gratefully put on. “Keep the coat. You poor girl, how did you get here? Where are you going, and what do you need directions for? You came to the right place.”
I collect my thoughts quickly. “I got lost up here. I don’t know where I am. I’m wondering how to get out of here.”
“You’re on the border of the Independence Pack mountains.”
Of course, I should have known. And I would have, had I known what anything looked like outside of the Loyalty Pack. Now I have to figure out where to head, to ideally find answers, or at least hide out until everything calms down.
I decide maybe these women might know a thing or two. “If you had a problem, something...out of the ordinary, what would you do, or where would you go?”
The older woman exchanges glances with another, looking skeptical. The only reason I have to trust these strangers is that she gave me a free coat from her own store. However, my questions seem innocent enough. I doubt me running from the Alpha of the Loyalty Pack is even in their own realm of possibility.
“Devotion Pack,” one lady from the other end of the room says. She has dark eyes that narrow on me. “If you want answers to your problems, I would suggest the Devotion Pack. There are special people there.”
I’ve heard rumours from there. Dark rumours.
The store owner slips something into my hand. A map. “This will lead you there. Good luck.”
Clutching it tightly, I thank her. For the coat and for the map. Then I move back to the car, ready to study the map to find a way out of here. Luckily, it seemed the road through the village will take me away from the mountains and all this snow. And to add to it, the Devotion Pack doesn’t seem too far away.
So I drove. And I drove.
I spent one night parked on the side of the road, sleeping curled up in the backseat. Waking up, I was plagued by nightmares that involved Chase following me before killing me in the most horrific way.
I woke in a sweaty mess before I quickly got back on the road. Today, I should reach the Devotion Pack. My answers may be in a place I’m unaware of, but I plan to find them.
The rest of the drive went smoothly. No Chase. Once I arrived at the border of the Devotion Pack, I couldn’t be happier. I cruised in, taking in the strange environment I’ve never seen before in my life. Overcast skies look over endless forests, leaves dark green and dull. This place isn’t densely populated, run by the previous Alpha’s son.
I didn’t stop until I came across another village.
Rumours about this Pack suggest there is magic involved. And if Ren is right in telling me Chase originally came from this Pack, I might be able to find out more about his origin, and how to control him.
Parking up, I step outside, letting the balmy air hit me. It’s nice to be out of the cold, the coat I was gifted no longer necessary.
I’m forced to wander around for awhile, the village near deserted. After at least an hour, I was about to give up when the sound of voices lures me toward a small market. The stalls don’t look like they are run by the most wealthy of people, however, the fruit and goods they are selling look amazing. My mouth waters at the sight of someone selling relish and bread. I haven’t eaten in days.
I approach the lonely man behind the store. With no money, my only option is to hope he is as kind as the women from the Independence Pack.
“Excuse me sir. I have no food and no money, and I was wondering if you could spare me just a slice-”
“Get out of here filth. You think I make money from pity?” he growls, dismissing me.
Ashamed, I back away, right into someone.
“Come in here darling. We can talk, and for free,” someone says in my ear, leading me into a tent. The inside smells like sandalwood incense, plush cushions on the floor, surrounding a short wooden table. Something metallic and thick hangs in the air. Maybe that’s magic.
The women who dragged me in here looks harmless. She adorns bright thick bulbs like jewels around her neck, wrists and ankles. The cloths draped around her are a lavish purple with golden thread.
“I see you have bad luck, new comer. May I see your Fate?” she asks.
Her eyes looks strange, suggesting she is a Gaze Reader. I’ve heard about these fabled people before, who can see your past and future in short bursts within their own minds.
With nothing to lose, I sit down on one of the cushions, opening myself up to have my mind searched. My hope is she will be able to help me find out more about Chase, and maybe a way to get rid of him from Ren’s mind.
As she looks into my eyes, I can almost feel her searching. Her eyes are a bright violent, mist swirling around the irises.
“You are in trouble, on the run from something you cannot flee,” she murmurs.
Swallowing uncomfortably, I know exactly what she means. “What do you mean I cannot flee? Is...is this problem coming for me right now?”
“This is a problem you can never escape. You are best to find a way to deal with it, rather than run. I also advice to perhaps give someone in your life a chance who you might be afraid of,” she tells me firmly, blinking a few times to end the connection between us. It leaves me lightheaded and slightly sore.
I know what she means. I give Chase a chance. By how?
And most importantly, why?