5- Months of Running
POV Lunara Grimwald:
Months later.
"Please, Lunara," Elowen insisted, her eyes brimming with tears. "You can’t do this, we can’t separate, it’s too risky."
The simple, weathered cabin we had found to hide in, deep in Romania, carried a comforting sense of warmth, because it was the closest thing to a home we’d had in the past months. It was there I celebrated my twenty-second birthday, alongside Elowen, with a little cake she had stolen from a nearby grocery store.
Located in the middle of the forest, it must have belonged to a group of hunters who hadn’t been there in years. It wasn’t hard to break the lock and slip inside with my sister, to shield ourselves from the mild weather of the season.
For months, we managed to live in peace, though the shadow of Alessio hunting us never stopped looming.
"Even riskier if we stay together," I countered, releasing an exasperated sigh. "Sel, it’ll only be a few days. And it’s our only chance."
My heat was approaching—I could already feel its effects on my body. Tremors, scorching heat, and a throbbing ache between my legs. Not to mention my heavy, painful breasts. And without the herb to suppress it—our stock had run out—the alphas Alessio had sent to hunt us would sense my scent from miles away.
It was no accident we had come to Romania. After much searching, we had discovered the herb that suppressed our heat—the one our father had forced us to take—came from this country. Elowen and I had been trying to find out more about it since then, without any success.
And now, with my new cycle closer than ever, we would soon face the enormous risk of being caught without the suppressant. They would smell me, and that was a fact. Just as any other alpha wolf nearby would.
Heat usually lasted seven days, once a month, and it was painful, catastrophic, and unbearable. It hurt from the depths of the soul. It wasn’t just discomfort—it was the body’s desperate craving for someone to ease it, to satisfy it.
It was our wild nature searching for the perfect mate, to procreate and continue our lineage.
Elowen bit her lip, looking nervous.
"In how many days will we meet again?"
I hesitated for a moment, feeling my heart race and warmth take hold of me. I drew a deep breath, trying to control the first symptom of my approaching cycle.
"Seven, maybe less, or more."
"Where?"
I looked around, searching for a solution for the two of us. The longer I stayed close, the greater the risk for us both. I was already releasing pheromones; I could smell the sweet scent emanating from my pores.
Since our family had been ruined by that damned Alessio, this place had been the closest thing to a home we’d had. I didn’t want to compromise or give away our location, to lose everything we had built.
We still didn’t have steady jobs, but I cleaned a nearby bakery. Usually at night, when I wasn’t seen by customers, which helped keep my identity anonymous. Elowen worked in a bar, short and spaced-out shifts, so she wouldn’t be seen too often by the same people.
Working was a risk we took, but we needed money to eat. We had fled with absolutely nothing, wearing only torn dresses stained with our parents’ blood.
When I fled Alessio at the altar, I broke into Alpha Kellan’s house, the closest one, and stole all the stock of suppressants he had. That was how Elowen and I survived these past months. Then we ran to the city and stole clothes that had been hanging on a clothesline. I cut myself and smeared blood on my dress, scattering small pieces of fabric through the forest to mislead them from our real trail.
And it worked.
We managed to sneak into a train car and leave our old pack behind. Since then, Alessio had always been on our heels, staying only a few steps behind.
I clutched the strap of my backpack tightly between my fingers. Thinking of him filled me with disgust.
I hated him with everything in me, with every ounce of strength I had. I never thought it possible to hate someone so deeply, but he had shown me I had been wrong all along—because yes, it was possible.
"I have no idea," I confessed. "We can’t come back here, not until I’m certain I’ve stopped exhaling pheromones. I can’t compromise your location and… our home." I whispered the last word, feeling my cheeks burn.
Home.
Such a simple word, but with such a profound meaning. How could things change so drastically in a matter of seconds?
Months ago, I had been anxious for my wedding to Alessio, for the freedom he would give me—or so I thought. I imagined myself free from our father, from our misogynistic pack, and… I would live my fairytale at the side of the male I supposedly loved.
And now, I was running, always fleeing, trying to hold on to a freedom I never truly had. Not completely. Hunted by the very male I would have turned to, by the arms I thought meant… home.
Fool. Idiot.
I shook my head, dispersing the thoughts.
"Your heat will come soon too," I murmured, gripping her arms and forcing her to look at me. "You need to search for the herbs, Sel. Without them, we will never stop running, and Alessio will always find his way closer to us. We’ll never stay ahead of him."
We had no idea where the herbs were—we only knew they were in Romania. And that was a massive problem. The stolen stock from Kellan had been the only thing keeping us alive until now.
"We’ll meet by the river that connects to the city center, in seven days, alright?" she asked, her eyes heavy as they locked onto mine. "I’ll go there every day, looking for you. As soon as you feel your heat is over, meet me there."
I nodded, grinding my teeth so hard my jaw popped.
"No…" I licked my dry lips, stalling to clear my throat from the emotion choking me. "I don’t know if we’ll be able to stay here when I return," I confessed, blinking back tears. "I’m sorry, Sel. But I think it would be too risky. They’ll know we’re in Romania, and a cabin in the middle of the forest isn’t exactly the best hiding place."
A crease formed between her brows, and her blue eyes gleamed.
"I know…" she sighed, glancing around. "But we’ll find another place just as nice as this one." She forced a smile and shrugged.
The place wasn’t nice at all. It had no electricity, and the entire room held nothing more than an old bed; a nearly empty wardrobe, since our few clothes weren’t enough to fill it; a table with two chairs; a wood stove, a worn-out sink, and some cupboards. And a small bathroom with a toilet, a sink, and a plain bathtub that, at least, had plumbing. For our baths, we had to heat the water over the fire.