Chapter 41: Chapter 40

Running was my only option. I had to go, and I would have to use all of my new powers to leave Mount Hunter for good. There was no going back to the country house, my little cramped nook in the attic, I would have to rely on my newfound smarts and become the rogue wolf like Archer had been. I shuddered as I wrapped my arms around myself feeling like a victim, but I knew I wasn’t.

I’d shut down my enemies, and the payback was one I would cherish. I did my best to climb down from the roof and slip like a ninja into the barracks to retrieve some supplies, nourishment and get my backpack.

An arm wraps around my now sinewy arms and I lash out in shock. As my arms flail, a overwhelmed pixie face stares back at me while swinging their head wildly from side to side.

“Stop! Stop. It’s me Vera! Calm down,” she directed in a low hiss. “What are you going to do? I heard about what happened, things are about to get really, really fucked up around here. How are you going to do this?” Thelma bit her fingernails flummoxed by my planned escape.

“Thelma, I’m leaving. I love you, but I have to go. I can’t stay here. I’ve caused too much damage. I have to go now before Dane and Grant get here. If I don’t go now I won’t make it out of here.” I pleaded with her, the moment being bittersweet, Thelma had been through hell and back with me. She been there as I licked my wounds encouraging, defending and supporting me. She’d seen me when I was pale, thin and unable to fend for myself willing me to find my power and fight back.

Pulling her into a quick hug I inhaled the sweet smell of her wanting to hang onto something from her. I didn’t know when I would see her again. “We’ll reunite soon, I know we will. You will always be my sister.”

Thelma’s eyes were misty with tears as she let go of my fingers. “Wait! Here take this.” She shoved a what felt like a rock into my hand. I turned over the pebble in my hand puzzled by it.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a rock from your parent’s grave. I know I gave you the bones, but I wanted to bring something extra. I don’t know why I feel to give it to you now.”

“Thank you.” Thelma looked around the vacant locker room which I anticipated wouldn’t stay that way for long. It would either be other wolves looking for me, or coming in from the training ground.

“Take the small trail on the west end of the property, there’s no patrol over there at the moment and there’s a repair needed on the fence. It’s the easiest route Vera. Where will you go?” I put the rock inside my bag for safe keeping.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I just want to get away before it’s too late.”

“Go, go now, quick. I’ll walk you to the back door, and I’ll do my best to lead them the wrong way. Be safe Vera. I know you will though, till we meet again.” One tiny hand squeeze and I hiked my back pack over my shoulder with one last look back at all I’d ever known.

“Thank you.” My throat clogged up with emotion. “I won’t forget you,” I uttered in a hoarse whisper. Slipping through the side I pattered down the stairs deciding if it was better for me to morph into my wolf or stay the same as I was.

“Where is she? Huh? Where’d she go?” Grant was so loud in making her entrance I could hear her even as I tread through the tall grass on the west side of the barracks. It was the unkempt side, that had yet to be reformed, and at this moment I was grateful for it.

“Where’s who?” That was the last of the voices I could hear on the wind as I traversed through the long grass wishing for now snakes to nip at my ankle. It had healed nicely, and I was keen to keep it that way. My lycan had truly saved my life and I would forever be grateful to it. Traipsing through the grass I reflected on everything I was leaving behind. The attic - who cared, the beating - Hurrah, Thelma, Clive and Archer. That fact brought up sadness, but if I was to survive I had no choice, but to leave.

It was early enough that I had sunlight to count on, although its relentless beating on my forehead was causing me to sweat. I hadn’t gone home to the main house since the incident. I had slept on the barrack rooftop curled up in the roof, it wasn’t so bad and reminded me a lot of the attic at the main house anyway. I could make it under any circumstance and sleep anywhere. I’d grown used to it. As I cut through the last of the gold tinged grasslands I saw freedom in sight. I dipped my head low remembering Thelma’s instructions.

A jagged hole existed in the fence as I ducked through to the other side breathing a slight sigh of relief. I groaned as I realized I had no time to say goodbye to Clive or Archer. My two protectors, what could be worse. I hung my head as I walked on to a clear forest trail unlike the one nearby the training ground, this one was more open, with less tree coverage, this made me nervous. I was more exposed and would have to find an alternate route in order to conceal myself. Shifting wouldn’t help either as a large lycan wolf walking on a dusty, reddish-brown trail with an illuminated aura would surely draw attention to me.

A few miles in the distance I could see an opportunity for coverage a walkway of trees and what I knew to be one of the routes to Beartown, the place gave me the chills as I knew on the border of it according to Thelma was my parent’s grave. I tapped my bag briefly to feel if the bones I’d packed were still inside. I knew full well they were, but panic made me check anyway.

A rustling noise forced me to swing to face the long grass I’d come out of. I saw the grass moving as my eyes widened. I had a split second to make a decision. Someone had followed me. Who the fuck was it. I crouched low ready to shift and fight once again for my life. There was no need as I saw it was Archer who had his hands up near his shoulders in surrender.

“Don’t shoot,” he joked as the mesmerizing gray of his eyes brought my heartrate back down a notch.

“Archer!” I flung my backpack at him as he chuckled some more, the corners of his eyes creasing from laughter.

“Sorry, seriously. I can’t let you leave alone Vera.”

Perturbed that he’d been able to track me so quickly I started to jog, my mind was playing tricks thinking about what would happen when Dane and his army came after me. Now I was most definitely on Reily’s most wanted list.

