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Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Goldie

Low-hanging branches from the evergreens slap against my face as Bear carries us through the darkness of the forest. In order to give our escape some cover, I keep him off the well-used trail, hoping that the fallen leaves, grass and branches will hide his tracks.

If I want to successfully hide from my pursuers, I need to venture even further away from the path. The men who hunt this forest will have an easier time tracking us, but I’m praying that once we get deep enough, they’ll give up.

I hear them screaming after me now. I got a decent head start, but I can’t slow down.

The fear of being caught is overriding my fear of the forest. Something became terrifyingly clear in that drawing room. There’s a fate worse than a horrific death.

Time seems to creep by, but I see the markers for the boundary up ahead. Clucking, I press my heels into Bear’s sides, urging him to go just a little faster.

I haven’t ridden past the edge of the village before, and even through all the terror, I find joy in the foreign lands around me. The beauty that has been left without the taint of man leaves my heart feeling lighter.

The further I get from the village, the less frightened I am of the forest. It feels different now. More like acceptance. If I’m going to die in this forest, then let it be at the hands of the monsters that stalk and hunt these lands, and not the humans I spent my entire life with.

My father and stepmother would often use the threat of the monster's presence in the forest to deter the idea that I could escape their torment. That I was already terrified of what I’d seen the one time I ran off, only made it easier for them.

I realize now that the real monsters already lived under the same roof as me.

Bear’s growing anxiety and cautious trot tells me we are far enough into the forest now, that the lingering scents of the human hunters must be disappearing. If I’m caught, I know they’ll drag me back, kicking and screaming, to the altar. I won’t be caught alive. One way or another, I will find freedom. In this life, or whatever comes after.

My relief at making it this far is short-lived. The moment we cross a small stream, I hear Donald release a roaring Alpha bark, thankfully the distance between us lessens the effect it has on my senses. He must be on horseback as well. If I slow down, they’ll catch up to me. I need to hide, my instincts going wild after the bark. I need to find a cave large enough to hide both Bear and me once we reach the cliff face. The sound of hounds howling in the distance makes my anxiety spike, and Bear notices. He knows we’re in danger. Fuck, this is not how I wanted our escape to go.

Breaking through the tree line, I scan the rock face in front of us in a panic. Before I have a moment to consider where to hide, Bear’s ears pin back and he tosses his head. Raising back on his hind legs, he throws me from the saddle. Hitting the ground with a sickening crack of my wrist, I roll out of the way as Bear bolts deeper into the forest, leaving me behind.

“Bear…” I whisper, too scared to make more noise than we already have. My fall might have drawn their attention right to me.

I look around frantically, needing a hiding spot more than ever, now that I’m injured and Bear is gone. I spot what appears to be a small cave. With Bear running the opposite direction, I clutch my broken wrist to my chest, as I make my way to the small alcove at the base of the cliff face that is hidden by shrubs. Spotting a broken pine branch on my way, I tuck the arm I can’t use to my side while using the other to drag the tree limb behind me to cover both my scent and my steps.

My heart rattles my chest as I wiggle into the rocks feet first. The hole is just large enough for my body, and I can just roll over onto my back, and attempt to calm my breathing. I’m being too loud. Using the last burst of energy from the adrenaline, I pull the branch across the opening of the small cave to help disguise my hiding place. The sounds are muffled in here, but I can tell Donald, the men helping him hunt me, and the hounds are getting closer still.

Moments later, maybe a few minutes at best, my heart leaps into my throat when I see the branches I used to hide my little cave hole shake. Two hounds chase their noses along the ground, while the familiar figure of my intended stalks behind them. He looks even more hideous when upside down, I think.

The pain from my wrist, that is now shifting colors, must be getting to my head. This angle wasn’t my wisest, but it allows me to remain hidden, as well as protects my wrist from further damage. Had I not fallen off Bear, I might never have seen this hole. Of course, I wouldn’t have broken my wrist either. I’m full of wins and losses today.

The pain is all too familiar, and I know I’ll need to tend to it as soon as I find Bear. The moment I’m sure it’s safe to leave this cave, I’m going after my only friend. I can’t leave him to face the monsters alone. The moment I realize Donald is lingering in the clearing, I look for something to defend myself with. Clasping a jagged rock in my hand, I wait on bated breath. Cursing my existence, Donald is about to turn in my direction when a loud crack echoes through the forest. It is quickly followed by a larger sound and another man rushing toward him with hounds at his feet.

“It’s pointless, sir. We’ve lost the light of the day and need to get back. The rest of the hounds are spooked, and I don’t want to chance encountering the creatures of the forest,” the slighter Beta frantically says to Donald as he paces the clearing. I recognize the man from the kennels that hold the village’s hunting hounds. Betas tend to dislike Omegas, because they can rarely mate with us. Somehow, it’s our fault that Betas don’t have knots. But this Beta has never sneered at me the same way the others have. If anything, he always seemed neutral.

Before he has time to respond, a ferocious roar echoes in the clearing. The hounds scatter and dash into the forest.

“Get back to the horses, sir. We need to ride hard to make it back to the village before we put ourselves in danger,” the Beta says, as he dashes after his hounds.

“I will find you, you little bitch. What I have planned for you…you’ll regret ever having denied me,” he snarls, as I hold my breath. If he catches me, I’ll slam this rock into his eye socket.

I exhale slowly when he turns away. Every step he takes further away from me, the easier I breathe.

My shoulders slump with relief as I all but collapse against the floor of the cave beneath me. Allowing a low Omega whine to escape, I tuck myself into a tight ball against the wall. Whatever awaits me in the dark of the night here, I will gladly face rather than submit to that man.

The anxiety, and adrenaline settle, while the pain in my arm becomes overwhelming. I just want tonight to be over, so I can go find Bear. Fuck, I hope he doesn’t run back to the village.

“I’ll find you Bear…” I vow, as my eyes grow heavy, and I drift off into a pain filled sleep.

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