4: Dragon

After about an hour of running, I heard howls from the distance and my heart rate quickened. I Jumped into the flowing river, washing myself in it and making my way into the mountains. If they were tracing my scent, they are likely to loose it at the river. Thorns pierced my feet but I kept running as every wound I sustained along the way miraculously healed quickly except for the bleeding from my arm which left me worried.

After hours of running, I came to a halt, the sun would soon rise and I am now two packs away from Kaden. I knew I shouldn’t be resting but I needed to. I stopped by a cave and shift into my human form. Zipping the bag, I searched desperately for a bottle of water and gulped almost all of the content down. I let out a huge sigh and leaned back against a warm scaling object. I was tired, too weak to check what it was. With heavy eyelids, I dozed off in the warmth of this strange thing keeping me company.

My eyes flutter open and I immediately jumped up to my feet. I stepped forward and my head hit the cave rock and I stumbled back and fell on something scaly, cutting through my shirt into my skin. I hissed at the sharp pain and a loud growl behind me made me jump to my feet. My heart left my chest as my body trembled. I turned around and my soul disappeared from my body as deep-amber scary eyes and misty nose stared at me. He was huge with grey scales that has golden outline. A creature feared by werewolves. They dominate this part of the world and werewolves do everything in their power to stay away from them. They are ruthless. Their breath could burn a pack down in a second. I never wished to meet one. Not in this life and not in another life but here I was, standing before a Dragon.

My body temperature skyrocketed, his breath becoming hotter with each passing second. There was only one thing in my mind – run!

My feet brushed against the wet ground as I sped into the forest. My heart pounding in my chest as I ran under the canopy of the trees. I could feel him. I could see his shadow. He is above me, searching for an opening to catch me. I should be running in the opposite direction but running in an open space would be stupid. I would rather run into another pack territory than let a dragon catch me.

His flapping wings sound filled my ears, reminding me he was above me and could catch me anytime soon. I can’t stop. I quickly shift into my wolf form, using my wolf strength to run faster than I was.

F*ck!

I whimpered as he reached downward from a little opening and tried to pin me with his claws. I barely escaped. He was huge. More than thrice my size. I diverted into a tunnel which I know very well is forbidden because there’s a sign that warns people not to enter.

I kept running but suddenly stopped. What if he is waiting for me at the end of the tunnel? Where does this tunnel leads? What if it leads to it’s lair? I hit my paws on the ground in agony. Saliva dripping from my mouth.

I made a quick turn and started running back in the direction I came from. I believed I could lose him this way but dragons are skillful hunters. Their eyes can see objects in miles. After almost making it from the tunnel? I heard howls from distance. My heart rate quickened. Fear cursing through every part of me. The howl sounds like Kalover Pack’s howl –My pack. I heard another howl from my left, about ten kilometers away from me and I was convinced it was the howl of the pack territory I’ve breached . I am not sure they know there is a dragon hovering over them yet. I stood rooted in my position not knowing what direction to run to. If the wolves find me, they would kill me and if the dragon finds me, he would kill me and have me as a meal. He might not even eat me. He might just toy with my body and go away. I don’t know which is worse but I do not want to die in the hands of Kayden or any other wolf. Before I could come up with a plan, I was surrounded by two packs of wolves, snaring at me and eluding smell of death. Their teeth were long and pointy, ready to bury them in me.

I growled at them, warning them to stay away from me but they were not affected by my little growl. My legs trembled but I tried to keep my stand, not wanting to show my fear but deep down, I knew I was a mess. I was wrecked with fear and I knew they could sense and smell the fear reeking from me but I chose to be in denial.

I counted them mentally. There were six wolves from Kalover and five from the territory I’ve breached. They were all strong wolves. Too strong for me to handle but I refused to go down alone.

Kaden shifted into his human form, naked from head to toe and my wolf groaned at the sight. The sound of snapping bones made me turn my neck and I saw a different naked body. He looked like an alpha and could pass as one as my wolf struggled to bare her neck and submit totally at their authority.

I whimpered, not able to hold my head up any longer and collapsed to the ground, breathing erratically and whimpering in submission to them.

" A slave of mine got into your territory. I am here to get her back.” Kaden said, taking a step forward and I whimpered loudly. I don’t want him close.

" She breached the code. She is ours to deal with. You can take her away only if we allow you, Kaden.” The other alpha said, smirking Kaden’s name. I love the way he belittled Kaden without referencing him as an alpha.

While they exchange words, negotiating me, I looked for an opening to escape.

I cannot go back and be a baby making machine. My life would be worst than that even now.

Before I could take a step which I already did, sharp canines dug into my thighs and I growled in pain. I turned around and bite the brown wolf on the neck, not letting go until he became limp. My jaw moved away from his neck, another growl escaping from my mouth as another pair of sharp teeth dug into my arm, tearing my flesh apart. The pain shifted me back to my human form and I laid on the ground, knees curled to my chest, panting and covered in blood.

" She killed my young warrior!” I heard the angry voice of the big alpha. He was furious but his anger was not directed at me but at Kaden. Even if it was directed at me, I had no reason to be afraid anymore. I am wounded. What more can happen than loosing my already wretched life?

As I bled out, my head became foggy but I tried to keep my eyes opened, holding unto a hope I didn’t know was in my heart. I wished he would save me. But even if he did, he would be doing it for his own benefits. It won’t be genuine and that broke the pieces of my heart which I had patched together for years.

" What do you want? Give her to me and I will give you anything you want, Brantley.” Kaden said, desperation in his voice and for the first time in ages, my wolf was happy. It felt good but I despised him.

" Because she is your breeder? The only person who can give you living pups?” Brantley questioned.

" Yes. She is my breeder. That is why I am offering anything you want. You know I can take her by force but we both don’t want that. You already have a dead man.” Said Kaden and his words, just like a sharp invincible knife, cuts through my already bleeding heart.

" I would rather watch her die before your eyes than give her to you,” Brantley spat, provoked by Kaden’s words and I faintly heard him order his men go grab me.

Just as they were about to do that, a loud roar from above filled our ears. Though my eyes were slightly closed, I could feel the shadow that has suddenly canopied us. It was him.

" Fuck!” They cursed in unison and I heard swooshing movements and groans. The sound of footsteps hitting the ground, escaping into the forest hit my ears and the next thing I felt was weightlessness as the breeze slapped my face mercilessly as he flew over, taking me to an unknown destination with my fate in his hands.