Chapter 34: Thirty-four.

Colt ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She had to, or she wouldn't have enough time to pull off her plan before Elijah caught up to her, she could already hear the faint treads of his feet as his wolf galloped after her. She smiled knowing he would underestimate her though, men always did, especially shifters who knew she couldn't change forms, even her own brothers were guilty of this. But, Colt grew up needing to know how to defend herself in all situations, and thanks to a trick her mother taught her, she also knew how to disappear. Having already laid her scent trail while she awaited on Elijah to appear, all she had to do was complete the circle. Another hundred yards at a sprint was all it would take, leaping over logs and swerving past low branches, and it was done. Without hesitating, or breaking her speed she took another three long strides and leapt, grabbing onto the branch of an oak tree fifteen feet in the air and gracefully swinging herself up into it, pausing for just a second to thank the stars for her wildcat genetics.

From there, she nimbly climbed higher, making her way up till she was around forty feet up and concealed by the fading leaves of the old oak tree. Smiling to herself she watched as Elijah in his wolf form paused at the base of the tree, realising he was faster than she thought, and that she only just made it to her hiding spot. Colt waited to see if he was smarter than she thought as well, her stomach in a knot both hoping he would and wouldn't look up. She held her breath and, refused to move a muscle as she watched him sniffing the base of the tree, moving his head around left, to right and right to left.

But, Colt had laid her trail well and Elijah did move on, following the scent to where it seemed stronger, and Colt let out a sigh of relief, panting to catch her breath again. She waited until his footsteps had retreated around the large circle she had walked before his arrival, only lowering herself about halfway down the tree when she was sure he was a reasonable distance away from her. From there, she took a deep breath and started to gracefully make her way through the branches, using the canopy to get around rather than the forest floor. She had a hunch Elijah would overly rely on his wolf senses to find her, it's the same as her brother's always did when she was young and they would play hide and seek. Until one day, their Mom took pity on them and told them to try looking up, once in a while.

Colt kept up a brisk pace, even while she manoeuvred her body through and around branches. She was practically running through the tree tops now, effectively judging which branches would hold her weight and which ones to avoid as she did so. Unfortunately, she did slip a couple of times, due to the alcohol in her system, but for the most part she found the adrenaline was a sufficient suppressor to it's overall effects. Even, if it were the only reason she had started this potentially problematic game of chase in the first place.

She thanked her lucky stars that tonight there was no wind to allow her scent to travel to Elijah on the breeze, and before too long she was in the treetops surrounding the horse paddocks with a smile. She started to descend then paused, in the distance she heard a loud and very pissed off sounding wolf howl. Elijah had finally discovered, she had literally been leading him in a giant circle, by the sounds of it. He was bound to change his tactics now, she mulled over, before climbing higher into the tree tops again to wait and see if she were right.

Colt waited bout fifteen minutes, the chill from the cold Autumn night had well and truly settled into her bones, as she struggledto stop her teeth from chattering together in protest. She watched, as Elijah strode out of the tree line in all his naturally given glory. Colt smiled the cold fading somewhat as she began to feel a little flustered. Not only was she smiling because of what she would argue was the best view in the world, Elijah's naked backside, but also because he had came out calmly so as to not spook the horses again. She watched as he strolled up her garden path, shifting back to his wolf form as he did so, and laying down in front of her door after sniffing around to ensure she wasn't home yet first, but not before he cocked his leg and relieved himself against the building.

Colt shook her head at his territory marking gesture. She would make him suffer for that later she decided, there was no doubt in her head about that. But for now, she had to decide what to do. Obviously, she couldn't go home, she needed somewhere else to to go where Elijah wouldn't think to find her. She silently mulled over her options, and after a few considerations, the perfect location dawned on her. It would be the last place Elijah Lupus would ever consider looking for her.

Silently she crawled back into the canopy and away from her house, still not daring to drop down to the ground, in case Elijah had changed his plans again. Another few miles of navigating her way through the treetops and she had arrived. Colt scanned the area for another ten minutes, to make sure she wasn't followed, before dropping from the sycamore tree she was perched in, and onto the ground below her, landing in a crouch. She was hidden by a large black SUV, and still no one stopped her. So, she dusted off her leggings, annoyed to discover they had more than a few tears and walked to knock on the cabin door, while trying to pull a few twigs and leaves out of her hair.

She heard shuffling inside as the door swung open, revealing a confused looking Zachary on the other side. She was obviously not who he was expecting.