“Hey, hey, hey. I saw Thelma. She didn’t give you away, but I figured you would have taken this route. Don’t be scared Vera. This is my forte, I’m a rogue remember? I can help on the journey. Besides, I would miss you too much.” Archer kept in time with me and I stopped running for a minute. I was all over the place and had no clue of where I would lay my head for the night.

“Did anyone see you when you left Archer? I can’t have anyone following me.” I would be on edge until I was far enough away from Mount Hunter, I have cross mountain ridges if I had to in order to put distance between me and Dane. His recon missions were legendary, he was known in the region for them.

“Nobody saw me, I promise. I didn’t even tell Clive I was going. Where are you headed?” Archer gently enquired as I slowed my pace, giving out before I got to a safe place would be the worst idea.

“As far away as possible. Over that ridge up ahead, that looks good.” I pointed to the distant skyline where a see saw of jagged peaks called to me.

“That’s a lot further than you think,” Archer posed as by surprise he interlocked his warm fingers into mine. He shyly looked at me as I flicked my long midnight colored ponytail off my shoulder.

“You’re holding my hand,” I observed at a loss as to why.

“Yes, I’m holding your hand.” Archer’s lips curled into a warm smile leaving me breathless. Why had I ever kissed Reily? What a mess I was in. Why would I ever do that?

“Why?” I blurted out enjoying the tingling sensation firing through my arm.

“Because Vera Hunter, if you hadn’t noticed already, I adore you. You keeping running away from me, and I know you kissed Reily, but you were under a mate spell. I was ruined when I heard about it.”

Expelling nervous breath I quickly sent a sympathetic look in Archer’s direction. As we talked we’d covered some serious ground. Having him along was making the journey a lot more interesting and the time was passing faster. We were still traveling on a dirt road, but the coverage of a new forest trail, whilst not as lush as the trail off center from the training ground, it was coverage nonetheless.

“I’m sorry. I feel sick to my stomach that I ever kissed Reily, I don’t get how it happened. It was like this force Archer. Something I couldn’t control if I wanted to. I feel ill thinking about it.” A bundle of knots formed in my belly as the memory of Reily’s lips melding with mine surfaced.

Archer’s lack of judgement set me at ease as I set my eyes on the trail ahead. The call of a cuckoo gave me hope we were leading in the right direction. “Did you like the kiss Vera? Was it any good for you?” Not for one minute did I consider Archer might feel insecure, but him revealing his fears drew me to him even more.

I stopped as we hit the trail and the extra security from the overhang of the branches and the broken trail which was half covered by leaves made me ease my stride. I dropped to the ground opening my bag to pull out an apple. “Here take an apple.” I handed him an shiny granny smith apple from the main house. By my calculations I had another couple of days food and after that I would have to hunt or find a store to eat from. Not that I had any money.

He took the apple as I stood up. We walked some more and Archer recycled the question again.

“Vera, did you enjoy the kiss with Reily?”

“I thought I did,” I answered honestly not wanting him to dwell on it or even ask me again. “I wish I could take back my lips from him. Reily caused me so much pain. I made a mistake letting him touch me. I was gullible.” I hung my head in temporary shame as the glorious sound of birdlife and creatures in the underbrush dragged my attention to it. I couldn’t be sad for too long with the sun filtering through the light of the trees.

“Vera. It’s okay. A mate bound is called that for a reason. I just wonder with everything that’s gone on, if there’s room enough in your heart for me.” Archer’s kind eyes and soothing voice were everything. How could I not see what was right in front of me? I guessed I was too busy fighting for my life and dodging every day beatings.

“I didn’t realize the depth of your feelings Archer. I’ve always liked you. I’ve been a little preoccupied fighting battles, but I’m here.” It was my own way of saying the feeling was mutual, but I’d not had a lot of male attention at the barracks unless it was crucify me. I didn’t know what healthy male attention was like. It was taking some time for me to get used to.

“They run very deep. I can admit it. I want to be with you Vera. I want to journey with you,” he confessed as his olive skin shone with the stream of light hitting him.

As if by magic, we both stopped our quest for freedom to turn to one another. Archer softly ran a light finger down the side of my face. The same intimate gesture Reily had performed, except with Archer’s deft fingers it felt different, like home almost. I laid my head into his hand savoring the special moment. We stayed there staring at one another as if the whole world had disappeared and it was just us two in it.

I cycled through when I first met him. The look of tenderness was in his eyes even then. Not lust, a longing yes, but this was a warm, comforting blanket that you snuggled under with warm cup of cocoa, that’s what being in Archer’s embrace felt like. I lifted my head slowly as Archer’s full lips merged with mine. His bottom lip covered mine as his top lip caressed with a slow ember of passion. I wrapped my arms around his slender neck with a contented sigh.

He fell into the groove, linking both hands around my back. His mouth was surprisingly hot and my lips slid over his like butter as he groaned a little into my mouth. His passion shocked me, I’d known Archer to be mild, calm and balanced, but his lips connecting with mine told of an unsung song of hidden desire. I wanted more so I followed him in deepening the kiss.

We must have let the moment sweep us away for the next few minutes as we both lost track of time. We were two rogues on the run wrapped up together, maybe that heightened the feelings between us. Either way it worked for me. Archer was home to me.

I fingered his dark hair, sweeping away from his perfect face, looking deeper into the grayness of his eyes as we sprung free from one another for air. “That’s how much I care for you Vera. I can’t explain in words, but I can explain in my actions.”

“I’m glad you did,” I replied timidly as I put a hand on his beating chest.

There was no possessiveness like with Reily, only a sweetness like the peaches I bit into whenever Dane picked them up from the markets. Archer felt right for me.