Her Savior Alpha
Chapter 33

Transformed, I landed on my four legs, the half-moon circle of Reily and his friends awaiting my first move. With a nod to Reily, I turned to face the entrance of the forest a short distance away.

“Let the ceremonial chase begin,” Dane boomed, his voice reverberating through the air. I bounded forward, starting the run, feeling the others set off behind me. I headed towards the woods, the onlookers following behind. I felt the light thuds of paws on grass behind me, soft and threatening all at once to any prey who could hear it. Upon reaching the woods, the sounds of chirping, branches snapping, leaves crinkling, and dirt squishing beneath my heavy footfalls. I peeked over my white shoulder, watching Reily’s champagne-colored wolf with white crawling up his legs from his paws, leaping over a large root. His group followed close behind him in a V-formation practically. I turned forward, feeling my nose burned with the wind rushing at my face. The run was exhilarating, as it always was, and although I was still a little confused about the way the event was unfolding, I felt fresh, as though born anew and ready for a lift that I’d always yearned for.

With my Lycan speed, I whirred through the trees, fst as lightning and shaking plants and bushes in their places as I passed. After only a few minutes, I practically lost my pursuers. It may have been a ceremonial chase, but I was going to put my all into it.

I had spoken too soon, for a hefty, stocky-looking wolf leaped behind a tree in the distance, gradually gaining up on me. I recognized him at Reily’s friend with the undercut; his eyes were sharp, feline-like and midnight black; fur a thick, luscious coat of black, shimmering with a blue-tone. He got nearer and nearer, prompting me to pick up the pace. I enjoyed the challenge. In my inattention, I nearly tripped over a few large stones, but balanced myself immediately, although it slowed down my progress.

I wasn’t competitive, so I didn’t mind when he go close - until one of his front paws swiped me, claws nearly biting into my side. Alarmed, I looked behind me, the wolf’s eyes filled with empty coldness. It was intimidating, to say the least. Was this a part of the game? Perhaps Reily’s group still had some qualms about accepting and wanted to take this chance to get in a hit before I was off-limits. I dashed forward, pumping my legs faster to get out of his vicinity. He strayed a bit behind me soon enough.

I jumped over a large rock in my way, heart alight with how well I’d become at this wolf thing. I looked back behind me again, seeing no one, the previous wolf out of sight.! Were they really that far behind me?

Suddenly, a large weight slammed into my right side, the dark blur zooming from the dense trees. A whirl of green and brown filled my vision as I rolled around on the ground from the impact. What was that - an animal? It felt purposeful in its movement. Picking myself up, I met the glowing dark eyes of a chocolate brown wolf - Gina?

What are you doing? I tried to reach her through the mind link.

What I should have done a long time ago. Her icy voice echoed in my head.

She snarled, bounding for me, but I broke into a run, this time heart feeling like a whirring powerhouse in my broad wolf chest.

This isn’t how the chase is supposed to go! I told her, panicking slightly. What’s going on?

Hah! Chase - this cute little ceremony is bullshit, honey.

A cold chill ran through me, and it wasn’t just from the rain; the worst-case scenario ran through my mind. Were they actually trying to hurt me?

I’d never tried to communicate with Reily through the mate bond’s strong mind link, but it was long due. As I scampered across the forest floor, I felt Gina at my heels.

Reily! I cried out, Reily, can you hear me?

I hoped with all the faith I had in my heart after a life of hopelessness that Gina was going off-script for her own vindication. It did seem unusual that she didn’t try anything with me after Reily dumped her. She was taking this chance to get back to me - it was the only thing that made sense. Although why she would choose this event to do such a thing didn’t seem smart; why not intercept me in private or do something secretly malicious? I knew Dane wouldn’t necessarily do anything to punish her if she hurt me… but perhaps Reily would care? I was his mate after all.

Reily, please. If you can hear me, answer. I think Gina’s trying to hurt me.

A moment passed without any response and I got increasingly more stressed. Another snap behind me and I turned to see a burly wolf joining Gina in the chase, one with close-cropped gray and brown fur. I sped up, feeling my fur slicken with sweat.

Vera, an eerily calm voice filled my head.

Reily! Oh thank the Moon Goddess, please you have to help me. I think your friends still have something against me. Where are you?

I’m close.

Hurry, I don’t think I can keep going for long.

Suddenly, a light brown, reddish wolf dashed from between the trees to run alongside me, parallel to my body. It was Reily, his golden eyes glinting my way. Thank goodness.

Reily, I’m so glad you’re here, I said in relief.

