Asha

  Ever since I was sixteen, every attempt at attending the mating night was a failure. Damon would strictly forbid me from leaving the house, telling me I wasn't ready yet.

  Even when mother would try to protest, telling him my wolf had already awakened, he would shut her up, stating he knew what was best for me.

   He only wanted to claim me, of course.

   For the past six years, I never joined the others when it was the mating night. I was either reading, or doing some crocheting. With time, I even grew to dread the mating night.

  I just didn't want anything to do with it. My Mother's second chance 'mate' wasn't exactly the nicest to her, so it was a no no for me.

    Speaking of the mating night.

   Why the fuck am I lying on a bed of rustling leaves, surrounded by a canopy of trees, half blocking the  moonlight? I'm a hundred percent sure I was at home, trying to escape then I blacked out.

  How did i get here?

  The breeze hits my skin, sending an almost sickening chill into my bones.

  Howls rip through the air, far and near. Even so, I can hear the ground shaking with the mad number of hooves that gallop the ground.

    "What the heck?" I stagger to my feet, "Where am I?"

  Another howl rips through the air, and two wolves breeze past me, nuzzling at each other.

  It suddenly clicks. I'm at the mating ground.

   I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to have left this place a long time ago.

   Not knowing what else to do, I take to my heels, running to wherever my head leads.

   My skin is riddled with goosebumps from the cold. Each slam of my feet on the ground sends a jolt of pain into my brain.

   Of course, the fool, whoever he is, that decided to dump me here took away my shoes!

   Who even put me here in the first place?

  I keep running wherever I think might be safe, and run into a couple who are seriously in the middle of their business. The lady is crouched on all fours, while the guy keeps slamming into her hard.

   I quickly turn away from there, my heart racing, my cheeks flooding with heat.

   "Don't these people know what it is to have a room?" I mutter under my breath.

  My breath is now choppy, each painful drag I take in as breath hits my lungs like icicles stabbing them.

   I run for a while until I can't take it anymore, and I slam into the ground.

   "What a nice evening to be outside," I grit my teeth, panting as I look around.

  Out of nowhere, a slender black wolf skids to a halt in front of me, sending my heart freezing with terror. Golden eyes stare back at me, searching my soul.

   I clutch my chest, shaking my head, "Just go away. I'm not the fucking one for you," I snap, feeling the irritation creep into my skin.

   It stands there for a while, before it trots away from the spot I'm sprawled on.

   "Fuck you all," I whisper, forcing myself to stand up again.

    I have to get out of here. It will only be a matter of time before Damon's absence is noticed. I might as well use this medium to run away from this cursed place.

    My legs are burning badly, each step I take makes it worse. Still, I force myself to take off. I can't be here, I just have to leave.

   I'm still in the middle of my escapade, when a wolf brushes past me. As if struck by realization, it suddenly comes to a halt, and whips around to face me.

  What the–

  It's a massive red wolf, with burning red eyes like flames. I instantly recognize him. Roger, Damon's best friend.

   In an instant, he shifts back to his human self.

  "Asha? Is that you dear?" He narrows his eyes, searching my face.

   I hiss, "Well, yes."

   "Where's your stepfather? I didn't see him at the gathering. Also, I thought he didn't allow you attend mating nights?"

    I wipe my nose, thinking of the best reply to give him.

He comes closer, looking me over, "Are those scratches? Did he do something to you?"

    I freeze at his questions, and my eyes subconsciously drop to my hands.

   I've never really interacted with Roger, but I can tell from the few times we've spoken to each other, that he's a good man.

      I purse my lips, still deciding if I should tell him what had happened earlier.

  "What's the matter?"

  I clear my throat, "H- he tried to rape me," I finally reply his questions.

   His eyes almost pop out of his sockets, "He did what?"

  I nod, "He asked me to let him claim me tonight, and when I refused, he tried to force himself on me.."

   "So?"

   "I hit him with a vase, and I think he's dead," I rush over my words, taking a step back to see what his reaction will be like.

     He stands there for a while, looking horrified. After what seems like eternity he speaks up, "You have to leave this pack dear. If anyone finds out you did that to him, they'll try killing you."

   My eyes light up at his comment, and warmth instantly floods my heart. I didn't think he would take the news in this way, especially since Damon was his best friend.

   "You have to leave. Go!"