Zachary stepped back, allowing Colt in immediately, full of concern at her bedraggled appearance. He looked around behind her for his Alpha, but with no sign of him he closed the door and followed Colt into the lounge area. He found her sat, shivering beside the little stove, evidently absorbing all the heat it had to offer, in an attempt to chase the chill out of her bones. She was still smiling though, with a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Please tell me you haven't killed my best friend?" Zachary asked, only half joking.

This pulled a full on belly laugh from Colt, before she replied "Oh come on now, I know I look bad, but to take out Elijah, I'm pretty sure I would look a lot worse than this Zachary."

"All the same, Luna, I will need to hear the words." he smiled, raising his eyebrows and foldimgbhis large arms across his chest.

"He is fine, Beta no need to worry. Although at this moment in time, I would bet he is feeling a little silly." she said with a wink, while rubbing herr arms up and down vigorously to heat up.

Zachary looked curious, but before he could respond Marcus came down the stairs sleepily to join them, the strange voices having woken him up.

"What's going on?" he asked, before he spotted Colt. "Hey are you alright?" he asked startled by her appearance, and speeding up his entry into the room.

"I'm fabulous, a little cold maybe. Though I wont lie, your Beta's hosting skills suck." she laughed. "I have had quite the work out and not even a drink of water has been offered my way boys." she tisked playfully.

"Luna, can I get you something to drink?" asked Zachary, taking the hint with a smile.

"Oh, alright I would love a glass of water Beta, but only if it's no trouble." she smiled sweetly at him, continuing to call him by his title as he did to her.

Zachary went to get the water as Marcus came to sit with Colt. When he returned he gave her the water then sat down on the couch across from the cousins and asked, "So, if you didn't kill Elijah, where is he exactly? He was supposed to be tracking you, did he not catch up with you?"

Colt tilted her head, considering her options before asking, "Can I trust you boys?"

"Always." they answered in unison. With Zachary adding in, "And, I think you will find we are men, not boys."

Colt sipped her water, enjoying the cool liquid slipping down her parched throat. Once she had finished she placed the glass on a coaster and started to speak. "Whatever you say, Beta. And yes, Elijah did catch up with me, however..."

"Shit, you left him for dead didn't you?" Zachary asked scrubbing his face.

"No, I didn't lay a finger on him, I swear. My tongue, well, that's another story and I'm not a saint..." Colt responded, his eyes glittering at the memory of lying atop his nude body.

"No. No." Marcus butt in, with his hands held up in the air. "You were like my little sister, just stop please."

This brought a laugh to both Colt and Zachary, seeing Marcus squirm uncomfortably.

Zachary, unhelpfully added "You will be glad you didn't stay in the club then, with her display on the dancefloor."

Colt had the grace to blush at this comment, cleary she had started to marginally sober up, as Marcus covered his ears, begging them to stop.

"Anyway," Colt began, pulling Marcus' hands away from his ears, "We played a little game of chase, once he was suitably inspired, that is. I told him if he could catch me, I'd let him mark me." She grinned.

"You mean to tell us you out ran him here?" Zachary asked baffled. "After promising him that?"

"Oh, no." Colt smirked again, leaning back into the cushions, "He would have been way too fast for that. He also has no idea I'm even here, and for now I want to keep it that way please." she smiled genuinely. "The last I saw of Elijah, he was laying his furry butt down, at my front door."

Both men at this point start to smile, realising the prank she was playing.

"Okay, how on earth did you do it?" Zachary asked, baffled but delighted with the game.

"You were in the trees weren't you?" Marcus chimed in. "You were always climbing trees when you were younger. Auntie Isla, was so proud, where as Uncle K. was always an emotional wreck watching his three year old, swinging about it trees, about six feet off the ground."

Colt smiled, nodding. "Don't tell Elijah. But yes, and Beta, you first security tip from the Merrier's. Remind your wolves to look up when in animal form." she laughed.

They laughed for another few minutes before Zachary added, "Okay, I wont tell him, nor will I tell him you're here just now, but only on the condition that we can be there when he finds this out."

"Deal." Colt nodded, smiling. "Now, can one of you two gentlemen, kindly show a lady to Elijah's room, I want as much beauty sleep as I can cram into the next few hours till morning, please." She asked kindly.

"He is in the master it's all yours, Luna." Zachary said respectfully, impressed at the skills of the pack's new Alpha female. "I assume you know the way from there?"

"Yes, I hope so anyway, I did oversee the construction of these cabins. Thank you." Colt smiled, and wandered off up the stairs to grab a hot shower in the ensuite, then fall into Elijah's bed. The thought filled her with glee as she wondered whether she should expect company before she woke up later in the morning.

Author's Note: I have to ask did you underestimate Colt the way Elijah and Zachary did? What a little minx she is.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you so much for reading. 😊 B. x