Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 2 - covered in Mud

Lily

My mind tries to come up with ideas to escape. Given my lack of exercise and their strong looking bodies, I give them five seconds to catch me. Ten, if I'm lucky.

They are going to the Red Dawn Pack, which means I have three days to escape before reaching the land. I can make it if I ask to take a leek but I have a feeling the alpha will make the others keep an eye on me.

A snore breaks through my thoughts. Megan's to be more exact. Her snores are quiet but annoying and to make matters worse, it's cold.

I hold my breath as I climb out of bed and tiptoe all the way to the window. I look down but see no sign of a guard. Should I? I glance back at her, she's sleeping like a log. And the ground isn't far. But she is kind of scary...

I shall.

I lift my leg up and swing it to the outside followed by my other leg. I hear a shuffle and hold my breath. I take a chance to look behind me. Megan is facing away from me, still sleeping. I breathe out and scan my surroundings. If I get hurt, I'll heal in about a minute or an hour but I'm scared of the painful healing process. I close my eyes and jump, landing on my hands and feet.

A brief shot of pain passes through my legs but I take slow steps.

As I make my way into the forest, I realize it won't work if my scent is prominent. I need to get rid of my scent but I don't have the spray at the moment. I sniff the air. Something stinky hits my nose and I follow the direction. A big lake full of mud greets my nose.

For a second, I just stare at it. It looks disgusting but mostly because it's the color of poop. With a huff, I walk towards the lake and step inside. The mud immerses my shoes until I can't see them. I push farther until it's at my knees. Goosebumps rise on my skin as soon as the cold mud touches the jeans. To get it over with, I pinch my nose and push my knees up until I feel cold and heavy all over. I stay inside for a few seconds before deciding it's time to lift my head up before I drown. I push my legs and open my eyes once I smell the forest.

"Didn't think you'd do that."

I stop rubbing my eyes and slowly turn my head to the voice. The guy I pushed to the ground is a few feet away, on top of a tree with the most relaxed face and his legs swinging off the branch. Jeremy.

"Ah," I'm at lost for words. Kinda angry that he just let me jump inside when he could have easily restrained me. He grins and jumps off, his grin not disappearing even as he lands on his feet. He doesn't walk towards me but just gazes at my face as if reminding me that it's covered in mud. I frown and wipe it off my face, pulling all the hair behind my ear.

"What?" I scowl a little, annoyed that he doesn't even look away when a squirrel runs over the branch he was just on. He's making me feel like a fool. He could have stopped me and saved me a cold.

"You look funny."

I didn't think he'd answer. "So do you," I lamely resort but he only chuckles. What is this strange feeling?

"You're sinking," He's serious again and takes fast strides towards me. He extends his hand out, expecting me to take it. I look down at myself and mentally slap myself for being dumb. Instead of taking his hand, I push my legs forward. I grunt as the mud becomes heavy. The mud clings to my jeans as soon as they come into view. After a few more pushes, I pant and collapse to the ground on my knees.

"I could have helped you know."

Ignoring him, I turn around and sit down with my legs towards the mud lake. From the corner of my eye, he sits beside me while staring at my face as if I were an art piece.

"I'm not meat."

His mouth opens a little but he closes it once I turn my head to his direction, "All I did was offer a lending hand." He's staring back at me so I turn my head back to the front, feeling my face warming up faster than my body.

I lick my bottom lip, "Why aren't you taking me back and telling the Alpha? I want to get it over with." I'm disappointed I didn't get far but for some reason, it's not as terrible as it should be. I'm not being restrained or being pushed into a dungeon, I'm talking to a guy. A nice guy.

"I would but his room is so far away." His voice is calm and relaxed. Almost as if he isn't scared that the Alpha could punish his for not reporting my attempted escape.

"You know, all you had to do was walk past the lake and you would have been free."

"What?" I stop wiping the jeans. He points to the right of the lake, where there is a small flag signaling the end of their land. My face heats up but he doesn't laugh, he smiles. A cute sort-of smile.

"Oh," I feel stupid. I was so scared of getting caught that I didn't think twice before jumping into a mud lake. If I had just scanned my surrounding, I could have been walking away a free woman already. He is still staring at the side of my face but with a goofy grin this time. I can't tell if he wants to laugh or if he's just really happy. I keep my face blank, "I like being adventurous. You know, like in the movies."

"I bet. I was just making sure," He looks around and yawns.

"Huh." I start to wipe my jeans and my arms, making a face at how sticky and smelly it is. If I knew he was watching, I wouldn't have jumped in and gotten in this mess. Without thinking about it I ask, "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

He looks at me as if I was crazy, "It's my turn to guard the territory." Oh. I forgot about that. In packs, there is always a good amount of werewolves guarding the territory in case someone enters it without permission or if there is some suspicious activity going on. They have to report it but this guy isn't even moving a muscle.

"Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't know that. Is you're pack really that inexperienced?" He shakes his head as a chuckle comes out his lips.

I make a face, "Of course I knew. It's just I have mud in my brain." Wow Lily. You get him, girl.

He laughs, it's loud and doesn't sound forced, "Whatever you say." I glare at him to which he raises up his hands in a way that says I-didn't-do-anything sort of way.

I cross my arms as my heart skips a beat or two. He makes me feel at ease which scares me because he's not in a hurry to tell the Alpha. Is he letting me have more time outside because he knows I won't see the night ever again? Please no. I haven't even started that new life I wanted.

"Ouch, your stepping on my toe!" The voice causes him to jump, not in fright but in panic. I stand up slowly, the mud is still weighing me down.

"Mushrooms, Victor. Your feet smell so bad all you have are mushrooms at this point." I know it's Megan's voice because of the sass behind it. That and she's the only girl.

"I don't have mushrooms on my feet! That's gross!"

"You're gross!"

Jesse walks out the bushes with a disturbed look, "I swear you guys can't be quiet for one second." He redirects his eyes to the guy, "Jeremy why is she covered in mud?" His concerned expression surprises me.

Megan comes out the bushes followed by Victor. "Woah, you're a mess. Wait are those my jeans?" Her mouth opens into an 'o'. "Wait, duh. Of course they are. I lent them to you."

Victor laughs, "Now you know it's not me who smells." Victor stops in front of me and sniffs, "Girl, you stink." I take a step back, shocked. Jeremy walks to us and slaps the back of Victor's head to which Victor makes a face.

"Here." Jesse hands me a wipe. Victor and Megan fall into hysterics.

"What's that gonna do?"

"All she can do is wipe her big ass forehead," Victor holds his stomach and falls to the ground. I glare at him but a small smile fights it's way to my face.

"And this is why you're single," Megan rolls her eyes as she jumps over him. She examines her muddy jeans for a second, "I'm glad I gave you my period pair."

"Period pair?" Jesse raises an eyebrow, "Like the blood thing?"

"What blood thing?" Victor curiously asks.

"That thing girls get every month," Jeremy mutters.

"What do they get?"

"A period."

"What's a period?"

"Oh my gosh, Victor." Jesse's face is red with embarrassment or anger.

I laugh, loudly. My stomachs starts to hurt and I fall to the ground. It hurts but I can't stop laughing. I can feel their eyes but I don't stop. It's been forever since I've laughed like this.

"So she laughs."

"She's cute. Like a puppy."

"Victor, where did you get that puppy?"

I stand and wipe the tears from my eyes. My eyes meet the stuffed animal Victor has on his hands, a brown puppy with an eye and blue stains.

Victor stays silent. His posture is straight as he continues to grin, a creepy grin that makes him look like a villain. To make it worse, he's still petting the stuffed puppy.

"Ignore him." Jeremy's eyes meet mine.

"Guys," Jesse sniffs the air, "He's here."

I stiffen.

"Why is she outside?" The alpha doesn't look happy. However, maybe this isn't so bad. If I'm taken to the dungeon, I won't be going back to my pack. I'll be a prisoner but I'm sure it'll be less hurtful.

"I needed fresh air!" Megan easily lies, "And because it's my job to make sure the prisoner doesn't escape-"

"She's not really a prisoner," Jeremy mutters.

"-I took her with me. I told them to follow me so I wouldn't be alone." Megan ignores him. Why is she lying? I open my lips but before I can interject. My hands are pulled behind me and restrained. I take it I'm not supposed to say anything.

Jesse speaks from behind me, "Yeah. And I had to take a leek but the outside seemed better..." I don't know him that well but I'm sure he's kicking himself right now.

"Why didn't you just-" The alpha takes a deep breath, "Jesse, please tell me you're kidding? Victor's stupidity isn't rubbing of on you... is it?" The alpha looks generally worried.

"What?" Victor drops the pinecone from his hand.

"No. It just needed to feel the wind."

"She's covered in mud," The alpha points out.

Silence.

"Okay!" Megan yawns, "Its so dark! Goodnight my family. May you're dreams be filled with marshmallows and Coca-Cola." She makes her way past the alpha but he places a hand in front of her face. Without breaking her step, Megan walks back to her spot. "Actually I'll just wait for y'all."

"I want you all to stay here and guard as punishment for disobeying my order," His eyes land on me, "Lily, follow me." Help.

"What?!" Jesse gasps.

Ignoring the protests, the alpha walks forward. I reluctantly follow behind him. My knees become weak as I spot the entrance of the building.

And I feel as if I'm back where I started.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter