With every day that passes, I'm getting highly aware of the fact that the universe has something against me for sure. Because why the hell am I chasing after the stupid hare my mate caught for me when all I wanted was to take a nice afternoon walk?!
"Hey, hey! Stop there! Stop there, little guy!"
And why the hell are these freaking hares so fast? That stupid alpha! What was stopping him from getting me a turtle? That would've been less work and more easy to chase.
"Dude, you're making me regret letting you roam around the garden. I cannot let you go yet," I sighed, getting irritated as now with each step I took, the hare leaped two more.
"Little guy, please have mercy on me," I begged and then immediately stopped when I saw it pause to nibble on some plant. "Dude, seriously? You ran out all the way here just to eat some freaking plant? Didn't I give you enough herbs and twigs at home? If all you wanted was some variety in your meals, you could've told me that." I shook my head before heaving a sigh again. "Who am I even talking to? It's not like you can understand me."
Being in my human form did make it a bit difficult for me to catch the animal but I finally did it because the hare was too distracted by what it was eating. I picked up a few of those plants to give them to the animal to nibble on so it'd stay calm in my hands.
It was only then I realized that my surroundings were getting dark. "Oh, shoot!" I cursed. Chasing the hare made me forget about my surroundings. A stupid mistake my father always warned me about. I looked around the area for a moment before making my way back.
I've never been to this part. Is this even our territory? Fuck, if this is someone else's territory, I'm going to be in so much trouble.
I held the hare close to my chest and briskly walked through the tree line while trying my best to trace my scent back home. Since my wolf is not present and I cannot shift, my ability to trace scent is weak. If I'm not quick, I can lose track and get lost.
And that is going to be a freaking nightmare.
The hare was awfully calm. It stayed like a statue in my hands and that was starting to unsettle me a bit. The woods grew darker as I walked on and my eyes scanned all around the area to make sure nothing was there, hiding or waiting to ambush me.
Nighttime is hunting time. That's when a lot of apex predators venture out looking for meals and I didn't want to meet any of them. No thanks. I don't want to be a tasty dinner for any of them.
If my wolf was present, then yes I could fight them off but in my human form without any weapons? I'm no match for a wild animal with razor-sharp claws and teeth.
I increased my pace and moved as stealthily as possible, hoping that nothing would hear or smell me passing through.
A twig breaking is what made my heart stop. A small sound but it created a surge of panic in my mind. Because it was not just one twig breaking. It was multiple. Breaking and breaking and breaking as I took each step. It seemed to follow me like the moon but only got closer as time passed.
Something is stalking me.
The realization came down on me like an avalanche. I quickened my steps and kept walking till I could. Running would be a death sentence since there's no way in hell I can outrun whatever that's stalking me.
A growl is what made me stop in my tracks. I looked back with wide eyes only to see my stalker finally stepping out of the shadows with its sharp eyes set on me, head down and body low as it crawled closer, threatening to strike the moment I moved.
My heart started beating like it would burst a hole through my chest and fly away any minute. I swallowed and made myself smaller like the shaking hare in my hands pushing itself onto my chest to hide.
A few weeks ago I wouldn't have felt this scared because death seemed like a peaceful idea to me then but now….now that's not the case. Something inside didn't want it to end. Not now. Not when I have so many things to do, to experience, and to learn.
Distress filled my mind and I felt my omega stir inside me. A flicker of hope shimmered in me.
If I could shift…
Please…
Come on…
Come back…
Isn't this the perfect time for you to come back? This is a life-or-death situation. If you don't come back now, you may never get to come back again.
Come on…shift. We need to—
And that's when the animal suddenly pounced, a screech tumbled out of my lips as I scrambled to move out of the way. I saw the extending claws and sharp teeth as it lunged at me with its mouth wide open, aiming right for my neck.
Then it was gone. Swooped to the side by something dark and fast slamming into it. I followed it with wide eyes only to see a black wolf towering over the lion.
