I raced into the forest at full speed, not caring how I would get out of this place. As an Omega, my low stamina didn't help that much, but I wasn't going to give up. The look on the faces of my father's men who couldn't believe that I would jump through the window was a nice relief, but now I had to start thinking of how to get out of this place.
"After her!"
I heard the sound of the wolves howl and the footsteps of the men who ran after me, there was no way I could outrun them, so I had to rely on intellect once again. I didn't run to the clearing, but to the deep shallow woods.
I reached for an Angel oak and grabbed a branch. Taking a leap in the air, I swung and stood on the tree branch. Angel oaks thrived in our lands and as such were very common. It's wide branches are what makes them good shades and hiding spots which was my peculiar reason for running in this direction. Luckily, it was close enough for me to limp a bit and hide beneath its branches plus there were so many of them which meant that I could jump from one to another with ease. Like that I ran from tree to tree, and the height of the tree only grew, and it's leaves and branches were very good for camouflage, and the smell from it's leaves slowly washed away my scent. Except they knew I had started with smaller trees it was almost impossible to catch me.
But then, when I jumped down from a high tree, I came crashing into a Thuja and was buried in its leaves. The wolves who had lost track of my location stopped chasing me and tried to sniff me out. The other wolves had also gathered.
"Where'd she go?"
Roderick asked. I could hear their voices as I made myself comfortable in my hiding place. As I had expected, the trees were the best for hiding.
"Split up and look for her, find her or don't come back at all." He instructed them.
Slowly, they broke into smaller teams and dispatched themselves leaving the area. I crept out of the tree and made a run for it again. If I could just hold on a little longer then I might make it to the short cut leading to the hunting grounds.
I stretched out my hand as though I was running towards a light, it was only a matter of seconds before I reached there. I smiled as I increased my speed, my heart leaped for joy as I could almost taste my freedom.
Finally I was free.
"Trying to escape?"
What?!
I had no idea when I had rushed into the arms of my enemy, what kind of monster is he, and how was he able to tell I was going to be here? Was it a coincidence or was he tailing me without my knowledge?.
"You, let me go."
I spat as he seized my hands behind my back with one hand and used the other to hold me tightly, laughing mockingly at my efforts.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, or what I am capable of. Obviously and that is why you underestimated me. You think I would simply be okay with my fiance disappearing from home before I could even have the opportunity to say I do." He tells me.
I get goosebumps by just being around him, especially since I know who he is. His presence here should make everything easier even though I already worked my butt off just so I wouldn't get married to him. Now I've come to realize that the man whom I offered myself to for the first time is none other than him even though he doesn't know who I am.
"What do you want from me, why are you after me?"
"That's because I'm in love with you." He spat right back at me.
I could feel butterflies in my stomach when I heard those words from his own lips. I wonder if he knows who I am and is saying this to get me to let my guard down. This thought suddenly weakens my resolve and it's probably written all over my face as I take a step backwards. Feeling my face heat up from embarrassment. This man is obviously playing with me, he certainly didn't come here to profess his undying love for me.
"You're lying." I bite and he returns it with a chuckle as he lets go of my hands.
"You're smart and won't fall for such tricks easily. It's true that I don't love you".
I knew it was the truth but it only made my heart tighten in my chest and almost knocked the wind out of me.
"However, I need you at the moment." He continued, maintaining eye contact.
My mind suddenly felt woozy. The very words I had avoided were the same words this man who, just seconds ago said that made my heart flutter, just took it back. That was like ripping my heart out because I really felt it. As I expected, I was nothing more than a tool for all of them.
"Is something wrong?" He asked in what I suspected as feigned concern.
"Leave, leave this place, I don't want to marry you, and I certainly don't want to be your puppet."
I tell him bluntly, rejecting his proposal on the spot. If he doesn't let me go soon then I would be caught in just a matter of minutes, I had to leave this place before then.
"Oh oh! I see. That's why you tried to run away the other night." He replied cheekily.