Bruce sensed that he was being followed as he walked through the paths in the forest, the skin of a deer he had slaughtered covering the top of his body.
He reduced his pace and walked gradually to be able to know where the tiny sound of rustling was coming from. The footsteps were closer with every moment. Bruce turned sharply and noticed that a figure hid behind a huge tree in the forest.
"You really should get going. I don't want to hurt a woman."
Seeing that Bruce had discovered her, Elora slowly walked out from behind the tree and revealed herself. She had some clothes on.
"Go back to wherever you are coming from."
"I can't, I could be killed!"
Bruce didn't quite understand what she meant by her words. He looked at her still not able to comprehend what she really meant.
"How did you find me?"
"It seems you are the only person roaming around in the forest."
Elora walked up to him, she looked straight into his eyes and revealed the worrisome look she had.
"I was tasked by Rudolf to kill you else he would kill my brother and kill me too. I can't go back!"
Bruce looked at Elora with some pity but remembering that she had tried to kill him the previous night, he killed the idea of sympathizing with her, for all he knew, she could be playing tricks at him.
"I am telling the truth. He already slaughtered my parents and would do same to my brother if I return without your head."
"And the gold?"
"Well, that was given to him by your uncle. I have no share in it. I only wanted my brother's freedom."
Bruce looked at Elora carefully as though he could be able to see right through her. For a moment he wasn't sure if he was to believe her or not. The glitters of doubt widely flowing through his expression.
"Well you can't kill me. You have to go back and get your brother instead."
Elora frowned instantly at the inconsiderate nature of the young Alpha. She had expected some sympathy from him but he seemed not to care about her predicament.
Not ready to give up, Elora followed Bruce who was already on his way out from her presence.
"What do you want?"
"I might as well stick with you. You were my only chance at getting my brother out. Now that I can't kill you I would have to be stuck with you till I can find a way to get my brother out."
"Very claver of you! You wish to kill me in my sleep." Bruce continued to walk away not eager to hear another word of what she was saying.
"Let's make a deal!" Elora said aloud, she had an alluring smile, her lips spread as she approached Bruce who had stopped to listen to what she had to say. Walking up to him, she stood few inches away from him and held on to his hand.
"We seem alike and could be helpful to each other."
"I am nothing like you. You kill for a living!" Bruce retorted annoyed that Elora has compared her to himself.
"Fine! Hear me out then."
Bruce paused to listen to what Elora had to say. His face showed signs of disinterest as he was convinced that whatever she was going to say would have little or no profit to him.
"I see you really want to prove yourself innocent of the allegations against you. I too desperately want to free my brother from Rudolf." Elora had a smile on her face, expectant that Bruce was going to give in to her offer but he stood watching her for a while saying nothing.
"This is your best shot at redemption!"
"I don't trust you! I will find a better way!" Bruce turned away and left her for the second time. Elora was furious, she really didn't think that Bruce could be very stubborn.
"Wait!"
"You have to listen to me!"
"I need you!" Elora continued to follow Bruce who continued to walk away as though she was not talking to him.
"Please! Wait!"
"Not interested!" Bruce retorted taking a right turn as he got towards a cliff along the way.
"There are more bounty hunters coming after you! You need me."
"By now I am sure that the council has declared you a rogue and sent soldiers to capture or kill you. Your uncle has assumed his place as the leader of the council!"
Elora's words got to Bruce. He stopped and turned slowly. He knew what that meant. His rage formed inside when he remembered what his uncle did to him. He feared more for his mother and how he needed to tell her that he had nothing to do with the death of his father.
Elora saw that he had halted and hurriedly walked up to him. She continued smiling at him, eager to convince him.
"I know people that can help."
"How am I sure that I can trust you?" Bruce wasn't certain of the decision that he was about to make but at that moment, it seemed as though he had no other choice.
"The almighty Alpha Bruce is not afraid of a woman. Is he?"
Bruce shrugged at her words. Scoffing he ignored her and walked away.
"Wait! I will tell you."
"Let's make a deal. You help me get back my brother and I help you get back your honor."
Bruce looked at Elora for a while. With the intention of trying to know if he could see right through her smiles and honest countenance.
"What's the plan?"
"Do we have a deal?" Elora retorted waiting for an answer from Bruce.
"Deal." Bruce said slowly. Elora brought out her hand for a handshake but he ignored it. Then she took her hand down and scoffed.
"First, we get some help and then we find a way to get my brother out. Rudolf has kept him in a cage surrounded by vicious werewolves like himself."
Bruce wasn't so convinced with her plan. Rudolf was a very popular lone wolf and a rogue who was known for capturing weaker wolves and turning them to his slaves. He cared not for anyone, had no family or friends and his only interest was to cause havoc and spill blood.
"If we have to do this, we do it my way. You don't have to question any decision I take."
For a moment Bruce looked at Elora not certain if he was to agree with her or not. Bruce was a young but powerful werewolf who wasn't so used to being told what to do especially by a female werewolf.
"Very well then." He answered reluctantly still trying to be sure if he was making the right decision.
"Settled. Follow me then." Elora turned the other way and started to walk through the paths. For a moment Bruce stood and watched her before he slowly started walking through the path she followed.
They walked through the hills in the forest . Bruce kept a distance away from her being very cautious about the paths they followed. His eyes scouring through the horizon just to be safe from any unforeseen danger.
"How far are we to meet your friends."
"Not so far now. We just need to walk for some more time."
They continued to walk until they got to a mountain right at the edge of the forest.
"Careful, they can be very dangerous and not friendly at first."
"Right!" Bruce smiled mockingly at her bluff. He wasn't so sure there could be any thing to be scared of.
Seeing that he wasn't eager to pay attention to her, Elora ignored Bruce and continued to walk towards the mountain cautiously looking at her steps as she matched forward. Bruce walked straight only looking above, his eyes were glued on top of the mountain and the hills trying to be cautious of any harm. Completely ignoring the grounds, he took no notice of the path he walked on. There were markings on the floor which Elora avoided but Bruce paid not attention to her.
Stepping on a marking on the floor, Bruce felt a sudden movement inside the soil. He turned his gaze towards the ground but before he could be aware of what was really happening, a twine gripped his leg with a strong force and pulled him down into a hole in the ground. Before he could get hold of the big rock he held onto, he was already deep inside the hole.
"Bruce!" Elora turned to grab him but she wasn't fast enough. Bruce had already fallen deep into the ground pulled by the rope.
Elora rushed towards the mountain, there was a cave and she hurried right into it panting.
She was almost right in the middle of the cave when she felt a hard force hit her head. She fell and landed on the floor passing out.