  A twig snaps in that moment, catching our attention, and we both turn to see who it is.

   Raphael, the Alpha's son has been standing there, eavesdropping.

  My heart instantly leaps to my throat.

   "Wait until the Alpha hears  you killed your father, just because of a minor issue," he shifts back to his wolf form, and sprints back into the woods.

   "Leave from here Asha. I'll take care of him, but make sure you get away from the borders of this place!"

   I nod, my legs trembling with worry, and fear.

  He places his hands on my head, "The moon goddess be with you."

    He then pushes me forward, "Run!"

  I take off again, my heart pounding erratically in my chest.

  That Raphael, son of a bitch!

  The howls keep snapping through the air, filling my chest with more sense of dread of what might happen if I'm caught.

  I don't know where I'm going, but I'm leaving this place– for good.

Asha

New lands.

I don't know where I am or where I'm going, but I do know I've gotten away from that place called a pack. Away from a dead beta, and a cursed people.

I carry on through the twigs, the rustling leaves, some underground bushes. It's all chaos, but it's not the end of the world.

I sigh heavily when I get to an open space. The moon is now hiding behind clouds, casting just a faint glow on the lake ahead.

"Water," I mumble, taking some slow steps towards it.

"Oh my gosh," I fall to my butt, and place my legs in it.

The cold, sweet sensation sends a chill into my bones, making me shudder sweetly.

I'm finally enjoying some peace and quiet when something... or someone groans heavily.

I jerk my legs away from the water, my eyes darting around to see who it is.

"What the hell? Did someone follow me here?" I place my hands over my mouth.

I hold on for a few seconds, and the groans sound off again, this time heavier than the last time.

I stay still for a little while longer, trying to pay attention to whatever is moving that way.

The groans don't exactly sound like the object is in some sort of struggle, but it doesn't sound so threatening either.

It seems it's calling for help indirectly.

I slowly get to my feet to see who it might be, but something makes me pause.

Is it a trap?

Is someone out to get me and sell me as a slave?

But what if someone's actually in trouble?

I take in a deep breath, then move forward, in the direction of where I hear the groans coming from.

I walk steadily along the lake, until I get to some rock, where the groans have become even louder.

I heave heavily, then peek my head out to see what it is.

It's a person.

A person who-

I finally walk to the other side of the rock to see what's happening with him.

Ah yes. A person who is struggling to get a big-ass silver sword from his chest.

"Wow, I'm so sorry. How did this happen?" I blurt out, standing there in awe of his injury instead of helping.

Did I ever mention what a weird ass I was?

The man slightly tilts his head in my direction and says something I don't quite grasp.

I just stand there like a moron, still staring right at the sword that has been driven deep into his chest.

It's so... huge.

The man groans again, and my eyes snap to his. He weakly points to the sword, and that's when my head finally snaps.

"Oh right," I laugh nervously, and grab the butt of the sword.

"This will hurt, hold on a little," I say softly, and with all my might, I pull out the damned sword from his chest.

Whew, two years of hard labour paying off.

I throw the sword in another direction and look back at him.

He still looks all weak, worse, I think he might be dying.

I kneel at his side, and place my hands on his chest, "Hold on a little, I'll heal you."

The healing gift, which I think I got from my father, was awakened in me when I turned eighteen. Apart from my mother, no one else knew I had this gift.

It is unlikely wolves have powers like this. If ever in rare cases they do, someone exploits the hell out of it, or they're sold to the Alpha.

Mother was scared this would be my fate, hence she made sure I never told anyone.

I place my hands on his injured chest, feeling the faint thrum of his heartbeat. As my hands make contact with his wounds, a faint glowing light emits from my hands into his wounds.

Then boom, it hits me like lightning. A prickly feeling at first that graduates into an electric sensation. I feel a heavy weight tearing into my skin and forcing itself into my skin.

Suddenly, my pulse duplicates, I can hear a literal growl in my head. My body shifts, and my vision blurs for a fraction of a second before it temporarily goes black.

After what seems like eternity, my eyes go back to normal. I look down at the man who's now staring at me puzzled, his eyes widening with what I believe to be terror.

'What is she? A witch?'

I retract my hands from his chest and look around, wondering who said that.

'I'm having a weird feeling about her. I don't know why, but I know something left me the minute she touched me.'

The voice comes again, louder.