He said nothing, but after a heartbeat, his large body glided closer until he barreled into my shoulder, sending me skidding to the right, paws tripping over each other.

What are you doing? Is this was the chase is supposed to be?

A grin let Reily’s white fangs peek through. Vera, oh, Vera. How stupid could you be?

No, it couldn’t be. This was not happening.

What do you mean? I whimpered, desperately hoping it wasn’t what I thought was unraveling.

This whole thing was a set-up to finally get back at you, he explained with glee. You thought have some protectors and little bit of training could get the best of me? You made a wrong move. Luckily, you were stupid enough to fall for this.

With a savage snarl, he pushed me with the entire force of his body, and I careened several meters away.

I howled as I got back up, tears dripping down my wolf eyes. All I could do was run for dear life. With my Lycan powers, I managed to speed up ahead of Reily and his minions, replaceing a dense section of the forest, tree branches and thick roots alike entangled in wild, overgrown vines.

I rolled underneath the thick brush in this part, where trees are closer together and wild brambles ran amok. I lay my body flat on the leaves and dried soil of the first floor, hushing my heaving breath. The barks and howls of Reily’s group of wolves were clear to me, and I could see their shapes in the distance, between the thick lines of trees. They whirled their heads around, trying to pick up on any hint or snap that could discern where I had gone. I knew they could probably smell me, but for now I was safe. I had to hope they would think to look elsewhere, giving me time to scurry the opposite direction.

Got you! A feminine voice growled in my head, glee in her every syllable, right before heavy paws landed on my back. I’d been found out, and a roll in the sticks and stones pricking at me later revealed Gina’s brown wolf straddling my body. She glowered at me on the flat of my back, scratching at me. I pawed her off, using my human combat skills to land a few hits, the final pushing her off.

I screamed out, Stop! Please, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Is anyone listening?

Ambling away, trying to pick up speed again, I wove in and out between the trees, trying to lose them.

No one’s going to help you, Vera! Reily’s voice filled my head, loud.

Reily, why are you doing this? I thought you wanted to put everything behind us, I thought you wanted to be my mate!

Hah, and you believed me so easily. Look here, you wench, when I first found out we were bonded, I cursed my luck. I would never accept you, not for what you did nor for who you are. I hate you, and I reject you as my mate.

Reily’s voice filled my field like a brain freeze, his words cracking my heart like a heavy boot upon an icy lake. And I felt like I was slipping, sinking into deep, frozen waters, to drown in the dark. I was truly alone to suffocate in my own foolishness.

Beyond the shutters of trees, I could see a flurry of dark forms running along with us. Pack members from the events? They must have followed behind to get a first-hand view of the show. Or perhaps, a small, child-like voice wondered, they realized something was off and came for my aid.

As the burly gray and brown wolf tumbled at me, pushing me against the scratchy bark of a tree, I tried to call for help.

Someone, please! Help me, I’m in trouble, I called out, projecting my mental voice out to anyone in the pack. Please, this ceremonial chase was a farce, I’m actually being chased and they want to hurt me!

I got up from against the tree, urging my tired bones to run. The pack of wolves from a distance didn’t break away from the group to come to my aid.

Archer! Please come help me! I tried, as Gina collided with me once more. I turned to swipe at her in defense, managing to clip her ear. I distracted her enough to whirl back around and get onto sprinting.

Clive, please! I need help! My two boys, I knew for certain, would have come in an instant. They probably were preoccupied or too far away. If they had been with the onlookers following along, they would have urged the pack to stop the chase immediately and come to protect me. I knew it deep in my heart. But no one responded.

My heart cracked further; I’d never thought my pack could hurt me more than they had already done in the past five years. But this, this was somehow the worst; it cut through me like an iron sword, the fact the not only did no one try to help, but that the crowds of onlookers were enjoying this.

You’ve been fooled, dear Vera, just like the little bitch you are. Reily

The pain of betrayal ached - but the ache of my injuries would grow if I didn’t do anything.

Lost in the realization of the horrible turn of events, I missed a silvery gray wolf with yellowish eyes leaping at my side to dig long claws deep into my shoulder. I mewled in pain, picking up the pace even as my muscles burned.

A searing pain burned at my leg, and I realized a bit too late that one of the wolves had maws wrapped around my leg like it was a chicken leg. The sharp teeth sank deep into my tough flesh, and I screamed in agony. Blood dampened my leg, painting the white scarlet, and in my flight, a realization manifested in my mind, expanding until it was tattooed into my neural pathways.

In this chase, I was the ceremonial victim, and my predators intended to kill.