Helen POV
For an instant, I remained motionless and gazed at Serena. With a nasty grin that made my spine tingle, she smiled. She stepped closer, sneering, "You think you can escape me?" "I've always been stronger than you, Helen."
Her remarks hurt, but I held my dread inside. I was too far gone to give up now.
With a forceful yet trembling voice, I declared, "I won't let you win."
Serena's mocking gaze glistened. "Oh, you're not going to? My dear, you're already in a trap. It's finished."
She pounced at me with her claws out, and my heartbeat in my chest. I swerved just in time to avoid her onslaught by sliding to the side. I winced as agony rushed through my leg from the uneven ground beneath me, but I forced myself to stand.
"You can't run forever, Helen!" With a hiss, Serena turned back to look at me.
Even though I knew I couldn't compete with her power and speed, something within of me sparked. I was more than simply the timid, fearful girl I had been. I was ready for anything, having trained for this. I have to have self-confidence.
Serena sprang forward once more, but I was prepared. I dove low and used a sudden burst of muscle to swipe at her legs, throwing her off balance. She gasped in astonishment when she hit the ground.
"How dare you!" She let out a cry and scurried to her feet, but before she could launch another assault, I picked up a rock from the ground and struck her in the head. With a horrible thud, the impact occurred, and Serena lost consciousness.
My heart was pounding as I stood there, panting. It was something I had accomplished. I had retaliated. But I had to stop wasting time. I had to leave before more rogues appeared.
I began to run, ignoring the ache in my leg.
Back at the pack, Scott was pacing around his workspace. There was a problem. He had been away from Helen all day, and something was bothering him in the depths of his being. The feeling that she was in danger persisted in his mind.
"Scott?" Marcus's voice pierced his inner monologue.
When Scott turned to find Marcus at the door, something didn't feel quite right. Scott noticed that Marcus's eyes lacked the normal regard, and he began to feel a little uneasy.
"Have you seen Helen?" Scott questioned, attempting to maintain a steady tone.
Marcus shrugged. "Last I heard, she was at the training grounds."
Scott scowled. "That was a few hours ago. She ought to have come back by now."
Although Marcus didn't appear worried, Scott's gut told him something wasn't right. Pushing past Marcus, he declared, "I'm going to check the borders."
Thoughts were racing through his mind as he left. Why had he been acting so aloof around Helen recently? After pushing her away because he thought she was hiding something, he suddenly realized that he might have been mistaken. Furthermore, it was his fault for being absent if she was in danger.
With a forceful voice, Scott commanded, "Gather the warriors." "We're organizing a search party."
Marcus, his beta nodded, but Scott saw the glint of irritation in his eyes. There was something wrong, but finding Helen was his priority now.
How long I had been jogging was unknown to me. Every stride hurt, sending waves of anguish down my wounded leg. My whole hurt. I couldn't stop, though. Not right now. I had to notify Scott and return to the pack.
With the trees looming over me and their branches obstructing the waning light, the forest all around me had the feel of a maze. I tripped over stones and roots, but I wanted to continue.
Out of nowhere, I heard voices. I ducked behind a tree and peered around the trunk, my heart leaping into my throat.
Rogues.
With their keen eyes searching the surroundings as though they were searching for something, they were obstructing the way forward. Or a person.
I tried to think as I chewed my lip. Not in my state, notwithstanding them. But I was also unable to turn back. I was confined.
A rogue questioned, "What do we do if we find her?"
With a frigid voice, the other said, "Marcus wants her alive." "She's the key to breaking Scott."
I took a deep breath, panicking once more. I was still in their sights, and time was of the essence.
I inhaled deeply and began to move silently, keeping out of sight among the trees. I crept toward the path's edge, my heart hammering in my chest. All I had to do was push through them and take off running.
However, as I was ready to duck by, one of the rogues turned around.
"Hi! He exclaimed, "There she is!"
I started to run, my legs burning from the exertion, as panic raced through me. Despite their quick pace and thundering footsteps behind me, I couldn't halt the rogues. I refused to give up.
I could see more trees, thick and dense, up ahead. If I could just get to them, I could maybe lose the rogues in the forest. However, I was losing strength, and my leg became more painful.
I gasped as I stumbled and fell to the ground. The rogues were drawing near, and I could hear their chuckling.
"It appears that you're not having much luck, Luna," one of them scoffed and advanced.
With a rushing mind, I scurried back. This can't be the last of it. I was now too far gone to be captured.
However, a loud snarl pierced the atmosphere as the rogue extended his hand to seize me.
With a skip in my heartbeat, I looked up.
Scott.
With his gaze fixed on the rogues, he stood at the edge of the clearing. His muscles were taut and prepared for battle, his wolf on the prowl.
I felt a little wave of relief run through me. Scott was present. He had located me. I felt secure.
However, after that, things altered. Scott hesitated and his expression changed. His face was conflicted as his gaze wavered between the rogues and me.
How come he wasn't attacking? How come he wasn't rescuing me?
"Scott!" I sobbed as I attempted to stand up, but my leg went out from under me.
When the rogues saw that Scott was not moving, they chuckled and became more self-assured.
One approached and said, "Looks like your Alpha doesn't care about you after all."
Although Scott's gaze grew gloomy, he remained motionless.
My heart broke for me. Why was he not assisting me? Was it a result of our constant conflict? Had I pushed him aside too much?
"Scott," I uttered in a scarcely discernible whisper. "Please."
Despite clenching his jaw, he took a step forward but hesitated.
I was confined. The one person who could help me was frozen, caught between his loyalty to the pack and his affection for me as the rogues closed in.
"Choose wisely, Alpha," scoffed one of the rogues. "Her life or your loyalty."
When our gazes locked, I could see the strain in Scott. I wasn't sure if he would make it in time, and he was torn.
With their claws extended, the rogues approached me, and I prepared myself for the worst.
Just as I thought all hope was lost, Scott's wolf surged forward, but it wasn't clear if he was coming to save me or something else entirely.