Excuse me? Who is saying all that?

The voice seems to be talking in my head. A shrill voice. Too shrill to be considered that of the moon goddess.

'But my wounds are healed. Is she a good or bad sign?'

Wounds... healed-hold the fuck on!

I whip my head towards the man now sitting in front of me, his right eye twitching.

I can... I can hear his thoughts! No, wait, I mean I can actually hear what he's saying inside loud and clear, like he's having a conversation in my head!

Is that something to be worried about?

'Wait... my wolf... I can't feel my wolf!'

I gasp, placing my hands over my mouth, my eyes wide with confusion.

What's happening? Why's his voice inside my head?

"Who are you? What the hell did you do to me?" He asks in a deep, silky voice, which is surprisingly different from the shrill voice I hear his thoughts in.

I blink back at him, still registering the fact that I can hear his thoughts.

'Is she some sort of moron? Why isn't she saying anything?'

I grimace at his thoughts and cross my hands over my chest, "I saved your life, the least you could do is at least appreciate me. Hmph," I raise my nose in the air.

He feels his chest-which has been healed, of course. He looks back at me again, his pupils now dilating with each passing second.

"You stole my wolf?"

I pull my head backward, "No I didn't. Why would I do that?"

He points a finger at me, "I can't feel my wolf!" He snaps angrily at me.

I snort, "Then feel him? What has that got to do with me?"

He holds his head, his veins popping up all over his neck.

'Now she's pretending to be innocent? What exactly is this creature before me?'

"I'm Asha, thank you very much. I didn't steal your wolf, but I did save your life–"

A different voice, different from Serena's, calmly replies in my head.

Mine.

I shake my head and hurriedly get to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest.

The voice comes again, louder.

Mine.

This doesn't sound like the man in front of me, but it sure is masculine-

The realization hits me like a bullet.

I look back at a fuming man who looks like he'd explode any minute.

"I- I don't know how this happened!" I shake my head waving my hands frantically, "I'm not a witch, I promise you," I wave my hands trying to prove a point.

Mr. fuming face forces himself to stand up, and oh boy, that's a really tall creature.

'What is a Lycan supposed to do without his wolf?! I'm a nothing if I don't have Lucien inside of me.'

Lycan? Did he just call himself the Lycan king?

I'm about to say something when an arrow sticks itself in the ground, right in the middle of us.

My jaw drops. "An arrow?"

We both exchange puzzled glances for a fraction of a second.

Before I know what's happening, he sweeps me off my feet and dashes in the opposite direction.

"What's happening?"

More arrows rain in our direction. Most of them are sticking to the ground before they even get to us, but the attackers are relentless, and they keep the arrows coming.

One of the arrows whistles past, grazing my cheek.

I can't breathe.

Asha

    The arrows keep coming. This time the attackers know what to do. The arrows no longer stop a few feet before us, they now whistle past, nearly grazing us a couple of times.

  "Why the hell are these people after you?!" I gasp, my throat burning from too much swallowing.

  "That's not for you to find out cupcake," he snaps, his hand still snaked around my waist firmly.

   'Those damn rogues! I'll make sure to conjure up a plan to wipe out those fuckers!'

  Rogues? Actual rogues?

  Okay before you call me stupid, I've only heard of them in stories. I've always imagined them to be a group of homeless, sickly wolves who tried to make a living outside a pack.

  I never expected them to be damn good with fucking arrows, in.. a modern era!

And why are they even after the Lycan king?

     In that instant, I see a group of  masked men clad in black clothes, coming after us, still shooting those arrows.

  "I see a group of masked men! You should run faster, they're catching up to us!" I scream.

   "Maybe if I threw you to the side, I'd run a lot faster," he hisses.

   "What? Don't throw me to the side!" I clutch harder at his collar.

   "Stop talking! You're making me lose air you..."

'Oh goodness. I think I might just let an arrow hit me instead.'

  "Be nice to me young man. I literally saved your life!" I snap back, tired of his nagging attitude, not caring he's the freaking Lycan king.

   "At least shut up?"

   I finally keep mute, while he keeps doing wonders with his legs. Somehow, he has increased his pace, I can barely see what's in front of me.

   "I think I'm going to die from all this running on your shoulder instead," I gasp. My insides are churning badly, and my head won't stop pounding.