Cassian–
It only took a second before Cassian's wolf was taken by surprise, razor sharp teeth of the mountain lion sank into his shoulders, earning a growl out of him.
Something inside me lurched forward, worry clouding my mind at the sight.
Hurt. Hurt. Hurt…
It kept repeating in my head.
"Alpha…" I called out in fear as I watched Cassian's wolf wrestle with the lion on the forest floor. Minutes felt like hours as they both clawed and bit each other but then Cassian's wolf let out a bone-chilling growl that had the other animal cower in fear. He took the opportunity to pounce and go straight for the throat of the lion and then it was done. After a few seconds of the bite, the animal went pliant and Cassian dropped its lifeless body down on the forest ground.
My feet carried me there before I could even think about it. Cassian shifted back and leaned on a tree, blood gushing out of the nasty bite on his shoulder and from the wounds on his chest.
"Alpha…hurt…" I didn't even know what I was saying, my body moving like it had a mind of its own. Worry, surprise, relief…I didn't know what I was feeling. Everything all at once made my head dizzy.
I looked at Cassian with blurry eyes. I wanted to ask him questions but nothing came out of my mouth. I felt stupid staring at him like a freaking kid who was about to burst into a fit of sobs.
"My omega…" Cassian's voice was gentle as he talked. He exhaled a loud sigh, looking at me with a soft and bloodied smile. "You're finally back…"
Oh…
____
"Ivy, you should sit down. You've been pacing around for too much time."
"How's he?" I asked while wiping my sweaty hands on my dress. The fact that he got injured to save me, didn't sit right with me. I didn't want to carry that guilt.
"He's fine." Stella smiled. "Cassian has been through worse. He'll come out fine in two days. He's a strong alpha, Ivy. That's why he's leading this pack."
"I know but I just…"
"Can't help but worry, right? Mates are like that. It'll be alright. It's because of your omega. No matter what, it wouldn't feel calm until it sees Cassian all healed." Stella shook her head. "Lilly has him all patched up and alphas heal pretty fast, so you don't need to worry."
"How did he…how did he know I was there?"
"Oh, he was worried sick when couldn't find you in the packhouse so he traced your scent. When he realized it was leading into the woods, he shifted and ran off. That's all I know."
I looked down at my feet and nibbled on my lips till it started to sting.
So he came looking for me….
"When can I see him?"
"Probably in an hour…"
_____
"Ivy…" Cassian's voice was barely above a whisper as he said my name.
"You sound weak."
To my surprise, he only let out a low chuckle at the statement, not even a tiny bit of anger crossing his expression as he stared at me. "Lilly stabbed me with a lot of needles to put me to sleep so that the stitches wouldn't hurt like hell when they did it." He sighed.
I silently moved closer to him and took in his sight. He was cleaned up, stitched, and patched up. Cassian wordlessly watched me examine him.
"Don't think I forgave you just because you jumped in to save me."
"I don't." He was quick to answer, sincerity in his voice. "I didn't do it because I wanted something out of you, Ivy. I was looking for you and then got your scent followed by a growl. I didn't even have time to think because my body moved on its own. And then I was in the air, slamming into the animal. All I could think of is what would've happened….if…if I was a little late…" He looked down. "But you're fine now." He sighed. "And your omega is back. That's a good thing." A small smile graced his lips as he talked.
I looked away when I felt my omega stir and prayed to the goddess it wouldn't do something stupid like spiking our scent.
"I wanted to talk to her…but I know it's not the right time…" Cassian fiddled with the bandage on his chest.
"Take your rest, Cassian," I replied, not wanting to talk about my omega. If we talk too much, that stupid thing might take over again and I would have no control over whatever happens after. I cannot let that happen. Not right now. Not when I'm still mad at him. "I hope you heal well soon."
Cassian gave me a soft smile which I didn't return before I walked out.
I felt dizzy. Everything was too much. Too many thoughts. Too many feelings. Too much of everything all at once.
A nauseating feeling surged through my body. I needed to go and curl up in my bed, wrap myself up in my blankets to escape from all this, and have a peaceful rest.