Take Me To Him
"Help me slip away without the pack knowing." I tell her quickly running into the room with my beta hot on my heels. Pulling open the cupboard I grab a bag painted with the colour of ash.
"This is not a good idea." She says from behind me, her eyes glancing at my male lying upon the bed held by deep slumber.
"I know. But the matter leaves me with no choice." I reply whilst walking around the house picking up the supplies I need. Water, food, clothing...knives.
"But-" She begins to protest whilst I stop her with a raise of my palm. My fiery eyes turn to look at her.
"Elriam listen to me. This can go two ways, I may be too early or I may be too late. I prefer the first option." My voice low with a serious depth to it, our eyes meet as I wait for her patiently to contemplate the meaning of my words.
It takes a while for the spark of understanding to light up in her eyes. She gives me a curt nod of acknowledgement as I thank her with a quick smile.
"Kal drinks from the bottle, I taught you how to make his milk." I whisper to her who thrusts more packaged food into my bag. An older female of the pack had advised me three weeks ago that I can begin switching to formula if he takes it well and Kal indeed did.
Grabbing a shawl covering my hair and face so only my eyes remain bare to sight. If the pack knows I am leaving they shall see it as a negative sign leading to assumptions that shall merely cause unwanted chaos and devastation. If that pack finds me they may use me as bait. I need to be careful with my actions.
"Yes, Alpha."
"You are in charge whilst I am gone, find ways to calm the fire of curiosity that shall rise within the pack to my absence. Keep the scouts on the lookout, I may send a wolf back to you with news. Do not take your eyes off my male, hold him as if he is yours." As I run around the house with my quick actions my mouth spills non stop commands to her which she takes in with her hands clasped behind her back, head high and feet held apart. A warrior's stance.
"I understand." She says her voice booming and strong yet I see the fight in her eyes. She is unsure of my decision, now it is her turn to hold the immense fear I held.
I throw a pile of my unwashed clothes into her hands which she catches with ease. "If my male cries for me, wear these clothes and hold him. These clothes still hold my scent and shall calm him." My commanding voice manifests into a whisper as I near him to place a soft kiss on his cheek. He flinches but continues to sleep. "I shall bring your father back home."
Tightening the knot of the shawl at the back of my neck grabbing the bag holding it over my shoulder I give Elriam a curt nod of farewell. The fact that my house was not close to the pack lands came to my advantage and I am able to slip out with no wolf's interference.
As if the moon aided me with my decision only one truck remained, a truck meant for me to use for the warriors had taken the rest. Cronus had informed me that he would send his warriors right away. I need to be there when they arrive. Scanning the back of the truck finding several petrol jars that shall last for the ride to the war I grip the steering wheel tighter. Starting the engine, determination set free allowed to reign I drive away from my pack.
Five days, it took me five days to reach the independent pack lands. Five days of staring at the crumpled map, five days of sleeping in the tiny space at the back of the truck. Five days of taking baths in the cold streams and five days of hunting birds, frogs and wild hares.
The further I came closer to the final destination the more my surroundings changed. It became eerie and silent, wilder and less welcoming and calming. I left the truck far from the lands and went by foot the rest of the way. I held my wolf within me bounded in her cage for if she tore out of me the wolves would have recognized her scent. My body was covered in river mud that I smudged all over to hide my scent.
It was a difficult path of observing, crawling and hiding to get to their main base even searching for perhaps a camp set up by Deimos. I saw no bodies, I saw no blood. I did not understand, nothing made sense so I chose to do what looked like the best choice at the moment. I stayed put. I stayed at the same place hiding behind the shadows of the bushes for the entire day until the sun bled into darkness.
The sound of low chatter arises and I startle mind on alert quickly sitting up I peek through the leaves. Scanning the area two wolves sit upon a cut tree bark and speak between themselves. If I can fight and bound them perhaps I can get some answers. It is the quickest way and the easiest.
Picking up the knives gripping them tightly I crouch ready preparing my tactics for the attack. Once ready I make my move, it needs to be as quiet and swift as possible. As I begin to get up from my position a hand is thrust forward from behind to clamp over my mouth pulling me backwards with force.
Eyes widening I swing the knife in my hand aiming backwards one fluid thrust has the blade strike deep into the wolf's flesh. He grunts but his left hand around my waist only tightens as he pulls me further back away from the bushes, away from my safety.
