The Gift chronicles

Book 1 Chapter 16

Alpha Cain's eyes were overran with darkness, and he gave a sinister smile. "Run, pup. You know I love a good chase. I'll even give you a head start because of your convincing display of affection."

I scrambled out from underneath him and sprinted into the forest, confused on how he was so prepared for my assault. I really need to stop underestimating the goddamn Blood Alpha. Having to run from that beast truly was a punishment from the Moon Goddess herself.

I made the executive decision to shift into my wolf. If I shifted, I could cover more ground faster, and time was of the essence. I wasn't sure what he considered a head start, but I planned on making the most of it.

Not wasting any time getting undressed, I shifted directly into my wolf, tearing all of my clothes into shreds. My wolf was grey with one white paw, and bigger than the average she—wolf. I dug my paws deeper and deeper into the soil as I ran, trying to use anything I could to push me further, faster.

I had no doubt in my mind that if the Alpha caught me, he would Mark me. I had tricked him too many times for him to trust me, and the deal was that he would wait to Mark me if I behaved. I'm not sure what he counted as behaving, but I was pretty sure that stabbing his collarbone was not exactly making me look like Mother Theresa. In my defense, he shouldn't have brought a knife if he didn't want to get stabbed with it. It's like putting a slice of cake in front of a fat boy.

I continued running for about a minute before I could hear footfall (pawfall?) behind me. Some head start that was. Although I suppose I should be lucky he gave me one at all, considering I certainly didn't give him a warning before plunging a knife into him.

I pushed myself to go even faster, and I'm not sure I've ever ran so fast in my life. I loathed being in wolf form, but I will admit, it was pretty useful when escaping your kidnapper.

me. I knew he would catch up to me any second. Making a split second decision, I decided to shift back

tree. No, I did not have clothes to put on and yes, it was uncomfortable. Luckily, the trees in the forest were excessively tall, so I was able to climb up about 15 feet

by, he hopefully would not be

knew the leaves

and closer, and I peeked out at him in between the leaves. I was surprised to see that he was in human form, and not wolf form. I had assumed

job at slowing my heartbeat. He turned around slowly, and I was horrified when I saw that his eyes

mile away. You really thought that you could trick me?" He shouted wildly, every bit the formidable

I am so against letting my

I wasn't trying to blow my cover (because he had already located me) but because I was genuinely scared of what he would do when I came down. Even though he said he wouldn't, I didn't want him to burn me with his fire again. My hands still hadn't recovered and it had been a week. Being scared of pain was a new low for me. I

or I will climb this tree myself and get you down. And if I have to climb a tree to get my mate, I will be very, very angry about it." He ordered calmly, but I could tell from the harsh undertone and black

expectantly. A new feeling washed over me. Failure. The feeling of giving up when you've been

this point if he caught me or not. Either he caught me and he takes me back to being his prisoner, or he doesn't catch me and I fall to my death and don't have to be his prisoner. Both options are

he caught me. Maybe if he had let me fall, I could have gone into a coma for a few months, and then by the

He managed to catch me in the same bridal style position he always carried