~ NYSSA
I stumbled back, staring in shock at what I had done, at the blood coating my fingers, my clothes, my arms.
Henry was unrecognizable. Blood pooled over his body and the floor beneath us, his face was covered in cuts, his eye was cut, as was his throat. I could barely see any glimpse of the man I knew.
A pained groan filled the air and I stumbled back, heart hamring in my chest as I realized that he was still alive.
He gasped, presumably trying to speak but all that ca out were garbled sounds as blood pooled in his mouth.
Horror filled , coating with sha as I dragged myself to my feet. The keys were right there, in his pocket.
"I’m sorry," I whispered, more for than for him as I snatched them up. "I have to do this."
He made a sound of protest but I ignored it and scurried as fast as I could out of there. I slipped over the blood, falling flat on my ass but I did not stop, I rushed over to the door, hands shaking violently as I slipped the key into the lock and turned.
There was a chance that Henry would survive. If soone managed to get him to a hospital in ti, he would heal. There were no traces of silver or wolf’s bane in what I used to stab him. I may not have killed him, but I bought myself so ti.
I flung the door open, sighing in relief as the cool breeze hit my skin. I shut my eyes tightly, inhaling the crisp cold air. The sun was already beginning to set and the sky looked so beautiful, a kaleidoscope of colors.
On another day, I would have stopped to admire it, but I couldn’t. I looked around, making sure no one was near and I ran. I dashed as fast as my legs could carry into the woods. The sa woods I grew up in, that I knew like the back of my hands.
I pushed my legs as fast and as far as I could, lungs burning from the harsh wind. I slamd into branches, my bare feet landing hard against rocks and twigs. My limbs burned but I did not stop. The border was a distance away but if I could just get close enough.
I tried not to think of what would happen if Henry or one of his n were to find , of the horrors I would be forced to face back in that house.
I pushed myself even harder.
The forest seed to mock , echoing every little sound. My footsteps seed louder than normal and every few seconds, I could not help but turn back to make sure I was not being followed.
I was not sure of how much I ran, or how far, but the trees were denser, the forest steeper. I was so focused on getting away that I did not stop to pay attention to what was going on around . I allowed myself get overconfident.
My leg caught on a root and I went rolling down the side of a steep hill. My shoulder slamd into the ground hard and pain shot up my sides. Twigs cut up my face and arms.
I reached for a nearby root, trying to hoist myself up but I was unable to gain a firm grip on it.
I rolled down until I slamd into a hard tree, my stomach hitting the trunk.
"Fuck!" I cursed aloud, trying to ignore the blinding pain that shot up my entire body.
Tears blurred my vision as I tried to pull myself up.
"Stop!" My spine went rigid at that very male voice. "Who are you?"
I fisted my own mouth to keep from sobbing.
"Turn around, now!"
I shook my head violently.
I did not co this far just to be taken back.
I would rather fucking die.
I scanned the forest, eye snagging on a large branch in front of .
"Don’t let repeat myself again!"
I reached for the branch and swung with all my might. It collided heavily with a huge body and loud curse filled the air. The man went to his knees, his hand pressed to his head. I lifted the branch to swing again when I noticed sothing unusual about his uniform.
It wasn’t the sa deep blue as the ones that the pack soldiers wore, and there was an insignia, right on his shoulder.
The branch slipped from my fingers. "You’re from the palace?"
"Of course I’m from the fucking palace. Who the hell are--" he went silent, eyes going wide as he took in. Bloody clothes, ssy hair. "Fucking hell!"
I did not have the ti to process his shock with him. "Is Rowan here?"
"The King? Yes, goddess above, you’re actually here! I didn’t think-"
My legs gave out beneath .
Perhaps it was the relief of knowing that I was safe, that Rowan was nearby. The guard cursed, rushing over to my side to pull up but I could not hold myself, not anymore.
The pain from my bleeding feet had finally set in, and the exhaustion and reality of what I had done left reeling.
"Just... stay awake, please. The others will be here soon."
His words sounded so far away. I wanted so terribly for sleep to take , but it would not. It avoided like the plague. When I closed my eyes, I saw Henry, I saw what I had done to him, how I had left him for dead.
It seed so ironic now, that I was upset with Rowan for killing my parents and I may have just killed a man... soone’s family, soone’s friend.
Did that make a hypocrite?
Heavy footsteps filled my ears and a stab of fear went through my heart.
For a mont, I thought it was Henry’s n. I thought they had found him and co to kill in return, but as I lifted my eyes, I saw a flash of silver hair, of scars running down a pale arm.
A broken sob escaped my lips, my hands shaking terribly as I drew myself to my feet.
It seed unreal and yet, there he was, heading straight for , eyes blazing with heat and worry.
I took off in a sprint, eting him halfway and I threw my arms around his shoulders as I sobbed, the tears flowing freely down my cheeks.
Rowan did not waste any ti in wrapping his arms around , his lips pressed gently against the side of my head.
"It’s okay, little wolf," he murmured against my skin. "You’re safe."
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