He pulls me further into darkness and I struggle in his grasp kicking and scratching, I extract the knife from his flesh and he curses loudly but before I could strike him again he shoves me onto a tree elbow propelled into my neck. As my wavering vision comes back and begins to focus I stare at the male in front of me with surprise.
"Cronus?"
"Lumina." He says my name with a fury that spills out of him. His chest heaves whilst his burning gaze meet mine. His right palm adds pressure to the wound I gave him as blood gushes freely.
"I am sorry!" I shriek. Opening my bag taking out one of the used shirts I give it to him as he takes it to wipe his bloody hand and places it over his cut.
"What are you doing here? You broke our deal." He says his voice low with soft growls leaving his chest. He is furious demanding his rightful explanation. He stands in front of me dressed similarly to me a shawl that covers his face, I can only see his eyes.
"I had to. He is my mate, Cronus." I reply eyes scanning our surrounding. There seems to be no wolf present but us two. Where are his warriors? Did he come alone?
"Do you realize the risk you took? The harm that would have come your way?" He pushes me deeper into the tree as I meet with the wrath of his fury.
"I was doing good. I have observed quite a lot. I was going to gather more information from the two wolves -"
"There weren't merely two wolves, Lumina! There was plenty present hidden waiting for the wolf that shall come to be used as bait." He declares the truth as I stand caught off guard in front of him. I was sure there were only two I had scanned the area well.
"H-How do you know that?" I question whilst Cronus sighs. A low whistle leaves his lips and in a second several of his warriors come forward from the shadows. They are all dressed in black and some in dark green making it easier for them to hide.
"We practice camouflage. We converse through whistles and sounds. My warriors are the best at this." He replies finally releasing me from his hold. His anger towards me still simmers beneath surface and I find it quite interesting to see him upset for this is the first time I have seen it.
"Deimos. Have you seen him? Do you know where he is?" I capture the material of his shirt in my hands pulling him towards me my fearful questioning eyes meeting his. Cronus tilts his head whilst he gazes down at me and shuts his eyes in understanding.
"I do know where he is." He replies.
"Take me. Take me to him." I plead as he seeks my truth held deep beneath my eyes.
"I will if you promise me you will leave as soon as daylight breaks. I shall assign one of my warriors to take you home." He says waiting for my answer.
"I will. I will leave, I promise. Once I know of his well being I shall leave. Take me to him, Cronus."
He gives me a curt nod of acknowledgement and moves his eyes to a warrior behind me. The male walks forth and bows deeply to me. "This wolf shall take you. If I see you still present here tomorrow morning I shall seek retribution for breaking my deal the hard way. Do you understand me, Lumina?" Cronus asks whilst his witching green eyes glare at me.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Cronus. I mean it." I whisper and with one final glance at him, I follow the warrior who leads me another way far from pack lands to a more hidden private area.
The warrior possesses an axe in his hands that he uses to strike down thickly grown plants that block our way. He makes the path easier and on the way, he ties pieces of white string around the branches as a sign to find the way back. I wonder how Cronus and his warriors found Deimos. What kind of techniques did they use for it is difficult to find them merely with scents as it is a dense forest that hides smells.
"We are almost there, Luna Lumina." The warrior's gruff voice brings me back from my thoughts. I begin to notice several things, red paint at the roots of the trees or how I feel movement all around me yet there is no wolf in sight. These are the doings of my pack's wolves and a sense of pride and comfort looms within me for now I know I am truly safe.
As we head further into the density my eyes find light, rather fire burning on wood sticks in a circle with several tents huddled together inside. My warriors who are seated immediately get up with wide eyes and bow deep. I return their greetings with a soft smile and nods of acknowledgement.
My eyes find a large red tent in the middle and I am quickly aware of his presence. Before I could think I run, my heart pounding beneath my rib cage. Tearing open the flaps of the tent I find a droopy naked Deimos upon a folding bed with nylon straps.
Ragon who sits on a chair by the bed arises shocked by my presence. "Luna." He greets me.
"Luna? Luna who? My Luna or your Luna? Only I possess a Luna so Lumina?" Deimos speaks words I do not understand his eyes unfocused and wavering. He squints his eyes to have a look at my flesh as if checking if it were truly me. What is wrong with him?
His upper body is covered with several bandages yet he still bleeds, his wounds are fresh and deep. His lower body is covered by a thin velvet blanket where he is kept warm by a small fire burning in the middle of the room.
The tent is dark, the only light born through the fire.