   "Don't tempt me into throwing you somewhere," he growls, and sharply turns to the left.

      "We lost them!" I spread my arms.

  Smack!

  My right hand hits a tree branch as the Lycan man waltz by.

   "Ow!" I cry, retracting my hands back to a crouched position.

   'I can't tell if she's extremely energetic, or extremely dim. I just can't find a trace of smartness in that little head.'

   "We just turned a corner, they are still after us and they probably saw where we went."

    My jaw drops at his thoughts. Did he just call me a fool? As if he's the smartest thing crawling on the planet.

   Suddenly, he throws me to the ground, "We have given them a bit of distance. I believe you can run now."

   Still a bit sour from his degrading thoughts, I stand up, and run after him.

   "Why am I being dragged into whatever this is?" I throw him a glance.

  "Because you decided to be a good kitty, and save my life, stealing my wolf in the process, now I'm sort of powerless against those rogues."

   "I didn't even steal you wolf! It probably likes me more that's why it decided to enter my body instead."

  He tilts his head to the side, giving me a grimace, "I don't know why I'm helping you even with this sharp mouth of yours."

   I roll my eyes, "Think of something that'll get us out of their grasp."

     "I'm thinking of something, don't worry."

    An arrow waltz past my face, making me jerk, "What the hell?"

    "Listen here sharp mouth."

  "It's Asha," I hiss back at him.

  "Right, Asha. Are you familiar with this place?"

  "No," I reply already panting.

   "Oh no," he palms his head, "What are you doing here then?"

    "Why? Aren't you familiar with this area?"

   "Uh.. no."

  "Then why are you angry with me? What the fuck?" I scowl at him, dumbfounded at how horridly rude he is.

   'We're both under attack, and she knows nothing about this place. Great, what do we do now?'

      How's it my fault? I'm a fugitive!

   He grabs my hand, "You're a bit too slow for my liking," he yanks me to another sharp turn, and I almost trip over my toes.

    "Do you even know where you're going?" I ask, my throat burning with heat of a thousand flames.

    "No, and unfortunately for the both of us, my wolf is not in me, so yeah we're hopeless."

   "Why didn't you take care of your wolf? Why the fuck is he in me?" I'm frustrated at this point. At this Lycan who's supposed to be king, and more at his wolf for jumping under my skin.

    "How am I supposed to know what you did to m–"

  We come to a halt over a waterfall.

   Great, we're trapped.

  "Oh well, I wasn't expecting to die on a random night at just twenty two years old!" I raise my hands in the air, "What a lovely life I lived," I grit my teeth.

    The Lycan sighs deeply, his hands on his waist, "A dead end."

  He looks to the side where there's a stack of huge rocks. On the opposite side, there's a sort of valley.

  "Dear moon goddess, I'm too young to die," I crash to my knees, "Is this a punishment for what I did?"

   In that instant, we hear groans, and grunts from behind us.

   "They have caught up to us," he groans, his eyes darting between the waterfall, and the valley.

   "What do we do?" I grab his leg, "We can't die! I can't die!"

   He hisses, grabs my arm, and forces me to my feet, "Stay calm, and let me think!"

    "Think about what? The way you want your funeral to go?"

   He gives me a side eye, and palms his face, "If you say one more word, I'll bash my head against those rocks, and leave you to your fate."

     What a horrible man!

   The masked men jump out of nowhere, running towards us.

  "We got them cornered! Take the man, and leave the girl alone!" One of them yells.

   "Oh no, not today," he yanks me forward, "I hope you can swim?"

   Swim? What no I–"

   He pushes me down the cliff into the  scary waterfall.

   "Aghhh! I can't breathe!" I scream, wabbling my hands around.

  "Oh my goodness, I'm going to die!" I yell, letting the flowing water into my mouth in torrents.

  The pressure of the water on my head, makes my stomach churn badly. The rate at which I'm falling isn't even helping matters.

    A strong arm wraps itself around my shoulders, gripping me tight.

  "What if I bash my head on rocks? Oh dear moon goddess, when I die please give me a good resting spot, I've been nothing but a mistreated girl from the beginning," I clasp my hands, squeezing my eyes shut.

  "I've not even had my first kiss. I don't have a mate, I haven't gotten to live my life to the fullest! Is this how my life ends?" I begin to sob.

  Splash!

  We plunge into the river below.