Nadira's POV
After a torturous shopping session with Linzy, we're finally back at the mansion. Take note that we left at 10 this morning to go shopping. It's already 9 pm! I look at Linzy who looks as if she's just been given new life. How does she not feel dead after an 11-hour shopping spree?! My feet are hurting and the pain has already travelled to the rest of my body by now.
As soon as I enter my bedroom, I flop down onto my bed. Linzy is laughing hysterically behind me while Ramond and a few other maids help to bring in all the shopping bags. 60 shopping bags. I counted them myself. How could one buy this many clothes? If it were me, I would only have a few clothes like max 5 pairs in my closet, but assuming that Linzy knows what's best for my figure, I let her choose my clothes.
I look at Linzy and groan.
"How are you not exhausted after this shopping spree?"
"Dira, dear, I'm so used to walking and especially in heels that I'm already numb to the pain."
"You are so not human."
I bury my head back into my duvet as Linzy continues laughing at me. I heard her stop for a few seconds to thank the maids and Ramond and I also managed a baffled whisper of a 'thank you' before they left the room.
As soon as it's just me and Linzy left in my room, I look back at her.
"I think I'm going to take a bath and then go to sleep. I'm exhausted."
"Oh, stop whining, Dira. It wasn't that bad."
"Easy for you to say! You're already numb to the pain of walking in heels all day long. Not me!"
"OK, OK. You can go and take a bath, but don't you want to have something to eat first before going to bed?"
"No thank you. We already ate at the restaurant before coming back home so I'm good, thank you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright. I'll leave you to it then to get ready for bed."
"Thank you."
Linzy smiles at me and hugs me.
"Goodnight, Dira."
"Goodnight, Linzy. Thank you for accepting me into your house. I really do appreciate it."
"It's no big deal, really. You're part of the family from now on."
"Thank you, Linzy."
Linzy tightens her hug and looks at me as she moves back, hands still on my shoulders. She smiles at me one last time before leaving my room and closing my door. I listen as her footsteps fade before I rush to my feet and digging into the tons of bags. Linzy bought me some fun casual wear as well. If I'm to go hunting tonight, might as well wear as little clothes as I can to remove them when I get to the forest.
As soon as I found myself some pair of shorts and a sports bra, I undress and put them on. I didn't even think about grabbing a pair of shoes. They would just be troublesome.
I make my way to the windows leading onto the balcony and open some of them and sneak out. I look at my surroundings to see if I'll be spotted by someone, but this is the only balcony watching out to the forest.
We're in luck.
Indeed.
I look up towards the sky. It's almost the full moon, which isn't a good sign. I'm nowhere near a pack that could help me with my shifting on the night of the full moon.
Something tells me you didn't really plan your escape that well.
What do you mean? I've always handled my shifting alone on a full moon.
Yeah, by hiding in the cells in the dark. You don't have any cell to help you now, Dira.
OK, fine. I didn't think it through completely, but I'll figure something out. I always do.
If you say so.
I roll my eyes at Dea before jumping to the ground and managed to land softly. I look around me for any possible alarms that might go off but see none. It is, after all the side to the forest so I'm surprised that Linzy doesn't have any security on this side of the mansion.
Just as the thought came to my mind, I hear a rustle and 3 men start to move in my direction with flashlights. They couldn't possibly have seen me, so I try to move as quietly and quickly as possible to be out of their range. To my luck, they are the guards on patrol and are just checking if everything is alright.
Once I'm out of their range of sight, I make a run for the forest. When I came to the nearest tree, I removed my clothes and put them in a neat pile at the foot of the tree. Once I'm sure I'll be able to find my way back to the same tree, I darted into the forest and once I was at my desired speed, I shifted. Dea was in full bliss of being outside once again and I assume because she could also hunt right now. I internally smile because of her happiness and let her take control. She gladly took my offer and continued full speed into the forest.
As Dea continued dodging bushes and trees she suddenly picked up on something running. No, more like something following us. Dea started picking up her pace and shielded our scent. However, this didn't help the slightest bit. Someone of something was still following us. Dea sprinted for our lives but as she did, so did the thing behind us.
After this, Dea picked up a few other footsteps behind us along with the current one. Dea continued to run but almost ran into a mountain when it suddenly appeared in front of us. She nearly made the stop and wanted to continue running into the other direction, but once she turned around, we were surrounded by wolves. I couldn't tell which pack I ran into that I didn't mean to, but soon enough discovered that these were my old packs best trackers.
Dea was standing shocked. She didn't know how to fight and neither did I, so putting up a fight wasn't an option. The wolves started circling us and Dea got itchy.
I don't like this, Dira.
Me neither.
Do you know why they're here, Dira?
I do, and I won't let them take me back. We'll be killed once we're caught.
Do you mean you want me to fight them!?
No, not really. Just try to get a chance to escape.
By doing what?
Let it look as if you're going to make a run for it. The second you do, they will pounce to the middle, then jump up and over them.
Are you sure it'll work?
Well, there's only one way to find out.
Dea stands still for a few more seconds as the wolves circle us. As soon as I am sure they are on edge and expecting us to make a run for it, I give Dea the signal.
On there. One.
Two.
Three!
As soon as the words left my mouth, Dea tries to distract them, but as she does, one of the wolves grabbed her by the hind leg and bit down hard causing Dea to howl in pain. Once the first one bit, the rest followed suit. Dea tried fighting them off as long as she could, but they already caused her so much pain, she was losing consciousness.
Dea! Dea! Stay awake, please!
Dira, I can't...I can't anymore.
No, Dea! Please! Stay awake!
Once the last wolf bit down onto my back, Dea lost consciousness.
As I slowly shift back trying to regain and keep sight, the last thing I saw was one of the trackers smiling victoriously at me before the darkness embraced me and I was once again back into the dark abyss.
••••♠••••
I woke up onto a cold floor. I sharp pain throbs through my body as I try to move. I try to remember everything that happened and slowly put the pieces back together. I was attacked in the forest last night when I went out hunting with Dea.
When I tried to move a little bit more, I felt my skin burn against something and yelped. I looked towards my hands and feet. Silver chains. I look around at the rest of my surroundings to discover the oh-so-familiar surroundings. I'm back at my old pack. The trackers of last night brought me back.
I try reaching out to Dea, but she's silent. They hurt her badly last night. I feel pained thinking that the cause of her pain was because of my carelessness.
Sulking in my pain, the door to the cells flew open. Shocked by the sudden appearance of light into the cells, I instinctively close my eyes. Once I got used to the light, I saw a smirking Elil looking straight at me.
"Oh, you are pathetic. You couldn't even put up a fight last night."
"So it was you who lead them last night, wasn't it?"
"Oh, you may be pathetic in figure and fighting, but you are most certainly not stupid."
"Spit it out, Elil. What do you want to say?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just the fact that you were stupid as to think you'll be able to get away from us."
"Well, at least I did escape from you for a day. That has to count for something."
"Fair enough, but you're going to wish you never went out hunting last night."
"What do you mean by that?"
As Elil opens his mouth to speak, the door opens once again. I couldn't see who it was but when he spoke, I noticed that he was one of the trackers who chased me in the woods the night I escaped.
"Elil, we are ready for her."
"Alright."
Elil looks at me with a mischievous smile and opens my cell door, putting another silver chain around my neck and unlocking the ones around arms and feet.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Oh, sweetie, you'll see."
"ELIL! WHERE. ARE. YOU. TAKING. ME?!"
He looks back at me with a full sadistic smirk plastered onto his face.
"You're going to be the offer this year."