I Rejected You, Alpha

ELEIA’S POV

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Bullet fly beside us and the second it stops, I get up, pulling Cleo to her feet, “Run!” I yell as I pull her into the woods. I inhale deep breaths until I find a familiar scent as we run through the woods. I could hear how breathless she has become so I stop, picking her up into my arms, “Just hold on.” I mutter as I hold her head against my shoulder and she clings to me.

Having her cling to my body makes me miss my sons…I shouldn’t have pushed them away because I was going through a hard time. I should have held them closer, love them more…

I’m a bad mom.

As we dart through the gloomy woods, I run until I find a scent, a scent that sparks my insides, home…

We’re still far from it, but I try and open my mind link, I try to find Aiden through the long road ahead of us.

I freeze in my steps when I don’t hear anything around me and I notice a small creak. I was here before. I know this place, the bad news is, it’s still far from home. About two hours in wolf form, and four in human.

“I want my daddy.” Cleo murmurs, breaking my heart with her croaking voice. I run my fingers through her hair, trying to soothe her, “I know baby girl.” I mutter and I continue to run.

Zac will forever be lost in that river stream, decomposing in whatever the stream connects to…

The worst part is, if he didn’t turn his back, he could have dodged that bullet, he could be alive right now if I didn’t tell him to come.

Running for another half an hour, I stumble, almost falling forward but I throw my body weight against a tree, the bark scratching my arm. “F**k.” I mutter as I stand breathlessly against the wooden tower that’s now helping me just relax.

“I need you to run.” I mutter as I pull her back, making her look at me. “Don’t leave me.” her tiny hands grope my arms, her fingers digging into my skin.

I shake my head as I breathe out, “No, with me. I can’t carry you right now.” I put her down and take her hand.

My heart is pounding in my ears, my lungs burning for a break, but I can’t stop. If I stop, we both do and we might both die.

“Come.” I start to walk fast before we gradually start to jog and then sprint.

I keep my focus on the floor and the scents surrounding me.

A strong familiar scent hits me and my eyes widen, “Stefan!” I yell out loud, realizing that it was a bad idea as soon as I did it. The hunters could probably have heard my voice, they can find me now, they can find us.

I keep on running, “Who is Stefan?” Cleo breathes out, struggling to form her words, “Our beta, I smell him.” I cough. He must have been here recently, probably looking for me. His scent is strong, but I don’t hear anything.

My hope dies out as we run for another ten minutes and we don’t find him.

I pull Cleo behind a large tree that covers us and I kneel in front of her, my cheeks red and I’m sweating. “I’m going to shift and you are going to get on my back, alright?” I stare into her eyes and her beautiful orbs widen as she nods.

Just as I’m about to shift, I hear footsteps. I press my finger to her lips, “Shhh.” I whisper as I press her against the tree.

“Here little princess.” the hunter’s voice sounds far, but with my heartbeat ringing in my ears, I can’t be sure.

I glance at the floor, staring at a little rock and I pick it up, glancing from left to right, trying to decide which way we could run to, which way is the best. Panic fills me as I try to focus on a scent, but I’ve lost Stefan’s scent five minutes ago, leaving me hopeless.

I don’t know which way to run…

I glance at my right and decide to trust my gut. I throw the stone as hard as I can and it nicks a branch, making something snap.

“Over there!” the hunters rush to that side and I slowly move Cleo and I to the opposite side of the tree until they are further away.

“When I shift, you get on.” I whisper and she nods.

I shift and lower to my knees. I glance at her through my night vision eyes, her silhouette glowing as she jumps on. Her tiny hands grab my fur as she lays on top of my back and I start to tip toe as slowly and as quietly as I can, moving further away from the murderers that are hunting us.

After about ten minutes, I don’t care anymore and I start to jog. Cleo holds onto me tighter as I begin to run faster and I try and stay away from jumping over things as I try and make it home.

I am putting my entire family in danger by going home, but this little girl just lost her dad. He was killed in front of her and I can’t run forever, not with her by my side.

I run for another hour with her on my back and once I know where I am, I stop, shifting back to my human form. I lift a tree trunk and grab a shirt that fits me to my knees and we start running again.

‘Aiden.’ I mind link him and I could feel him open, ‘Eleia? Goddess! Where are you?’ his worried tone makes me begin to cry, something I didn’t want to do ever again, but hearing his voice, his concern makes me feel so relieved.

‘I’m close, I need help.’ I beg, ‘I’m coming, where are you?’ he asks again and I know exactly what he means. I glance up at the moon and it’s sitting behind me.

‘East, the moon is behind me.’

There’s no further response as we run and I start to slow down, lowering my guard, “Calm little one, we’re being saved.” we keep on jogging.

The ringing of a gunshot echoes through the woods and before I could duck myself, I dump Cleo out of the way, shoving her in behind a tree as my shoulder flies forward, pulling my weight down and I hit the ground as a shooting pain rips through my body.

Cleo’s scream echoes around, but a loud growl and thundering paws that hit the ground silences her scared yell.

I don’t move and a large wolf leaps over my body, deadly screams filling the woods along with gun shots.

I try to sit up when two hands lift me from the ground and I meet eyes with a guard, “The girl..” I turn my head, hissing when my shoulder pains.

“Get the girl!” he demands and another guard tries to reach for Cleo, “No!” she shrieks, “Cleo, he’s helping us!” I yell as my eyes try to find her.

I try to look for Aiden, but the guard’s chest covers my sight.

The other guard finally snatches Cleo up and they dart back to the castle with us. We’re taken to the medical building and as soon as I’m put down on a bed, I try to get up, “Where’s Aiden?” I ask and a nurse pushes me down, “Please Luna, lay still.” she begs, her voice so soft.

“Let me go!” Cleo’s terrified voice makes me shove her back and I get off the bed, rushing out of the room.

I see Cleo’s back pressed against the wall, her chest heaving and two nurses stand before her, trying to catch her.

“Stop that!” I growl and their heads snap in my direction before they back away.

As soon as Cleo’s eyes spot me, she darts into my direction, throwing her body against my legs, her short arms wrapping around my thighs as she holds onto me.

“Calm down Cleo, we’re safe.” I rub the back of her head, “I want daddy!” she starts to cry and my eyes just fall shut as a hopeless feeling falls over me. I can’t help her with that, no one can…Within a few months, she has lost not only one, but both of her parents…

Because of me.